Countries of the World - Squid Game | Season 3, Chapter 5

PROFILE BLOG 1

PROFILE BLOG 2

Before we continue with the story, we will announce the results of the fan vote.

"Hello, players. Welcome to the results of the viewer vote. As you know, this is televised. The viewers at home got to vote on who should stay and who should go. They can choose up to (3) contestants who should be eliminated, and the (1) with the highest votes will be promptly eliminated.."

"I will read the votes aloud, one by one."

"I actually have no idea who this could be." 241|Kansas whispered to 039|LuckyCat.

"Yeah, nobody's really been that bothersome. It's definitely up to chance." 039|LuckyCat shrugged.

"The first vote is for... PLAYER 196: Ukraine." 

"Is just Russian persecution." 196|Ukraine sighed.

"The second vote... PLAYER 274: Paraguay."

"Wait, I actually forgot he was here." 241|Kansas laughed.

"I'd hold my tongue if I were you." 054|Capybarra tapped 241|Kansas' shoulder and turned him to face 274|Paraguay, who was previously asleep in his wheelchair but was currently death-staring 241|Kansas.

"I'm sorry!" 241|Kansas apologized profusely.

"The next vote... PLAYER 196: Ukraine."

"PLAYER 245: Solomon Islands."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 196: Ukraine."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 196: Ukraine."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"WOAH!" 245|Solomon Islands gawked at the sheer amount of votes for 241|Kansas. He almost started laughing.

"What the hell?" 241|Kansas appeared extremely confused.

"PLAYER 196: Ukraine."

"PLAYER 241: Kansas."

"PLAYER 196: Ukraine."

"PLAYER 197: FreeStater."

"PLAYER 197: FreeStater."

(Confessional: 197|FreeStater)

"I expected some backlash, from the whole assassin thing. Not really my choice, I just got a bit too into character." He chuckled.

(End Confessional: 197|FreeStater)

"Attention, players. The votes have been counted. By a 5 vote margin... PLAYER 241, ELIMINATED."

"Wow." 241|Kansas mimicked his brain exploding.

The two burly guards from before came forth to seize 241|Kansas, but he resisted much less than 211 did. As one of the guards tossed 241 over his shoulder, his face relaxed as he succumbed to his fate.

"12 players remaining."

The players looked at each other incredulously at the realization that they had made it this far.

(Confessional: 197|FreeStater) 🇺🇸

"If I win the money, I'm renovatin' my farm, and bringin' the money home to my family. That's all I can do, provide a better life and future for my family." 197|FreeStater seemed extremely content with himself.

(End Confessional: 197|FreeStater) 🇺🇸

(Confessional: 168|Nigeria) 🇳🇬

168|Nigeria lounged in the confessional with his legs crossed and his gold chain swinging. "Eh...if am win many naira? Am become proper King Nigeria, and I go print new business card: ‘His Royal Highness Prince-King Nigeria, Owner of Eiffel Tower and London Bridge.’" he laughed haughtily to himself.

"And yes...I am no go stop the hustle. Money dey call money! I go run new scam- I mean, new investment opportunity! ‘Buy London Bridge now, limited slot, 50% discount!.’ Or crypto coin call ‘NaijaCoin’. So many possibility, am just need survive this place."

(End Confessional: 168|Nigeria) 🇳🇬

(Confessional: 245|Solomon Islands) 🇸🇧

"If I am win the money, am make fix on house that destroy in last hurricane. Have many leaky roof wey leak every rainy season." 245|Solomon Islands sighed. "My family is no have a lot money, and win this game is everything to me."

(End Confessional: 245|Solomon Islands) 🇸🇧

(Confessional: 172|Chad) 🇹🇩

“Eef am win zis money...wallahi, first, je am pay all debt for ma famille. Maman no work two job again. House, we fix am proper, and after, am buy big land. Am want to send brother and sister to good school, and the rest money? I hide and no tell nobody. Because I see what happen when people flash money..." 172|Chad paused, narrowing his eyes.

"Zat ees the plan. Now am just need survive for take ze money home.”

(End Confessional: 172|Chad) 🇹🇩

(Confessional: 235|Colombia) 🇨🇴

235|Colombia slouched in the confessional chair, cracking his knuckles with a lazy grin that didn't quite hide the sharp glint in his eyes.

"If am win this money, yo am buy so many things. Yo am buy mi mamá everything that she es want. Then am live like a king. Like yo am deserve."

