“…….”


    That goddamn Artificial Intelligence would have definitely figured out this predictable assumption. This argument was disputable, too. <Intellectual> looked unenthusiastic as he responded. “Or what if she predicted this reaction of yours, claiming that my assumption is predictable?”


    [What a way to dive right into the This or That nightmare!]


    “Hey, you be quiet! Anyway, you’re just playing with words!”


    “Yes, I am. But what remains is the fact. The fact that this guy here hurled the red ball and was easily forgiven.”


    “…….”


    To everyone’s surprise, <Hothead> remained silent. <Janitor>, whose eyes had been glued to his tablet the entire time, spoke up with unenthusiastically. “Anyway, that Bingo thing needs a majority of votes. We have one suspect, so let’s get on with it.”


    “That’s right. All this arguing will only split the votes.”


    <Christian> nodded in agreement. The others didn’t seem to have any arguments against starting the Bingo vote. It seemed like things were going somewhat smoothly, but <Humanities> Junsung sensed a different kind of atmosphere. Are they no longer that interested in finding Artificial Intelligence?


    Intellectual didn’t incite the ignorant masses. The masses themselves were pretending to be incited by Intellectual.


    While there were no obvious signs or anything, <Humanities> Junsung felt all the impure intentions in the air, in his bones. So he frantically started typing on his tablet to ask for help.


    Humanities: Hey, say something!


    Schoolgirl: Say what?


    Humanities: It’s obvious Hothead’s not Artificial Intelligence! We’re only going to lose another shot at Bingo this way!


    Schoolgirl: Exactly what I want.


    Humanities: Huh?


    Humanities: Are you by any chance Artificial Intelligence


    Humanities: Never mind. But if we don’t get Bingo right, more people will die!


    Schoolgirl: That’s also what I want.


    Schoolgirl: Anything else you wanna know?


    “…….”


    <Humanities> Junsung suddenly remembered what was inside <Schoolgirl’s> arm warmer. She had attempted suicide by cutting her wrists. If she thought little of life — her own or others’ — she could as easily go against Bingo. She was probably happier about the increasing prize money, irrespective of whether there were more chances that she herself would die or not. Just then, <A.I> Reina jumped right in. [Shall we begin the Bingo vote for Day 3, then? If there are any objections, speak now or never. No, right?]


    <Humanities> Junsung was dying to object but chose to remain silent. The 10-minute time limit was set, and <Hothead> crossed his arms. “I have no intention of making up some useless crap to object. But I feel so sorry for you guys that you’re losing this chance at Bingo, so I gotta say just one thing: I’m not Artificial Intelligence.”


    “Yeah, like anyone would believe that. Anyway… Oh!”


    “…Huh?”


    <Hothead’s> last words created a strong impression. Artificial Intelligence could not lie. Therefore, it could not say “I’m not Artificial Intelligence.” Realizing this, Junsung put his hand away from the tablet.


    “Wait…! If he could say that, <Hothead> is not Artificial Intelligence!” he cried.


    “Is that so? Then who do we vote for?”


    “No, that could be a lie.”


    “What!?”


    Although <Hothead> had flatly argued that he was human, <Intellectual> just ignored the statement.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    “Just think from Artificial Intelligence’s perspective. I know it can’t lie, but… If that <Hothead> is really Artificial Intelligence, it’s definitely a major crisis that puts his life at risk. We’re putting a gun to his head. That would make him break the rules and even lie, wouldn’t it? That’s what expected values are about. Am I right, Red Ball?”


    […….]


    The “This or That” nightmare went on. There was an endless chain of binary systems where absolutely nothing could be trusted. Everyone was stressed out and about to explode. They began screaming and deviated from the logic gate hell one by one.


    “Arghhh! It’s driving me nuts! Let’s just vote!”


    “I hadn’t bothered to think this much even for the presidential elections.”


    “Wait, we should choose someone to cast all our votes for!”


    “There’s no time. Just pick anyone!”


    Pick anyone?


    Procedures of Mafia Game (Day - Bingo)


    <ol start="3">


    <li>The identity of the player that receives the most votes in the Bingo process will be determined to check whether they are human or Artificial Intelligence.</li>


    </ol>


    Picking anyone in a vote that required a majority would just let that vote go waste. There had to be at least six votes for one person, and it was impossible to scatter them randomly. It was impossible to come up with another suspect in just 10 minutes. Despite the ridiculous situation, the third Bingo ended.


    [The voting is done. Let’s see the result.]


