Ten Day Ultimatum

‘Infiltrator?’ Qi Xia pondered carefully, struggling to grasp the meaning behind this identity card.
If an infiltrator lurked among the four of them, then logically, their identity should remain hidden. Yet Terrestrial Dog had allowed everyone to inspect each other's identities from the outset—and even permitted them to swap cards. What kind of game was this?

"Would any of you like to exchange identities?" Terrestrial Dog asked from behind the front desk.
Qi Xia cast a wary glance at the cards clutched in everyone's hands, unease settling over him.
How could they know which identity held the most weight without the faintest clue what the game entailed? If the {Infiltrator} role was designed to sabotage the group, then Ole Lu was certainly a fitting candidate.

Unsophisticated in his methods, Qi Xia reasoned that managing Ole Lu shouldn’t be too difficult.
But what exactly did the {Correspondent} and {Recipient} roles mean?
"Qi Xia, let's swap," Lin Qin said, holding out her {Recipient} card. "I may not fully understand these roles, but going by the literal meaning, the {Correspondent} comes first, and the {Recipient} follows. If I’m the first, you’ll have more room to maneuver as the {Recipient}."

Qi Xia considered her point—it was reasonable.
He did need to serve as a contingency.
"Alright, let's exchange."

The two swapped cards, making Lin Qin the {Correspondent} and Qi Xia the {Recipient}.
"Um..." Ole Lu looked lost as he stared at his card. "Th—This card..."
Qi Xia patted his shoulder. "Ole Lu, no matter what the {Infiltrator}'s mission is, just focus on your role. We're a team. Think critically when it counts."

Ole Lu nodded, though his expression remained uncertain. Qi Xia then turned to Zhang Chenze.
She was fixated on her {Hostage} card. Her clothes were damp, and Qi Xia could easily imagine the chill creeping into her skin.
"Zhang Lawyer, are you alright?" Qi Xia asked.

"This {Hostage} card..." Zhang Chenze murmured, barely moving her lips. "Could it mean the kind of hostage that’s {trapped in a fish tank}?"
Qi Xia considered that carefully, then nodded. "That’s certainly possible. Would you like me to switch with you?"
"No need..." Zhang Chenze shook her head and forced a smile. "Perhaps you all lack the experience I have. It's better if I take the {Hostage} role."

Qi Xia noted the façade of strength on her face and hesitated. At last, he said, "Don’t worry. I’ll be able to save # Nоvеlight # you."
"I'm not concerned about myself. I just hope you don’t hurt yourself trying."
With the roles set, the group noticed that the opposing team had also finished their swaps.
The green-haired, blonde, and bald members had taken on the roles of {Correspondent}, {Recipient}, and {Hostage}, respectively, while the lone girl now held the identity of {Infiltrator}.

She looked visibly displeased with the result, as though someone else had forced the card on her.
"Now that both teams have chosen their identities, please line up," Terrestrial Dog said with a wide grin.
Qi Xia blinked. When Terrestrial Dog smiled, the muscles in his face moved—making it seem less like a mask and more like the face of an actual dog.

"First, let the players who drew the {Infiltrator} role step forward," Terrestrial Dog beckoned with a hand gesture.
After a moment’s pause, Ole Lu and the girl stepped forward.
"Let’s give them a round of applause!!" Terrestrial Dog began clapping enthusiastically.

Everyone else remained still, the sound of Terrestrial Dog’s self-congratulatory claps echoing through the hotel lobby.
"First of all, congratulations. You two have drawn the identities with the highest survival rate in this game."
"Highest survival rate?" they said in near unison, both frowning.

"That’s right. From now on, because of your special status as {Infiltrators}, you’ll act within the opposing team," Terrestrial Dog explained, gesturing animatedly. "You have two ways to win: first, play your role and help your original team achieve victory. Second, betray them and assist your new team. If your new teammates accept you in the end, you get to survive under that new identity."
Ole Lu blinked, processing. "So we’re not just {Infiltrators}—we’re {Double Agents}? Meaning whichever side wins, if they accept us, we win too?"
"Correct. As long as the winning team accepts you, you survive," Terrestrial Dog replied with a nod and a grin.

Qi Xia frowned, sensing a flaw. "Why two infiltrators? Wouldn’t one be enough?"
"Excellent question," Terrestrial Dog said brightly. "This is the most exciting part. A team can only have four members. If a new team wants to accept an {Infiltrator}, they must abandon their own. In short, both {Infiltrators} can’t join the same side."
Qi Xia’s expression darkened.

So the {Infiltrators} could betray their original team?
Before he could comment, Ole Lu turned around. "Punk Qi, you guys aren’t gonna ditch me, right?!"
Qi Xia looked into his eyes. "What about you?"

"What would I gain by betraying you?! I paid four {Dào} for your entry!" Ole Lu cried. "The winning team gets five {Dào} each plus the losers’ loot, right? But you guys are broke, and only that lawyer’s got anything! If I help the other side take you down, maybe I get five {Dào} total—meaning I earn just one after what I already spent!"
Qi Xia nodded. "It’s important that you understand that. I won’t abandon you."
"Then it’s settled, got it?!" Ole Lu gripped Qi Xia’s hand. "I’ll do my best to stir up trouble for the other side and help us win."

"Wait," Qi Xia said, pulling him closer to whisper. "There are a few things I need to discuss with you."
…
On the other side, the girl {Infiltrator} looked unsettled. She approached her green-haired boyfriend and said with a grimace, "What should I do? I have to go to the other team?"

"Don’t worry, babe," the green-haired man replied, wrapping an arm around her waist. "It’s just for show. Those weaklings don’t stand a chance."
"You’re not planning to ditch me, are you?" she asked.
"What kind of nonsense is that? You think I want that old guy instead of you?" He pulled her close until their faces nearly touched. "In some areas, you’re way more important than he is."

"So shameless..."
And then, uncaring of their surroundings, the two began making out.