(End Confessional: 235|Colombia) 🇨🇴

(Confessional: 055|ColinShadow) 🇰🇷

055|ColinShadow sat neatly in the confessional with his hands folded in his lap.

"I've got a lot of debt to pay off. Secretly though... I'm still hoping for that plan to bribe the government to allow a Nationwide Purge. Watch out, North Korea!"

(End Confessional: 055|ColinShadow) 🇰🇷

(Confessional: 054|Capybarra) 🦫

"I don't really know what I'd use the money on if I won. Maybe like a trust fund for my little brother, and then a cool car so I don't have to walk to school anymore. Then maybe start a quiz website or something." 054|Capybarra shrugged.

(End Confessional: 054|Capybarra) 🦫

(Confessional: 196|Ukraine) 🇺🇦

196|Ukraine sat in the confessional with his eyes somewhere off in dreamland.

"Am buy private island in Pacific Okean for build house for hide from Rosiya. Am sick of him bully me. Am not know why everyone is hate me. Am just try to win the money and stay out of die."

(End Confessional: 196|Ukraine) 🇺🇦

(Confessional: 087|Nicaragua) 🇳🇮

"Yo would buying big house in the mountain with arm guard where nobody can finding me. Maybe would disappearing off face of planeta." 087|Nicaragua shrugged.

(End Confessional: 087|Nicaragua) 🇳🇮

(Confessional: 274|Paraguay) 🇵🇾

"Zzzzzz...zzz..."

274|Paraguay was slumped deep in his wheelchair with his head lolled to the side and his mouth slightly ajar. Deep, guttural snores flew from his throat. His arms hung limp over the armrests, fingers twitching every few seconds, like he was dreaming of running... or of being chased.

The snoring got louder. A long, wheezy inhale... then silence.

Suddenly...

His eyes snapped open.

He jerked forward, and unleashed a bloodcurdling scream.

(End Confessional: 274|Paraguay) 🇵🇾

(Confessional: 039|LuckyCat) 🐱

039|LuckyCat sat cross-legged with a small smile, clutching his cat keychain like a comfort object.

"Definitely a big house with a huge garden, and most importantly, room for cats. Many cats. Vet clinic and play area inside, and also open a museum of the history of cats around the world. Then maybe dinner with Cost- nevermind."

(End Confessional: 039|LuckyCat) 🐱

(Confessional: 222|England) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

222|England sat in the confessional chair with her head held high.

"I'm somewhat of a bon vivant. I'd invest in a wardrobe and jewels to rival the Crown. Hopefully the cards are in my favour to win this thing.

(End Confessional: 222|England) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 

With a relatively loud mechanical whir, the metal doors behind the stage flew open, and six or seven lol guards stepped out into their usual militant formation.

"Attention, players."

"I was know that this silent was too good be true." 245|Solomon Islands shook his head.

"The next game will begin shortly..."

"I'm so nervous." 222|England put her hair in a low ponytail in preparation for a potentially big physical competition. "Do you think they'll make us do something like Capture the Flag from last season?" 

"Ni, am not think so." 196|Ukraine replied.

"...but first, there must be... another elimination."

"Already?" 245|Solomon Islands groaned.

"All of the previously chosen monitors have been eliminated. Therefore, we will ask that another player volunteers as a replacement monitor."

"Oh my..." 197|FreeStater covered his mouth in shock.

"The first player to volunteer-"

"I VOLUNTEER!" 168|Nigeria's hand shot up.

"Was also want-" 172|Chad protested.

"I said, I volunteer." 168|Nigeria replied.

(Confessional: 087|Nicaragua)

"Wow, es pushy."

(End Confessional: 087|Nicaragua)

"Since PLAYER 168 has volunteered to be the new monitor... he must now go to the boiler room for his assignment."

"Wow, am wonder what you have to do." 196|Ukraine said flatly.

"Am not know." 168|Nigeria shrugged, as two armed guards escorted him to the blue door.

The bright pink hallway was a familiar sight, as 168|Nigeria stopped to take in the view of the peculiarly organized tiles on the ground.

As he made a left turn into the boiler room, he found a note perched on a stool. He read the contents aloud to himself.

"PLAYER 168. As the new monitor... you must choose a player... to eliminate."

"WHAT?" 168|Nigeria's eyes shot to the size of dinner plates.

"You must take the ten-coin in this envelope, insert it in the machine, and type in the number of the player you want to eliminate."

"Am need to think..." 168|Nigeria paced back and forth, while wracking his brain.

