Fu Chen thought for a moment: "Hmm, that's true. If it were purely random, and one side just happened to have all the relevant data for the questions, then this game wouldn't be about estimation anymore; it would become a game of luck.

"Thinking about it this way, splitting it fifty-fifty indeed seems more reasonable."

Xu Tong suddenly realized something: "I got it!

"If we get the data, it means the other side likely didn't, and then we can make more decisive additional investments."

Fu Chen was enlightened: "Oh, that's indeed the case!

"We have to make more decisive additional investments, although the company's account balance is still safe for now, if the deductions continue, it won't be long before we risk a financial breakdown.

"If it breaks down, then it's all over."

Everyone looked at the company details panel on the computer.

[Company No. 17 LLC]

[April Company Account Balance: 149,000 minutes of visa time]

[Estimated May Income: 40,000 minutes of visa time]

[Estimated May Expenses: 68,000 minutes of visa time]

Xu Tong was a bit worried: "We can at most cut employee salaries by 30%, which is from the original 80,000 minutes down to 56,000 minutes.

"But soon enough, we'll be in deficit again. I think we need to downsize."

Li Renshu considered carefully for a moment: "Aunt Su said, if we have really thought it through, she would agree to downsizing.

"But we must consider carefully, is now the time we must downsize?

"This is a judgment game, any decision related to morality has to be weighed carefully."

Xu Tong explained:

"But from my work experience, there are definitely some slackers in a company, it's just a matter of how many.

"If you really want to minimize the cost of a company, the best way is to decisively and drastically downsize, and trial run for a period.

"Once you find someone indispensable, you can bring them back.

"This way is much more effective than blind downsizing in general.

"In this game, there's not just downsizing but also hiring. And outside, it's an economic winter, which means the laid-off employees can't find jobs in the short term and will still hang on the recruitment market.

"We can completely lay off a large batch of employees and observe the company's operation status. If there really is a risk of shutdown, then we bring back some key personnel among them.

"It might even be possible to exploit system loopholes:

"For example, this month we have 20 employees, salaries of 72,000, next month we cut half, salaries are only 36,000, then the month after next even if we bring back all the laid-off employees, salaries return to 72,000, the 36,000 we saved next month would still be truly accumulated to the company's account."

Fu Chen looked at her somewhat suspiciously: "But I seriously doubt once you've laid them off you won't rehire them again."

Xu Tong was momentarily speechless, not knowing how to retort.

However, she paused and continued: "The key is to try, to verify the game mechanism.

"Without trying these operations, how can we know whether they work?

"I know a judgment game needs moral considerations, but perhaps running the company better is also one of the conditions to not-triggering the judgment?

"I still think we should try downsizing, surely this game won't punish us instantly just because we lay off a few virtual employees, will it?"

Li Renshu finally made the decision: "Alright, then we'll act decisively.

"Lay off 4 employees, and have all salaries reduced by 30%, once decided, we need to be as decisive as possible.

"Xu Tong, you stay in the company to adjust the plan, and Fu Chen and I will conduct market research."

...

Xu Tong stared at the computer screen, waiting for new data to appear.

At the same time, she unconsciously squeezed the player in her pocket.

Su Xiuqin's obsession is always wanting to save everyone, not understanding the necessary elimination and choice.

Just like Ding Wenqiang's death before, in the Walkway, it was something unavoidable, but Su Xiuqin still longed for Wang Yongxin and Lin Sizhi to give more to save him.

This game is the same.

In an economic winter, layoffs are an inevitable choice. If excessive sympathy for the weak leads to the company's bankruptcy, doesn't that make everyone lose their jobs? Wouldn't it implicate more people?

So, this is the judgment game the Imitator arranged for Su Xiuqin.

The only good news is that this judgment game, unlike the 'King's Judgment' on Ding Wenqiang, doesn't deceive the judged into a single path of doom.

But at the beginning, it arranged for Xu Tong from the same community to guide and help Su Xiuqin, to help her break her obsession.

As long as she can successfully break free of her obsession and achieve the goal of 'surviving the economic winter without the company going bankrupt,' then no one will die in this judgment game.

Hopefully, Su Xiuqin can agree to the downsizing plan.

While waiting for data, Xu Tong occasionally switched to the 'Humanitarian Care' section to check.

Suddenly, she stopped.

There were originally only two employees with work-related injuries, and they both had liver cancer.

Now, the first employee with liver cancer disappeared, seemingly cured, but suddenly there were three more employees with lung cancer!

Moreover, the cure rates are 50%, 30%, and 0% respectively.

Xu Tong's heart tightened.

Lung cancer, this keyword left an impression on her.

The previous recording player mentioned it, Su Xiuqin's husband died of lung cancer, which is also her biggest obsession.

Could these virtual employees evoke her obsession?

"Perhaps my real task is not only to persuade Aunt Su to downsize but also to persuade her to give up on these injured employees?"

Xu Tong fell into a dilemma.

From the treatment cost perspective, if only conventional treatment is used, it's not a significant amount at 1,000 per person.

But the problem is, as the game progresses, these injured employees seem to be increasing rapidly.

Moreover, if there was only one lung cancer employee, perhaps Su Xiuqin wouldn't be so moved.

But if many, many lung cancer employees really appear, would it remind Su Xiuqin of her husband's coworkers, or more people?

Perhaps, from Su Xiuqin's stance, she would think saving these people is also a necessary condition for completing the judgment game.

If that's the case, it could be troublesome.

Just then, the door to the CEO's office opened: "Xiaoxu, can you come over? I want to discuss something with you."

...

Xu Tong entered the CEO's office and sat down in front of the large desk.

Su Xiuqin softly said: "I saw under 'Humanitarian Care' that there are some injured employees. Does curing them serve any special purpose? Have you verified that?"

Xu Tong answered truthfully: "Currently, one employee has been cured, but the specific effect isn't visible yet."

Su Xiuqin hesitated for a moment, then said: "Then should we try this special treatment?

"Although it's more expensive, conventional treatment seems ineffective within a month, and treating those with low cure rates might drag on for five or six months, costing even more in the end?"

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