The beings on the high platform ceased their communication.

For a moment, it was indistinguishable who stood outside the glass and who stood inside. Who was the vicious Predator and who was the lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Su Ming'an continued to stand, like the Judicator at the center of the twelve seats, yet also like the king in the midst of the twelve seats.

…A wager.

A human proposed a bet with twelve high-dimensional beings coveting him.

The balance of the scale was not equal, and the essence of life and strength of both sides were vastly different. The young man was empty-handed, with nothing to place in the chips area, so his chips had to be… "himself."

As the high-dimensionals cautiously placed their chips slowly on one end of the scale, adding bit by bit for stability—the other end, he had already decisively stood upon it.

After a while, the signal collision sound echoed again.

"(…I admit, he frightened me. For a moment, I thought the being in front of me was not human, but a lifeform surpassing me.)" A voice as youthful as a child's.

"(In the past, deities have also wagered with us. But this time, for the first time, I felt intimidated.)"

"(This is a premonition from a high-dimensional being; perhaps we will lose to him.)"

"(Lose to him? Ridiculous, you've all been frightened by his Authority. Along with the star-strolling wanderer, the Lezi Person, and that rabbit, one after another, acting from inside to outside towards him. What exactly is his Charm, are you here to negotiate or surrender?)"

"(Watch your words. A life not yet elevated to the high Dimensions has nothing to fear. We cannot lose to a human; listen to his thoughts. Under the protection of the Rules, his wager is one of the few opportunities for us to gain his Authority.)"

Su Ming'an listened to this group's exchange, seemingly silent with gestures yet sounding like they were loudly conspiring right next to his ear with a loudspeaker.

He looked up, meeting the blood-red eyes of Boss Rabbit.

Click.

The moment their gazes met, it was as if the reflection of a Chess Piece flickered across their pupils, indistinguishable whether it was of the same color or not.

Boss Rabbit indeed held substantial influence.

Its statue adorned the major squares of the Main God World, it presided over various occasions, and it seemed like the sole mascot of the World Game. Apart from it, the only other organizers Su Ming'an remembered seeing was a pair of cat ears in the burnt joss paper-scented hall after the end of the Third World, belonging to someone among those twelve.

"Propose your wager, dear Number One Player." Boss Rabbit's ruby-like eyeballs rotated.

"The wager I want to propose is very simple…" His voice paused momentarily.

He had already thought through his demands.

Just as he negotiated with Boss Rabbit in the Tenth World, if Zhai Xing did indeed fall in the end, then,

—"[Spare Zhai Xing, take him]."

But at this moment, the Tenth World had conveyed too much information to him, making him realize the organizers weren't omnipotent. Hence, he could completely use "himself" as chips, engaging proactively with these life forms, rather than waiting to be taken away in a pitiable state.

He was a Chess Player, not a Chess Piece.

He and Them—were in an equal negotiation, rather than a seeker and a lenient bestower.

Click, click, click.

It sounded like Chess Pieces continuously falling, gradually filling up most of the chessboard.

Attack and defense positions switch.

"Here, I make a wager, let's bet—" Su Ming'an lifted his eyelids, speaking the latter part of the sentence:

"—[Whether Zhai Xing will ultimately fall]."

The wind blew across the earth.

White bones rolled across the ground, making gravel-like collision sounds.

After a brief silence, it became the other party's turn to slowly pick up a different-colored Chess Piece.

"(An expected wager.)" A mechanical voice stated, "(Based on current data, the likelihood of Zhai Xing's downfall is extremely high. The human's internal treachery, the immense danger on the Luowasha Plane, and some top players' inevitable Betrayal… he dared to take it as a bet, his trust in humanity is profoundly deep.)"

"(Hm… The Originals are all alike, believing in humanity's good to a tragic extent. Although they have room to ascend, they bind themselves, willingly declining.)" Dieying's voice rang out, filled with complex emotions, uncertain if they were genuine or just conversational.

