Lin Xiao removed the headset and lay down on the bed, realizing only 30 minutes had passed since he started the game. The cats were sleeping, so Lin Xiao decided to follow suit. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
...
...
While Lin Xiao was sleeping, In the country of Zephyria, in the capital city, Riene Voender entered the lavish birthday party of her friend.
Though it was her friend's birthday, the party was hosted by her friend's fiancé.
Riene stepped into the manor, immediately greeted by the usual scene: guests eager to curry favor with her due to her position as the daughter of the president of V.A.M.P Corporation.
As she moved through the party, smiling and nodding at those who approached her, she couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.
She saw the host, her friend's fiancé, speaking to a group of important-looking individuals. His demeanor was confident, almost too confident.
Riene made her way to the buffet table, picking up a glass of champagne. As she sipped, she noticed a few suspicious individuals among the crowd.
They seemed out of place, their eyes constantly scanning the room. She dismissed it as her imagination, trying to enjoy the evening.
She finally spotted her friend Lana and her fiancé Lex, the host of the party, deep in conversation.
As they noticed her, Lana's eyes held a complex emotion, and Lex's eyes flashed with a wild look that disappeared just as quickly.
Lex approached her, formally introducing himself again since it was only their second meeting.
Riene always felt uncomfortable around Lex due to his lecherous gaze. She forced a polite smile and quickly thanked him for hosting such a grand party.
She was eager to put some distance between them, but Lex seemed intent on keeping her close.
"Riene, it's so good to see you," Lex said with a charming smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Why don't you join us upstairs? There's something Lana and I would like to show you."
Riene's discomfort grew. "Thank you, Lex, but I really need to use the bathroom. Maybe later?"
Lex's smile faltered slightly, but he nodded. "Of course. We'll be waiting for you."
As Riene made her way to the bathroom, she couldn't shake off the sense of foreboding. She found the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face, trying to clear her mind.
When she looked up, she caught her reflection in the mirror, she had snow-white hair and her red eyes that seemed to reflect her unease.
She took a deep breath and decided to explore the manor a bit. As she wandered through the elegantly decorated halls, she noticed several guests glancing at her with more than just casual interest. The feeling of being watched grew stronger.
Eventually, she found herself in a less crowded area of the manor. She took a moment to collect her thoughts, but the uneasy feeling wouldn't leave her.
As Riene was about to head back to the main party, a strikingly handsome man with blonde hair approached her.
There was something mysterious about him, his eyes seemingly devoid of soul or emotion, his broad and ripped physique exuding a powerful presence.
For the first time, Riene felt a strange, almost overwhelming attraction toward a man. Was this lust?
"Hello, Miss Riene," he said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. His voice had a regal quality, as if he belonged to a royal family. "My name is White Knight from the organization Divine Clock, and you are in danger."
Riene's initial attraction vanished, replaced by caution. "Why would I be in danger?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
White Knight's smile didn't falter. "I don't know, but I have been tasked to protect you. I have already eliminated the majority of the assassins, but you still might be in danger."
His calm demeanor and the way he spoke made Riene uneasy, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that he knew more than he was letting on.
Despite her reservations, she decided to trust him for the time being, perhaps influenced by the strange pull she felt toward him.
"Alright," she nodded, trying to gather her composure.
White Knight guided her through the manor's main hall, his movements precise and calculated.
The hall was grand, adorned with crystal chandeliers and opulent decorations that spoke of wealth and prestige.
Guests mingled in clusters, their laughter and conversation a stark contrast to the tension Riene felt.
As they walked, White Knight kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. He led her past the elegantly set dining tables, where servers moved swiftly, ensuring everyone had what they needed.
The scent of gourmet food filled the air, but Riene's appetite was long gone.
They passed through a corridor lined with portraits of the manor's esteemed lineage, each face stern and imposing.
The corridor opened into a large ballroom where the main party was in full swing. A live orchestra played soft, enchanting music, and couples danced gracefully across the polished floor.
White Knight's grip on her arm was firm yet gentle, guiding her through the crowd with ease. He maneuvered them toward a side door, away from the prying eyes of the guests.
Riene glanced around nervously, noticing a few guests casting curious looks in their direction.
"Where are we going?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the music.
"Somewhere safe," White Knight replied, his tone reassuring.
