God's Imitator

Watching the relentless exchange between the two, Huang Shengjie was dumbfounded, constantly looking from Lu Bingjun to Qin Cheng, overwhelmed.

By now, his mind was completely muddled, unable to grasp the situation.

The others couldn’t be much better off.

Huang Shengjie had a feeling that although Qin Cheng hadn’t explicitly said, "Lu Bingjun is the Imitator," he had somehow pushed him into a very dangerous position.

That’s why Lu Bingjun was getting increasingly angry.

But putting himself in the same position, Lu Bingjun indeed seemed to struggle to find a strong rebuttal.

Precisely because Qin Cheng had no evidence, Lu Bingjun couldn’t entirely refute Qin’s reasoning by undermining the evidence’s validity.

All players had entered the phase of ’free evaluation based on personal conviction.’

Huang Shengjie instinctively looked at Yao Yuan, only to find him deep in thought, with no inclination to speak.

Absolutely speechless? That should be impossible.

As long as Yao Yuan wanted to refute, he should always find a reason.

But in the end, Yao Yuan chose silence, perhaps because he had judged the current situation and made some special choices and preparations.

Lu Bingjun continued to defend himself, but players began to stand up.

Lin Sizhi was the first to step toward the Community Management Office.

Soon, it wasn’t just him; other players began to stand up and go to vote in succession.

There were about 15 minutes left until the voting closed. If you couldn’t vote successfully before the end, it would be deemed a ’guilty’ verdict by default, so you must vote.

Qin Cheng timely reminded, "A final reminder, this is the opportunity I’ve risked everything to fight for you.

"We only have this one chance.

"A single vote will determine the fate of the entire Community 2."

Lu Bingjun exhaled a long breath and sat back in his seat.

He looked at everyone, "After Old Wei’s death, thanks to your trust, I took on the First Player Identity of the community. I have been cautious, leading everyone to where we are now.

"You’re all aware of my contributions to the community; you shouldn’t act like this...

"Aunt Geng, Wanlin, remember how I helped you in the game?

"Shengjie, I’ve always had high hopes for you, always believed that with time, you could play an essential role in the community.

"Now, are you going to destroy me just because of these unfounded accusations?"

Lu Bingjun looked at everyone with unprecedented sincerity.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But Qin Cheng spoke indifferently, "If it isn’t for using groundless accusations to destroy a player, why else would you try so hard to pass this judgment bill?

"Now that the public trial is against you, can’t you accept it?"

Under Lu Bingjun’s gaze, everyone either nodded or remained silent, standing up to head to the Community Management Office.

No one knew the others’ voting results; choices had to be made based on personal convictions.

Of course, this vote itself didn’t have a Lie Detection Mechanism, so one could vote ’guilty’ simply out of a ’hope that he dies,’ even without believing Lu Bingjun is the Imitator.

...

Huang Shengjie walked out of the Community Management Office and returned to the hall.

Yao Yuan was the last to stand up and proceed to vote.

Huang Shengjie felt Lu Bingjun’s gaze on him; he chose to lower his head, unwilling to meet his eyes.

In the end, he voted ’guilty.’

When this thought occurred, Huang Shengjie was surprised, but after considering it thoroughly, he felt there was no other choice for him.

Because finding clear evidence to accuse an imitator in the community was highly unlikely, everyone had to rely on ’free evaluation based on personal conviction’ to vote.

If one always votes ’not guilty’ due to lack of evidence, then, as Qin Cheng said, what’s the point of this bill?

Accurately speaking, this vote was like a simple, straightforward stand for one of two sides.

Support Lu Bingjun? Or support Qin Cheng?

Vote ’not guilty’ for the former, ’guilty’ for the latter.

Mindlessly voting ’not guilty’ certainly ensures that no player will leave the community, but as Qin Cheng said, the accusation is actually about risking everything.

If Lu Bingjun stays, Qin Cheng’s fate within the community is sealed.

In the choice between two, Huang Shengjie ultimately sided with Qin Cheng.

"Anyway, there’s nothing I can do to control the final voting result..."

...

This waiting seemed longer than ever before, and finally, the results appeared on the big screen.

[Qin Cheng has accused Lu Bingjun of being the ’Imitator’; the public trial is over.]

[Guilty: 9 votes]

[Not Guilty: 2 votes]

[The accusation is established. The accused player, identified as the Imitator, will be ’stripped of visa time (remaining 1 week) and expelled from the community.’]

[Please leave the community immediately within 10 minutes, and proceed randomly to any vacant community. Overtime will result in an Instant Death Penalty.]

Seeing this outcome, Lu Bingjun’s eyes were vacant, and his breath quickened.

He collapsed onto the chair, at a loss for words.

But the expressions of surprise on the players’ faces were evident, more than just one.

It was clear that this result went beyond many players’ expectations, even among those who had voted ’guilty.’

Qin Cheng closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh.

Then he raised a hand toward the hall’s entrance, making his meaning very clear: Please, proceed.

Lu Bingjun’s eyes scanned over the other players in the community one by one; most avoided his gaze, dodging in different directions, but some chose to meet his eyes without hiding their emotions.

Some emotions were angry, some indifferent, and some mocking.

The countdown on the big screen ticked away, and time was running out for Lu Bingjun.

He looked once more at Yao Yuan beside him, and again at the others, but in the end, he said nothing.

He simply accepted reality, forcing himself to walk step by step out of the community.

Although the remaining time was barely enough for him to return to his room and pack, he didn’t do so.

Perhaps Lu Bingjun had nothing worth taking, or perhaps he could no longer bear to stay even a minute longer.

"Wait, you seem to have forgotten something."

The one speaking was Qin Cheng.

He delivered the final blow as Lu Bingjun was about to leave the hall: "Just a reminder, that’s Wei Changfeng’s item, shamelessly stolen by you."

Lu Bingjun stopped, taking the First Player Identity Card from his pocket and throwing it to the ground.

"I am being slandered.

"I have a clear conscience.

"One day, you will understand."

Afterward, Lu Bingjun continued on, slowly, gradually making his way toward the community’s entrance.

Originally, the entrance was meant to verify visa info, and since the community had reached full capacity, it hadn’t been in use for a long time, but now a new message appeared.

[Deducting all visa time (remaining one week), and leaving the community.]

[4:34]

Below was a countdown similar to the one on the hall’s screen.

Lu Bingjun swiped his visa bracelet below, deducting his visa time.

Then the community entrance opened once more.

He glanced back one last time at the entire Community 2.

Over time, every detail of Community 2 was etched deeply into his mind.

He had thought he might die in the game or become this community’s true leader but never imagined leaving in such a disgraced manner.

...

In the hall, everyone waited in silence for the outcome.

It felt like Lu Bingjun stood at the community gate for ages; in the end, with over a minute left on the countdown, the screen information disappeared.

The community doors closed again.

Lu Bingjun had left, leaving Community 2 alive; staying would only bring an immediate Instant Death Penalty.

This was his proposal, and in the end, he was the first to send himself away.

Everyone stayed seated, untouched and silent.

Because at this moment, no one knew where Community 2 would head next.

Lin Sizhi quietly got a cup of coffee from the vending machine, sipping while keenly observing the forthcoming developments in the community.

Qin Cheng nonchalantly stood up, picked up the First Player Identity Card that Lu Bingjun had left behind, and gently blew on it.

As if dusting it off, as if cleaning away its stain.

Then, he returned to his seat, placing the Identity Card slightly away from his spot on the table.

"Sorry, everyone.

"I lied to you.

"In reality, the S-Class imitator in the community is not Lu Bingjun, but someone else entirely."