The masked guards placed the bodies of Lee Taek-gyeol, Lee So-i, Park Chae-ho, and the others into coffin gift boxes before sealing the lids and loading them onto transport vehicles.
The masked guards opened the small door and led the winners back into the dormitory. Choi Jeo-rim thought of Player 415 and let out a disdainful laugh. He turned his head toward the dormitory, where only twenty beds remained, and his gaze stopped at one bed.
Kim Chae-eun, who had been lying on the bed, sat up. The moment she saw Jeo-rim, she ran toward him and said, "Grandson, you're my grandson."
Jeo-rim and the others stared at her in shock.
Jeo-rim asked, "You… why are you here?"
Chae-eun smiled happily and said, "That child wearing the mask told me I was a leftover player, so he brought me back to the dormitory. They even said that not abandoning neglected weak people is a rule children follow when playing games. Ah, kids these days are really well-behaved."
Jeo-rim glared at her furiously.
Chae-eun continued, "Come, come with Grandma."
Jeo-rim violently shoved her onto the floor and shouted, "Get away from me! I'm not your grandson!"
Chae-eun collapsed to the ground miserably.
Everyone returned to their beds without paying attention to her.
Song Zhengli turned toward the screen.
"20 Players."
"43.6 Billion."
At headquarters, the Front Man watched the surveillance monitors.
At that moment, a voice came through the intercom.
"The VIPs have arrived."
After hearing this, the Front Man walked out.
Inside the dormitory, Jeo-rim ate a potato while glaring at Chae-eun with murderous eyes. Chae-eun quietly peeled potato skin while looking at him pitifully.
Emotionally devastated, Yi Dieok-nyeong took tiny bites of her potato.
Meanwhile, Lim Sang-hwan stared blankly ahead, not taking a single bite from the potato in his hands.
Zhengli devoured his potato in large bites and said to Sang-hwan beside him, "Don't be so sad… He was just a stranger you met here."
Sang-hwan turned to look at Zhengli.
Zhengli looked toward Player 160 in the distance and said, "That person's partner… was his childhood friend."
After hearing that, Sang-hwan shifted his gaze toward Player 160.
Player 160 stood up like a man who had lost his soul.
Several helicopters landed at the island's helipad. Five VIPs wearing all kinds of golden animal masks slowly followed the Front Man indoors.
With a devastated expression, Player 160 cried out, "Let's… vote to leave. As long as eleven people agree, we can all get out of here. I'm begging you all."
Player 160 lowered his head and sobbed endlessly.
Not a single person responded to his request.
Suddenly, he shouted hysterically,
"AHHH—! Are you people even human?! Watching the people closest to you die one after another… all for that damned money!"
At that moment, Zhengli stepped forward and said, "If you leave… will your best friend come back to life? Will you stop blaming yourself?"
He pointed toward the giant piggy bank.
"That money… wasn't earned by just your friend. It was bought with the lives of everyone who died here."
Player 160 collapsed onto his knees while crying.
Zhengli loudly shouted to everyone,
"Do you all have the courage to leave?! To go back to living at the bottom of society? To repeat the same rotten life every day?! Don't you?! If you do, then stand up right now!"
Player 160 continued crying endlessly.
Dieok-nyeong watched him expressionlessly.
Sang-hwan looked at his hands, still stained red with Chae-ho's blood. He made no attempt to wipe them clean.
The Front Man suddenly stopped walking and turned toward the VIPs.
VIP 1 asked, "I'm very curious about what games this year's fifth and sixth levels will be."
The Front Man replied, "Guaranteed you won't be disappointed."
After saying that, he continued walking forward.
VIP 2, who followed behind him, said, "I hope so, because I didn't really like the first few games except for the fourth level."
VIP 3 responded, "Just because I created all the games this year?"
VIP 2 turned toward him and asked, "Really?"
VIP 3 simply smiled without answering.
VIP 4 looked at the Front Man and asked, "Why can he create games, but aren't we just responsible for watching?"
The Front Man did not answer.
VIP 3 suddenly sang in Chinese:
"多的是 你不知道的事～"
VIP 5 nodded and said, "Well, what a beautiful song. What does that mean?"
VIP 3 replied, "There are many things you don't know. Singer, Wang Leehom."
Inside the dormitory, nobody lay down to sleep.
Some struggled against exhaustion, half-awake and half-asleep, while others fell asleep sitting upright.
Player 160 carried a bedsheet toward the highest level of the bed frame.
After walking downstairs, VIP 5 looked at the surveillance footage showing Player 160 and said, "Look, what is that guy doing?"
VIP 1 laughed softly and replied, "Is it so difficult to think about it?"
As they spoke, they entered the VIP room.
The dormitory lights suddenly turned on, accompanied by the familiar music.
Sang-hwan groggily opened his eyes just as the main door opened.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Four masked guards carried in a coffin gift box.
Sang-hwan looked toward where the guards were headed and discovered that Player 160 had hanged himself from the bed frame.
Sang-hwan stared in shock.