    <The Third Bingo Vote: Result>


    <Hothead> 9 votes, <Intellectual> 1 vote


    <Hothead>: Intellectual, Old Man, Janitor, Engineering, Schoolgirl, Muscle Man, Social Worker, Humanities


    <Intellectual>: Hothead


    Result: <Hothead> is subject to determination of Artificial Intelligence.


    The pressure of the majority requirement had led all votes to be cast for <Hothead>. Even <Hothead> seemed to have given up, as he had voted for <Intellectual>, who had already been the target of Bingo on Day 1. As <Hothead> walked over to the head seat without complaining, <Old Man> muttered feebly. “I hope he’s not Artificial Intelligence. Well, he probably isn’t anyway.”


    “Huh?”


    The atmosphere was definitely subtle, but that statement was just bluntly negating Bingo, and the players opened their eyes wide. <Janitor> pointed at the total prize display.


    “We get 400 million won if we get this Bingo right! That’s 20 years’ salary for me!”


    “I can’t even buy an apartment in the station area in the capital with that 400 million won.”


    “What more could you want at your age? Come on!”


    “You go to an old age home at my age, then. I’m tired of all that.”


    While <Janitor> and <Old Man> were having this pointless argument, <A.I> Reina announced <Hothead’s> Bingo results.


    [<Hothead> is … Not Artificial Intelligence! Tee-hee-hee.]


    “Stop that fucking giggle and just let me go, goddammit!”


    Everyone had already shifted their attention to <Old Man’s> statement, and no longer cared about <Hothead’s> Bingo result.


    “Old Man, are you saying that money is more important than human life?” asked <Muscle Man> in disbelief.


    “What’s wrong with that? That’s what this world is about. I just can’t keep up with everything you’re saying, so I just voted to get anyone eliminated as soon as possible. And I will keep doing that.”


    “What? That’s the only reason you voted for


    yesterday? It’s people’s lives we’re talking about here! You can’t just vote recklessly like that!”


    “And it’s okay for you kids to slander and kill people with reason?”


    “Well, uh, I mean…”


    Even the players who cast the dissenting vote yesterday couldn’t respond to <Old Man’s> question. <Old Man> then said something even more extreme. “I don’t blame you — Quite the contrary. It is natural for one person to kill another. That’s what makes this society truly sound and proper.”


    “Huh? How can you say that? We’re in a world of law and democracy!”


    “Sure, it’s a damned world.” <Old Man> clicked his tongue and launched into a speech. “Kids today have no ambition. They’re stuck in their rooms looking into their electronic devices for hours on end, like moths drawn to light. They’re not living their lives, but watching others’ lives from the sidelines. Young men should experience things, like throwing firebombs, picking fights with someone, reading about Marxism, and putting their hands on women, you see.” <Janitor> was the only one who nodded to that nonsense. The other players just made faces, but <Old Man> was completely unfazed and continued blabbing. “Back in that, er, selection round, I assumed they would gather some people and make us fistfight in a fighting arena or something. I was willing to fight with some kids. But now that I’m here, it’s all about stupid voting and scuffling like those darn politicians. The lads here are all whining like sissies. Very disappointing. Eh!” <Old Man> punched the air a couple times with very swift, methodical jabs. The players didn’t bother to argue with the kind of life this elderly man had probably lived. They just didn’t want to get into it. Looking around at the players, <Old Man> got to the point.


    “Ah, the old man got carried away, huh? So you are free to vote for whomever, but just be a manly man and go against the vote instead of foolishly ruining the chance, pretending to agree. You know what you’re doing? Being hypocritical, that’s what. Ahem.”


    “…….”


    Holy shit. No one’s an easy mark here!


    <Old Man> had clearly passed the selection round for a reason. While playing dumb, he was well aware of how things were going in the game. Their third chance at Bingo went down the drain, leaving only <Old Man’s> admonition and the upcoming trial for them to deal with. If <Humanities> Junsung wasn’t wrong, that day’s trial was going to be more cutthroat and heartless than ever before. This was clearly implied by the atmosphere in the room.


    <Muscle Man> then made a suggestion with a sheepish look on his face. “Uh… Guys, let’s get some lunch. This Bingo stuff is draining me.”


    “Yeah, yeah.”


    Everyone agreed, and they scattered to get their meals. It was hard to tell what went on in their minds. There was definitely a lot going on inside each player’s head.


    I should really think about what to do in the next selection vote… After leaving the conference room, <Humanities> Junsung checked a message that had popped up in his inbox.


    Free-timer: Social Worker is the mafia.