From the outside, it appeared to be an ordinary wooden cabin.
Stepping inside, however, revealed a different world.
While not quite comparable to a palace, it was nonetheless a luxurious banquet hall. Upon entering, one was greeted by a beautiful circular dance floor, filled with guests in exquisite brocade robes. At the front, a band played musical instruments, and countless servers moved about the perimeter, some carrying trays, others pouring wine for the guests, and still others simply standing politely, doing nothing at all.
At first glance, the scene was filled with the fragrance of elegant clothing, the shimmer of jewels, and the murmur of conversation, as if one had stepped into a banquet hosted by a wealthy magnate.
However, this impression lasted only a second.
Everyone quickly realized that the dancing guests, the musicians in the band, and the servers were all motionless.
They were all dolls.
The laughter, the chatter, the music—all of it was fake.
It was like someone had dressed dolls in beautiful clothes, placed them in a beautiful house, arranged them in a lively tableau, and finally added a fitting musical accompaniment—a perfect illusion.
The Overseer sat at a dining table at the edge of the dance floor and beckoned them over.
The nearby tables were filled with dolls, but the Overseer's table was empty.
The five of them approached and saw six chairs. One was occupied by the Overseer, leaving five remaining.
Everyone understood the implication without needing to ask and took their seats.
The moment they sat down, the music stopped.
Looking up, they saw that all the dolls around them had turned to face them—the dancers, the musicians, the servers, and even the dolls seated at other tables. They all turned their heads, some even twisting their necks 180 degrees, staring intently at their table!
Everyone shuddered, their faces paling, and a chill ran down their spines.
The vast banquet hall became eerily silent.
The silent gaze of the dolls, like layers of ominous dark clouds, enveloped everyone.
The Overseer maintained its polite and refined demeanor, smiling. "My friends and I welcome your arrival. We hope we can become friends."
No one responded.
If the price of friendship was becoming a doll and remaining here, it would likely be their eternal nightmare.
Bai Youwei, however, was unusually bold. She glanced at the nearby tables and asked, "Those tables are all set for six, but there are only five dolls at each. Are those the players who lost the game?"
The Overseer's blue eyes flickered slightly as it smiled and replied, "Yes. Friends who lose the game stay here. A gathering of friends never ends."
Bai Youwei asked, "Do you have friends in the world outside the game?"
The Overseer paused.
"I don't think so," Bai Youwei said. "With the way you entertain your friends, even if you had any, they would definitely turn against you."
The Overseer's smile faded slightly. "Miss, I appreciate your humor, but in the game, it's best to keep jokes to a minimum."
"Do I sound like I'm joking?" Bai Youwei asked in surprise. "I'm clearly being sincere. The game system probably pities you for having no friends, so it assigned you to oversee the 'Friendship Game.' Oh, I just realized the system is quite considerate."
The Overseer's expression became somewhat distorted, as if it was gritting its teeth. "The Friendship Game is my masterpiece. It's flawless and has showcased countless valuable data points! The system merely…"
Its voice abruptly stopped.
Bai Youwei and Shen Mo spoke almost simultaneously, "Merely what?"
The Overseer looked at them for a long moment, the anger slowly fading, and the smile returning.
It almost couldn't help but laugh. "Ha! Interesting humans, mere combinations of water, proteins, inorganic matter, and enzymes, yet you so desperately want to know the answer?"
The five people at the table all looked at it, their eyes filled with fear, hatred, and endless confusion.
What exactly was the doll game?
The Overseer dealt two decks of cards on the table and smiled. "Then play this game with me and see if you have a chance to get the answer from me."