Ashley Carter frowned slightly...

　　Wrong?

　　Before anyone could react, the clock in the center of the table suddenly behaved strangely.

　　It trembled slightly, then shot out eight beams of laser.

　　The eight beams of laser emerged from the clock, gradually moving to the edge of the table and stopping there.

　　To everyone’s confusion, the clock precisely divided the table, like a pizza, into several equally sized sectors.

　　"Crash!"

　　With a loud bang, the table split into pieces.

　　The central clock now stood alone on a small wooden stump.

　　Ashley Carter looked closely and saw there were nine small sectors and one large sector.

　　No, rather than "sectors," it would be more accurate to call them "triangles," since the base of each table piece was flat.

　　Time was running out, and everyone was in a panic.

　　"What is this thing?" Ethan Cooper cried out. "Why did the table break apart?"

　　At this moment, Officer Thompson noticed that there were handles on the back of each sector-shaped tabletop. His years of professional experience made him instantly realize something.

　　"They’re shields!"

　　He picked up the largest sector-shaped tabletop and held it in front of himself.

　　"We can use these shields to block the harpoons!"

　　Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly picked up a tabletop, but unfortunately, there was only one large tabletop; the rest could only grab a small triangle, barely enough to cover their own bodies.

　　But within just a dozen seconds, everyone realized the problem.

　　"How are we supposed to block them?!" The lawyer Chris Brooks showed a rare trace of panic. "If there are harpoons coming from all directions, we can only block one side!"

　　"We have to cooperate." Ashley Carter snapped back to his senses and spoke. "Let’s form a circle and cover each other’s backs."

　　After hearing this, everyone quickly adjusted their formation and waited quietly.

　　At this moment, the only thing they could hear was each other’s breathing.

　　Nine strangers had now become teammates, none of whom could be spared.

　　Ashley Carter unintentionally glanced back at the writer Ethan Cooper, noticing his face was covered in sweat and his whole body was trembling, looking especially nervous.

　　Just then, a distant chime sounded again from outside the room.

　　"Are you okay?" Ashley Carter asked.

　　"I-I’m fine..." Ethan Cooper shook his head.

　　"Hey! Dr. Harris, turn your tabletop upside down!" Chris Brooks suddenly called out.

　　"Why?" Dr. Harris looked at the tabletop in his hands; its pointed end was down, the wide end up.

　　"You can’t block my legs that way!" Chris Brooks said nervously. "I’ll get hit!"

　　"If I turn it over, I won’t be able to protect my head!" Dr. Harris retorted. "Which is more important, your head or your legs?"

　　Some people, hearing their argument, felt that Dr. Harris had a point, and actually started turning their sectors over.

　　Pointed end down, wide end up.

　　This created a strange situation.

　　Now, the harpoons flying in from all directions would only be blocked on the upper half; everyone’s legs would be injured.

　　"Is this really right?" Jason Clark hesitated. "Even if we can hide our legs in the pointed end and block the front, what about harpoons coming from behind? What about those coming from above?"

　　"I’ll block the top!" Officer Thompson raised his huge tabletop. "Everyone get closer, I’ll protect you."

　　It had to be said, this seemed like the best solution for now: the largest tabletop held up to block above, the others covering the sides. But Ashley Carter still felt something was off.

　　Ethan Green quickly thought for a moment and said, "The rest of us should alternate up and down; we can stagger our shields!"

　　"Right! That makes sense!" Brian Johnson agreed.

　　"No." Ashley Carter interrupted the two. "If everyone’s tabletop is perpendicular to the harpoons, they’ll be too easy to pierce..."

　　"Handsome, then what do you suggest?" Brian Johnson asked.

　　Ashley Carter’s gaze fell on the sheepskin mask on the floor.

　　"Why aren’t bamboo shoots afraid of the rain?"

　　The last hint made Ashley Carter thoughtful.

　　"Wait, wait... give me a little more time." Ashley Carter frowned.

　　Everyone held their breath, watching as time ticked by—only one minute left before the harpoons would launch.

　　"Forget him for now!" Dr. Harris snapped. "Let’s just do as Ethan Green said and stagger our shields!"

　　"You sausage, shut up!" Brian Johnson shouted as well. "I trust what the liar says."

　　"You—!" Dr. Harris gritted his teeth and swallowed his words.

　　What did the big and small table boards mean...?

　　"No..." Ashley Carter suddenly widened his eyes. "It’s a 'lie'! The big tabletop will get us killed!"

　　"What?" Officer Thompson looked at Ashley Carter in confusion.

　　"Officer, throw away the big tabletop and grab the last small one. Everyone, point the tip upward!"

　　Though some were skeptical, most people’s minds were blank and could only follow along for now.

　　Dr. Harris thought for a moment and also turned his tabletop around.

　　Officer Thompson, after hesitating for a few seconds, picked up the last small tabletop as well.