The man in the golden crying mask was obviously not someone to be trifled with.
He had already heard some clues from the host's words, so he used the precondition of "we are now" when he asked the question.
In fact, many people didn't realize that there was a precondition in the words of the organizer, and that was to say, "You have already become my possession". In other words, before you became his "possession", he would still treat you as a human being. As for the "human", he would naturally keep his promise.
However, once you chose to accept the host's "protection", or rather … "slavery", you would have to be mentally prepared.
The so-called "losing all rights as a human being" was not just for show.
Asking you to kill someone was already good enough …
Not only could he "ask" you to do anything, but if you didn't do it, he could "do anything to you".
No one would come to save you, just like no one would save a "thing" that belonged to someone else.
"What's the point of asking about killing someone? You lack imagination. " Two seconds later, Feng Bujue spoke again. He raised his voice to the host on the second floor. "I just want to ask … If you want, can you turn us into human centipedes? Or make us film a hardcore movie with other species, or kill us and then sell our organs? "
Before he finished speaking, the crowd in the venue was already in an uproar.
Although Feng Bujue's tone was very relaxed when he said this, he still succeeded in causing a small panic.
"Heh …" The host laughed again. In just a few minutes of brief contact, he had already strongly felt that … the man in the crow mask was someone similar to himself — a lunatic.
A few seconds later, the host used a calm tone and clear enunciations to answer Brother Jue's question.
This time, the crowd below was in an uproar. The whispers turned into a clamor.
"How I want to use these 'things' is my freedom," the host said. However, the organizer immediately added, "However … I can assure you that the examples mentioned by this gentleman … have never happened before." He paused. "In fact, I have never asked anyone who failed in this game to kill anyone."
The host spread his hands and said in a calm tone, "If I want someone to die, I will hire a professional to do it. There is no reason for me to ask someone who has no experience or relevant skills to do this kind of thing." As he spoke, he slowly turned his face and made a gesture of looking around the room. Then, he said, "Everyone … has something that they are good at. Without a doubt, everyone here has outstanding talents in a certain field. What I want is nothing more than your 'talents'."
He was lying.
Not everyone was able to see through it, but there were some people who were able to see through it …
Feng Bujue knew very well that the host's words were half true and half false, and the core intention … to put it bluntly, he wanted to appease and fool these people, in case no one would choose to accept his "protection".
"Of course, I won't be too courteous." The host was a person who understood the changes in people's hearts and had a strong ability to speak. After some comforting words, he continued with a more ruthless statement. "If you think that after accepting my 'protection', you can still get a salary or a vacation … You are thinking too much. What awaits you … is only a job that will never see the light of day and the basic guarantee of survival. Until you 'pay off what you owe me,' there will be no way for you to be free."
"What we owe you …" At this time, the short and fat man wearing the Peking opera mask asked again, "… Is it referring to the money you used when accepting your protection?"
"Haha … Sir, you got it very quickly," the host said with a smile. The organizer smiled and replied, "In this world, more than 90% of the problems can be solved with money. So … whether it is debt or crime, no matter what you have done outside, as long as you are willing to accept my 'protection,' I can solve it for you with money. From then on, all your debts will be transferred to me alone. " At this point, he began to induce them further. "As for me, your creditor … I am also reasonable. After a few years, if you successfully pay off your debt to me, you can regain your freedom … Heh … Of course, the exact number of years will depend on the amount of your debt and the efficiency of your 'labor value'."
"Humph … Is it equivalent to going through labor reform here?" In the crowd, another man wearing a white opera mask snorted coldly.
"Humph … Labor reform?" The host responded with a disdainful snort. "Can labor reform free you from the current predicament?" He asked rhetorically, "I've said it before. 'What I want is your talent.' I'll let you shine in a 'position that suits you,' instead of asking you to do some simple work that anyone can do. If I want to find a group of people who are suitable to work in a sweatshop, I will open another game and draw up another guest list. " He smiled. "Humph … The kind of people who owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in gambling debts and know that they will never be able to pay off their debts with their own ability are everywhere …"
The host's words were like candy and a whip. He gave the group of people a sense of superiority, but he also gave them a sense of reality. The most important thing was … he gave them "hope."
This group of people was the type that had no way out and was willing to stake everything on a single throw.
Under such inducements, it was easy for them to lean toward "luck."
Yes, it was scary to accept the host's "protection," but … So what if they returned to the shore?
Once they returned to the shore, they would face huge debts or prison, or even both.
They would live in the shadow of debt day after day, or spend a long time behind bars. After they were released from prison, they would become marginalized people who could not integrate into society.
They would be a burden to their families, be abandoned, be discriminated against, and have no more chances in life.
As a group of people who had a certain amount of social resources, they understood the way the world worked better than those who had never stood at the top. They had seen more darkness and understood the so-called human nature better.
They knew that falling was not terrible … What was terrible was losing the chance to climb up again. In this world, "opportunities" were always in the hands of a small number of people. Most people were just mediocre and went with the flow. Even if they saw a ray of light from above, it would be easily snatched by those who already had more resources.
Therefore, they were also very clear that leaving this ship was equivalent to giving up their last "chance."
Compared to the "clearly visible despair," perhaps the "blurry abyss" provided by the organizer was more attractive to them.