"(Fun Demon. If the Luowasha Plane collapses, the journey ends there, right? The concept of the World Game largely stems from the Luowasha Plane, if they can truly discover this concept, perhaps the shackles of the World Game will be shattered, and we can all embrace complete freedom.)" A hoarse voice said.

"(Haha.)" The Fun Demon squinted, revealing a gleeful grin, "(So please do try to destroy Luowasha ~ The sooner the table is flipped, the sooner the World Game ends early, then everyone can go home for dinner, right?)"

The jest didn't spark laughter.

"(If the World Game breaks prematurely, what will happen to these Players?)" A female voice from the twelve seats asked.

"(Who knows. It depends on their harvest in Luowasha, many factors play a role. Like whether Su Ming'an's small world can provide Blessing to seventy billion humans. Whether Zhai Xing's Rules have completely vanished. Whether they've found a collective Dimensional Ascension Method in Luowasha. Whether their wishing Positional Rank is sufficient. Whether they found nothing, collectively obliterating in the vast Universe… all these possibilities exist.)" Dieying shrugged.

"(He can't possibly win, the probability of Zhai Xing falling is too high.)" A mechanical voice said.

"(Then agree with him.)"

"(Yes, agree to his wager.)"

Boss Rabbit listened to Their dialogue, looked at Su Ming'an, and said with a smile, "Dear Number One Player, we agree to your wager content. Since you believe Zhai Xing will not fall, let's bet that Zhai Xing will definitely fall."

Click.

Su Ming'an raised a brow, gazing into Boss Rabbit's eyes, "You seem to have misunderstood."

"…?"

Their gazes fixed on him.

"Who said I want to bet Zhai Xing won't fall?" Su Ming'an said, "What I want to wager is—[That Zhai Xing will ultimately fall]."

Boss Rabbit was slightly startled, but quickly comprehended Su Ming'an's intent.

…This is.

The scarlet pupils trembled, finding it hard to believe in his resolute decisiveness.

Other beings quickly understood his intent, further feeling a strong dissonance.

Click, click, click.

Like the sound of a second hand ticking.

The youth on the high platform kept his gaze in the emptiness, not meeting any gaze, as if… there was something there bringing him comfort and joy.

Yet it was clearly a Void.

He was too impoverished and distressed, with nothing to offer besides himself. Even the wager itself had a significantly low probability in favor of him, so…

He placed himself,

on the side belonging to his enemy.

…

"If you win, take me." The black-haired youth raised his eyebrows, slowly spreading his arms, this undefended posture made him appear more like meat on a chopping board, yet all present felt threatened—

From his slightly raised smile, the straightness of his spine, the confidence in his brows. It was like a thick mask covering his face, or something known as the Strategy mode.

But everyone could see, this wager: [Joy for all, tragedy destined for him]—he wasn't actually afraid.

"If you lose…"

Clink.

An illusory coin was thrown up, seemingly spinning in his nimble fingers, descending before Them.

Perhaps some high-dimensionals would observe the coin's front and back, trying to foresee the possible outcome of the wager, but truthfully, whether the coin was heads or tails, the winner was sure to be him.

A regular, insignificant, and otherwise inconsequential human being.

"—then you must spare Zhai Xing, ensuring it will no longer succumb to catastrophe."

This is his last statement in the bet.

Only his echoing, rising, and smiling voice remained in the air.

...

The bet he proposed was:

— If [Zhai Xing finally falls], Su Ming'an wins, and the organizers must spare Zhai Xing.

— If [Zhai Xing does not fall in the end], Su Ming'an loses, and the organizers take him away.

...

Whether it is the former or the latter—there exists the answer of [Zhai Xing inevitably surviving]. No matter which side wins—Zhai Xing will inevitably be protected, it cannot fall.

The only change lies in [whether Su Ming'an will be taken away].

A promise from the high dimensions is not absolute; a promise like "taking him away will spare Zhai Xing" is ineffective, only such a bet holds credibility.

And this is the "sure-win" bet that Su Ming'an proposed.

From the perspective of the organizers, there is a high probability of winning the bet to take him, so they would of course agree to the bet—this "sure-win bet" for humanity is irresistible for the organizers as enemies, they cannot resist this temptation.

