As the list of rules shattered into a million particles of light, in its place was the "role" we would play in this town.
Everyone looked at each other warily, before realizing that, well, because everyone was doing the same thing, it meant that we weren't able to see the roles of each other.
Afterwards, everyone tried to keep their poker face as we waited for the blacked out part on our status windows to be lifted.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have been given the role, "Mafia".]
"Shit..."
'Wow, just what I wanted really.'
Seriously though, I really didn't like getting this "role".
First, it meant that I would have less sleep at night, which I really didn't like.
Second, it meant that on top of the tasks around the village that we had to do, I also had to do the killings, which was even more physical exertion.
'Hmm, is there any way to kill them without leaving my house?'
But, as I asked that, I suddenly thought of something.
'Wait a second... system, open the rules again.'
I carefully scrutinized the rules, before putting them away, as I smiled inwardly.
'If my plan works, I can get enough stat points to be on the same level as the forefront first generation rankers! Well except for that guy, he's on a whole 'nother level.'
'I have to get stronger, to get my revenge.' (A/N: It's funny how the novel was originally a revenge story, then became a redemption story, and then quickly became a revenge story again.)
As it was the first day, we weren't given any tasks from the system.
Dispersing, some started talking with each other, forming groups, whilst others, like me, headed off on our own, presumably to explore the town.
"System, open store."
[Ding! The store is now open. Would you like to buy a "Nameless Sword"? They are 40% off for just this week! Buy them before they're all gone!]
'Wow... just wow... capitalism is everywhere I guess, even in a killing game...'
"No."
[Then would you like to scroll through a list of products, or would you like to search for a specific product?]
"Search."
[Please type in the name of the product.]
Typing the name of the item that I needed into the search bar, I quickly found it and bought 5 of them.
[Ding! Confirm: Do you want to spend 100,000 TC on 5 bottles of ????????? ???????, ?]
"Yes."
[Ding! The items have been deposited in your inventory. 100,000 TC has been removed from your account.]
'Preparations are now complete, now all I have to do, is act my part.'
I proceeded to walk around the town, memorizing all the town's structures and creating a mental map inside my head.
...
Sitting atop a clock tower as I watched the sun setting, my long black hair fluttering in the wind, I was suddenly interrupted by a system notification.
[Players! The day is gradually ending. Please make your way to your assigned house.]
[You have 30 minutes...]
[Ding! "Mafia", you may either kill a single person tonight, or you can spare everyone and go to sleep.]
'Well, the choice is obvious.'
"Imma go to sleep, I'll kill someone another day. Let's let them wallow in their fear tonight. So shoo, shoo, system."
I waved my hand at the system notification before it dispersed, and I climbed down from the top of the clock tower overlooking the central square.
Entering the house that had my Player name on it, I quickly showered, changed, and then jumped on my bed.
'Hmm, I wonder if the "doctor" and "sheriff" will spend all night awake? Well who cares, they won't have to worry for much longer, hehehe.'
'With happy thoughts, I fell asleep.'
...
Waking up in the morning, I couldn't help but jolt up after realizing how bright it already was outside.
"Shit, I need to go!"
Quickly pulling on my clothes, I ran out of the house, my figure still disheveled.
'I wonder what the other players will think of me now, after seeing that.'
Running to my place in the square, as everyone was already in their places, I hunched, putting my hands on my knees, as I breathed hard.
"Hoo, haa, hoo, haa."
Noticing that some weren't looking at me, I realized that they had probably seen through my act.
'Well, I think I've found my first few victims.'
We all waited for a minute, before the system gave us our tasks in pairs, and we all dispersed to do them.
I was actually paired with one of the people that hadn't looked at me, so I decided that he would be my first victim.
Working in silence, we completed our task, before moving onto our next one which was with another person.
Rotating with different people, I completed tasks around the town before the same system message as yesterday appeared as the sun was setting.
Taking off my working gloves, I wiped off my sweat as I slowly trudged home.
Taking a shower, I stepped out and waited until the sun fully dipped under the horizon.
Donning black clothes, I moved to the house of the player that I had decided to kill for tonight.
[Are you sure you want to enter Player "Mekkle's" house?]
"Yes." I said, in a whisper that was barely audible, even to me.
I heard the door click open, so I soon entered.
Standing on the landing, I observed my surroundings.
Seeing the chest of the figure in the bed slowly rising and falling, I figured that this couldn't be a trap.
Unlike my usual weapon, this time, I took out a simple knife, and then I slit the throat of "Mekkle".
Quickly hurrying out of the house, I returned to mine, before washing the blood off my hands and throwing my black clothes in my inventory, where they would automatically be cleaned.
Changing into pajamas, I quickly headed to sleep.
...
Unlike yesterday, I woke up early this morning.
Leisurely, I showered, fixed my appearance, and then put on suitable work clothes. I headed outside, wherein, with a glance, I could see that I wasn't the last one there.
Slowly walking to my spot, I covered my mouth with a hand as I yawned.
We waited for a while, but nobody else showed up.
And then, something completely unexpected and outside of my plans transpired.
[Ding! I am sorry to inform you that only 7 of you have made it through the blood filled night. The "Mafia" killed one person. The "Sheriff" "accidentally" killed an innocent. And finally, one Player died of unknown causes.]
There was a moment of silence as we digested the information.
'What the hell happened?!!!'
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A few announcements:
1. As you've probably noticed, I've uploaded the new cover for OTR, but, another author told me to redo it with a certain font on Canva, so there will be another new cover tomorrow.
2. The Discord server is up!!!! The link will now be here, in the paragraph comments, in the chapter comments, in the synopsis, and on my profile. Join if you want to get chapter updates quickly, and if you want to be privy to any new information regarding the two series as soon as possible.
https://discord.gg/8ePQESSSHT
3. I would like to shout out a book that I'm editing. Check out "World Online" by "jdbeue" a top 30 author on Webnovel. I'll assure you that the series is good, which is kinda obvious due to the author's quality, and that it's worth checking out.
4. My final announcement. I'm gonna shamelessly announce this, so be prepared. I will now only be writing extra chapters as we reach powerstone goals!
So, here they are:
75 PS - 1 extra chapter
100 PS - A deal just for this week, it'll be another extra chapter, and another teaser of the commissioned cover for OTR. (If you haven't seen it, the first teaser is on the discord channel, the second one will also be posted there.)
150 PS - Another extra chapter
200 - ??? (I'll go there if we even get there, although I seriously doubt it.)
Welp, that's all.