"What would piss off less amount of people..." 168|Nigeria seemed to consider a few options. "039 is definitely fan favorite, will not choose him."

168|Nigeria sat down on the stool, and dusted off his lap as he pondered his decision further. He exhaled audibly from his nose as his world narrowed on the tile floor beneath him. His foot tapped to the beat of groaning metal and hissing pipes.

"Now, I could pick 222, is only woman and maybe the men will appreciate me for that. Let me consider option..."

“055... too quiet, too smart. Knows things. Could figure me out later. Dangerous.”

“235... my guy, but ambitious. Too ambitious. Might turn on me."

“087... eh, we cool, but he too paranoid. Always watching. Might stab first.”

“245... harmless, but would turn if someone ask him to."

“196... tough one. Fighter. No quit in him. If it come to endgame, he no go down easy.”

“222... she talk too much, like I'm going to get irritated just thinking about her. But useful… for now.”

“039... nerd with cat. Soft spot. Easy to play, but he got friends. Loyalty dangerous.”

“197... this one. This one got taste for blood now. After the rifle game? He enjoy it. Can’t trust a man who smile when killing.”

“274... wheelchair. Sleeping most time. Harmless... but pity vote. People protect him. Annoying.”

“054... brain. Too much brain. Always calculating. See through my hustle one day.”

“172... fighter. Strong. If push come to shove, he break me before I break him.”

168|Nigeria exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin.

"I need to pick, but am not sure."

He stared at the list a long moment, then typed in a number. He typed it in again just to confirm, and submitted the number. He then shuffled out of the boiler room, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

"Attention, players. The assignment has been completed."

"...Why should we care?" 222|England asked.

"The player that was chosen by the monitor... will be eliminated."

"OH." The color drained from her face.

"I hope it's not me." 039|LuckyCat prayed silently.

"Me too, brother." 197|FreeStater chuckled.

274|Paraguay did not speak, and just coughed, falling back asleep in his wheelchair.

"What a guy." 222|England rolled her eyes.

"The player that was chosen was..."

"Am actually want to throw up." 172|Chad trembled.

"Am really hope is not me." 245|Solomon Islands crossed his fingers.

The pink-clad guards emerged from the shadows at the far doors, with their rifles already raised. 197|FreeStater stopped in the middle of the floor, turning once in a slow circle, looking at the faces around him.

“Guess my luck finally ran out,” he said softly, almost to himself.

"PLAYER 197."

The guards leveled their weapons.

A single, sharp volley cracked through the dormitory. 197|FreeStater jerked once, then again, and crumpled to the floor in a heap.

"PLAYER 197, eliminated."

"Wow. Yo was really expect him to make it far than this." 235|Colombia murmured, still shocked from the bloodbath they had just witnessed.

"11 players remaining." 

"Imagine being the one player that misses final 10." 039|LuckyCat laughed.

"Yeah, that would be quite funny. Though I'd hazard a guess at who it would be." 222|England's eyes veered slightly to 274|Paraguay, careful not to capture his attention.

"I don't even know how he made it this far. He'll without a doubt be the first out in the next challenge." 054|Capybarra chimed in.

"I would not count him out. He has make it here just fine, has he not?" 168|Nigeria shook his head.

[Attention, players. The next game is about to begin.]

(Confessional: 196|Ukraine)

"Am so tire, we never get break. Am hope this game is over soon."

(End Confessional: 196|Ukraine)

"Bloody hell." 222|England begrudgingly rolled out of her bed.

"We knew it was coming." 055|ColinShadow laughed in somewhat of a scoffing manner.

"It would be many irritate if yo was make it all the way here and get out of game." 087|Nicaragua frowned.

[Please, follow the staff to the game hall.]

"Es actually insane." 235|Colombia laughed.

(Confessional: 172|Chad)

"Je cannot believing zat am actually have un-sur-onze chance at win ze money."

(End Confessional: 172|Chad)

The players maneuvered through the familiar array of multicolored staircases and doors into a white room, and as they walked down the yellow staircase, they saw four guards, standing around a large pink circle that took up a large portion of the room. Equally spaced around the edge of the circle were eleven desks, one of which had the chair portion removed to make room for 274|Paraguay's wheelchair.

In the center of the circle was a triangular table, and on the table was a gift box in the shape of Jeppy.

"Attention, players. Please select a desk."

