Accompanied by the figure's appearance was the sound of rhythmic, repeated clapping.
Byrne looked toward the noise. A man wrapped in dense black mist stepped out from the shadows. Although this man wore no mask, the mist surrounding him was so thick that it completely obscured his form, leaving only a pair of eyes glowing with a crimson light.
As soon as the man in the mist emerged, he struck his cane against the ground. The cane was pitch black, topped with a dark purple crystal etched with intricate, flowing patterns. Upon impact, it emitted a dull hum that sent a slight tremor through the entire auditorium floor.
In the next second, the mask held in Byrne's hand broke free, flying into the hand of the man in the mist. He gripped the silver mask and offered praise:
"Impressive, impressive. Mr. Three, your performance has far exceeded my expectations. To think you found the liar before the voting phase even began."
"Who are you?" Byrne asked, facing this newcomer as if confronting a formidable enemy.
The man in the mist gave a cold chuckle. With a forceful squeeze of his right hand, the silver mask shattered instantly, turning into a wisp of black mist that merged into his surroundings. Then, he performed a gentlemanly bow.
"I am the organizer of this gathering. You may address me as Baron Blackmist. Since the liar has been identified by Mr. Three, I must congratulate you all on passing the test of the Game of Identity."
Byrne did not lower his guard at this speech. "Heh. You say you're the organizer and we're just supposed to believe you? How do I know you aren't using lies to mislead us, just like that man in the suit?"
It wasn't just Byrne; the others sitting in the audience didn't dare believe Baron Blackmist either. Taking in everyone's reactions, the Baron gave a light laugh.
"I can understand your concerns. You may check your invitations now; the attendance guidelines should have changed."
The invitation?
Upon hearing this, Byrne immediately reached into his pocket and pulled out the black envelope. Opening it to the inner page, he found that the handwriting had indeed changed.
[To the Invitee: Mr. Byrne David.]
[The test of the Game of Identity has been passed. The rules are updated as follows:]
[1. The Red Maple Theater banquet will begin punctually in ten minutes. Please enter the banquet hall on time to enjoy your dinner.]
[2. Every invitee will be served their own exclusive 'Soul Main Course.' It must be consumed entirely; no waste is permitted.]
[3. During the banquet, you may not touch others' dishes or utensils, nor may you exchange them.]
[4. You may not leave the banquet hall before the banquet concludes.]
After reading the new script on the invitation, Byrne reached up and directly removed the mask from his face. He only dared to do this because of his "Time Rewind" trump card. After waiting for a moment and receiving no punishment from the Rules, it was clear that Baron Blackmist was telling the truth.
The sight of Byrne removing his mask was undoubtedly impactful to the other invitees. They froze for a moment before tentatively raising their hands to carefully remove their own silver masks. Seeing that no punishment was triggered, they finally sighed in relief. For a time, the auditorium was filled with conversation as the long-oppressive atmosphere lightened slightly.
Baron Blackmist looked at the faces of the guests. His glowing red eyes swept across the room, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"Now that you've removed your masks, you should believe what I've said. Come, I shall lead you to the banquet hall."
With a wave of his hand, the dark purple crystal atop his cane flared with light. A strange red beam shot from the stone and struck the wall at the back of the auditorium. The originally smooth surface rippled like water and gradually split open. The crack expanded into a corridor carpeted in scarlet. Dim wall lamps hung on either side, casting distorted shadows onto the carpet, while a carved wooden door was visible at the far end.
The words "Banquet Hall" were engraved on the lintel. The style was distinctly different from the auditorium, yet it radiated the same heart-stopping eeriness. The invitees looked at each other; no one dared to take the first step.
Soul Main Course... Heh, that name sounds far from simple.
Watching Baron Blackmist walk toward the corridor, Byrne called out, "Wait, Baron. One moment."
The Baron stopped, the mist around him swirling slightly. He turned his head, his red eyes fixed on Byrne. "Mr. Three, do you have another question?"
Byrne took a half-step forward and said in a heavy voice, "I want to know: what exactly is this 'Soul Main Course' mentioned in the invitation?"
This question went straight to the hearts of all the invitees. Everyone looked at Baron Blackmist, their eyes full of unease and curiosity. After all, the term was too bizarre; it would be better to understand it before entering the hall.
Baron Blackmist gave a short laugh and tapped his cane lightly on the ground, the purple crystal flashing with a ghostly light. "Mr. Three, you are quite direct. However, experiencing some things for yourself is much more interesting than hearing my description."
While he didn't refuse to answer, the meaning behind his words was obvious. Seeing the Baron continue down the corridor, the invitees, despite their irritation, followed along due to the constraints of the Rules.
The group entered the corridor and walked for about a hundred meters before reaching the great door. Like the iron gate of the theater, the door opened automatically as they approached. Inside was a spacious and luxurious hall with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, emitting a brilliant radiance. In the center of the hall stood a long rectangular table.
Besides the head seat, there were nine chairs on each side of the table, each with a corresponding seat number attached to the back. Baron Blackmist, who was the first to enter, walked straight to the head seat. "Everyone, please take your seats according to your previous numbering."
Byrne found the seat marked with the number three. Before him lay a set of cutlery, but no food had been placed. This was normal, as the banquet hadn't started yet. The other invitees found their seats and sat down, their faces filled with trepidation as their gazes darted between the empty plates and the luxurious yet unsettling hall.
Byrne tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop, looking at Baron Blackmist in the head seat. The mist around the Baron remained as thick as ink, with only his red eyes standing out. He was observing each invitee with great interest, his thoughts unknown.
Before long, ten minutes had passed.
"Time is up. The banquet officially begins. But before the main course, please sample the appetizers I have prepared."
With that, Baron Blackmist grabbed the cane resting against his chair and struck it three times on the floor.