I was watching when suddenly my vision went dark, and the entire cinema plunged into darkness. The spotlight shone onto the round table. Da Huang's wife, watching through the screen, was startled and about to speak when a bandit pressed a chilling dagger to her throat. Da Huang's eyes reddened, "Don't touch her, or I'll risk my life to kill you."
At this moment, the screen changed. From the distant network, it was no longer Da Huang's wife, but someone in a wheelchair. Beneath the mask, a white, V for Vendetta-like mustache was visible. His laughter was dry, neither hoarse nor wild, but rather measured.
"The game is about to begin, please take your seats."
Lin Han was about to sit in seat A when I pulled her away. I gestured for Lin Han to sit in seat C.
"Is there a reason for this?"
As I got closer, I saw an automatic pistol on the grandstand, and I immediately understood. Da Huang asked me now, and I sat in seat A, answering seriously.
"There's a game theory called the 'Gunman's Dilemma'. Suppose Gunman A's accuracy is 80%, Gunman B's is 60%, and Gunman C's is 40%. If the three gunmen shoot simultaneously, who will survive in the end?"
"Who can say for sure!"
"A gun can only target one person. B targets A, and A's survival rate is 40%. C targets A, and A's survival rate is 60%. Therefore, A can only choose to deal with B. Then B's survival is 20%, and C's survival rate is 100%. So, if everyone shoots at the same time, B is the most likely to die."
Da Huang gasped, "That's good."
"However, the reality is not like that. There is only one bullet here. If A shoots and kills B, he will be killed by C. If A shoots and kills C, he will be killed by B. Therefore, A's death rate is 100%, while B and C are 50% each..."
Da Huang nodded, "As expected of Tang Nan, so smart. Without knowing the rules, you left the most likely survivable position for me and Sister."
I nodded, but deep down I knew this game would never be that simple.
As expected, the masked man on the network spoke, "We begin now. Please handcuff your left hand to the chair."
The toolbox contained handcuffs for this purpose. I opened the toolbox and took out a pair. Lin Han saw me and did the same. Da Huang was somewhat unhappy, "Why should we listen to you?"
"You are here because your wife is in our hands. She is pregnant. If you don't comply, you can call the police now, but there will be two deaths."
The masked man spoke calmly, but he had Da Huang completely in his grasp. Da Huang had no ability to resist.
"I want to see my wife's current condition."
"The most important thing in a game is fairness. Of course, you can see your wife's condition."
The screen switched to Da Huang's wife. She was trembling, her face full of tears.
"Wife, I will save you for sure."
With that, Da Huang also put on the handcuffs.
After the three of us were handcuffed, a masked figure walked in from outside. He was dressed like an ancient executioner, with a military knife at his waist.
"The game must be fair, so I need someone to uphold the rules. If you don't tamper with the game, the executioner will do nothing to you. If you break the rules, this executioner will surely use that military knife to sever your heads."
The three of us frowned and nodded in agreement.
"Then I will state the rules. There is one bullet in the gun, but it cannot be used immediately. You must load a bullet into the magazine before you can shoot! There is an unavoidable rule for shooting: you must aim directly at the other person, and neither can miss nor dodge. The game begins, I wish you a good time."
After he finished speaking, the big screen switched to Da Huang's wife.
I picked up the gun.
This was the first time I had ever held a gun; it felt somewhat unfamiliar. It was quite difficult to detach the magazine from the gun with one hand. Fortunately, I succeeded. I placed the bullet into the magazine and clumsily pushed it back.
"Tang Nan, it's fine if you kill me, but you must save my wife and child. Brother is begging you."
After speaking, Da Huang looked at the screen, his eyes full of deep affection for his wife and unborn child, whom he might never see born.
"Brother Huang Er, don't fall for it. Tang Nan is not what you think. He is a schemer. He will sacrifice everything for his plan, including me. I love him, but he doesn't love me. Tang Nan, if you dare to lay a hand on Brother Huang Er, I will shoot you. Brother Huang Er, I hope you grow old with your wife and watch your child grow up."
Da Huang couldn't believe his ears. He truly believed Lin Han loved me, given her years of selfless waiting. But he never expected that in the face of death, Lin Han would choose not to trust me.
I looked at Lin Han and asked earnestly, "Lin Han, do you not love me anymore?"
"After being gaslighted by you for so many years, I finally understand in the face of death. I definitely love you, but you don't love me."
"What are you talking about?"
Lin Han snorted, "Stop with the nonsense. If you don't shoot me, I'll shoot you."
"You~"
Da Huang shouted, "Damn it~ Don't fall for it, Tang Nan! What are you doing? If you dare to kill Sister, don't blame my ruthlessness."
Hearing Da Huang say this, I aimed the gun at Da Huang again. "Sister? Do you really consider her your sister? When she ran away from home and stayed in Beijing, she lived at your place, didn't she? You've had a crush on her for a long time, haven't you? If it weren't for the disparity in social status and her being a billionaire, you probably would have married her long ago."
