Lin Yu basically agreed with Unforgotten's reasoning.
Although the Crow-Man had indeed played word gas and set a "trap" in the first question.
However.
This couldn't be used as proof that this question must contain wordplay.
In a sense, this was also a form of "fraudulent behavior."
So after putting himself in the other's shoes, Lin Yu the 'Fraudster' easily reached a conclusion...
If it were him, Lin Yu would definitely mix truth with falsehood too.
After brief consideration, Lin Yu picked up where Unforgotten left off.
"Then let's temporarily treat this 'problem' as a regular elentary school math question."
"If we discover the possibility of 'wordplay traps' while solving it... we can consider that aspect then."
Lin Yu said quietly.
Since Lin Yu had almost single-handedly solved the first question earlier.
Despite being the "newest" mber in terms of experience, he had beco the group's backbone.
Naturally, the other four players had no objections to Lin Yu's current suggestion.
Number Eight quickly began calculating.
"There are five of us, but these 'tasks' require a total of six people!"
Number Eight looked at the "Crow-Man," as if realizing sothing.
"Examiner, must we strictly adhere to this number? Could we possibly do it with one more or less person, even if it affects completion ti?"
Number Eight asked.
The Crow-Man shook its head: "Caw caw, each task must be completed with exactly the required number!"
After hearing this, Number Eight scratched his head sheepishly.
"So that's how it is. I thought the 'trap' might be hidden here!"
Then he began ntal calculations.
"If we strictly treat this as a math problem..."
"With this calculation thod, the fastest would take 25 minutes," Unforgotten said beside them. "One person cracks the code, three search for keys, one stands by—then the code-cracker imdiately joins the standby person to turn the switch."
"25 minutes," Iron Uncle pondered. "At that ti, it seems quite likely soone among us would die."
After all, in the most optimistic scenario, this room would be completely flooded in about 15 minutes.
Even considering breath-holding duration, soone would undoubtedly drown.
April also frowned: "So the answer... inevitably involves soone dying?"
"No, that's the conclusion from treating it purely as a 'math problem,'" Unforgotten shook her head. "We haven't considered the possibility of 'wordplay traps' yet—did you notice the Crow-Man's exact wording: 'Can you guarantee no one will drown before the hatch closes?'"
"He didn't specify that we must complete all three tasks."
"In other words, if we prioritize completing the most ti-consuming task of closing the switch, then after 15 minutes—the hatch would close, stopping the water flow."
"Considering breath-holding ti in that scenario, we might not lose anyone."
As Unforgotten spoke, Iron Uncle and Number Eight were convinced.
"That makes sense, this seems to be the 'wordplay trap'!"
Only April remained frowning.
"I feel sothing's off... but I can't pinpoint it."
Lin Yu also felt sothing was wrong.
The water level had now risen to his chest, and the shorter Unforgotten had to tread water to speak.
April wasn't tall either, so she stood on tiptoe in the water.
Number Eight grew anxious: "Right or wrong, at least Unforgotten's analysis sounds reasonable..."
"Let's just answer based on this—after all, answering too slowly also incurs 'penalties'!"
Number Eight's words swayed April too.
But just as April was about to endorse Unforgotten's analysis.
Lin Yu spoke up.
"No—what Unforgotten deduced is actually the biggest 'trap'!"
Even though Lin Yu had suggested temporarily ignoring "wordplay traps," everyone still couldn't truly disregard that possibility.
It's hard to overco preconceived notions in one's subconscious.
Having experienced deception in the first round, Lin Yu knew well that successful fraud often exploits people's "subconscious" assumptions.
"So this question's 'trap' isn't in the wording... but on the wall."
Lin Yu looked at the safe projection on the wall.
It was an old-fashioned safe projection with a combination dial lock.
"Whether it's 25 minutes or 15 minutes, the timing is too 'ambiguous'—both scenarios could either result in deaths or not... so the answer can't be such an uncertain tifra."
"And I'm curious—why must you present these as 'hypothetical' tasks rather than having us actually perform them?"
The Crow-Man shrugged: "After all, this ga is called 'Deadly Quiz'!"
Lin Yu shook his head.
"No, there's more to it."
"That safe on the wall is probably the 'illustration' for the first task," Lin Yu looked at the Crow-Man. "Then where are the 'illustrations' for the next two tasks..."
Hearing Lin Yu's question, the Crow-Man floating on the water burst into laughter, slapping the water surface with its wings.
"Caw caw, you've found the key point again!"
The Crow-Man waved, and projections illustrating the other two "tasks" appeared sequentially.
First was a narrow hole too small for a hand to reach into, containing a tal key.
This was likely the illustration for the second "find the key" task.
Next, an old-fashioned rotary switch projection appeared on the wall—wrapped with fist-thick chains—ending in a massive padlock.
This illustrated the third "turn the switch" task.
The padlock's design perfectly matched the tal key.
Seeing these three illustrations, the remaining four players realized sothing.
Lin Yu looked at the Crow-Man and said quietly: "Let confirm this—Examiner, these three tasks must be completed sequentially, correct?"
The Crow-Man laughed: "Caw caw, yes—the safe contains a magnet and thin wire, the key unlocks the switch's padlock, you're too clever!"
Lin Yu exhaled.
"So the actual ti needed to close the overhead hatch is 10 plus 12 plus 15, a full 37 minutes—at that point, forget about possible deaths, none of us might survive."
"Therefore, my answer is... we cannot guarantee no one will die."
The Crow-Man looked at the other four players.
Before it could ask, the remaining four hurriedly spoke up.
"We all agree with Lin Yu's answer!"
The water level had risen further, now forcing even the three taller n to stand on tiptoe.
The Crow-Man then announced the answer.
"Caw caw, congratulations... you've correctly answered the second 'reward-punishnt question'!"
"Your reward is—in the next room's 'dilemma question,' after your first answer, I'll open the door you didn't choose in this room and give you one chance to change your selection!"
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