222|England sat at the desk furthest from and facing the door they had just come through. From her right was, in order, 172|Chad, 274|Paraguay, 087|Nicaragua, 168|Nigeria, 196|Ukraine, 245|Solomon Islands, 039|LuckyCat, 055|ColinShadow, 054|Capybarra, and 235|Colombia.

All eleven remaining players were seated.

"Attention, players. You will all be blindfolded. If you receive a tap on the shoulder, remove your blindfold, pick up the gift box, and place it on the desk of the player that you wish to eliminate. That player will be eliminated... unless they can guess who gave them the box. If they guess correctly, they are safe, and the player that gave them the box will be eliminated instead."

(Confessional: 039|LuckyCat)

"I'm nervous. I know that I might be a potential target for many players in this game. On the other hand... in an attempt to throw other players off the trail, they may even attack players they previously had alliances with.

(Confessional: 196|Ukraine)

"If are put box on miy desk, you are eliminate yourself. Is death wish."

(End Confessional: 196|Ukraine)

039|LuckyCat exhaled through his mouth nervously. The eleven players (well, 274|Paraguay was actually just staring off into space) were apprehensively looking around the room, silently planning out who would be the recipient of the box when they inevitably were summoned to make a move.

"Am got this. Am got this." 087|Nicaragua whispered softly to himself as he tried to build morale.

"Players. Please put on your blindfolds now." 

At that announcement, ten of the eleven players reached for the blindfold neatly folded on their desks, placing it on their eyes and tying it around the back of their head in a tight knot. A guard helped a daydreaming 274|Paraguay to equip his blindfold.

"Now... let the game begin." 

A guard reached into the black box, and moved his hand around in a circular motion. He pulled the hand out, holding a black ball, similar in size to a baseball. He held it out in front of him, and the ball displayed, in white numbers, the number 168.

Four guards began to circle the group, their footsteps eerily audible. 245|Solomon Islands cringed at the closeness of the guards. Their consistent footsteps helped to mask the tapping of the shoulder once a player was selected.

In a state of constant movement, a guard stuck his arm out, lightly grabbing the shoulder of 168|Nigeria.

"Dammit." 168|Nigeria cursed under his breath, before untying his blindfold. He stood, and began to walk the perimeter along with the guards so his footsteps could not be detected.

(Confessional: 168|Nigeria)

"Am feel vulnerable. There is so much at stake here.... I have to think about this. 245 and 172 seem to not have any lasting emotional tie to anyone left in the game. And 172 try to take monitor from me. That make him my target. And am not believe that he will suspecting me."

(End Confessional: 168|Nigeria)

He carefully approached the desk of 172|Chad, sliding the box onto the very edge of the desk. The guards continued to walk at a consistent rate as 168|Nigeria inconspicuously returned to his desk, sat astride the chair, and tied the black blindfold back around his head.

"Players. Please remove your blindfolds." 

One by one, the players began to slowly untie and remove their black blindfolds. 168|Nigeria tried his best to act equally as surprised as everybody else as they peered around the room.

172|Chad removed his blindfold and sighed loudly upon seeing the box on his desk. He and 168|Nigeria briefly made eye contact as he scanned the room.

"PLAYER 172. To save yourself from elimination, you must correctly guess which of your fellow players placed the box on your desk."

172|Chad nervously stood, box clasped tightly between his hands. He sauntered toward the middle of the circle of desks. He paced the circle, looking absolutely everybody up and down.

"Now that you looked everyone in the eye, who do you think it could be?" 222|England asked.

"My gut ees tell me 054 or 039." 172|Chad replied.

"Not even trying to be dishonest, I did not put that on your desk." 039|LuckyCat raised his hands in protest.

"But ees definitely ze perfect time to be dishonest." 172|Chad shot back.

"I'm comfortable in my seat. If that's a risk you wanna take, go for it." 039|LuckyCat shrugged.

"If you want to die an early death, go ahead and pick me." 054|Capybarra smirked.

"I think that the person is someone that has more attachment to you than you think. Like 168." 039|LuckyCat suggested.

"Of course you are throw my name out there, but was not me." 168|Nigeria scoffed.

172|Chad continued to look around nervously.

"...054." 172|Chad finally picked someone, and beckoned 054|Capybarra forward to join him at the center.

054|Capybarra chuckled. He stood, and went to the center of the circle to face 172|Chad.

"Tried to tell you." 054|Capybarra laughed. "It wasn't me."

"The player that will be eliminated is..."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

172|Chad was shot point-blank in front of everyone, and his blood stained the previously porcelain-white floor.

