When the plot-skips players into the game world

If the roles that the seven people played died prematurely on a certain level, then the ascenders descending from a higher level would directly skip one level and jump to the next lower level—

"This means that it is inaccurate to judge the levels by the number of descents,"

Pure White said calmly, "In other words, each descent could potentially span any number of levels. Therefore, we can only know the relative relationships of above and below."

The old Inspector said, as he drew an Elf Short Sword from his waist and picked up several empty cups from beside the round table.

With incredible skill and agility, he used the tip of the sword to etch the names of several people into the cup rims in Elvish Language.

Fox. Pure White. Jacaranda. Living Silver. Detective.

The script was very small, but exquisite and clear.

"Based on everyone's testimonies, the situation is like this,"

Pure White articulated softly, as he arranged the cups starting from the side furthest from himself.

First was Living Silver, followed by Detective, Jacaranda, Fox, Pure White.

"Detective and Jacaranda killed Living Silver twice in between. Hence, he descended at least three levels directly, jumping to Fox's level, then came together with Jacaranda to my level.

"Jacaranda also descended twice, but only two levels.

"Detective, on the other hand, descended three times consecutively, first to Jacaranda, then Fox, and then to me."

"Three times, huh..."

Aiwass sighed, "This is impossible to round off for you. How can you make such a simple mistake?"

Under everyone's gaze, Aiwass looked towards "Detective."

"When you first met me, you said... 'Before, Jacaranda came down from a higher level to my level'."

— Have you seen the couple arguing in Room 204? That woman is Jacaranda, but she's not yet. She came down before from a higher level to my layer, and we have already exchanged information. After that, I think she will soon come down to this layer... She can corroborate my story.

The reporter's words echoed in Aiwass's heart.

"But you quickly realized that I am Fox, and we were on the same side. So you immediately revised your testimony. You said you had actually descended twice. After your first descent, you met Jacaranda and killed the receptionist. After your second descent, you met me."

"Because back then, we still hadn't identified each other's identities."

The reporter said with a smile, "I didn't know if you were friend or foe... Of course I had to lie a bit. If you could see through my lies immediately, that would mean you are Merlin—that's reasonable, right?"

Indeed, it was reasonable.

In the absence of any evidence, Aiwass's reasoning should indeed follow the reporter's. Since that was the only piece of information available at the time, it was his only logical starting point.

"Look, after I found out you were Fox, didn't I immediately correct my testimony..."

The reporter said, looking pitifully at Jacaranda, "I did see you, didn't I? Not only that, but I killed the receptionist right in front of you—"

"...Yes, that's right."

Jacaranda was somewhat hesitant, "At that time, I did indeed see Mr. Reporter."

"But we can't rule out the possibility that both 'reporters' were played by Merlin."

Pure White stated calmly and logically.

Aiwass crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, "You did indeed modify your testimony, but a new flaw appeared in it."

— I didn't see anyone on my initial level. To avoid missing the opportunity to meet with the others, I immediately committed suicide and descended to the next level. And on the level above, I saw Jacaranda. At that time, I suspected the receptionist was Merlin... because he was deliberately stalling for time, looking for excuses to make me wait a bit longer.

This was the updated version of the reporter's testimony.

"If you didn't see anyone, how did you kill Living Silver?" asked Aiwass.

"Ah, that can be explained, too."

The reporter interlaced his ten fingers on the desk and smiled, "This is a scheme, and it's also an overt plot.

"What if I told you that I've killed, or induced the ascendants of this layer to kill, certain people in certain layers, making their number of descents unrelated to the floor numbers?

"How would you deduce which layer we're currently on?"

At this point, the reporter slightly lifted his chin and pointed at Pure White, "Take him, for example.

"He claims he was born on this layer. Is that true?

"Maybe he was actually born on the layer above, and after killing everyone with that sword, he committed suicide... and now we're actually on an even lower layer?

"In that case, there's one layer missing from everyone's perception. And the existence of this layer is known only to Pure White.

"So, is there a possibility that we're currently on layer zero?"

"So have you admitted it?"

Pure White spoke calmly, pointing his sword blade at the 'reporter'.

But just at that moment, Aiwass suddenly raised his gun and pressed the barrel against Pure White's temple.

"Don't move, Mister... or Miss Pure White."

Aiwass squinted his eyes and spoke softly, "Before everything is clear, it's better not to resort to arms... that would be better."

"Do you believe that?"

Pure White turned his head to look at Aiwass and asked in return.

"Because it is indeed possible."

Aiwass nodded slightly, his mouth curved up slightly, "What do you think, who was Merlin speaking to when he revealed his identity and said all those things?"

"He was speaking to you."

Living Silver suddenly spoke up, the corner of his mouth lifting, "Because he knows you have many doubts."

"Indeed, he was speaking to me, but not because I am suspicious."

Aiwass answered, "It's because he knows that my companions are not by my side. So I cannot afford to gamble."

If the current reporter was Merlin, it meant that there are still three people missing from the scene.

Apart from Topaz, Aiwass's two teammates were not present. In other words, they were on other layers.

Although everyone has different tasks, there are some common ones. For instance, in this mission, 'killing Merlin' and 'killing Merlin on layer zero' were likely tasks assigned to each individual.

"If the death of a person in a certain layer leads to a higher-level ascendant skipping that layer entirely when descending...

"Does that mean, if we are now on layer zero, which is the reality layer, then even if Merlin were killed, the person he possessed would be directly eliminated?"

Aiwass spoke slowly.

It was as if a hole was punched through layer zero. If someone from the first layer jumped down, they would pass right through this hole into the bottomless abyss before even touching the ground.

"Similarly, if this is layer zero, then no matter how Merlin sugarcoats his words, all that's needed is to not die. One merely needs to kill any one person, and whoever is possessed by Merlin, provided they land on layer zero before the end, can push Merlin out."

Aiwass squinted, looking at Pure White, who remained expressionless, "In other words—

"If this is layer zero, then you actually don't care who Merlin is. All you need is an excuse to kill any one of us three.

"Regardless of whether he's Merlin or not, you all have the chance to clear the game."

This was the hidden deep logic of this ritual.

Or rather, this was the Surefire Method of this ritual.