Li Jia Yi smiled and said, "Don't tell me you haven't noticed the problem. I've been watching you, and I know exactly what you're planning."
Bai Ye replied, "The premise of cooperation is not to be coy."
"Alright!" Li Jia Yi continued, "The third restricted zone mission alone offers ten Divine Stone Shards. If you rely on the ghost card to kill people, how many would you need to kill to get ten shards? A full seventy people! In an hour, let alone seventy, it's hard to get one shard by killing seven people. Don't treat others as fools; as time passes, people will undoubtedly gather. If they aren't alone, killing them becomes even harder. The same applies to those with human cards. There are only three ghost cards each round; how can you easily lure people out? The most likely scenario is being targeted by a ghost and then killing it, but it's too difficult to kill ten ghosts this way. Moreover, the restricted zone missions aren't just about Divine Stone Shards."
The rules of the Death Playground had been deciphered by the other party!
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise mixed with not-too-much astonishment. Not many people were intelligent, but there were always some. Besides, seeing through the flaws in the rules didn't require exceptional cleverness; a clear mind was enough.
Bai Ye asked, "So, how do you propose we cooperate?"
Li Jia Yi stated, "I've observed your movement route; you're heading to the haunted house, right? So, you're likely thinking the same as me: the core of everything lies within the haunted house. Let me make a bold deduction: the second restricted zone mission is to find the murderer of a past incident at the haunted house. But this happened many years ago, and there should be no survivors within the Death Playground. Could the murderer from back then be the evil spirit from the third restricted zone mission? But the third mission also involves burning down the playground, which likely corresponds to the first restricted zone mission, escaping the Death Playground!"
Spot on!
Bai Ye showed a flicker of surprise!
Bai Ye knew very well that although the other party's deduction had minor discrepancies in detail, the overall direction was entirely correct.
It wasn't surprising that Bai Ye knew the direction of the three restricted zone missions. Bai Ye even understood what the murder incident in the story was about, and where to find the killer at the haunted house.
This was because Bai Ye had completed the restricted zone missions in the Death Playground in his previous life. However, for the other party to have guessed the general direction with such accuracy purely through deduction was quite impressive.
Li Jia Yi continued, "So, if my deduction is correct, we can understand the difficulty of completing the restricted zone missions: how to successfully evade the supervisors and reach the haunted house."
Bai Ye pondered for a moment, then said, "For now, I'll assume you are correct. So, the reason you're seeking my cooperation is the issue of killing the evil spirit?"
Li Jia Yi did not shy away and stated directly, "Yes, I can go to the haunted house now, but I don't have the confidence to kill the evil spirit."
Bai Ye asked, "What can you do for me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Li Jia Yi replied, "Supervisors won't attack ghost card holders. Therefore, I can help you intercept and delay the supervisors. As long as I stand in front of you, the supervisors' attacks will have to be dodged, allowing you to reach the haunted house smoothly. What do you think?"
Bai Ye said, "Then we're left with the most important point. All cooperation is based on reward distribution. How do you plan to divide the spoils?"
Li Jia Yi proposed, "I will be responsible for getting you to the haunted house and helping find the murderer of the past incident. You will be responsible for dealing with the evil spirit. Comparatively, your contribution is greater and more dangerous. Furthermore, although Divine Stone Shards are tempting, I would rather increase my own strength. Therefore, the third restricted zone mission will be yours, and the first and second restricted zone missions will be mine. How about it?"
"What a generous offer," Bai Ye said, flicking his cigarette butt away. "You claimed you could kill the evil spirit and complete the third restricted zone mission."
"Alright, I can't kill it; I can't complete the third restricted zone mission," Li Jia Yi admitted. "But you must be in a hurry now, aren't you?"
Bai Ye questioned, "What am I in a hurry for?"
Li Jia Yi countered, "With your strength, even if you get a human card, you can inch your way towards the haunted house. You don't fear supervisors, but it's a fact that every meter is difficult to advance under their attacks. Can you reach the haunted house within an hour? What if you get a human card again in the next round? But in an hour, I can escort many people to the haunted house. As long as there are enough decoys, there's still a chance to kill the evil spirit. I still have a good chance of completing the first and second restricted zone missions, but you won't."
Bai Ye's voice grew colder, "Are you threatening me?"
Li Jia Yi paused, seeming to hesitate. For a moment, Li Jia Yi considered backing down. After all, this was someone who could directly confront supervisors; provoking Bai Ye was definitely not a wise move.
Then...
Bai Ye said, "Alright, congratulations. You succeeded."
Li Jia Yi on the other end of the phone was stunned for a moment, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood. To suddenly back down like this, it made him quite uncomfortable.
Li Jia Yi said, speechless, "So, is the cooperation agreed upon?"
Bai Ye replied, "Yes. So, you should show yourself."
Li Jia Yi asked, "Wouldn't you think it's a good idea to grab a Divine Stone Shard first?"
"Afraid I'll kill you directly?" Bai Ye smiled. "Everything a person does requires a price and involves corresponding risks. You proposed this cooperation; I believe you're mentally prepared for it. Or do you think my promise over the phone is useful?"
Li Jia Yi took a deep breath and said, "Outside the restaurant."
Bai Ye hung up the phone and turned to look at the restaurant entrance.
Li Jia Yi was not far from the restaurant where Bai Ye was, hiding behind a large plastic doll nearby. When Bai Ye looked towards the entrance, Li Jia Yi slowly walked out.
He didn't look old, about the same age as Bai Ye, in his early to mid-twenties. He wore a light brown hunter jacket, a pair of dirt-stained and blood-spattered grey sweatpants, and had neat, slicked-back short hair. He looked quite handsome, but like most people who arrived on the World Battlefield, his face showed fatigue and gauntness. After all, before adapting to the World Battlefield, every moment spent within it was a torment to one's spirit.
As Bai Ye approached the door, Li Jia Yi extended his hand and said, "Let's formally introduce ourselves. I am Li Jia Yi."
"Bai Ye!" Bai Ye slapped away Li Jia Yi's outstretched hand. "No need for useless pleasantries. It's a waste of time."