Fake Faces

"YOU HAVE A NEW NOTIFICATION." What now?

Even though the machine's sound was quite loud the others didn't notice it at all.

They were busy with their problems.

"SPECIAL CONDITION TASK 1) COLLECT ANOTHER 50+ POINTS BEFORE 7 HOURS AND COLLECT THE SUPPLY BOX FIRST. REWARDS- CLOTHES WITH FOOD FOR ONE."

"..."

"SPECIAL CONDITION TASK 2) COLLECT ANOTHER 200+ POINTS BEFORE 9 HOURS AND COLLECT THE SUPPLY BOX FIRST. REWARDS- ARMS AND AMMUNITION PLUS A MAP." a map? What could be its benefit? I mean I am sure it's an island so what would it contain? Why not ask the machine.

"Hey, what are the uses of a map?"

"..." no reply.

"Oh, sorry I haven't clicked on the mic button." I forgot this existed.

"Now can you tell me what are the uses of a map?"

"THERE ARE THREE USES OF MAPS AS OF NOW. FIRST, IT CAN DETECT ALL THE HOTSPOTS AROUND 5 METERS OF OF RADIUS FROM YOUR CURRENT LOCATION BUT CAN ONLY BE USED TWICE IF FOR THE THIRD TIME IT IS USED 50 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED. CONSECUTIVE USE WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF 30 POINTS. SECOND, IT CAN APPROXIMATELY REVEAL THE SUPPLY BOX LOCATION AND ONE POINT TO BE NOTED IS THAT THE LOCATION IS NEVER EXACTLY THE SAME. IT CAN ONLY BE USED TWICE IF USED FOR THE THIRD TIME 50 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED. CONSECUTIVE USE WILL LEAD TO INCREASE OF 40 POINTS." oh boy... if someone grasps the map, it can easily be considered that he will be at an advantage over others. But what's the third? Isn't these two more than enough to gain lead?

"THIRD AND THE LAST USE OF THE MAP IS THAT IT CAN DETECT OTHER PLAYERS AROUND THE RADIUS OF 10 METERS FROM YOUR CURRENT LOCATION BUT IT CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE. IF USED FOR THE SECOND TIME 150 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED AND IF USED FOR THE THIRD TIME 250 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED. CONSECUTIVE USE WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF 50 POINTS EVERY TIME IT IS USED AFTER THE THIRD TIME." it's just like he can survive the whole thing if he has enough points.

"Oh shut...! We are the ones who will be taking that place." and they are still fighting. It's getting noisy. I should step in now...

"I'll beat you all to a pulp...!"

"Ahem..!" I intervened.

"... what?"

"Guys, come on what are you doing? Why don't we calm down and sort it out without a fight?" Oh God, how long do I have to wear this mask?

"..." at least they calmed down. Also how in the world do they have so much energy? They shouldn't have a decent food supply but they looked as if they were eating normally. It's fishy...

"Yes now, what's the problem?" Also I noticed that they are listening to me quite easily. But why is that?

"We want to take a spot near the river."

"No, we want that spot."

"Alright, I understand your problems... hmm... how about we decide by luck?"

"How do you propose we do that?"

"I'll take two sticks and whoever takes out the shorter won has to accept the terms of the winner, how about it?"

"... I'm up for it."

"... Fine."

"Turn around for a second will you," I asked them to turn around.

"..."

I picked up random sticks with not much difference between them.

"And... you can turn back now."

"Why did you take more than two?"

"'Why' you say... Wouldn't that be easy if I took only 2? If there are more, the chances of taking the shorter stick might increase. The same goes for the longest one..." actually I just took whatever came to my hand and just broke one of them to turn it into the smallest.

"Okay..."

"Here you go. But before that only one from each group should come forward to take it out. It doesn't have to be everyone."

"I'll choose first." one from the all-boys group came forward.

If it were me I would just take out anyone e there is no way of knowing which one is the longest or shortest, it's all based on chance. But as soon as he approached me I could make out that he was quite tense.

"I'll c-choose t-this..."

"What did you get?" His group looked worried.

"..." He turned around but didn't reveal the size of the stick. I guess he first wants to check the other groups.

"Alright then from this group Please take one out," I called out.

"I'll choose." I thought the boy would be the one to come forward but it looks like the girls are more daring than him...

"Here you go...!"

"..." she came and took out one of the sticks, not wasting much time.

"Are you sure?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Huh? I mean I am the one who came up with the idea and all so I just asked..." What a rude person.

"... Hmph."

"Now, let's reveal the sizes." oh god, this is so embarrassing... acting like this.

"..."

Both of them revealed the sticks at the same time.

"... we won!" It was the all-boys group's win.

"Sorry guy, I couldn't win."

"Don't worry."

"Yeah, it was all the game of luck." their group looks so close but why do I feel like the other girl is not on the same wavelength as the other...

"Bye-bye...!" the all-boys group left.

"H-hey, they didn't tell me their hotspot location...!" oh come on, why can't you just leave already.

"Don't worry we can just take this hotspot." huh?

"Yeah, you there, move over. We will take this place." I thought the group with the girls would be the polite group but I might have to change that perception.

"B-but we can't f-force him o-out..." what? The boy is the weak one here...

"Zen doesn't interfere."

"..." even though I didn't reply yet but they went on ahead of me.

"WELCOME ALICE, YOU HAVE ACQUIRED A HOTSPOT." The rude girl registered first.

"Now, Zen you register." I didn't speak anything and just kept on watching them.

"MAXIMUM CAPACITY HAS BEEN REACHED."

"What...!?" that's new. I didn't know they had the capacity for that also. Maybe it makes more sense that it has a capacity since the number of persons fell drastically, most probably the maximum capacity was filled and they couldn't register even after finding a hotspot.

"Hey, you remove your name from here!"

"Hmm... is that the way you ask for a favor?"

"You don't wanna mess with me so just remove your name from here."

"Is that so? I will remove my name but in return how about you give 50% of the total points you all have."

"What?!"

"Or you can find some other place since I won't be leaving this place."

"You...!"

"Oh, shut it. You only have two options: give half of your total points including those two also or you can just leave this place."

"Oh... is that your real nature?"

"Isn't it that the way people speak changes around different people?"

"I will choose neither and I'll force you to leave this spot."

"Then make me."

"S-stop....!"

TO BE CONTINUED...