Chapter 192 - 179: Don’t Be Too Sensitive About Such a Minor Character

Chapter 192: Chapter 179: Don’t Be Too Sensitive About Such a Minor Character

Wang Dingbei’s argument reversed the vote, which had been leaning in Yu Dong’s favor.

The final vote ended in a 4:4 tie.

Liu Hao and Sun Shan chose to abstain.

The trial initiated by Yu Dong ended in two tied votes and was temporarily shelved.

Seeing the result, Zhao Youcai scoffed.

"What a bullshit paradox! Things are finally going well, but no, you have to stir up all this internal suspicion. If Dongzi wanted to screw you over, none of you would still be alive! If he says a guy is a villain, then he’s a villain! I’ll trust my friend unconditionally. Even if he wanted to kill a good person, it’s only because Dongzi has a necessary reason to do it, let alone executing a piece of scum like this! I’m so disappointed in all of you."

SLAM!

He slammed the door and left the conference room.

Huang Zhiqiang opened his mouth as if to speak, but then simply left with Zhao Youcai.

Liu Ye’ye grabbed Yu Dong’s arm and said, "I’ll always believe in you."

Zhou Jian Country sighed.

"Officer Wang has a point. I considered this issue back when Yu Dong first told me he was a Reincarnator, but we didn’t have the time to verify everything. I chose to operate on the assumption that Yu Dong was on the side of absolute good and justice. So far, that assumption hasn’t been wrong. Based on past experience, I will continue to trust Comrade Yu Dong. I might be wrong someday, but for now, it’s efficient enough."

The others who voted with Officer Wang, however, placed more faith in procedural justice. They didn’t believe anyone should be able to execute a person without evidence.

Both sides had valid points, but neither could persuade the other. People slowly began to file out.

After casting his vote, Sun Shan shot a cautious glance to either side and quickly slipped away.

Finally, Wang Dingbei patted Yu Dong’s shoulder.

"Don’t worry, I’ll watch him personally. A fox will always show its tail eventually. Once we catch him... we can make an example of him. A lot of new people have come aboard these past few days, and he’s not the only one looking to stir up trouble. As the leader, you need to be watching the entire cruise ship. Don’t let a minor player blind you to the real threats."

"As for the ’Benevolent Reincarnator Paradox,’ I have more faith in the power of a system than in one person’s judgment. If you can easily condemn Lin Xiaojun to death today, you might start relying on that method in the future. Killing with a single word means you don’t have to do the hard work... I don’t want you to possess a ’Death Note’ that lets you kill whomever you write in it."

"That’s all. I’m heading out."

After Wang Dingbei left, Lin Mo said, "I’ll go check on Yang Yi..."

Yu Dong mulled over what Officer Wang had just said about the Benevolent Reincarnator Paradox, growing angrier the more he thought about it.

It made him deeply uncomfortable because, infuriatingly, it made some sense.

This paradox had ripped away the cloak of divinity that surrounded him, punching a hole in the prestige he had been steadily building.

It made everyone in the room start to think for themselves, rather than simply obeying his every command.

He had been on the verge of becoming the team’s undisputed leader, but Wang Dingbei’s philosophical assault had shaken his seat of power.

But after trying to see it from another perspective, Yu Dong had to admit that Officer Wang’s Benevolent Reincarnator Paradox... had merit.

’The theory is correct, but it’s having a negative effect on me. It’s weakening my power and authority.’

’As for increasing the team’s rationality... I don’t think that’s necessary. If I really could control a ’Death Note,’ it would be a good thing, not a bad one.’

’I was right to begin with; I don’t need this procedure to prove it.’

’Maybe I shouldn’t have brought Officer Wang into the fold back then...’

At that moment, Yu Dong recalled the worries he’d had about leadership ever since he reincarnated. Now, they were becoming a reality.

Wang Dingbei was highly competent in every respect. He had used his authority and skills to help build the entire cruise ship settlement, but he had also become a check on Yu Dong’s own power.

’If it were just me and Lin Mo... things would be so much easier.’

But reality had no "what ifs." Since Yu Dong had chosen to expand the team, gaining more strength in the process, he had to endure the greater number of disagreements that came with more people.

Yu Dong found the theory’s analysis of a leader’s position quite valuable. If he were to be reincarnated again, he couldn’t just expect people to trust him completely simply by proving he was a Reincarnator.

The two things were not equivalent.

’Still... Lin Xiaojun, you think you can escape judgment? Impossible.’ ℴ

’If I try every other way and nothing works... I’ll just have to resort to some unsavory methods. Worst case, I’ll put a bullet in him.’

The thought of a gun made Yu Dong’s heart skip a beat.

"Oh no! Youcai!"

Yu Dong immediately ran out, heading for Deck 13, where the six people were temporarily being held.

「Meanwhile.」

On Deck 13, Jing Yanwei and two combat team members armed with repeating crossbows were standing guard. Lin Xiaojun’s group of six and Cai Hong were all being held on this level.

Three blond punks stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the three guards.

"Hey, you guys still busy? We just finished the first movie."

"How about we relieve you for a while so you can go see the next one?"

"We’re just bored anyway. Couldn’t really sit still in the theater."

The two combat team members’ eyes filled with longing. After all, everyone else was watching movies while they were stuck here on guard duty. It was a bit of a raw deal.

Jing Yanwei gave a faint smile. "No, thank you. Our mission is to guard this area. We’ll stay put until the next shift arrives to relieve us."

"Alright, suit yourselves. We’re just going to wander around for a bit anyway."

The three blond punks walked over, pulled out a few packs of cigarettes, and passed them to the two male guards. Then, they started smoking right there in the corridor.

"So, you guys know how the point system works?"