Cho Sang-woo found a blind spot and glanced at the new player. "Kai? That isn't very common in our country. You're from China, right?"
Kai didn't deny it. "Yeah, I'm kinda Chinese-American. I live in the U.S."
Seong Gi-hun raised an eyebrow. "In that case, our group has two foreigners now."
Kai looked at Ali. "Mr. Ali, are you from Asanguo or Baguo?"
Ali blinked, a little confused, but replied honestly, "I'm from Baguo."
That evening, Player 212 — the woman everyone called "Big Sister" — went up to the door, saying she needed to use the restroom.
At first, the Guard with the triangle mask refused, but when she threatened to pee right there in the dorm, he had no choice but to open the door. At that moment, Player 067 also stepped forward. "I need to go too."
Kai immediately sensed something was off. That woman's timing was too deliberate.
"I need to use the restroom too!" Kai called out, stepping forward.
The Guard instantly raised his rifle and pressed it against Kai's chest.
"Step back."
Kai stiffened, heart racing, but forced himself to act calm. "Wow! Why can they both go to the restroom, but I can't? I protest!"
The Guard chambered a round. "Because they're women. You're a man. Just hold it in."
Kai's tone sharpened, "That's discrimination! You're practicing gender discrimination! Don't you know if a man holds it in too long, his bladder can get damaged? Didn't you guys say this place was all about equality? How the hell is there still gender bias? Do you believe I won't report you to your boss — that Square guy?"
The Guard's finger twitched on the trigger, but he stopped himself. He knew the cameras were watching. If he shot a player without cause, he'd die too. With effort, he lowered his weapon.
"Fine. Go. But you'd better not get eliminated in the next game — I'll be watching you."
Kai quickly slipped out the door, heading toward the restroom.
On the way, he mulled over what the Guard had said.
"You'd better not be eliminated in the next game; I'll be watching you."
"There are two possibilities," Kai reasoned silently. "Either that Guard will be part of the next game's supervision and execution team, or the next game is individual — one-on-one tasks with multiple Guards overseeing."
At the restroom, Kai paused between the men's and women's entrances. The Guard at the women's door glared at him, clearly warning him not to try anything.
Kai sighed and entered the men's restroom. Sitting in the stall, he thought through every possibility for the upcoming game.
Then he heard Big Sister 212 yelling from the women's restroom.
"I'm constipated! I just can't get it out!"
Kai frowned. That shout was too loud, too exaggerated — like she was covering something up.
"Why is it only her voice?" he thought. "Player 067 hasn't made a sound. Normally, anyone hearing 212 shouting like that would at least complain… unless…"
After a while, the Guard outside the men's restroom lost patience and kicked open Kai's stall. "Are you done yet? Those two women are already finished."
Kai stood up immediately. "Done, done. I'm coming."
As the Guard walked ahead, Kai seized the moment — slipping quietly into the women's restroom. He checked each stall quickly.
In the second stall, on the floor, he spotted it — a loose screw.
Kai picked it up and slipped it into his pocket.
Just as he turned to leave, the Guard suddenly appeared right in front of him.
"Player 250, what are you doing in the women's restroom?"
Kai froze. His mind raced.
"Oh, I've never been in a women's restroom since I was a kid," he said casually. "I just wanted to see the difference. It's not every day I can do this without breaking the law."
The Guard's silence said everything. Even through the mask, Kai could feel his disbelief.
"Crazy bastard," the Guard muttered. "Get back to the dorm, or I'll shoot you."
Kai didn't argue. He returned quietly, clutching the screw in his pocket.
When lights went out, he took it out and inspected it. It was indeed the screw used to secure the ventilation window.
"It seems Player 067's already discovered something."
The next morning, as all players were called to the game area, Kai walked up beside Player 067.
"Last night," he murmured, "where did you crawl through that ventilation duct?"
067 stiffened. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kai smiled faintly. "If I tell the Guards you sneaked out through the vent, do you think they'll just eliminate you?"
He slipped the screw into her hand.
"Let's make a deal. You tell me what you saw, and I'll keep quiet."
067 hesitated, then spoke softly. "I saw them boiling sugar. A lot of sugar."
Kai frowned. "Boiling sugar?"
She nodded. "Yes — they were melting it."
Kai groaned inwardly. "Sugar? What kind of Korean game involves sugar…?"
"Whatever. At least it's a clue," he muttered. "When soldiers come, generals block; when water comes, earth covers."
Meanwhile, Choi Sang-woo, walking nearby, seemed to realize something.
They arrived at a large playground-like arena.
A voice echoed from the speakers:
"Players, please choose one of the four shapes in front of you. Then line up to receive your box from the Red-Clad staff."
Kai looked at the four symbols: Triangle, Circle, Pentagon, Umbrella.
Seong Gi-hun spoke first. "How about we all choose one pattern together?"
Choi Sang-woo immediately disagreed. "No. If we all pick the same one and it's hard, we're doomed. We should each pick differently — better odds that way."
Seong Gi-hun nodded. "Makes sense. As expected from the college genius."
Choi Sang-woo said, "I'll choose Triangle."
Seong Gi-hun smiled. "I'll take Umbrella."
Sang-woo looked like he wanted to stop him but didn't. "Why'd you choose Umbrella?"
"It reminds me of when my mom brought me one when I was a kid," Seong Gi-hun replied softly.
Ali raised his hand. "Then I'll choose Circle."
The old man chuckled. "I'll take Pentagon."
Kai noticed Sang-woo's subtle reaction. With a small smirk, he said, "Since all four shapes are taken… I'll also choose Triangle."
He met Sang-woo's eyes — a silent understanding passing between them.