The monster siege is a well-loved traditional event. During the open beta, there were two goblin army siege events, featuring various super leaders and heaps of ordinary leader-level goblin lords, making it a feast for players to upgrade their reputation and hunt for treasures.
But that was all from outside the city; now, this full city of barking clearly indicates an attack from within. Moreover, the stray dogs are indeed very special. They don't count as wild monsters, and there's an animal protection organization protecting them. The city's NPC security won't take action against them.
They won't kill humans, just bite and run to annoy people. At worst, they disable ankles; at worst, they spread diseases. Even worse, they hit you with both. Without spending money on a doctor, there's no cure. The key is these dogs fear the rich and disdain the poor, never biting those with high levels or finely dressed. So, they usually only target lower-level players. Such an annoying event, and some player triggered it!
At this moment, all the players on the streets realized something was wrong and started running. Some even tried to climb the nearby walls.
Chun, in this weakened and overburdened state, couldn't run and also had to try climbing a nearby wall.
——System Notification: You are too heavy, weak body, climbing failed! Your muscle memory starts recalling climbing essentials.
Holy Shit!
Honestly, this wall isn't just high, it's slippery too. Even with my intermediate climbing skills, managing to climb up in one go is uncertain.
Chun wasn't the only one failing to climb; a large number of players have realized the situation and rushed to the iron fence gate, immediately alerting the mansion's security to scold them.
Chun couldn't keep up either, anxiously jumping up and down failing under the wall.
Next moment, the lid of the street sewer burst open, countless black mist dogs rushed out madly, biting anyone they see and running off after a bite, throwing the situation into utter chaos.
Chun acknowledged his bad luck. Whatever, a bite is a bite. I'm probably immune to toxins and might resist diseases, but as for disabling—
A dog lunged towards Chun, biting his foot!
——System Notification: Warning! Your foot has been attacked by a stray dog, Life -15! You have successfully resisted the Disabling Strike effect.
Fortunately, I wasn't disabled or infected! This expert-level running Mighty Vajra Leg of mine isn't something a common stray dog can easily disable!
——System Notification: Warning! You received tear damage from the stray dog, damage -6!
Chun suddenly realized the dog was biting and not letting go, shaking its head with red eyes and slobbering mouth!
Holy Shit, what's going on! Isn't it supposed to bite once and leave, why am I the exception?
Chun panicked, jumped up with the other foot, kicked the dog's head, and with the force of that jump, his hands barely reached the top of the wall, grabbing it!
——System Notification: Congratulations! Your muscle memory successfully recalled the essence of mining, strengthening your unarmed effect and restoring your Basic Climbing skill to level 1. Your muscle memory has gained new insights into climbing, earning you an additional achievement reward: Life +1.
Extra life!? Holy Shit, could it be that the skill can develop further?
Without time to think, Chun was invigorated and kicked the dog's head again, managing to climb up the wall. Beside the mansion wall was a lavish high-rise with distinguished window sills. Watching the players rolling and screaming in the streets, he hadn't had time to be relieved when a red warning light flashed in front of him:
——System Notification: Warning! Your current behavior constitutes illegal intrusion into "Count Ramir Khan's" mansion, please cease immediately, or you will be flagged as a red-name criminal!
Holy Shit, this is an emergency risk avoidance, how can it be considered a crime?
Next moment, barking was also heard inside the courtyard, from a few robust guard dogs far exceeding stray dogs in size, sprinting over and leaping up!
Holy Shit, that speed, that impact—
Chun was so scared he couldn't think further, only to leap from the wall, landing on a window ledge of the building next door!
Then he immediately regretted it! This time it's not just a suspicion, it's confirmed intrusion! If just one guard turns around to look, I'll be flagged red and sent back to jail! The key is I have six precious Magic Stones on me, if they're confiscated or I die flagged red and they drop, I'll suffer a huge loss…
Chun looked towards the mansion helplessly, only to see the guards being distracted by the barking dogs and climbing players at the gate, not noticing the guard dogs barking here!
Holy Shit!?
Chun glanced around and noticed that the top of the building had a room with an open window.
Chun instantly judged that the room was empty, as anyone inside would be looking out at the barking streets. As long as the guards don't see me, I can crawl in to hide for a while, and soon it'll be dark, still having a chance to escape unscathed.
Without hesitation, climb! Compared to the high and slippery wall, the window sill with grip frames was much easier.
The players rolling on the street saw Chun's actions and exclaimed, "He's a Six!"