"PLAYER...172."

"I told you." 054|Capybarra shook his head in disapproval as he strode back to his desk, taking his seat.

055|ColinShadow glared at 054|Capybarra's disregard for 172|Chad's life.

"We believed you." 222|England nodded.

"PLAYER 172, eliminated. 10 players remaining."

The players donned their blindfolds once again, as the guards began their circular march once more.

(Confessional: 054|Capybarra)

"Hahaha! Oh my god!" 054|Capybarra fanned himself dramatically as he laughed, almost cackling. "Oh my god, 172, would you like a knife and fork to eat your words right now?"

(End Confessional: 054|Capybarra)

Remaining: 10

^{This is a very high placement, especially as this is 172|Chad's first time playing Squid Game. Congratulations, Chad!}

The guard moved his hand around in the black box once again. He straightened his arm in front of him, revealing the white number 087.

The nearest guard firmly tapped 087|Nicaragua on the shoulder. 087|Nicaragua stood from his desk, careful to make the least amount of noise as possible. He placed both feet firmly on the ground, before walking quite stoically toward the triangular podium in the center of the circle.

He clutched the box in his right hand, before scanning the room for a potential target. He considered 245|Solomon Islands, 055|ColinShadow, before finally stopping on 235|Colombia. His eyes softened when he saw him.

(Confessional: 087|Nicaragua)

"Am struggling. Yo am not want to eliminar 235. But yo am know that will never guess es me. Am need to throw them off my trail."

(End Confessional: 087|Nicaragua)

The consistent footsteps from the guards began to slow down as 087|Nicaragua retook his seat.

"Players. Please remove your blindfolds." 

Everyone slowly removed their black blindfolds, scanning the room to see who had received the box.

"Oh Dios mio." 235|Colombia laughed nervously as he saw the box on his desk. 039|LuckyCat began to ruffle his hair a bit dramatically in an attempt to draw attention to himself.

"Yo am think yo can tell who is lie." 235|Colombia scratched his chin as he pondered his impending decision.

"039, was it you?" 235|Colombia asked.

"No, but you can pick me if you want." 039|LuckyCat smirked.

"Can I trusting you?" 235|Colombia asked, more firmly.

039|LuckyCat hesitated. "Yeah."

235|Colombia took a few steps, approaching the desk of 245|Solomon Islands.

"Es same thing? Was not you?" 235|Colombia asked.

"Yes, was not me." 245|Solomon Islands insisted.

"Difícil." 234|Colombia shook his head.

"Just go with your instinct." 222|England whispered.

"Yes, yo am go with my instinct." 235|Colombia replied. "Has not fail me this whole game."

"Good luck." 054|Capybarra whispered.

"Yo am think 039 put the box en my desk." 235|Colombia declared.

"Wow." 039|LuckyCat promptly stood, shuffling to the center of the circle with his hands in his pockets. 235|Colombia tried to look him in the eyes, but 039|LuckyCat just smirked, staring off into the distance, with sweat sluicing on his forehead.

"The player who will be eliminated is..."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"PLAYER... 235."

"Knew it." 054|Capybarra shook his head.

039|LuckyCat smirked slightly, and his eyes opened slightly, as 235|Colombia's chest exploded in a burst of red. 087|Nicaragua grimaced and tried to hold back the salty cascade of tears as he witnessed the act.

"PLAYER 235, eliminated. 9 players remaining."

"Did anyone actually think I did it?" 039|LuckyCat asked to the rest of the room.

"I no think was you." 245|Solomon Islands replied quickly, every plosive carrying a tiny burst of air.

Remaining: 9

^{This is 235|Colombia's first time surviving past Game 2, and he made it into the final 10 players. Congratulations, Colombia!}

"Players, put on your blindfolds."

"Ugh." 055|ColinShadow groaned as he put on the blindfold along with the other eight remaining players.

This time, the other guard stuck his hand in the box, moving it around in a circular motion. He then pulled out a ball, and the other guards began to move in their usual circular formation. The rhythmic steps were able to mask their position in the room.

The easternmost guard's hand grazed the shoulder of 039|LuckyCat, and he slid off his blindfold thusly, slightly jingling his cat-shaped lavaliere, but not enough to alert the others to his position.

He stepped to the middle of the room with his usual feline swagger, and grasped the box with three fingers, placing it in the palm of his other hand.

He spun around slowly a couple times, deciding who he should target, and he stood still in a contrapposto pose as sweat ran in rivulets down his back.

