Lin Xiao noticed a catering van parked not too far away. The back doors were open, and a couple of staff members were unloading trays of food and drinks. A new option popped up:
[4. Sneak into the party disguised as a waiter]
Deciding this might be his best shot, Lin Xiao selected the fourth option. His character moved swiftly and silently towards the catering van.
He found a spare uniform lying on one of the trays. After quickly changing into the waiter's outfit, Lin Xiao adjusted his character's appearance and picked up a tray of drinks.
Confident in his disguise, he approached the entrance again.
The security guard looked at him suspiciously and removed his cap. Upon seeing his face, the guard yelled, "There's an intruder here!" Once again, Lin Xiao's character was shot down.
Lin Xiao was shocked and frustrated. "Does that security guard have a personal vendetta against me?" he muttered. Restarting the game, he surveyed the area once more and noticed the broken-down car at the end of the road. This time, a different set of options appeared:
[1. Approach the arrogant kid and ask if he needs help.]
[2. Beat him up and steal his invitation.]
[3. Take his car and drive right into the hateful security guard.]
Feeling less violent, Lin Xiao chose the first option: Approach the arrogant kid and ask if he needs help.
As Lin Xiao's character approached the kid, the arrogant young man sneered and started hitting him. Fortunately, Lin Xiao's character had Combat Mastery and dodged every blow with ease. In one swift, smooth motion, he knocked the kid out.
"Well, that escalated quickly," Lin Xiao thought. A new prompt appeared: [Search the kid for an invitation and disguise].
Lin Xiao's character searched the kid, finding an invitation and a formal suit that matched the attire of the other guests. He quickly changed into the suit, pocketed the invitation, and headed back to the entrance.
This time, the security guard didn't give him a second glance. Lin Xiao's character entered the grand manor, blending in seamlessly with the party guests.
Inside, the party was in full swing, with elegant chandeliers casting a warm glow over the grand hall. Guests mingled, chatting and laughing. Lin Xiao scanned the room, looking for his targets.
Lin Xiao scanned the room, taking in every detail. He noticed security guards stationed in every corner of the manor, many with weapons and guns strapped to them.
A prompt appeared: [Side Objective - Steal a gun].
Lin Xiao was surprised, and the guns on the security guards lit up in red, making them easy to spot.
He remembered the drunk security guard he saw earlier and decided to search the manor for him. As Lin Xiao maneuvered through the elegant halls and opulent rooms, he passed guests in lavish attire, chatting and laughing.
He navigated through the crowd, slipping past waiters carrying trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.
Eventually, he found a corridor leading to the back of the manor, where it was quieter.
Outside, he saw the drunk security guard from before, now toiling away with two other guards.
Lin Xiao knew this was his chance but felt uneasy about taking on three guards at once. He approached them, weighing his options.
Finally, he pressed the attack button.
Boom! Before he knew it, his character had swiftly knocked out all three guards with a series of rapid, expertly executed moves.
Lin Xiao was impressed by his character's efficiency. A timer appeared as his character started searching the guards and retrieved a gun.
With the gun secured, Lin Xiao directed his character to hide the bodies. He found a dark corner behind some bushes, a perfect spot to stash the unconscious guards.
With the gun hidden discreetly in his character's jacket, Lin Xiao returned to the party. Now, he needed to focus on his primary objectives.
He began searching for Riene Voender, but he realized he had no idea what she looked like. He scanned the room, trying to identify anyone who might need protection.
The crowd was diverse, with people in elegant attire, chatting and laughing. Lin Xiao felt a growing sense of urgency.
The manor's opulent decor—golden chandeliers, intricate wall carvings, and luxurious carpets—only added to the surreal atmosphere. He passed groups of guests, who were laughing and chatting, completely unaware of the impending danger.
Suddenly, there was a loud ding from the main clock of the manor. It was 6:00 pm. As the chime echoed through the halls, a chilling silence fell over the crowd. In an instant, several people in the crowd pulled out guns and started shooting indiscriminately.
Lin Xiao's system highlighted these attackers in red, making them stand out against the panicking guests.
Reacting quickly, he drew his gun and activated bullet time. The world slowed down around him, and he carefully aimed at each attacker, delivering precise headshots.
The attackers fell one by one, collapsing to the ground amidst the chaos.
However, the bullet time ability only lasted for 15 seconds. As the timer ran out, Lin Xiao found himself vulnerable once again.
He noticed a group of heavily armed men emerging from the main room, each carrying an assault rifle.
They moved with military precision, their faces cold and determined.
Bullets started flying in every direction, and Lin Xiao's character tried to take cover, but the onslaught was too intense.
The screen flashed red as his health bar rapidly depleted.
Within moments, his character was overwhelmed by the hail of bullets, and the screen went dark.
[Game Over. Would you like to restart? Yes/No]
Lin Xiao sighed, feeling the tension drain from his body. This game was more intense than he had expected. He hesitated for a moment, considering his options.
He pressed "Yes" to restart.
Lin Xiao once again found himself standing in front of the manor. He decided to follow the same initial steps as before but with a new plan in mind.
Instead of heading straight into the party, he aimed to find the drunk security guard first to steal a gun.
Walking through the grand entrance, he took in the scene with a more strategic eye. The opulent surroundings were the same: luxurious decor, sparkling chandeliers, and guests in glamorous attire.
However, this time, he noticed something different. Some of the guests were marked in red by the system, indicating potential attackers.
He made his way through the crowd, subtly observing these marked individuals while keeping an eye out for the drunk security guard.
The marked guests mingled with others, their behavior seemingly normal, but Lin Xiao knew they would soon reveal their true intentions.