"How is that possible? Aren't the guards coming?"
Chun felt his scalp tingle! Clearly, he just wanted to keep a low profile and hide himself, but he ended up being conspicuous... To hell with it, maybe being more noticeable would make him less suspicious.
Finally, amidst the exclamations of the players on the street, Chun climbed to the top floor and sneaked in through a window.
It was a small room, with sparse furniture: just a bed, a cabinet, a table, and a dressing table with a wall mirror holding small bottles. The wall was adorned with glamorous photos of a celebrity mage. It was evidently a maid's room, but to live on the top floor, this maid's position was probably not low.
Chun searched for a hiding place, but the lack of furniture made it difficult. The bed sheets lacked a skirt to conceal him, and he couldn't really hide under the bed. All he could do was check the cabinet.
Chun gently opened the wardrobe, and inside hung a glowing pink sheer nightgown.
——System notice: You have discovered the "Dance Dress" equipment for the Dancing Girl profession. Basic attributes: Attack Speed +5, Movement Speed +5, Weight 1, Durability 48, Aesthetic 100. Note: You notice a patch of dark color on the garment.
Dancing Girl equipment! So this was a Dancing Girl's room. Equipment that adds 5 points of speed is definitely top-grade; this Dancing Girl's status is indeed high! But this dark patch... clearly a quest item!
Chun instantly thought of Vivian; he knew much about her temper, but nothing of her profession, background, or residence, as she never mentioned them. This gap posed a challenge to advancing with her.
Looking at the room now, it was surprising how meager the life behind the Dancing Girl's glamorous facade was, despite living in a high-ranking earl's high-rise. How did someone like Vivian, who mingled in bars to curry favor with overweight barons, live by comparison?
Chun started searching the desk; the drawers were completely empty!
Holy Shit, how could it be this poor!? The game mimics a society where NPCs have economic rules governing food, clothing, housing, and transportation, unless the room is unoccupied?
Chun then began lifting pillows and blankets. With a thud, a pillow fell—hmm?
Chun immediately took apart the pillow and surprisingly found a book. No, it was a diary! Holy Shit, no wonder it was so secretly hidden; he had been stumped not knowing much about the Dancing Girl.
Chun directly flipped to the latest page, clipped with a bookmark: "…The drug's effect is surging again; I don't know how much longer I can last. If I just die like this, the master will catch my sister to pay the debt. Poor Amy can't walk this path; I must hold on and break through to become a High Tier Dancing Girl…"
Chun was stunned. A drug? A Dancing Girl's advancement is to become a Dancing Girl? The date on this page was March 25th, but today in the game is April 2nd!
Chun immediately flipped back: "Today, Lola was gone, was she dealt with?"
Flipped again: "Woke up in pain at midnight, took another one, my symptoms are the same as Lola's."
Flipped again, revealing a diagram stained with dark ink: "Bought this technique from a mysterious witch; just need a bit of blood to use it. Not sure if it will help me break through."
Holy Shit, also using magic? This ink stain matches the garment stain; could it be blood?
Flipping again: "The master brought in a batch of new drugs; he said I'd need ten years just to pay back the drug cost… I'm the family's hope; I must break through…"
…
Chun was horrified; behind the glamorous facade, the Dancing Girl was essentially tortured and trained through drugs and magic, and those who couldn't endure were "dealt with." Could it be that the diary's owner was already dead? Is Vivian also tormented by this drug? What exactly is this drug?
Flipping again brought him to the first page, which only held a few inexplicable words: "Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Black, White."
What is this? Important information is usually on the first page—Chun immediately noticed several makeup bottles on the dressing table, precisely six, matching these colors. Could it be a code?
Chun rearranged the bottles in the order recorded in the diary.
In the next moment, the mirror reflected the image of the bottles, flashing light upon light, revealing a distinct magical fluctuation.
Holy Shit, a magic mirror with a code! Only fitting for an advanced count's house.
Then, a pink smoke billowed from the mirror—system notice: You smell a rich scent of rose.
Chun's scalp tingled; Vivian also had this rose scent! So, she didn't truly love roses but needed them to mask the scent of her drugs?
In the next instant, a glass box emerged from the mirror.
Chun immediately opened the box, finding it full of pills.
——System notice: Warning! You perceive a familiar poisonous drug.
Familiar? Could it be that these pills and the mushrooms I consumed are made from the same materials?
Just as he was in shock, he faintly heard dog barks and hurried footsteps coming from outside the room.
Holy Shit, they're chasing me upstairs!