Inevitably accepted.

Inevitably established.

Zhai Xing will inevitably survive.

Three inevitabilities.

— This was the content of the bet that Su Ming'an had thought through before stepping onto this platform of Ancient Greek philosophical dialectics.

They will not refuse.

They cannot refuse.

His demand was placed at their lowest threshold, and it gave them great hope, even if they knew his goal, they were willing to accept the bet.

The only flaw lies in—it used to be that Su Ming'an bet on [Zhai Xing not falling in the end], but now he's betting on [Zhai Xing falling in the end], meaning that for him, there will no longer be a perfect outcome. If Zhai Xing doesn't fall, everyone will live on happily, but he will be taken away, no longer belonging to the happiness he won with his own hands. If Zhai Xing falls, to ensure its long-term survival, he will still move forward—

He cut off his own path of retreat.

Pushing the "King" to the front line.

...

Click.

The Chess Player placed the final Chess Piece, pointing directly at the enemy's King.

But now,

The twelve players have no chance to counterattack.

...

"(An irresistible bet.)" said the mechanical voice.

"(To us, there is no loss, even a high probability of getting him. This is a bet we cannot refuse. From the moment he proposed it, he already won.)" said the hoarse voice.

"(I don't understand why someone can go to such lengths, what's so good about that broken world.)" said the young voice.

"(You have no past, nor a homeland, so you cannot understand.)" Dieying's voice lowered significantly, the mockery on the face disappeared, leaving only a sense of melancholy. Staring at Su Ming'an in a daze, it's unclear whether seeing Su Ming'an or through him at someone else... this similar posture, had already been seen once before. That one left behind Ya Sa's tragedy and was the origin of his wandering, will this time change?

"(So even idealists will yield. I thought he would choose a bet that benefits both sides, like saving both Zhai Xing and himself—wasn't he always the one who liked to stand in front of the trolley? Wanting to save and keep both sides, what made him choose to save only one side this time?)" said Boss Rabbit.

"(Idealists can't fill their stomachs, facing such circumstances, one always has to bow to reality.)" said the female voice.

"(But I don't think he ever bowed.)" Dieying said: "(He wanted to save both sides because neither was him. When one side is him, he only cares about the side without him.)"

"(So, agree?)" asked the mechanical voice.

"(Agree. The initiative is now in his hands, we have no way to attack him. He is very smart, and the content of the bet he proposed is very reasonable, this is already the bottom line for both sides.)" said the child's voice.

"(Agree.)"

"(I have no objections.)"

"(I agree.)"

After a series of affirmative voices, they accepted the bet. In fact, they also cannot refuse.

Boss Rabbit looked at Su Ming'an.

He stood alone on the central high platform, even with Su Qing beside him, it was as if there was no one by his side.

The Star Sea vast and boundless, with thousands of planets spiraling around, the young pioneer seemed extraordinarily small, yet towering and indomitable.

The relics of civilization will not become his remains.

The ivory white bone fragments swaying in the wind on the ground will not become the future of the homeland.

By his hand.

By his life.

Because he stands on the balance scale.

Then, the ringing of the bell began.

"—We agree to your bet."

"In the presence of the [rules]."

Ethereal, yet incomparably clear and distinct—the twelve voices of "them" resounded in this philosophical and dialectical world, as if the ancient bell from the universe's past struck with a heavy blow.

Dong—

...

[The Civilization Gambling Pact has been established.]

...

Such a notification sound came from nowhere, as if the steps behind him fractured inch by inch, transforming into an abyss.

If one were to look back again, only emptiness would remain.

Under the cautious yet alert gaze of the high dimensions,

In the silent yet complex eyes of the rabbit,

Under the vast and boundless star sea—

—The King on the high platform lowered his eyes, smiling quietly like that.

As if he was very satisfied with this result, or perhaps although saddened, he still acted happy.

On the non-existent and void chessboard,

A King's Chess Piece shone bright at the enemy King's position.

...

Carrying along descending mud and sand,

—The young man finally stopped his own flow with his own hands.

...

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