However, I refuse!

Several dozen minutes later, at Violet Park.

Xiunan maneuvered the character Kashu to park the car in a secluded corner, then got out to survey the surroundings.

There was not a soul in sight—perfect for transporting corpses.

“Press ‘F’ to shoulder the corpse.”

Kashu reached out with a large hand and hefted the heavy body of Assassin A, slinging it over his shoulder with practiced ease.

Xiunan pressed “F” again.

Kashu extended his other arm and picked up the corpse of Assassin B as well. Now, he carried a body on each shoulder, his gait surprisingly balanced as he walked.

He shut the car door and strode into the woods, burdened with the corpses.

The forest was thick with undergrowth and the path was difficult to navigate.

Xiunan couldn’t just leave the character to auto-move; if he did, Kashu would walk a few steps only to bump straight into a tree and then stand there, endlessly scraping against the bark.

It was a minor annoyance, but it made things feel more realistic. Coupled with the stunning graphics and immersive atmosphere, the trek wasn’t as tedious as it might have been.

Ten minutes later, Kashu set the corpses down.

He returned to the car along the same path and repeated the process.

In total, he made three trips, taking over forty minutes.

“Coo, coo…” Birdcalls echoed through the woods.

The trees here were lush, their canopies forming a giant umbrella that blocked the sunlight, leaving only scattered rays on the clearing below.

Dusk had already begun to fall. Amber twilight streaked beneath the clouds, slowly tinting the sky.

“It’s getting dark. Better hurry up!”

In the clearing, Assassin Kashu stood by a tree, clutching a civilian shovel he’d brought along for digging.

[Name: Ruijin Civilian Shovel]
[Type: Household Item]
[Grade: Common]
[Description: As you can see, this is an ordinary iron shovel, mainly used for digging. How you use it is up to you.]
[Feature: Essential for murder, body disposal, and travel.]

“Press ‘P’ to dig with the shovel.”

Kashu began to dig energetically.

The shovel flashed up and down, tossing heaps of earth behind him. His stamina bar dropped and recovered in cycles.

As night deepened and the sun vanished, Xiunan had Kashu dig a ring-shaped pit around a small tree. It looked more like a trench than a grave.

All five corpses were dumped into the circular pit, perfectly encircling the tree at the center.

“You’re the shortest tree in this grove, so today you’re getting a feast!” Xiunan muttered to himself, as he often did when playing single-player games.

In contrast, he hardly spoke when playing competitive games that required communication—an odd quirk of his.

The shovel rose high and came down hard, flattening the last mound of earth.

The forest grew dark, bathed in hazy moonlight.

A disheveled figure retraced his steps, emerging from the woods and heading straight for the car.

Cleanup complete—it was time to go home.

The Golden Ram started up and soon sped off down the road.

18:30, Maple Leaf Street, West District—Kashu’s home.

The door opened and the lights snapped on.

Words scrolled across the screen, flowing like water.

[Chapter One: Resurrection (Completed)]
[Task 1: Kill five members of the mysterious organization]
[Task 2: Investigate the origins of the mysterious organization]
[Task 1: (√), Task 2: (√)]
[Time Limit: 68h30min5s]
[Reward 1: “Fifteen Days of Self-Discipline”]
[Reward 2: An extra limited-time challenge opportunity]
[Reward 1: (√), Reward 2: (√)]
[Difficulty: Bronze Wood (Stage One)]

“Mission accomplished?” Xiunan stretched.

The subtitles faded, replaced by new ones.

[Notice: Inventory unlocked]
[Notice: You have obtained the special item ‘Fifteen Days of Self-Discipline,’ now stored in your inventory]
[Notice: You have obtained a special item, ‘One Limited-Time Challenge Opportunity,’ now stored in your inventory]
[Notice: Chapter One mission completed. You now have one hour to remain in the game]
[Countdown: 59min59s]
[Notice: Experience ending. Temporary passive ‘Nine Lives Cat’ will expire in 59min58s]
[Notice: Experience ending. Temporary skill ‘Brutal Interrogation’ will expire in 59min57s]

Xiunan glanced at his mouse. He had received the rewards for completing the first chapter, Resurrection, but the temporary cheats provided by the tutorial would soon vanish.

He was especially fond of the Nine Lives Cat passive.

Without nine lives to fall back on, there was no way he could have completed both missions with the character. The Nine Lives Cat was a godly skill—pity it was only temporary, just a taste before being yanked away…

It gave you a glimpse but wouldn’t let you in; enticed you but left you hungry. At that moment, Xiunan could fully appreciate the game’s wicked sense of humor and cursed its shamelessness.

He took a swig of “Three Nukes” to calm his nerves.

After a moment, he decided to take out the meteorite the Relic Organization had been searching for and study it. He vividly recalled how, when Assassin Kashu was shot in the head, the blood splattered onto the stone’s surface and it instantly emitted a tricolor glow.

Under the bright lights, a nondescript stone appeared in Kashu’s hand. It was grayish-white and smoothly rounded.

[???] Unable to identify.

It required blood to activate!

Assassin Kashu placed the stone on the coffee table, drew a black-bladed dagger from his belt, and delicately sliced his finger.

The sharp edge sliced the skin instantly.

A few drops of blood splattered onto the stone.

The next moment, something eerie happened. The blood immediately seeped in, as if the stone had devoured it.

In the blink of an eye, the gray-white stone turned crimson, then began to pulse with three shifting colors.

The light was so bright it nearly drowned out the electric lamp, and the entire room was awash in constantly shifting hues.

It felt like a midnight disco—pure light pollution!

[Notice: You have activated a special item!]

[Name: Celestial Star Fragment]
[Type: Consumable]
[Grade: ???]
[Description: A meteorite from beyond the heavens, each fragment contains a mysterious power. Prolonged exposure and use will grant the user extraordinary abilities through its radiation.]
[Feature: Incredibly rare]
[Radiation Energy: 3/10]
[Effect 1. Random Superpower: Consume three energy points to gain a random superpower (unpredictable)]
[Effect 2. Ability Fixation Slot: Consume one energy point to permanently retain a temporarily acquired skill or passive; this works on temporary perks granted by the system.]
[Note: You may freely choose from a multitude of effects]

“Choose? What choice is there? Only three points left—it’s either effect one or effect two!”

But Xiunan reasoned calmly: the Celestial Star Fragment must have originally had ten energy points, enough for the user to choose at will. Seven points, however, had already been absorbed by Kashu’s daughter, Robin…

That thought made Xiunan grin again.

“Well, it’s a bonus—free loot, after all…”

Freebies were always the sweetest for players, and this fragment was extremely useful.

Effect one: a random superpower! Maybe Assassin Kashu could end up flying, phasing, breathing fire, turning invisible, or peeping around! He might even get an even more powerful ability, soaring through the city like Superman.

Just the thought of it was enough to make Xiunan a little excited!

But—he refused!

That gambler’s mindset was a trap!

He chose effect two!