Zhengli let out a sigh.
Jeo-rim sneered coldly.
At that moment, the announcement echoed:
"Player 160, eliminated."
The masked guards slowly removed Player 160 from the bedsheet before placing him into the coffin gift box and sealing the lid shut.
The screen changed to:
"19 Players."
"43.7 Billion."
The announcement sounded again:
"The fifth game will begin shortly. All participants, please move according to the staff's instructions."
Everyone once again walked toward the game arena.
At that moment, the five VIPs were already seated on their personal sofas while staff continuously served them alcohol.
VIP 3 asked, "Who are you betting on?"
VIP 4 took a sip of wine and replied, "In short, it's not number 258."
He glanced at the photo of Player 258, Sang-hwan, and continued,
"Look at his silly look, I don't know how he got through all the way to this level."
VIP 1 added, "Yes, no one should choose him."
VIP 2 quietly said, "I bet on him."
VIP 5 sat up and mocked him, asking, "May I ask why?"
VIP 2 shrugged.
"I don't know. I just feel that he gave me a feeling that others can't."
VIP 3 laughed and asked, "Love?"
All the VIPs burst into loud laughter.
VIP 1 then looked toward the Front Man and said, "Come on, tell us what the next game is."
The Front Man pressed a button and said, "I'll show you this."
The screens before the VIPs slowly lifted upward while the curtains on both sides gradually opened.
A long row of structures appeared before them.
VIP 1 frowned and asked, "So long, what is that?"
The doors to the game arena opened, and all the players walked in.
Sang-hwan looked at the unfamiliar arena uneasily.
Dieok-nyeong stared worriedly at the structure ahead.
Zhengli looked in disbelief at the enormous distance between his side and the opposite end.
Jeo-rim looked around and cursed under his breath,
"Damn it…"
He turned his head and noticed Chae-eun secretly staring at him.
The moment Chae-eun realized he was looking at her, she quickly avoided his gaze.
The announcement echoed:
"Welcome to the fifth game. The fifth game is Ladder Climbing. Participants must climb across the six-meter-long ladder before them to reach the opposite side in order to win. The order will be decided freely by the players."
VIP 3 smiled and said, "Anyway, I didn't disappoint you."
VIP 5 replied, "No one should choose a girl, right?"
VIP 4 answered, "Of course. Girls are naturally weaker than boys, except for my wife."
All the VIPs burst into laughter.
Sang-hwan glanced toward the timer.
19 minutes began counting down.
Everyone stared at the ladder ahead, yet nobody dared to go first.
Sang-hwan turned and exchanged glances with Dieok-nyeong.
Time slowly continued passing.
Soon, the timer reached 17 minutes and 36 seconds.
Player 437 looked at Player 44 and asked, "Did you inject those muscles?"
Player 44 shook his head.
"Don't talk nonsense. I trained them myself. I'm a fitness coach outside."
Player 437 pointed toward the ladder and said, "Then why don't you climb it? Are you scared?"
Player 44 stubbornly replied, "Who's scared? I climb things like this every day."
Player 437 gestured forward.
"Then climb."
Player 44 slowly stepped toward the ladder while everyone watched him.
After mentally preparing himself, he raised his hand and grabbed the first bar before lifting his feet off the ground.
Everyone gasped in amazement.
VIP 3 smiled.
"Yeah, here it comes."
Player 44 slowly moved one hand onto the second bar before steadily climbing one rung after another.
After climbing only one and a half meters, he had completely exhausted his strength.
He desperately tried to move forward, tears squeezing from his eyes, but he still couldn't continue.
Meanwhile, Player 437 continued watching the show.
Sweat began forming in Player 44's palms.
Eventually, due to exhaustion and his increasingly sweaty hands, both of his hands slipped from the bar.
He fell.
A few seconds later—
Boom.
The sound alone showed how high the ladder was above the ground.
When Player 44 fell, everyone instinctively backed away in fear.
Player 437 looked down at him and started laughing.
VIP 5 commented, "He looked so strong, but he only walked less than two meters before falling."
VIP 2 quietly said, "After all, the heavier you weigh in this game, the harder it is to support yourself for a long period of time."
Sweat dripped endlessly down Jeo-rim's forehead while Chae-eun silently watched him.
Zhengli glanced around.
At that moment, Player 437 stepped forward.
Sang-hwan and Dieok-nyeong watched him climb onto the first bar.
He rapidly climbed two bars at a time, moving like a monkey.
Both the VIPs and the players gasped repeatedly in amazement.
Player 437 quickly reached the opposite side.
Turning around, he looked at everyone and said,
"Isn't this easy?"
VIP 1 stood up excitedly and shouted,
"Oh hoo, it's worthy of my bet!"
Because of Player 437's success, many others began climbing the ladder as well.
Among them were Players 80, 151, 135, 122, 183, and 280.
Player 80 quickly reached five and a half meters.
Looking at the finish line just ahead of him, he prepared to reach the other side—
But Player 437 suddenly kicked him off.
Everyone was stunned by his actions.
