God's Imitator-Chapter 174: Ambush

Passing through the dim corridor, the light seemed to have darkened a few more degrees.
The debris in the corridor had also increased. He Xiaojun had to step over some obstacles or manually move them aside.
Arriving at the next judgment venue, this place looked somewhat narrower than the previous scene, but because there was only one person being judged and not as many mechanisms, it actually seemed more spacious.
Seeing the person locked in the iron chair, He Xiaojun’s heart sank again.
This was Boss Bai, the owner of the company where he had previously worked.
However, unlike the previous four people, Boss Bai was already in a conscious state. He hadn’t woken up only after He Xiaojun entered the judgment venue.
Not only that, He Xiaojun noticed that Boss Bai seemed to have already been injured. Dark red blood dripped down from his left pant leg, drop by drop, onto the ground.
There was also a wound at his right rib, and the seeping blood had stained his white shirt red.
"Xiao He? How did you..."
Boss Bai instinctively wanted to speak to He Xiaojun, but before he finished speaking halfway, an image appeared on the cathode-ray tube television again.
[Unfortunately, for your four colleagues, you chose the wrong punishment.]
[You carefully considered the consequences different choices would bring them and chose the more certain option.]
[But when they made their choices, did they consider the possible consequences they might bring to you?]
[You believed the punishment you gave them should match their crimes, but when they inflicted punishment on you, did they ever consider this?]
[Regardless, what’s past is past. You still have three chances.]
[After you were falsely accused and forced to record an apology video, this boss of yours should have withstood the pressure and cleared your name, but in the end he feared the company’s reputation would be affected and chose to fire you to let the matter rest.]
[This not only meant the accuser won again, but also to a certain extent confirmed your ’evidence of guilt.’]
[When the accuser posted your apology video and the company’s dismissal decision online, this ’mountain of ironclad evidence’ filled netizens with righteous indignation and subjected you to prolonged cyberbullying.]
[On the judgment platform, there are still two different buttons representing different punishments.]
[Press the red button, and the two wounds on his body will be torn by mechanisms to three times their original size.]
[Press the blue button, and the big toe of his left foot will be crushed by mechanisms.]
[Now, please complete your second judgment and choose the ’more appropriate’ verdict for him.]
These two types of punishment once again plunged He Xiaojun into hesitation.
If the previous two types of punishment at least had some pattern to follow, using ’unknown punishment’ to match ’unknown consequences,’ then these two types of punishment seemed to have no particularly clear meaning.
Moreover, overall it had become more cruel.
Boss Bai was already injured. If both wounds were torn to three times their size, then the speed of blood loss would inevitably greatly accelerate.
If he couldn’t quickly return to the community for bandaging, he would very likely die from excessive blood loss.
Crushing the bones of the left big toe was equally cruel, because given the current medical conditions in the community, it would be very difficult to completely heal.
Even if it healed, he would most likely only be able to walk with a limp afterward.
Boss Bai didn’t cry hysterically and plead like his previous colleagues. He seemed to have accepted his fate to some degree, his eyes full of regret.
"It’s okay. Make your choice according to your heart. For me, both punishments are about the same.
"Whether I die from blood loss, die from severe pain, or become disabled and live the rest of my life limping on one leg, these are all the fates we sinners must inevitably accept in judgment games.
"Xiao He, I’m sorry.
"You know, negative public opinion like this would be a devastating blow to the company. If we were labeled as ’harboring a molester,’ our clients and partners would immediately distance themselves from us.
"I knew you were wrongly accused, but I had no choice. In this matter, there wasn’t necessarily more I could do than you.
"Of course, saying all this now is meaningless. No matter what, I was also one of those who harmed you.
"You choose. No matter how you choose, I’ll have redeemed my sins."
He Xiaojun’s expression darkened, "Boss Bai...
"You were kind to me, I know that.
"At that time, I had been unemployed for three months and couldn’t find any work. By rights, my resume didn’t match the position, but you gave me a chance to try.
"Later, you also publicly praised me several times in front of colleagues. I remember all of this in my heart.
"After this incident happened, I also resented you, but seeing so many people attacking the company online, I knew that if you chose to stand up for me, those attacks might increase tenfold, even a hundredfold.
"I’ll press the blue button. No matter what, this button gives you a higher chance of survival."
Boss Bai was stunned, "But what about you..."
He Xiaojun sighed, "This is only the second judgment. There are still two more judgments.
"I can roughly guess who the next two people to be judged will be.
"The four judgments are arranged from lightest to heaviest crimes. Every grievance has its source, every debt has its debtor. The chief culprit should pay the greatest price."
After speaking, He Xiaojun pressed the blue button.
With a "crack," the mechanism at Boss Bai’s left foot instantly clamped tight!
"Ahhhhhhh—!!"
A crisp bone-breaking sound rang out. Boss Bai let out a scream, and his entire body began trembling violently, but the mechanisms on the iron chair still locked him firmly in place.
Fortunately, the entire process wasn’t particularly long. Soon, the mechanism that had crushed his big toe released, and a series of "clicking" sounds followed as all the mechanisms on the iron chair were unlocked.
Boss Bai curled up on the ground, painfully clutching his left foot, still wailing continuously.
Behind the iron chair, the mechanism holding the antidote vial made sounds again. Gears turned, pushing the antidote to slowly rise.
However, just as He Xiaojun was about to retrieve it, the antidote shattered with another "snap."
This time, He Xiaojun wasn’t as disappointed as the last time. He vaguely guessed that this result might occur.
There were still two judgments. He had roughly guessed who the subjects of judgment would be.
"In the next two judgments, I can’t have any more compassion."
He Xiaojun prepared to leave.
However, at this moment, he suddenly felt a force coming from behind his back. An arm wrapped around his neck and dragged him to the ground!
Then, the force of this arm grew stronger and stronger, choking him until he couldn’t breathe!
He Xiaojun slapped at Boss Bai’s arm, trying to bite, but with the arm firmly locking his jaw, he couldn’t bite at all.
"What’s... happening..."
This situation completely exceeded He Xiaojun’s expectations.