Round 2:
"Good job, everyone. We really have Akiyama fooled!" Fukunaga exclaimed.
"An internal conflict? Although it's true that our group has many competitive people, that we would all vie for the top position, it's laughable indeed." Katsuragi sneered.
Flashback to them discussing about the 36 strategems.
"Create something from nothing. A plain lie. Make Akiyama's group believe there was internal conflict, when there was in fact nothing," Yokoya was explaining.
"Also, sacrifice the plum tree to preserve the peach tree. There are circumstances in which you must sacrifice short-term objectives in order to gain the long-term goal. We might have lost some money, but we WILL earn it back." Katsuragi slammed her fist onto the table.
Meanwhile, Nao was in her room, thinking about that day when she was waiting for Akiyama at the busstop after he played Liar Game, Reborn.
"Sensei, who is that waiting for you, your sister?" A cute girl who was walking with Akiyama off the bus asked.
"Oh, no, I'm Nao Kanzaki, we were in the Liar Game last time…" Nao stuttered.
"I see. I'm Yu Shinomiya. Anyway, I'm glad you weren't in this one. I was SOOO about to die, luckily Sensei for some reason decided to come to my rescue. Anyway, I gotta go, call me maybe?" The girl who was wearing a short red skirt and white pullover laughed and run away.
"She's just a student, don't mind her." Akiyama said.
"How was the game?" Nao asked.
"Just as you thought, they are bringing back the liar game. For some reason, they want you out because of the effect you have on people. But I told them that I refuse to participate unless you are coming alone."
Nao felt touched.
"Let's go and visit your father." Akiyama said, smiling at her.
On the hallway, someone shadowy is talking to Muraji and Harimoto. "Just as I thought, they accepted me. Like hiding a knife behind a smile, I will charm and ingratiate myself to Nao."
"Good, you have gained her trust already, now it's time to move against her in secret." Harimoto said proudly.
Soon, it is time for the second round. As usual, Harimoto's group proceed first.
"Seems like they are sticking to that strategy—what are we to do? We are already far behind in terms of gems," Yukina asked.
"There's gonna be a chance to buy jewels later, right?" Nao asked.
"We can't depend on that, because this game just proved that we need jewels to proceed. In this group, Nao and I need to proceed." Akiyama said.
"I'm fine with that since I'm sure the three of us just want to drop out with our money, right?" Yukina said confidently.
"Oh, where did you go, Sakiko?" Wan Ting asked as Sakiko came back.
"I was spying on Harimoto's group. He was whining about how the newest believers, Kenneth and Sean, aren't exactly very obedient. Anyway, what are we choosing?" Sakiko asked innocently.
"How about we just follow Harimoto's strategy for the time being?" Nao asked. "Let 2 people choose the most expensive box, Akiyama-san and I, while the rest will buy any box EXCEPT the most expensive one." Nao volunteered.
"Seems good, let's do it!" Wan Ting exclaimed. They all took turns and went inside the room, before Akiyama enters and input for everyone.
Finally, it is time for the results. As expected, Harimoto's group had incurred a 2.2 million debt, most likely two expensive box and 3 next expensive box. The debt will be 0.44 million for each player. Yokoya's group is now 1.7 million. Akiyama's group, however, faces a shock.
"Why is our group 2.3 million? Shouldn't it be 2.2 million like Harimoto? Is there a mistake?" Nao exclaimed.
"If 3 most expensive box are chosen, everyone pays equally, but that means the other 2 people who bought the second most expensive box will have no jewels!" Yukina said.
"There is no mistake. There is a traitor amongst us! Player… X," Akiyama said cryptically.
"But we can't tell how much jewels we have until the 10th round, right? Right now, they will only announce the top group and player, so we don't know who is the traitor!" Wan Ting cried.
Who is Player X? Find out in the next round!
Tallies:
Air: Akiyama: 8+74(32)=82 gems, 4.54 million. Nao: 2+77(32)=45 gems, 4.54 million. Yukina: 4 gems, 4.54 million. Sakiko: 2+86(31)=88 gems, 4.54 million. Wan Ting: 1 gem, 4.54 million.
Water: Yokoya: 57+56(10)=113 gems, 3.16 million. Katsuragi: 53+58(11)=111 gems, 3.16 million. Fukunaga: 52+53(11)=105 gems, 3.16 million. Momoka: 53 gems, 3.16 million. Lee: 49 gems, 3.16 million.
Earth: Harimoto: 42+54=96 gems, 4.12 million. Kimura: 54+50=104 gems, 4.12 million. Muraji: 43+37=80 gems, 4.12 million. Sean: 32+31=63 gems, 4.12 million. Kenneth: 31+38=69 gems, 4.12 million.
Leading group: Water, leading person: Yokoya.
If the number cannot be divided equally, will give more the people with less gems.