• Chapter 47 The Game of Geniuses (6)

“Mr. Kim Do-jun, who answered all the questions correctly, will receive five gemstones.”

Sweet.

That was essentially 25 million won falling right into his lap.

Of course, he still needed to win — but still.

“As the player with the highest score, Kim Do-jun will receive two gemstones, two Death Match immunity passes, and a hidden clue.”

“I’ll give one of the immunity passes to you, Ha-neul.”

“Thanks.”

In truth, the immunity pass didn’t mean much in this round.

The reason was simple.

“The nine lowest-scoring players will automatically become elimination candidates. Since multiple players are tied for last, two among the nine will face off in the Death Match.”

As the host’s announcement sank in, the expressions on the faces of the Lee Sang-moon alliance soured.

Neither Park Ha-neul nor Do-jun could be targeted. Which meant someone from their alliance had to go today.

“The final elimination candidates will be selected by the winner — Kim Do-jun. Please pick two players.”

“He gets to choose?”

Lee Sang-moon felt the blood drain from his face.

Do-jun wasn’t stupid — he had to know who led the charge to isolate him with that alliance.

Damn it. He’s definitely going to name me.

But just then, Do-jun said something that no one expected.

“If you give me a gemstone, I’ll exempt you from the Death Match. First come, first served.”

Avoid the Death Match for just one gemstone?

From the contestants’ perspective, it was a steal.

But within the alliance, it wasn’t that simple.

The moment someone tries to save themselves, they’ll get targeted in the next round.

And that’s exactly what Do-jun wanted to see — who would break ranks first.

Everyone hesitated, nervously glancing at one another.

Then, someone stepped forward, breaking the silence.

It was Hong Ju-ho.

“Here. One gemstone.”

He slipped a gemstone into Do-jun’s hand and quietly took his place beside him.

Just as expected.

Do-jun had anticipated that Ju-ho would be the first to jump ship.

Despite being a celebrity, he didn’t follow the herd. That independent streak made him less sensitive to group pressure.

Once Ju-ho defected, it set off a chain reaction.

Lim Yoon-hwan, Park Hye-ran, Lee Eun-hyun, Kim Hong-sik, and Park Joo-kyung all rushed over, handed over their gemstones, and bought themselves immunity.

“Only one spot left.”

That left three: Lee Sang-moon, Min Ah-young, and Yoo Jung-han.

The three of them stood frozen in a tense standoff, each weighing their options.

Finally, one man stepped forward.

“Do-jun. Here.”

He handed over his gemstone, then casually returned to his seat.

Lee Sang-moon.

Do-jun smirked.

Worse character than I thought.

He had expected Yoo Jung-han to step up instead. But then he remembered…

Right — we used his gemstone to buy the practice questions.

Yoo Jung-han, once a member of the National Assembly and the oldest contestant, had been pressured into using his only gemstone for the team.

Probably gave it up to gain trust.

But that trust didn’t get him far.

Min Ah-young was the only one left.

She couldn’t act, either — being the youngest in the celebrity group, she’d be risking her reputation.

One wrong move and she could be blacklisted from the industry.

Had she been naive, she might’ve tried. But she was a Seoul University graduate — clearly, she had some social awareness.

Lee Sang-moon had used that very social hierarchy to his advantage by waiting till the end, making himself look composed.

Ah-young had no choice but to bite the bullet.

Either way, it didn’t concern Do-jun.

Having pocketed a total of seven gemstones, he smiled in satisfaction as he made his final decision.

“The players facing off in the Death Match will be Min Ah-young and Yoo Jung-han. Please proceed to the Death Match Room.”

As expected, it was Min Ah-young who survived.

“Whew…”

The Lee Sang-moon alliance breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Ah-young, being a celebrity with gemstones, was far more useful than the now-eliminated Yoo Jung-han.

Park Ha-neul, watching the scene unfold live, frowned.

Disgusting bastards.

She couldn’t believe she’d once thought about joining that alliance.

“Today’s game is now over. Please return to your quarters and rest until the next match.”

Even the production crew was rattled by the intensity of today’s match.

And perhaps that’s why things got a lot dirtier the next day.

The Next Day

“The elimination candidate for today’s game is Kim Do-jun. Please choose one opponent to join you in the Death Match.”

The Day After That

“Today’s elimination candidate is Kim Do-jun. Please choose one opponent.”

And The Day After That

“Elimination candidate: Kim Do-jun.”

On the fourth day, it was slightly different.

“Kim Do-jun has been chosen by another player to enter the Death Match.”

And again.

“Kim Do-jun has been selected as a Death Match opponent.”

Five days in a row.

Do-jun had either ranked last or been targeted. Every single day, he was thrown into the Death Match.