…
"I can do it."
"I have been through so many storms. This is nothing."
"It's just working day and night. It's like using labor as collateral for a high loan …"
"No matter what, it's better than going out to work at the bottom and being pressured to pay off debts every day."
"Gritting my teeth, I can pay it off in ten years … No, five years. By then, I can go back to the outside world and make a comeback."
"Moreover …"
"Moreover …"
"Moreover …"
"I … I may not lose!"
"Yes, as long as I win …"
"If I win, not only will I be able to pay off my debt, but I will also have a surplus."
"There are a total of eight spots."
"How can an excellent person like me not even enter the top eight?"
…
During the host's speech, the guests were also struggling in their hearts, weighing the pros and cons of the two options …
Under the double luck and illusion of "I can win" and "I can also make a comeback if I accept protection", most people leaned toward the second option.
"Okay … I think everyone knows the way out after these two failures." The host did not let them think for too long. He said, "I don't want to waste time answering all the details one by one …"
When he said this, he deliberately glanced at Feng Bujue. Even though he was wearing a mask, Brother Jue noticed the gaze and responded with a chilling smile.
"In short, the choice is in your hands. I won't force you to accept my 'protection'. If you want to get off the ship after failing, please do so." The host shrugged. "But … before I announce the rules of the game, you have to make a choice first."
Before he finished speaking, several entrances on the first floor were opened one after another. Some men in suits and sunglasses pushed carts and walked out with no expression on their faces.
The items on the carts were the same — pens, contracts, and cash.
"Everyone, I will only say what I'm going to say next, so please listen carefully." When the host said this, the men in suits had already pushed the carts to several designated positions and stood there. "Today, we are going to play more than one game, and each game requires' chips'. And these chips will be 'lent' by me to you."
At this time, the attention of the crowd was basically attracted by the small "mountain of money" around them. The carts were all in US dollars. At a glance, each cart was piled with more than five million US dollar bills. (In Feng Bujue's universe, in order to reduce the crime rate to a certain extent and eliminate obstacles to the implementation of the negative interest rate policy, the evil United States had eliminated the denomination of 100 and 50 US dollar bills many years ago. Therefore, these carts were now filled with 20 US dollar bills.)
"Every guest can borrow from the staff. The amount of borrowing is limited to 20,000 to 100,000 US dollars." The host continued to explain, "Please do not borrow in units below '10,000'. That will waste too much time. After the borrowing is completed, the amount received by everyone will be used in the future games … Of course, this money will also have to be returned. " When he said this, he consciously paused for two seconds. "There's no need to talk about the winners of the game. To you, this amount of money is nothing. You can pay it back in the future. As for the losers … those who choose to accept my 'protection' don't have to care about this. The part that you can't pay back will be included in the funds that you 'owe me.' However, those who choose to leave the ship after losing … You better be mentally prepared. I'm not one to fall for the 'too much debt, no worries.' Once you leave my ship, you are no longer my 'guest'. At that time, I will only give you one month to pay back the money. After one month, I will use a method that is more effective than any usury that you know of to make you pay off the debt. "
The "method" that he mentioned was actually known by many people in the venue.
Apart from the factors of gender and appearance, every healthy adult could be squeezed out of at least half a million RMB.
According to the exchange rate (in this universe, in this era), it was almost 100,000 US dollars.
Of course … the result of this kind of "squeezing" usually meant death.
"I have prepared two kinds of loan contracts. One is for 'those who get off the ship after losing the game,' and the other is for 'those who accept my protection after losing the game.' Please consider which one you want to sign, and … how much you want to fill in." As the host spoke, he waved his hand, indicating that the men in suits who were holding the glass cabinets around him could leave. "You have fifteen minutes to make a decision, and then use the contract to exchange for cash." After saying this, his tone changed slightly and he added, "Oh, by the way. Please don't sign any random names on the contract and try to take advantage of the situation because when you borrow the money, you need to hand over the 'magnetic card' of your room. Your identity will not be confused … You will only embarrass yourself if you sign randomly. "
After saying this, the host paused for a second and took half a step back. He said very politely, "Then … Everyone, please excuse me for leaving for a while."
…
After the host left the main hall, a depressing silence descended.
The small groups that had been chatting happily and regretting not having met earlier were all silent at this moment.
Everyone was struggling with their own thoughts, calculating their own debts.
No one went to discuss with others … because in this place, no one would truly trust others.
Clatter —
In this moment of silence, suddenly, there was the sound of paper being flipped.
At this moment, everyone's attention was naturally attracted by this sound.
When they turned around, Feng Bujue had already picked up the pen and filled in the amount of 100000 on the contract. He then signed his name, Jiang Daode, without missing a beat.
"Take the money." After signing, Brother Jue handed the contract and his magnetic card to the men in suits and said concisely.
In order to prevent people from taking advantage of the situation, there were three men in suits standing next to each cart.
"Uh …" After being stunned for three or four seconds, one of the men in suits finally reacted and took Feng Bujue's contract and magnetic card.
He glanced at the amount and signature on the contract, then said, "One … One hundred thousand …"
Then, he turned to look at his colleague next to him and nodded.
Another man in a suit also nodded in response. Then, he picked up a sealed plastic bag and began to fill it with money.
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