Prepare to meet your end.

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Time: 15:44.
The assassin Cassius climbed the stairs to the second floor.
He entered his daughter Robin’s room first; pink wallpaper greeted him. In the center stood a small bed adorned with the endearing, chubby Quinn Bear emblem.
Beside the pillow rested two or three brown plush toys.
Near the window was a small desk, its corner stacked with books, and next to them, a photo frame.
A white border encased an early photograph of Cassius and his wife Jessica, slightly yellowed with age.
It showed a muddy road down a mountain; the tall Cassius bent down, Jessica’s hands resting on his shoulders.
Both were smiling, and the sun was brilliant that day...
"Press 'F' to pick up the photo."
The glass on the frame was thin, and a wobbly little figure drawn in pencil by Robin was scribbled onto its surface.
Clearly, that represented Robin herself.
It was a belated family portrait for the three.
Cassius’s breathing seemed to grow heavier.
"..." Xiunan pursed his lips.
He controlled the character, placing the photo back in its place.
He opened the door and left Robin’s room.
Robin’s bedroom closet was too small to hide a person.
He entered Cassius’s bedroom, which was furnished with stark simplicity.
The walls were clean and white, and a large wardrobe stood to the side.
"Press 'F' to open the wardrobe door."
Rows of neatly arranged suits occupied most of the metal rack’s space. The bottom row was filled with somber, tidy work attire in shades of black and gray.
Above were just two or three sets of casual wear.
At the far end of the wardrobe hung a vintage necklace, its silver hue dulled with time.
Below dangled a crucifix pendant.
[Name: Jessica’s Pendant]
[Type: Accessory]
[Grade: Ordinary (Upper)]
[Description: Fourteen years ago, Jessica gave the pendant passed down from her grandmother to her beloved Cassius.]
[Features: None]
[Passive 1. Faith: When Cassius equips Jessica’s pendant, in dire straits one of three effects will be triggered, no time limit, lasting until death.]
[Effect 1. Last Stand: When Cassius is in dire straits, his physical abilities are temporarily enhanced by twenty percent.]
[Effect 2. Damage Reduction: Powerful faith renders the body exceptional, reducing damage taken by twenty percent.]
[Effect 3. Recovery: Powerful faith renders the body exceptional, increasing stamina recovery speed.]
[Hint: Dire straits refers to Cassius’s health dropping below half; only one of the three effects can be chosen.]
[Passive 2. Danger Sense: Somewhere, someone who loves you is silently watching over you, protecting you.]
[Note: Love makes one vulnerable, but it also makes one strong. Every ordinary person becomes extraordinary through love.]
Xiunan paused a moment, then pressed the keyboard.
The assassin Cassius raised both hands and donned the pendant.
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There was a narrow gap between the metal rack and the wardrobe door, just wide enough for Cassius to squeeze in. Through the crack in the door, he could see half the bedroom.
Xiunan decided to squat here and wait.
He checked his watch: 15:50.
He continued to wait patiently; the entire building was silent, the only sound the pounding of Cassius’s heart.
Five minutes passed. 15:55.
A faint noise came from the first floor, as if someone had entered. Listening carefully, there were footsteps—three people.
"They’re here!" Xiunan’s heart tightened.
"Search the first floor first, move quickly!"
A muffled voice from the assassin came through his headset.
Xiunan looked up at the mini-map.
Three red dots appeared, with expansion symbols labeled Assassin A, B, and C. The red dots moved around, clearly searching for something on the first floor.
For the next few minutes, the sounds of rummaging echoed below as the three red dots paced back and forth.
"Hmm? They’re finally coming upstairs."
Xiunan gulped, setting down his five nuclear bombs. As for why there were five and not six, of course, one had been drunk.
He placed his hands back on the keyboard and mouse.
His gaze was fixed on the screen.
Two red dots had reached the second floor.
At the staircase, they split up. One red dot moved swiftly toward Cassius’s bedroom.
Assassin A stood before the door and turned the handle.
With a creak, the door opened.
The window opposite was still ajar, a gentle breeze blowing in, lifting the pale gray curtains.
Assassin A entered, walking straight to the right side of the bed, where a storage nightstand stood.
"Press 'T' to hold your breath."
Assassin Cassius stood motionless, holding his gun in one hand.
Xiunan waited for the perfect moment.
Two minutes later, Assassin A had emptied the nightstand, finding nothing of interest.
"Not here..."
He slowly stood from his crouch.
He glanced at the huge wardrobe beside him.
Assassin A strode over.
"He could be in here..."
He grasped the wardrobe doors with both hands and pulled them open.
"Surprise, Mother f**ker!"
Suddenly, a black gun barrel pressed against Assassin A’s forehead and the trigger finger squeezed hard!
"Bang!"
The bloodied bullet pierced his forehead and exploded out the back of his skull.
"-198"
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Assassin A [Health: 0/100]
Xiunan chuckled, "Bet you didn’t see that coming!"
Indeed, he hadn’t!
If Assassin A could revive, he would suffer a cognitive collapse, because Cassius was supposed to be dead—killed by him with three fatal shots, each one deadly, his heart blown apart, confirmed.
Cassius was even buried by him!
Now, the roles of the living and dead had reversed.
Cassius was alive and well, while Assassin A fell with wide, unwilling eyes, a spray of blood splattering across the bedsheets.
"Press 'Q' to use Meditation Time."
Assassin A collapsed slowly, as if the air had thickened into viscous gel, hampering movement.
Cassius crouched and searched, retrieving firearms.
[Name: Violet Rose Pistol]
With two guns in hand, the world was his!
Xiunan’s blood was ablaze with excitement.
Cassius burst out of the bedroom, rolling across the floor. Rising to his feet, he dashed straight for Robin’s room, a black shadow streaking into the chamber at lightning speed.
"Boom!"
Assassin C raised his pistol, aiming at the door.
His reflexes were quick, but his shot missed.
Cassius had rolled in.
"Die, you bastard!"
Cassius dropped to both knees, his body leaning back.
His twin pistols aimed squarely at Assassin C.
"Bang! Boom! Bang! Boom!"...
"-31" "-42" "-28" "-40"...
Assassin C [Health: 0/100]
A double kill, executed flawlessly.
Meanwhile, the hourglass symbol in the upper right corner had only depleted a fifth, meaning Xiunan had plenty of time to get downstairs and finish off that little brat on the first floor.
He quickly searched for loot, swapping his old pistol for the Violet Rose.
"Awesome!"
The door swung open; assassin Cassius donned a pair of sunglasses, his face set in a cool, arrogant expression.
Armed with twin pistols, he leapt down the stairwell!
Cassius twisted midair, gun barrels pointed forward.
Reflected in the lenses was Assassin B’s panicked figure.
"I am Cassius the assassin. Prepare to die!"
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