Unlike the background sound effects,
this deliberate applause conveyed much more sincerity.
"I've said similar things before,"
"I must say it again,"
"You really are an impressive 'newcomer'."
Having said that, the 'introducer' clapped again.
The other party tried to prove their point with action.
Unfortunately, Jason, wearing a hockey mask, remained indifferent.
The 'introducer' had dealt with Jason before and seemed to understand his cold nature. After the applause faded, he didn't pause and said, "Now that 'Brutalizer' only has the victorious Jason left, let's bring on our special rule: the second phase!"
Jason's attention was involuntarily captured.
The 'audience' also directed their gazes toward the stage.
They remembered being told before the start of the game that the second phase had a surprise.
What could the surprise be?
The 'introducer' didn't keep them in suspense, revealing the surprise on the screen immediately.
On the black and white screen, an animated sheep appeared, then lines resembling 'it's glowing' were drawn on it.
Except there were no arrows, just straight lines.
When the final stroke was drawn, the entire black and white screen turned to color.
The glowing sheep turned into a golden one.
"As long as you capture and eliminate the golden sheep, you can also achieve victory!"
"'Brutalizers' can, 'survivors' can too."
"Of course, now we only have 'survivors' left!"
The introducer's cold joke came through the screen.
Especially when that jeering laughter sounded, it felt even colder.
But Jason's brows were slightly furrowed.
He had pretty much guessed who the 'golden sheep' was.
It wasn't hard to guess.
As someone implicated in Send 9's assassination and death, he had already suffered retaliation.
Then how could Galen, who was directly related to Send 9's death, escape unscathed?
And surely the avenger would make Galen's death even more miserable, becoming a target everyone hunts, living in constant fear, enduring torture before dying.
What could be more fitting than entering the 'game'?
What could be more suitable than the 'golden sheep'?
And just as Jason had guessed,
the next moment, the image on the screen changed.
Galen appeared on it.
Coated in golden fleece, with a sheep's headpiece on top.
"Let's welcome our first golden sheep~"
"Good luck to everyone!"
"And good luck to our golden sheep — although it will take luck that defies heaven, as long as the golden sheep survives until the end, he too can win!"
The introducer stated, once again accompanying his words with the background sound of mocking laughter.
As always, it felt like a cold joke.
A few felt discomfort.
But they quickly adjusted to the flow.
As the 'golden sheep,' Galen was remarkably calm at this moment.
In his eyes, there was a look that Jason found somewhat familiar.
It was a look that one could find only in some 'loners' in Nightless City.
Jason didn't know what Galen had experienced over the past three days.
But one thing Jason was sure of:
What Galen had encountered was definitely not something ordinary people would want to face.
In fact, it was the case!
Anger, helplessness, sorrow, fear.
All these emotions had converged on this 'survivor,' the winner of the preliminary game, three days earlier.
For a considerable amount of time during those three days, Galen's thoughts had been fixed on the moment Send 9 was assassinated.
He knew he had been used again.
The initial use was due to being noticed by Send 9, orchestrating his mother's car accident to make him participate in the 'game.'
The subsequent use was also because someone had taken notice of him, turning him into the pawn for the assassination of Send 9.
This made him even angrier.
Why couldn't they communicate properly with him?
Why couldn't they negotiate with him?
Why did they have to hurt his mother?
During these three days, Galen questioned himself.
At last, he came to a conclusion.
Weak enough for anyone to humiliate him.
Weak enough for everyone to disregard him.
If he could be as strong as Jason!
Who would dare to humiliate him then?
Who would dare to use him?
With these thoughts, Galen's mind began to clear, his thoughts becoming more focused.
The anger faded first.
Then helplessness and sorrow.
Galen, calmer now, gripped the lighter, feeling a warmth that wasn't truly there.
This was his last resort.
It was the only 'good' left after a series of manipulations.
A 'good' from the 'Brutalizer.'
Are 'Brutalizers' necessarily bad?
Are those dressed in fine clothes definitely good?
Galen started pondering questions he had never considered before.
Then, he began to confront his own situation—
He understood this identity.
And he knew the rules.
Though he knew it was difficult, he was resolved to survive as long as possible.
Standing in the 'cage' prepared especially for him, Galen looked at the open door, took a deep breath, and stepped out.
Besides being covered in ridiculous, golden, glowing wool, he had only a lighter.
He walked forward along the long corridor.