"So-" He flips through to the map, eliminating the pocket of herbs, dragging the components where Julian's pointed out and runs the math on distances, the likelihood of crossing paths with other contenders- it's not overly contagious (been there, done that, too much of a risk with too little payout)- and how that would affect travel times. The new numbers? Are much more reasonable.

Manageable.

Optimal tension, optimal incentive, an acceptable number eliminated without things becoming sadistic or unfair. Nevermind that the whole situation is wildly unfair, reminding the viewers of that fact never ends well. This? Is a solid compromise.

"These alterations in place- I'd rather not make it a standard environmental trap It'd be too early in the game to knock that many out- if we shift the canisters around to a second stage supply drop, now..." That'd extend the situation. Not that every trick and trap gets deployed but it's best to plan around the ones they know are most likely to pop off when things get chaotic.

"One of them nearly made smallpox again- it's the third time this has happened, it can't be anything but deliberate." They've not got many rules here, they're designing death and spectacle, but contaminants on that scale?

Pretty damn forbidden.