The other players in Community 7 felt slightly relieved.

But soon someone else worried: "But isn't it only until the sixth round's trading phase that we can purchase shelters?

"And the judgment in the sixth round should happen before that, right?

"What if it affects us?"

Now they could only build four shelters, leaving one player unprotected.

Jin Cheng shook her head and explained, "It should be fine because we haven't committed any particular crimes that would lead to collective punishment.

"Besides, my crime is unlikely to be judged at the beginning."

Some others were puzzled; "Why?"

Jin Cheng explained, "Because my crime is most likely involved in selling houses with concealed issues, haven't I mentioned it to you before?

"So, in the game, the corresponding crime would be selling substandard shelters.

"But according to the game rules, we can only start building shelters now, and they will be completed by the start of the sixth round. And if I wanted to sell substandard shelters, I would have to wait for the 'free trading phase' of the sixth round.

"Meaning, before that, there are no players committing the same crime as me.

"From the game mechanics perspective, they would first judge those who have already committed crimes, right? As for my crime, it would be judged at the earliest in the seventh round.

"By then, we would already have at least five shelters, so we wouldn't face death."

Other players nodded, temporarily feeling at ease.

Jin Cheng's speculation made some sense. Suppose the Imitator wanted to kill more people; they would let players commit similar crimes first and then release the Sinners' files, thus involving more players in collective punishment.

Hence, the files revealed first should be crimes players could commit within the first five rounds.

Crimes like selling substandard shelters would certainly be "fattened up," only revealed when enough players have committed them.

Of course, players still didn't know the exact sequence and mechanism of crime disclosure, but since the Imitator's goal is to kill more players, it would make sense to wait, wouldn't it?

Jin Cheng continued, "Once we're certain about this point, it becomes easier from there.

"After acquiring five regular shelters, we absolutely shouldn't sell any substandard shelters. Community 15 and Community 12 will surely sell them.

"In that case, as long as the number of their players selling substandard shelters exceeds five, even if I'm judged 'guilty,' it would result in 'collective punishment for players with the same crime,' not 'collective punishment for players from the same community,' basically making Community 12 and Community 15 our scapegoats."

Other players nodded again, if things developed as Jin Cheng anticipated, it would be an entirely acceptable outcome for Community 7.

...

At that moment, the sixth round of the game began.

The big screen displayed the first Sinner's list.

[Jin Cheng, female, 34 years old.]

[As a real estate agent, she intentionally concealed problems and sold defective properties to buyers.]

[Penalty result: Not adjudicated.]

[In the game, the same crime committed as the Sinner is: 'Selling substandard shelters to the Audience at a price higher than 15 Gold Coins.']

[The Sinner has 10 seconds to choose between 'admit guilt' or 'appeal.']

[During the Sinner's trial, the trading of shelters will be prohibited.]

The players inside the venue collectively turned towards Community 7's direction.

Jin Cheng herself was evidently more shocked than players from other communities.

"How could it be? How could it be like this!!"

She had indeed anticipated her crime, but she never expected it to be the first one revealed.

For a moment, she stood there completely stunned, unable to react.

The other players in Community 7 were also dumbfounded, as they had just discussed it with Jin Cheng and agreed with her statements as well.

The vast discrepancy between expectation and reality caused a temporary shutdown in their brains.

Finally, someone snapped out of it, grabbing Jin Cheng's shoulders and shaking her: "Admit guilt! Admit guilt! Otherwise, we'll all be collectively punished!"

Clearly, up to this point, no other players had committed the same crime.

This meant that if Jin Cheng was voted 'guilty,' only the players from Community 7 would face 'collective punishment.'

The player without a shelter was bound to die.

Nevertheless, the 10 seconds slipped away quickly. Jin Cheng's face changed colors several times, but she ultimately couldn't decide to admit guilt.

The player shaking her shoulders released her grip in despair, stumbling back a few steps, and collapsed to the ground.

[The Sinner has chosen 'appeal' and will have 1 minute for a statement.]

Jin Cheng's close-up appeared on the big screen, and simultaneously, her words were broadcasted for all players in the venue to hear.

Only now did Jin Cheng hurriedly start organizing her words to defend herself.

"I didn't mean to, I had no choice!

"If I had told the truth, I wouldn't have had any sales, and I would have lost my job!

"I'm just an ordinary worker, a regular salesperson, I just exaggerated the house's advantages, does that mean I deserve to die?

"Please, don't vote 'guilty!'

The 1-minute time passed quickly.

Evidently, Jin Cheng's statements hadn't been prearranged; they lacked smooth logic and were not sufficiently convincing.

But the game rules offered her no more time.

[The Sinner has finished appealing. Players, please complete your votes within 3 minutes.]

Players started voting using the displays in their hands.

At this point, without any preparation or reliable plan, Community 7 descended into chaos.

Some hesitated over whether to vote 'guilty' or 'not guilty.' Although most people's first reaction was 'guilty,' if they forcefully voted 'not guilty,' they might ensure just over half and avoid triggering collective punishment?

But if they hypocritically voted 'not guilty' and failed to secure the majority, it would be game over.

As for insincere votes, according to game rules, they couldn't vote for their own community. If they could, they certainly would choose to use it now.

The player without a shelter dashed in desperation toward Community 15, trying to use all his Gold Coins to buy a shelter.

But inevitably, it was in vain because according to game rules, shelters could only be purchased during the 'free trading phase.'

He quickly sank into despair, pounding on the signs on the plot and emitting heart-wrenching wails.

In less than a minute, the final result appeared on the big screen.

[Voting result: Guilty.]

[In the game, the same crime committed as the Sinner is: 'Selling substandard shelters to the Audience at a price higher than 15 Gold Coins.']

[The number of players committing the same crime is less than 5, therefore, all players in Community 7 will face 'collective punishment.']

[The above players will face immediate death punishment in 10 seconds.]

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