BANG! With a deafening crash, a bullet ripped through my stomach. I collapsed onto the ground, sucking in cold air from the pain.
"Ah… How could this happen…" I groaned in agony, barely able to speak through the twisting pain in my face, while inside, I roared with anger: "All I signed up for was a doorman job! Who gets shot at being a doorman?! What kind of cursed life is this?"
Lying there, staring up at the wretched crystal chandelier on the ceiling, I felt zero romance in the scene—only the searing pain in my stomach, reminding me, "You're really done for."As my consciousness began to fade, I found myself blaming my own foolishness. "It's all because of that 'high pay, easy work' job ad! If only I'd resisted back then, I'd be at home binge-watching TV right now…"At this deadly moment, my thoughts began rewinding, drifting back to exactly one month ago, to when I was still eagerly searching for a job…"Sigh… Didn't even make it as a coffee shop assistant. Maybe I'm just destined to sleep under a bridge…" I sat on a park bench, staring at my phone, at yet another rejection notice reading, "Sorry, your application was not accepted," and let out a deep sigh.Just as I was about to close the job app, a new ad popped up: "Shadow Hotel urgently seeks a night-shift doorman. High pay, no experience needed, meals and lodging included." Those key phrases hit me all at once—high pay, lodging, no experience! My heart raced as I thought, this is practically a job made for me! Being a doorman should be simple—just stand there, greet a few people…easy as pie!I quickly clicked the ad, reviewed it multiple times to ensure it wasn't a scam, and immediately filled out the application. With a little thrill, I even started picturing myself on the job: "Night shift should mean not many guests, right? I could relax at the desk, sneak in some phone time… it's perfect!"To my surprise, the interview notice came the very next day. The speed made me feel even more convinced: this was fate!On the day of the interview, I showed up at the Shadow Hotel with my heart full of excitement. The hotel was tucked away on the edge of the city center, concealed within a dark, towering building that looked straight out of a movie—like the kind of place where the boss gets taken down and the headquarters could explode at any moment.As soon as I rang the bell, the door opened automatically, and a cold, strange wind blew at me. I instinctively took a breath, filling my nose with a mix of what smelled like sulfur, blood, and rusty metal. I sneezed, reassuring myself, "This must just be some fancy disinfectant… High-end places, right?"Just as I was about to look around, a middle-aged man in a black suit with perfectly slicked hair appeared behind the front desk. He glanced at me coldly, his expression resembling someone attending a funeral."Loren?" he asked in a deep voice."That's me! Here for the interview!" I awkwardly straightened up, smiling.He looked me up and down like a newly baked product, then said calmly, "Congratulations, you're hired." He picked up a name badge labeled "Doorman" and placed it around my neck."That fast? I'm…hired?" I was stunned. Wasn't this skipping a few steps? Not even a single interview question?"Yes," he nodded, "Follow me."Quickly, I followed him, taking in the decor, which included old black-and-white portraits along the hallway. The figures in the pictures seemed to gaze at something distant, and with each step, I had to resist the urge to look over my shoulder, half expecting those eyes to follow me.At last, he stopped before a door, turned to me, and said, "This job is simple. At night, you greet guests and ensure everything stays quiet."I nodded, keeping calm while feeling a thrill inside: this job seemed even easier than I imagined! Just greet guests and keep things quiet? Perfect for coasting through!"Any questions?" he asked, with a cold stare, as if I were a block of wood.I scratched my head. "Um… does the disinfectant smell here have something… special in it?"He paused, then gave a faint, cryptic smile, almost mocking my naivety. "You'll get used to it." With that, he turned and disappeared down the hallway.Standing by the front desk, I looked down at my name badge, feeling a strange sense of dread creeping in. But I shook it off, thinking: who cares? The pay's great. I can handle a weird smell!Just as I thought that, the door slid open silently. In walked a man in a black trench coat and sunglasses, carrying a heavy-looking bag with a corner slightly dripping with red. I took a sharp breath, my throat instantly dry. "…Welcome…"The man gave me a cold look, saying nothing as he walked to the front desk, placing the bag down with a dull thud. I couldn't help but gulp, wondering what could possibly be inside.The man at the front desk took the guest's black card and efficiently processed his check-in, handing back the room key as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Standing stiffly beside them, I glanced at the small red pool forming on the floor and reminded myself to stay calm. Maybe it's just… paint? Modern artists, right? Always a bit eccentric.However, every guest that followed seemed just as mysterious, whether carrying knives, suspicious bottles, or even wearing night-vision goggles. Every time I nervously muttered "Welcome," my heart pounded as if I'd stumbled into a dark film set.In just one hour, my resolve to stay calm had completely shattered.Alright, let's go back to the moment I got shot…BANG! The bullet ripped through my abdomen, and pain surged through my body.I tried pressing down on the wound like I'd seen on TV, but the pain jolted me like an electric shock. My vision blurred, and images of my life began flashing in my mind. The clearest memory? The day I applied for this damned "Shadow Hotel" doorman job…As I lay there, gazing at the chandelier overhead, feeling my vision blur, I thought I was about to meet my end when suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice sounded in my head.[Assassin System activating… Loading complete. Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the "Omniscient Assassin System."]