(Confessional: 039|LuckyCat)

"I'm thinking maybe 274. He's clearly... inhibited. I would never usually target a disabled person just for the sake of their disability, but I don't know who else I would choose, and I don't think he'll be able to tell."

(End Confessional: 039|LuckyCat)

"Players, remove your blindfolds." 

One by one, the players slowly removed their blindfolds.

"Wow. Wowwwww." 055|ColinShadow covered his hand with his mouth after seeing that 274|Paraguay had been targeted.

"Es [censored]ed up." 087|Nicaragua shook his head.

274|Paraguay, however, was staring off into space, mumbling something under his breath.

"Hello?" The voice on the intercom broke character, genuinely confused.

"He even care?" 245|Solomon Islands queried.

"Jaja. JAAAAjajaja." 274|Paraguay rocked back and forth in his wheelchair.

"Uh... PLAYER 274, point to the player you think put the box on your desk." 

274|Paraguay kept laughing softly. "Jajaja..."

"If you do not choose in the next ten seconds, you will be eliminated." 

"What? That's not fair. He's clearly... inhibited." 222|England protested, her pearlescent skin reflecting the bright lights.

"Jajaja..." 274|Paraguay was off in his own world.

"At least give him a chance to realize what the game is about-"

Before 054|Capybarra could protest further, a guard shot 274|Paraguay, and he slumped over in his wheelchair.

"PLAYER 274, eliminated. 8 players remaining."

"That's some heartless [censored] right there." 168|Nigeria shook his head.

^{274|Paraguay survived all the way to the final 10 players from his handler, Bolivia's, elimination in Game 3. 274|Paraguay is additionally the highest-placing representative from South America. Congratulations, Paraguay!}

"Players, put on your blindfolds."

The player chosen: 222|England.

She sighed to herself, and reluctantly stood, meandering to the center of the room to grab the box.

These options all suck, she thought to herself, shaking her head. She rolled her eyes as she scanned the room for any potential target that wouldn't be a dead giveaway to find out that it was her.

That's when she stopped on 039|LuckyCat.

Ooh. I could get out a big threat... and he wouldn't know that it was me.

She seemed to consider this greatly. She passed the box from hand-to-hand as she thought of any alternatives.

Nah, I guess it's got to be him. Hopefully the cards are in my favour.

The guards continued to pace the room in a circular fashion to mask her footsteps. 222|England carefully tiptoed to the desk of 039|LuckyCat, sliding it onto the edge of the desk. She then slowly backed away.

Hopefully he doesn't realise that it's me. 

"Players, please remove your blindfolds."

The players dropped their black blindfolds one-by-one, casting them aside on the table. 039|LuckyCat smirked looking at the box on his table.

"Wow, sure would be a shame if the person who put this on my desk didn't think I'd be able to tell it was them." 039|LuckyCat smirked.

"Yep." 222|England said in sardonic agreement, rolling her eyes.

"So... who is it?" 039|LuckyCat asked.

"Isn't it your job to answer that, genius?" 222|England retorted.

"I don't think I like your attitude." 039|LuckyCat sneered.

"Then pick me." 222|England scoffed.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" 039|LuckyCat chuckled.

Yes, I would. 222|England smiled darkly to herself.

"Who to pick... who to pick..." 039|LuckyCat browsed the room. "Ukraine! You look guilty."

"Що? Was not me!" 196|Ukraine protested.

"The person I think placed it on my desk is... 196."

"Is big mistake." 196|Ukraine groaned, standing in the center of the room with 039|LuckyCat.

"The player who will be eliminated is..."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"PLAYER... 039."

"IT WAS YOU!" 039|LuckyCat jabbed a finger at 222|England, who looked pretty amused. 039|LuckyCat was unaware, however, that those would be his last words.

"PLAYER 039, eliminated. 7 players remaining."

Remaining: 7

^{039|LuckyCat has made a stunning eighth place on his first attempt at Squid Game! Congratulations, LuckyCat!}

"Players, put on your blindfolds."

"This game is starting to get boring." 054|Capybarra yawned.

"Then maybe you should pick me." 055|ColinShadow smirked.

"But that would just make your day, wouldn't it?" 054|Capybarra sneered.

"You're damn right." 055|ColinShadow laughed.

"Idiot." 054|Capybarra rolled his eyes and tied the blindfold around the back of his head. 055|ColinShadow chuckled as he did the same.

The player chosen: 055|ColinShadow.