This is getting out of hand.

Even stoic Do-jun couldn’t help but frown.

The reason was obvious.

The opposing alliance had made up their minds to eliminate him — openly.

So even when they’re in the hot seat, they still name me?

Even Do-jun found it absurd.

Unfortunately, all the recent games had heavily favored the majority group.

Of course, Do-jun had the means to fight back — namely, the gemstones.

But he hadn’t used a single one.

Each time, Ha-neul asked him:

“Why the hell aren’t you using them?”

Do-jun always gave the same simple answer.

“Because it lowers the prize money.”

At first, she thought it was just an act — a gimmick for the cameras.

Especially when she learned about his photographic memory.

But Do-jun wasn’t bluffing.

“I need to collect forty gemstones.”

Each gemstone was worth 5 million won.

With the 100 million base prize plus the gemstones, the maximum prize was 300 million.

To hit that, he’d need exactly forty gemstones.

So even if he ended up at the bottom, Do-jun focused entirely on sweeping up gemstones from the main matches.

“You’re insane. What if you get eliminated?”

“Me? Eliminated?”

That unshakable confidence left Ha-neul speechless.

And the thing was — he’d survived every Death Match.

Player Min Ah-young has been eliminated.

Player Park Joo-kyung has been eliminated.

Player Kim Hong-sik has been eliminated.

Player Park Hye-ran has been eliminated.

Player Lim Yoon-hwan has been eliminated.

Only four remained: Lee Sang-moon, Hong Ju-ho, Park Ha-neul, and Kim Do-jun.

“Fewer people now. Should be manageable, right?”

Do-jun nodded.

They couldn’t gang up on him anymore.

He and Ha-neul were now a true team.

It was practically 2 versus 2.

“As long as the playing field is even, I never lose.”

Ha-neul scoffed.

“It’s not even, though! You’re hoarding all your gemstones!!”

“Ah… good point. Haha.”

The two shared a laugh while waiting for the next game.

“The next game is: [Password Guessing].”

The rules were simple:

Four blank spaces appeared on screen. Guess the numbers that go in them.

10 rounds in total.

Spend 1 gemstone for one answer. Spend 3 gemstones for a hint about the overall pattern.

Score 1 point for getting all 4 digits right. Lose 1 point if even one is wrong. No penalty for skipping.

“Let’s begin Round 1.”

[●●●●]

This was a game designed to burn gemstones — plain and simple.

Exactly what the producers intended.

But of course, Do-jun had no plans to spend a single one.

“Let me guess. You’re not using any gemstones again?”

“Naturally.”

“Sigh… you’re unbelievable.”

“This round’s plan is simple — I’ll make you win first place.”

“Do you even have a strategy?”

“I’ll come up with one now.”

“Knew it…”

Ha-neul sighed again.

She couldn’t even be mad anymore.

Ugh, he really is handsome though.

Despite being on the same team all this time, she never got used to his looks — tall nose bridge, bright eyes with stark contrast, and perfect skin.

Over 180 cm tall, broad shoulders, toned build… not that he’s my type or anything — focus, Ha-neul!!

She slapped her cheeks and snapped out of it.

“So we just observe first?”

“No. I’m going to gamble.”

“Gamble?”

“Yeah.”

Do-jun had already analyzed the game.

Why now, of all times?

Simple — to drain gemstones from the players and lower the prize pot.

There has to be a pattern to the 4-digit numbers.

That meant the producers picked a repeatable sequence — one that could sustain all 10 rounds.

And if that’s the case, there was one obvious answer:

Pi (π).

3.14 — the number most people knew.

But the digits that followed? Virtually no one remembered.

If he guessed right, the first 4-digit code could very well be…

1592.

Most wouldn’t even realize it at first glance.

And even if someone used three gemstones to buy the pattern clue…

They won’t be able to decode it anyway.

It was an elegant trap.

“Ha-neul, go into the Dealer Room and pretend to buy a clue.”

“Got it.”

She faked the purchase and returned.

Soon, the first round’s answer submission began.

Do-jun and Ha-neul wrote down: 1592

Lee Sang-moon and Hong Ju-ho wrote nothing.

“Let’s reveal the answer for Round 1.”

Do-jun stared at the screen.

If I’m right…

[1592]

“Correct: Park Ha-neul, Kim Do-jun. 1 point awarded.”

Clap.

“Niiice!!”

“It’s over.”

High-fives exchanged.

Meanwhile, Lee Sang-moon and Hong Ju-ho looked stunned — as if they’d just witnessed a monster.

Do-jun turned to Lee Sang-moon with a devilish grin.

Time to pay for everything you put me through.

And I’ll be sure to take your pride along with it.