Chapter 398: Not Enough

Du Lai snapped back to reality, slowly retracting his hand…

But his eyes remained focused on the doll lying on the coffee table.

Bai Youwei slightly raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled. Many people wanted the Substitute Doll, but Du Lai’s demeanor… seemed to show more determination than anyone else, as if he could settle for nothing less.

This was quite strange.

However, she generally couldn’t care less about others’ business, as long as Du Lai could offer the puzzle pieces, she would complete the trade.

Du Lai’s hoodie had a large pocket in the middle, accessible from either end.

He took out a handful of puzzle pieces from the pocket, one by one, laying them out on the coffee table.

One piece, two pieces, three pieces… six pieces, seven pieces.

That was all. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Bai Youwei looked at him coolly, “Hey, we agreed on ten puzzle pieces.”

“I know, ten puzzle pieces,” Du Lai answered calmly, “Ten… used puzzle pieces. But what I’ve given you are six used pieces, and one… unused piece.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Youwei’s heart skipped a beat.

Others in the room looked surprised as well.

Tan Xiao blurted out: “Are you crazy? Why don’t you keep the unused puzzle piece for yourself? Why are you exchanging it for an accessory?”

While Substitute Dolls only protect against injuries, puzzle pieces can directly enable players to leave the game. Comparatively, it’s evident that the puzzle pieces hold more value!

Let’s take a simple example——

In “The Last Bride”, what would happen if a player captured by the Duke used a Substitute Doll? For a time, they would indeed be immune to damage, but what about after that time passed? The player attached to the torture device would still die! Unless during that window, other players managed to complete the game!

Given this, Du Lai’s behavior was highly unusual.

Bai Youwei reached out and ran her fingers over the puzzle pieces on the coffee table one by one.

She hesitated when she got to the seventh piece.

It indeed was an unused puzzle piece, as information would flash in her mind when she touched it.

She looked at Du Lai, her eyes squinting slightly. Her silent gaze was both an examination and a questioning.

“You don’t need to doubt my intentions.” Du Lai replied with a smirk, a blend of naughtiness and coolness, “Puzzle pieces can let players leave the game, but they can’t make them win the game. And what I want… is to win.”

Bai Youwei’s index finger lightly tapped twice on the coffee table.

She looked at Shen Mo.

After reflecting for a moment, Shen Mo told her, “Trade should be based on trust.”

Bai Youwei contemplated this, “Hmm… trust should indeed be valued.”

She picked up the doll from the coffee table, putting it away, said, “I won’t trade.”

Almost losing his composure, Du Lai’s expression twitched!

“No trade?” he asked incredulously, “Didn’t you just say trust is important?!”

“Exactly, that’s why I won’t trade,” Bai Youwei replied nonchalantly, “We agreed on ten puzzle pieces for the doll, and you only have seven pieces.”

“Among these seven puzzle pieces, there’s one which gives exemption rights!” Du Lai spitefully stressed. “This one piece of puzzle alone can equate to ten used puzzle pieces!”

“No, it doesn’t.” Bai Youwei shook her head slightly,”You just said your goal is to win, I have my goals too. My goal is to collect puzzle pieces, the more the better. What others may regard as precious, I regard as just another piece. Because of this piece, I missed out on three others which I find unacceptable.”

Du Lai looked at Bai Youwei and then at Shen Mo, pointed at them, and shouted, “Are you guys playing me?!”

Is this what they call trading?

This was clearly finding fault on purpose!

“Not at all~” Bai Youwei sat on the couch, speaking in an unconcerned manner,”You can use this piece to exchange for four used ones, when you have ten in total, you can come find me anytime~ I’m always open.”