Chapter 1: Eagle Catches the Chicks

Zi-kai looked at himself in the mirror and silently put on the mask.

That night, Jun-soo was having dinner with Myung-woo when the phone beside them rang.

Jun-soo picked it up: "Hello? What's the matter?"

He listened carefully to the voice on the line, then looked seriously at Myung-woo.

Myung-woo asked, "What happened?"

Jun-soo hung up and said to him, "Get in the car. Now."

He ran outside.

Myung-woo grabbed a few bills, left them on the table, and followed.

Scene change. Jun-soo arrived at police headquarters.

Breathing heavily, he asked, "Found it—where is it?"

The captain picked up a map: "Here, in a very remote location."

Jun-soo said, "Let's head there right away."

The captain replied, "But we can't go with you."

Myung-woo asked from the side, "Why not?"

The captain said, "We've prepared the boat, weapons, and gear. The two of you go. If anything really happens, use the walkie-talkie to contact me. I'll send backup immediately."

Jun-soo looked at the captain, uncertain, then walked out.

Scene change. Inside the dormitory, before the players had time to react, the lights turned on and the main door opened.

A masked man dragged the unconscious Jung-hyuk back to his bed.

The screen above showed the number of players drop to "100", and the prize pool updated to "35.6 billion."

The players looked around in confusion.

Player 239 asked Player 62, "What's going on?"

62 replied, "No idea."

The masked man at the door spoke:"From now on, anyone who disobeys game instructions will be treated as eliminated."

Elsewhere, Jun-soo and Myung-woo were riding a boat toward the island.

Myung-woo came over and said, "They gave us plenty of supplies and gear."

Jun-soo said, "Get some rest. I'll wake you when we arrive."

Myung-woo nodded and went to sleep.

Jun-soo gazed at the rising sun.

Back in the dorm, the lights came on.

A broadcast played:"Important notice: The fourth game will begin shortly. Please follow staff instructions and move accordingly."

Jung-hyuk slowly opened his eyes. He looked around, disoriented.

Young-jun asked him, "You okay?"

Seeing him, Jung-hyuk flinched and backed away.

He said quietly and fearfully, "Don't come near me… Don't. I… I don't trust people."

Young-jun and Soo-mi looked at him, worried.

Elsewhere:

62 said, "Man, I really want to wash my greasy face."

202 replied, "Why are you acting like a girl?"

62 snapped, "Don't talk to me. Your breath stinks."

They walked toward the masked men.

Player 18 approached Soo-mi: "See? The people you chose to be friends with… trash."

Young-jun punched him in the face:"F**k you!"

18 shouted, "You dare hit me?!"

Young-jun said, "What's stopping me, b**ch?"

Just as 18 was about to strike back, a masked man pointed a gun at him:

"Please follow staff instructions and move."

18 stared at Young-jun.

Soon, the players arrived at a wall painted with an eagle, a hen, and chicks.

62 turned to 18 and said: "Wow, what a beautiful place. You think it's reall—what's your name again?"

18 replied, "Pu Zhen-yan."

62 turned to 239 and 202: "What about you two?"

239 asked, "Why do you want to know?"

62 smiled: "To build trust. Let's work together in the next round and win that money."

202 said, "Call me Da-qiang."

239 said, "My name's Oh Yoo-hyun."

Zhen-yan asked 62, "What's your name again? I forgot."

62 said, "Call me Bei-bei. My parents always call me that."

Yoo-hyun chuckled and whispered, "Bei-bei…"

Broadcast:"Welcome to the fourth game. This round will be played in three teams. Before the game starts, you must draw team assignments. Please take a ball from the capsule machine in front of you."

Not long after, Yoo-hyun turned the machine—a red ball.

Da-qiang—red ball.

Bei-bei—blue ball.

Zhen-yan—yellow ball.

Young-jun—blue ball.

Soo-mi—red ball.

Finally, Jung-hyuk—yellow ball.

Masked man:"The next game is Eagle Catches the Chicks. Blue Team must find and shake hands with members of the Yellow Team within 30 minutes to clear the game."

Player 453 asked, "So it's like how we played as kids? Just catch them?"

Masked man:"Red Team, the eagles, must catch and kill members of the Blue Team within 30 minutes to clear the game."

The players erupted in discussion.

Player 221 asked, "Kill them?"

Masked man replied:"Yes. Red Team must eliminate Blue Team. If they fail to kill any Blue Team member, they will be eliminated."

Young-jun looked at Soo-mi.

Blue Team Player 131, panicked: "This… this isn't right!"

Player 68 asked, "What about us Yellow Team?"

Masked man:"Yellow Team, the hens, must shake hands with at least three Blue Team members within 30 minutes to clear the game."

Then, the masked man gave Blue Team a gift.

Bei-bei opened it. "A map? What's this for?"

Masked man:"The yellow markers on the map show where Yellow Team starts."

Player 370 (Red Team) complained:"So they're basically invincible? They can just follow the map straight to Yellow Team. We have to go in barehanded and kill them? That's not fair!"

Masked man:"We understand your concerns. Red Team gets a gift too."

He handed over a baseball bat tied with a ribbon.

Yoo-hyun took it, looked at the Blue Team, and said, "Oh boy…"

Masked man continued:"This bat can be used to attack Blue Team. But it's forbidden for Red Team members to hit each other.Before the game begins, you have one final chance to change your fate. If you're unhappy with your team, you may swap places, vests, and gear with another willing player. After the game starts, swapping or removing vests is strictly forbidden. Choose carefully."

Young-jun walked up to Soo-mi:"Let's swap. I know you can't kill anyone."

Soo-mi looked at him.

He added, "If you wear my vest, as soon as the game starts, go find Jung-hyuk and shake his hand. You'll pass."

After a moment of hesitation, Soo-mi agreed and they swapped vests and gear.

Yoo-hyun, Da-qiang, Bei-bei, and Zhen-yan stood together.

Bei-bei asked, "So what now?"

Da-qiang shrugged: "You two team up. I won't kill you. Me and 202 will go do some eliminating. More kills, more money."

Young-jun approached Jung-hyuk, who flinched.

Young-jun said:"I don't know what you went through back there… but man, pull yourself together. Remember why you're here."

He walked away. Jung-hyuk stood frozen.

Broadcast:"The game is about to begin. Yellow Team (10 players) and Blue Team (45 players), please prepare to enter the arena. Repeating: The game is about to begin…"

The Host watched Jung-hyuk from his control center.

Soo-mi glanced at Young-jun. He nodded.

Young-jun walked in, following the lost and broken Jung-hyuk.

Jung-hyuk and Zhen-yan entered the Mirror Maze, surrounded by glass and reflections.

Jung-hyuk touched his own reflection in confusion.

Broadcast:"Red Team (45 players), now entering. The game begins now."

Soo-mi, Bei-bei, and the other Blue Team players began to run inside the maze.

Young-jun, Yoo-hyun, Da-qiang and the rest of Red Team charged in.