They slipped through the side door, entering a dimly lit hallway that contrasted sharply with the bright and lively ballroom.
The sounds of the party faded behind them, replaced by the soft hum of the manor's ventilation system.
White Knight led her down the hall, past a series of closed doors. They turned a corner and entered a small room that appeared to be a study.
The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes, and a large oak desk stood at the center of the room.
He closed the door behind them and turned to face her. "We should be safe here for a moment," he said, his expression serious.
Riene's heart pounded in her chest. "What is going on? Why are there assassins after me?"
White Knight ignored her question, his gaze fixed on the watch in the room. As the clock struck 6:00, a sudden commotion erupted, filling the air with screams and gunshots.
The man with her adopted a serious and mysterious aura, pulling out a gun from his clothes. For a moment, Riene was scared, but she quickly realized the gun wasn't meant for her.
White Knight peeked out the door and fired a few precise shots. The gunfire and chaos outside abruptly ceased.
Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice screaming, "Quick, find her! Shoot on sight! The young miss of V.A.M.P Corporation must not leave the manor alive!"
It was Lex, his voice filled with malice. Riene was shocked and terrified. How dare Lex want her dead? Did he have no fear of her father and grandfather?
White Knight grabbed her hand firmly, and despite the dire situation, Riene felt a warm sense of reassurance.
Without a moment's hesitation, he took her into his arms. Suddenly, the window they were standing in front of shattered with a deafening crash.
A sniper rifle's shot had narrowly missed them. White Knight quickly aimed and fired, taking down the sniper with deadly accuracy.
Riene's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't process the series of events fast enough—the precision of White Knight's shot, the shocking betrayal by Lex, and the realization that someone wanted her dead.
Her thoughts raced: who could be behind this? What motive did Lex have to go to such lengths?
"We need to move," White Knight said urgently, pulling her towards the now-broken window. "Stay close to me, and don't make a sound."
They navigated through the shattered glass and into the cool night air. White Knight led her down the side of the building, keeping to the shadows.
The manor's exterior was just as chaotic, with guests fleeing and more gunmen searching for their target.
Riene's mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion, but White Knight's unwavering presence kept her grounded.
They made their way to a hidden corner of the garden, where he stopped and checked their surroundings.
"Why is Lex doing this?" Riene whispered, her voice trembling. "What does he want?"
White Knight glanced at her, his expression unreadable, he just took her hand and guided her towards the exit.
As they made their way towards the manor's exit, Riene saw that the exit was covered with bodyguards. In the center of the group stood a man—it was Lex. He barked orders, "Find her!" Riene's friend Lana was nowhere to be seen.
The usually silent White Knight spoke up, his voice calm and commanding. "Stay behind me and be ready to run."
Riene quickly hid herself behind a bush. The tension in the air was palpable, and she could hear her own heartbeat.
Suddenly, the sound of gunshots rang out. Her heart leapt into her throat, and she squeezed her eyes shut, praying for safety.
A moment later, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see White Knight, his face as calm as before. He led her through the chaos.
As they moved towards the exit, she caught a glimpse of Lex with a bullet hole in his head and numerous bodyguards lying lifeless around him.
White Knight didn't take her out through the door but led her to a section of the wall. With a quick, efficient movement, he boosted her over the wall, ignoring any sense of propriety.
Riene, wearing a one-piece dress, felt a wave of embarrassment as she realized the man probably saw under her dress, but he didn't seem to care. His focus was entirely on getting her to safety.
Once over the wall, he grabbed her hand and they ran. They sprinted through the darkness, away from the manor, until they finally reached a safe distance.
White Knight came to a stop, his grip on her hand firm but gentle.
With an almost emotionless voice, he said, "Goodbye, Miss Riene. You are safe now. You can call your father. I hope next time we meet in better circumstances."
Before she could respond, his form shimmered and began to dissolve into golden stars.
Riene watched in stunned silence as he disappeared before her eyes, the supernatural display leaving her breathless and bewildered.
"What the heck was that?" she whispered to herself, the shock of witnessing something so inexplicable mingling with the relief of having survived.
Riene fumbled for her phone, her hands trembling as she dialed her father's number. As the call connected, she looked back at the manor, the scene of chaos and death fading into the distance.
The events of the night would haunt her, but one thing was clear: her life would never be the same again.