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.
After some searching, Lin Xiao found the drunk security guard loitering outside near the garden, just as before. He approached the guard, and the same options appeared:
[1. Knock him out and steal his gun]
[2. Beat him up]
[3. Kill him]
[4. Help him up]
Lin Xiao chose the first one. Lin Xiao quickly and efficiently knocked the guard out, pressing the attack button. The guard was down before he even realized what hit him.
Lin Xiao then proceeded to search the guard, finding a gun strapped to his belt. He took the gun and quickly hid the unconscious body behind some bushes. As he did, a new prompt appeared:
[Side Objective - Steal a gun: Completed]
Feeling more prepared, Lin Xiao reentered the manor. This time, he could see the red-marked guests more clearly, knowing they were the attackers.
He carefully moved through the party, blending in with the crowd while keeping an eye on the potential threats.
When the clock struck 6:00 pm and the bell chimed, Lin Xiao was ready. As the attackers began to draw their weapons, he activated bullet time once more.
The world slowed around him, and he systematically took down each marked attacker with precise headshots.
As bullet time ended, Lin Xiao positioned himself strategically, knowing that the heavily armed men with assault rifles would soon emerge from the main room.
He took cover behind a large pillar and readied himself for the impending attack.
When the armed men burst into the room, Lin Xiao was prepared. He used the pillar as cover, popping out to take quick shots at the attackers.
The chaos of the party provided some cover, but he needed to move quickly and efficiently to avoid being overwhelmed.
Drawing on his combat mastery, Lin Xiao moved fluidly through the room, taking down the attackers one by one.
The gunfire echoed through the manor, but he kept his focus, knowing that he needed to complete his primary objectives: kill the host of the party and protect Riene Voender.
With almost all of the armed men dead, a person came out of the main room, surrounded by bodyguards. The man, who Lin Xiao now realized must be the host, approached him with an angry expression.
"Who are you?" the man demanded.
Options appeared:
[1. I'm the bodyguard of Riene Voender]
[2. Tell him you know the host of the party]
[3. Shoot him]
Lin Xiao decided to try the first option. As his character declared, "I'm the bodyguard of Riene Voender," the man yelled, "Shoot him!" Instantly, Lin Xiao's character was gunned down.
Lin Xiao was speechless. "Why are the NPC so agressive?" he muttered as he restarted the game. Once again, he followed the same steps: infiltrating the party, stealing the gun, and neutralizing the attackers.
This time, when confronted by the host, he chose the second option: "I know the host of the party."
The man sneered and replied, "I am the host of the party." He then told his bodyguards to shoot Lin Xiao's character, marking the man in a golden color indicating the objective. Lin Xiao's character was killed again.
Lin Xiao restarted the game once more. This time, he knew exactly who the host was and how to identify him. He repeated his previous actions, infiltrating the party and taking down the attackers. When he saw the host appear, he chose the third option without hesitation: shoot him.
Lin Xiao's character quickly drew his gun and fired at the host. The golden-marked target went down, and his bodyguards were momentarily stunned. Lin Xiao used this opportunity to take cover and systematically eliminate the remaining bodyguards.
With the host dead, a new prompt appeared:
[Primary Objective 1 Completed - Kill the host of the party]
Now, he needed to focus on protecting Riene Voender.
Lin Xiao put his character on high alert and began searching the manor. He scoured every room, from the grand ballroom to the smaller private quarters, peering into every shadowy corner and behind every closed door.
He checked the kitchen, the study, and even the wine cellar, but there was no sign of Riene Voender.
Growing more frustrated and anxious, he wondered if he had missed some vital clue or hidden passage. He replayed the events in his mind, trying to think of any place he hadn't yet explored. Despite his thorough search, Riene remained elusive.
Suddenly, a prompt appeared on the screen:
[Primary Objective 2 Completed - Protect Riene Voender]
Lin Xiao was shocked. "What the heck? I didn't even see her," he muttered, bewildered.
Before he could process this, the entire world in the game froze, and a new prompt appeared:
[Game Completed - Completion Percentage: 60% - Would you like to end the game? Yes/No]
[Hint: Saving innocent people can increase the Completion Percentage.]
Lin Xiao hesitated. A 60% completion rate was not satisfying, especially if it might impact his rewards. Wanting to improve his score and earn more coins, he pressed "No."
He noticed the same security guard, guests, and the broken-down car at the end of the road.
He approached the drunk security guard again to obtain a gun, then began infiltrating the manor with a more strategic mindset.
This time, Lin Xiao decided he would kill all the intruders before they could attack and hide their bodies to avoid detection.
Lin Xiao first directed his character to the main room where the armed individuals with assault rifles posed the greatest threat. He approached the red-marked targets one by one, silently luring them into secluded corners.
Utilizing his character's combat mastery, he performed silent takedowns: a swift jab to the throat, a quick twist of the neck, and a precise stab between the ribs. Each motion was efficient and lethal, ensuring no noise alerted others to his presence.
He dragged the bodies into nearby closets and behind curtains to keep them hidden from sight.
Next, Lin Xiao moved to the side rooms where other red-marked individuals were stationed.
He repeated his silent killing techniques, using shadows and timing his movements to stay undetected. With each intruder eliminated, he felt a growing confidence that his plan was working.
While navigating the manor, Lin Xiao spotted the host of the party, marked in gold, escorting a girl and several servants upstairs. The moment he saw the girl, she too was marked in gold. This was Riene Voender.