"What are you talking about? Tang Nan, I never thought you would be this kind of person. Screw you! Fine, since that's the case, let's stop pretending. Shoot! Anyway, only one of us three can survive. Tang Nan, I guarantee, the one who survives will not be you!"
My brow furrowed. I raised the gun, aimed at Lin Han, then turned to Da Huang, shook my head, and turned back to Lin Han.
On the big screen, Da Huang's wife had already cried herself into a mess. Suddenly, the screen switched to the masked man. The masked man clapped, "Truly spectacular! The clients are all excited and have increased their bets. Tang Nan, many people had high hopes for you, but now your support rate doesn't seem very high. But as I said, the happiest part of the game is fairness. I remind you, we have four bullets!"
After the masked man finished speaking, the screen immediately cut back to Da Huang's wife.
I understood. I raised the gun, aimed at Da Huang's arm, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
*Bang*
The gunshot was piercing in the cinema, but due to the soundproofing, it was unlikely anyone outside could hear it.
Da Huang screamed hysterically. Da Huang's wife also cried out loudly. This enraged Da Huang, and he tried to grab the gun, but one hand was handcuffed, and the injured hand couldn't be lifted at all.
I smiled, feeling a little more at ease, "Hey, masked man, what happens if he can't pick up the gun?"
...
The screen switched to the masked man. He appeared to be thinking, "Haha, Tang Nan, you're very clever. But I had also anticipated this situation. Of course, I've accommodated your idea."
The gun turned to Lin Han. Lin Han's eyes began to fill with tears. She looked at me, then at the severely injured Da Huang.
"Kill him, and we'll leave together. Find a good man and get married later, just consider this a mistake."
Da Huang gritted his teeth through the pain and shouted at Lin Han.
Lin Han raised the gun at me, her hand trembling. I looked at her with deep affection, "Lin Han, kill him, and I'll find a way for us to leave together."
"Don't believe him, he's lying to you."
*Bang*
Lin Han pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced my arm bone, and the pain almost made me faint.
*Crack!*
Lin Han threw the gun onto the round table, crying, "I can't do it, I can't do it."
Da Huang sighed and glared at me.
"No one died in the first round, what now?"
I clutched my wound and asked earnestly.
The screen switched to the masked man, "The first round is over, of course, it's the second round."
Hearing the masked man say this, the executioner walked over, unlocked my handcuffs, and stepped back. I stood up, picked up the gun, aimed it at the executioner, and asked earnestly, "If I'm not mistaken, this executioner is the only living person you've arranged in the cinema. What happens if I shoot him?"
The masked man was still smiling, "I remind you, his combat ability is very strong. If you lose, everyone dies. If you continue to play the game, perhaps you can still survive."
Hearing the masked man say this, I sat down again. Da Huang was furious and cursed, "Why are you so cowardly? I treated you as a brother in this life, and I was truly blind."
Now we were back to the original situation. If I shot and killed Da Huang, Lin Han would shoot and kill me. If I shot and killed Lin Han, Da Huang would have his handcuffs removed and would then shoot and kill me. But I still aimed the gun at Lin Han's head.
"Hey, let me ask you, what if he dodges when I shoot with my left hand?"
The screen switched to the masked man. He smiled and said, "According to the rules, he cannot dodge. If he dodges, he will be killed by the executioner for breaking the rules."
Da Huang sneered, "Tang Nan, don't say you'll kill Lin Han, if you dare to hurt her, you'll die."
Hearing this, I turned the gun without hesitation and pulled the trigger, aiming at Da Huang's other arm.
"Ah~"
Da Huang was in so much pain that he was about to faint. On the screen, Da Huang's wife struggled desperately, and the chilling dagger on her neck drew a bloody gash. Da Huang was covered in blood, tears streaming down his face. He said in a gentle voice, "Wife, it's okay. Even if they kill me, they'll let you go. Please, don't get hurt."
After speaking, Da Huang said to Lin Han, "Sister, use my bullet. Don't be fooled by him this time. He's not killing me to use your kind heart."
Lin Han said nothing. She loaded the bullet with one hand. After she finished, she immediately aimed at the executioner and said coldly, "I'm sorry, the game is over!"
The executioner was stunned and lunged at Lin Han. I, who had already unlocked my handcuffs, couldn't let him do that. I immediately stuck out my leg and tripped the executioner. As the executioner was about to stand up, Lin Han pulled the trigger. *Bang*
The executioner fell into a pool of blood...
I rushed over and kicked the severely injured executioner hard, knocking him unconscious. Then I walked to Lin Han, put my arm around the trembling Lin Han, "Don't worry, he's not dead, but he can't move. We won."
Da Huang, injured and unsteady, looked bewildered, "What's going on?"
At this moment, the screen switched to the masked man. He clapped softly, "Well done, Tang Nan. But I still have a surprise for you!"