Wow, how ironic. He thought to himself. Despite his bravado, he was internally quite nervous to make his choice. He stood, treaded the straight line to the center of the room, and plucked the box from the podium. His knuckles were blanched bone-white as he clutched the box between his thumb and forefinger.

What do I do? A paroxysm of weeping began to form salty rivers down 055|ColinShadow's eyes as he struggled to make his decision. This is literally my life on the line. Every sob he swallowed down so as not to alert anybody of his position tasted of bile and the bitter poison of self-doubt.

Eventually, his eyes locked on what he imagined to be an easy target. 245|Solomon Islands quivered with fear, his blindfold moving slightly as his body trembled.

He'll be scared out of his mind. 055|ColinShadow approached the desk, sliding the box onto the edge.

"Players, please remove your blindfolds."

The players dropped their blindfolds, most of them peering down at empty tables.

"W-what? Why is me?" 245|Solomon Islands looked scared out of his mind.

"Yeah, I'm surprised too. 245's not a threat." 055|ColinShadow agreed.

"Wow, thank you for recognize how weak of player I am." 245|Solomon Islands rolled his eyes. "So who am do this to me?"

Nobody moved or spoke.

"Wow, so is going to be like that? Uh... 054, who am think I should pick?" 245|Solomon Islands asked.

"I would choose 055. That's just me, though." 054|Capybarra shrugged, half-smirking.

"You'd be making a big mistake." 055|ColinShadow chuckled. How the hell is he pinning it on me?

"Am not know who else to choose. May as well take chance." 245|Solomon Islands shrugged. "Am think that player who is put box on desk is... 055."

"Wow." 055|ColinShadow shook his head. S**t. 

055|ColinShadow hung his head, stepping to the center of the circle to face 245|Solomon Islands, who looked nervous. Both silently braced themselves to be gunned down by the guards.

"The player who will be eliminated is..."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"PLAYER... 055."

"WOAH." 087|Nicaragua covered his mouth.

"Yikes." 222|England chuckled.

Damn. 055|ColinShadow scowled.

"The double-bluff. Classic." 054|Capybarra shook his head in disappointment, grimacing a bit at seeing blood spill from 055|ColinShadow's body as a bullet pierced his chest.

"PLAYER 055, eliminated. 6 players remaining."

Remaining: 6

^{This is 055|ColinShadow's third consecutive time reaching the final 10 players. Congratulations, ColinShadow!}

"Players, put on your blindfolds."

"How many rounds are we even going to go?" 054|Capybarra yawned.

"Yeah, yo am have enough peril and bloodshed por today." 087|Nicaragua frowned.

The six of them annoyedly reapplied their blindfolds, awaiting what they didn't know to be the final round.

The padding of tennis shoes ensued, four guards circling the room like hawks. The two guards standing on either side the box looked at each other, and the guard on the left stuck his right hand inside, swirling it around in a circular motion for around fifteen seconds. Then, he extracted a black ball.

The guards continued to circle the room, building up the nervousness and anxiety that lived in the hearts of the six remaining players.

The guard at the south end of the room suddenly approached the desk of the chosen player.

Why is me? 196|Ukraine sighed. He stood up, pacing the circle along with the guards before stepping out of formation to get the box. 

Am not know who to choose... let me see... is five of man, one of woman. Maybe if am eliminate only woman, she is think a stronger player was pick her, like 168 or 087. Am think this could work. 

196|Ukraine nervously closed in on the desk of 222|England, and slid the box slightly onto the edge. He power-walked back to his desk in preparation for the cessation of movement by the guards.

"Players, please remove your blindfolds."

"Wow. Bloody hell. Had to wait until now to get out the only girl left?" 222|England raised an eyebrow, but nobody would make eye contact with her. She stood to interrogate the rest of the players.

"So, was it you?" 222|England asked.

"It was not me." 054|Capybarra replied, intentionally acting a little suspicious so she would get eliminated.

"Would no even dream of it." 245|Solomon Islands shook his head insistently.

"I don't know, I'm thinking somebody is threatened by me... but who would be threatened... I'm not thinking it's 245, 054, or 196..."

196|Ukraine's ears perked up, but he made sure not to draw attention to himself, and allow 222|England to keep walking herself off a cliff.

"So that leaves you two..." 222|England eyes drifted between 168|Nigeria and 087|Nicaragua. "It's definitely one of you too."