VIP 1 stood up laughing wildly.
"It seems that the winner this time is already obvious."
Jeo-rim shouted furiously toward Player 437,
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Player 437 revealed a sinister grin.
"If I'm the only one who clears the game, then all 45.6 billion will belong to me! Hahahahaha!"
Zhengli cursed angrily under his breath.
"Damn it!"
Sang-hwan stared helplessly at the opposite side.
Dieok-nyeong slowly raised her eyes toward Player 437.
Player 151 tearfully begged,
"Please let me pass. I'm almost out of strength."
Player 437 mocked him cruelly.
"Then fall down already! Hahahahaha!"
Behind Player 151, Players 135 and 280 both lost their strength and fell.
Player 151 turned around.
Player 122 asked, "What are you doing?"
Player 151 forced out the words,
"I'm climbing back."
Player 122 shook his head weakly.
"I don't have the strength anymore… I can't do it."
Player 151 screamed,
"Climb back!"
Player 122 had barely turned halfway around when his hand slipped.
He fell.
A fading scream echoed through the air before—
Boom.
During the process of climbing back, Player 151 also lost all strength.
Crying in despair, he finally released his hands.
Player 151 fell.
Since Player 183 had not gone far from the starting point, he quickly climbed back to safety.
Just as he was gasping for breath, Player 267 walked up to him.
Player 183 looked up.
Player 267 kicked him down without hesitation.
"AHHH—!"
Player 183 hit the ground like shattered flesh.
Everyone stared at Player 267 in shock.
The timer reached 9 minutes and 36 seconds.
VIP 3 commented,
"It's getting crueler."
Player 6 climbed onto the ladder.
Zhengli followed closely behind him.
Sang-hwan and Dieok-nyeong watched Zhengli climb up.
Player 437 looked at Player 6 and taunted,
"Come on. Come on."
Halfway through, Player 6 completely lost his strength.
Zhengli angrily shouted,
"If your stamina's this bad, why did you even climb up?!"
Player 6 struggled to speak.
"I wanted… to die together with Player 437."
Speechless, Zhengli replied,
"Then move already!"
Player 6 cried and shook his head.
Zhengli suddenly raised both feet and kicked Player 6 down.
Player 6 fell.
Sang-hwan and Dieok-nyeong stared at Zhengli in disbelief.
Zhengli continued climbing forward and soon arrived before Player 437.
He lifted both feet.
Thinking Zhengli intended to kick him, Player 437 stepped backward.
Instead, Zhengli suddenly released both hands and jumped onto the platform.
Player 437 rushed toward him at full speed.
Zhengli bent down, grabbed him, and threw him backward over his shoulder.
A scream rang out.
Player 437's skull shattered upon impact below.
Zhengli panted heavily.
Sang-hwan stared at him with confusion and disbelief.
Dieok-nyeong turned toward Sang-hwan.
VIP 1 loudly cursed,
"Fuck! Fuck you, idiot!"
The other VIPs burst into laughter at him.
Player 267 was just about to climb when Jeo-rim suddenly shoved him down.
Jeo-rim looked behind him at the seven remaining players before climbing up himself.
When Jeo-rim had only climbed one and a half meters, he turned around and discovered Chae-eun climbing behind him.
Chae-eun grabbed onto his clothes.
Jeo-rim shouted furiously,
"Let go!"
Trembling, Chae-eun said,
"No… Grandson shouldn't climb this. It's dangerous."
Jeo-rim screamed,
"I'm not your grandson! Let go!"
Chae-eun trembled harder and harder.
Shaking her head, she whispered,
"Grandma… can't hold on anymore."
Jeo-rim began crying angrily.
"Then let go already! I'm begging you…!"
Chae-eun's hand slipped.
She dragged Jeo-rim down together with her.
Jeo-rim let out a scream of despair.
"AHHH…!"
After that, Players 91, 356, 422, and 154 all cleared the game one after another.
The timer reached 3 minutes and 41 seconds.
Sang-hwan climbed onto the ladder backwards.
Everyone stared at him in confusion.
Sang-hwan also placed both feet onto the bars.
VIP 3 looked at Sang-hwan's method and laughed.
"This really distributes some of the weight to the feet."
He then turned toward VIP 2 and continued,
"It seems your feeling is correct."
Sang-hwan quickly reached the opposite side.
After standing upright, he stared at Zhengli.
Zhengli chose to look ahead instead of meeting his eyes.
There was only 1 minute and 27 seconds remaining.
The final player, Dieok-nyeong, climbed onto the ladder.
Using both hands together, she managed to climb four meters, but she was already almost completely out of strength.
Sang-hwan watched her worriedly.
At that moment, Dieok-nyeong remembered her husband still lying in a hospital bed.
Her eyes suddenly became determined.
With a furious scream, she continued climbing.
At the final second before the game ended, she successfully climbed onto the opposite side.
All the VIPs stood up and applauded.
Sang-hwan supported her as she burst into tears of joy.
Zhengli silently watched the two of them from the side without saying a word.