(Confessional: 222|England)

"Usually, I'm quite confident in my reads on people. However, I looked at 168, and there was a change in his face when I also mentioned 087. Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but it almost looked like a sigh of relief? I'm not sure..."

(End Confessional: 222|England)

"Yeah, is definitely me. You should pick me." 168|Nigeria smirked.

"Oh, you think you're funny?" 222|England sneered. "Well, I just might."

"You did see what happened the last time someone bluffed like that? They were indeed... bluffing. Don't fall for that. He's doing to you what you did to 039."

"Good point... but I feel like it's more likely him than 087... this is confusing. But I have to choose..."

"I feel like the choice is obvious." 168|Nigeria grinned.

"Yeah, I agree. The player I believe put the box on my desk is... PLAYER 087."

"Oh." 087|Nicaragua looked genuinely shocked that he was picked. He promptly stood, and joined 222|England in the center of the circle.

"The player who will be eliminated is..."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"PLAYER... 222."

"Oh. I actually thought it was him." 054|Capybarra's eyes opened to the size of softballs.

"PLAYER 222, eliminated. 5 players remaining. The Trust Circle is now over."

Remaining: 5

^{Since 148|Costa Rica was eliminated during Assassin, 222|England has been the only female player remaining, and made it this far over 30+ males all by herself. She just missed the final five players. Congratulations, England!}

Eliminated: 8

For those reading, you have the opportunity to vote from the list of the 5 remaining players below, and the (1) player with the most votes will be eliminated. 

^{This is 168|Nigeria's second time making the final 10 players, and this is the highest placement he has achieved. He was paired up somewhat with 172|Chad as they braved the game together, but 172|Chad was eliminated, just missing the final 10 players. He got to this point by being physically savvy but not too social, and never put in harm's way by other players. He is the sole representative for the continent of Africa. Could he win the season and make his homeland proud? Good luck, Nigeria!}

^{This is 245|Solomon Islands' first time participating in Squid Game, and what a wonderful placement to receive! He is the only player left in the game who has not played before. With the help of 001|Papua New Guinea, he was able to conquer the physical-focused challenges of this season, and was not chosen for elimination at any point as he managed to fly under the radar until 001|Papua New Guinea was eliminated in the final 25 players during Assassin. He is the sole representative for the continent of Oceania. Could he carry the torch for 001|Papua New Guinea and make Oceania proud? Good luck, Solomon Islands!}

^{This is 087|Nicaragua's breakthrough attempt, being eliminated during Game 1 in Season 1 and during Game 2 in Season 2. As a free agent player that has rapidly switched between groups, 087|Nicaragua was able to get through games like Mingle by sticking with 240|Guatemala, 159|Kentucky, and others. He then managed to generally fly under the radar in terms of threat level, and has found himself in the final five players! He is the sole representative for North America and the entire Western Hemisphere. Could he defy all the odds and pull out a win for the season? Good luck, Nicaragua!}

^{This is 054|Capybarra's second time participating in Squid Game, and in Season 2 he was the first JetPunk user to be eliminated from the game, placing in the final 50. He has definitely redeemed himself. He formed a bond with 222|England, 060|Honduras, and 235|Colombia toward the middle of the game, and he was able to get by with their help, but now only he remains from the group. He is the sole representative for the website of JetPunk, and he has a lot to live up to following Astana's win in Season 2 and Deathslayer also placing in the top 3 players. Could he ultimately redeem himself by winning the season and become the second consecutive JetPunk user to win? Good luck, Capybarra!}

^{This is 196|Ukraine's best placement, being eliminated just before the final 10 in Season 2, and being struck down by Hungary in Season 1. He has found himself at the final five players despite receiving 6 votes during the last viewer voting, a commendable feat. He made it here despite targeting from 224|Russia and 179|Belarus early on. He formed a close friendship with 050|Latvia, and joining a promising larger group of eight during Mingle, which notably included fellow top 10 finishers 039|LuckyCat (8th place) and 055|ColinShadow (7th place). He is the sole representative for the continent of Europe. Can he bring home the winnings for Europe and prove 224|Russia and 179|Belarus wrong? Good luck, Ukraine!}

This time, you can only place 1 vote. For your vote to count, you must provide the three-digit number representing that player. 

For example, if you wanted to place 1 vote for Player 500|Nickelz, your vote could look like this:

(500)

VOTING ENDS February 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM CST.

Also, comment down below who you'd like to win the season (this is not a vote and the winner has already been decided) and what you think the order of elimination will be from here on!

Thank you for 400,000 takes. ♡