Absolute Death Game

Wu Min'er wasn't in the best of moods when she entered the elevator. Yesterday, to complete the reconnaissance mission temporarily assigned by the higher-ups, Vermilion Bird Group had lost another member. Fortunately, it was just a new member who had joined for a little over a month, and it didn't substantially impact the group's strength.

She remembered the helpless expression on the young boy's face when he left. Perhaps he was just a college graduate, starting out so young to work, and, by sheer coincidence, he had ended up at this company—such an unlucky fellow.

The corner of her mouth revealed a hint of a smile that was half-mocking, half-sigh. She whispered to herself in a volume only she could hear, "At least tomorrow you can make the news headlines."

Chewing on a piece of chocolate she had taken out, she mused to herself while chewing. The sugarless dark chocolate was fragrant with a touch of bitterness, reminiscent of the feeling she had when she first uncovered that secret.

Wu Min'er had been leading the Vermilion Bird Group for four months now.

At twenty-six, she possessed a meticulous mind and precocious character uncharacteristic of her age. Fond of swimming and archery, her independence often made her seem somewhat out of place among her peers.

Wu Min'er wasn't the kind of breathtaking beauty one couldn't forget with just one glance. On the contrary, while reasonably pretty, she didn't care much for dressing up, so she generally seemed rather plain. A perpetually unchanged ponytail was her hairstyle of choice, and she never used makeup.

However, her regular exercise had endowed her with an excellent figure, which one could glimpse even through her professional attire. After college, she traveled alone until she spent the last of her parents' savings, then decided it was time to find a job, and ended up here, of all places.

"You really are an unlucky guy," she muttered to herself, audible only in her own ears.

Ding-dong.

The elevator suddenly stopped. Looking at the panel, she realized she had arrived at the top floor.

As the elevator doors slowly opened, a spacious and bright top-floor lobby came into view. As the most expensive level of the entire building, the spatial use here was wasteful. She had not been here many times, and even as a leader, she was only slightly better off than a regular employee. In fact, aside from her group, she had no special privileges.

Walking into the corridor ahead, set up like a leisure center, she followed the polished marble floor and soon came to a glass door entrance. Before she could step onto the red woolen carpet, one of the two security guards stopped her politely yet firmly, "Please remove your shoes, thank you."

Wu Min'er took off her mid-heel leather boots and walked in under the guidance of the security officer.

In front of the top-floor balcony overlooking a quarter of City B, Dugu Han was playing mini-golf against the rising sun. Upon seeing Wu Min'er enter, he exaggeratedly spread his hands and said, "Ha, look who we have here, isn't this my favorite Leader Wu!"

After saying that, he looked towards Qin Shimoon, who was operating a computer, and with a half-joking tone, added, "I've always said that if we had more employees like Leader Wu in our company, who are both capable and a pleasure to look at, we could definitely improve morale and performance effectively. I wonder if I should promote you. It seems I'm short a personal secretary. Interested?"

Wu Min'er frowned at Dugu Han's joking face. She didn't like him; he was too ostentatious, arrogant, and off-putting—lacking intelligence but eager to give orders, without any of the demeanor that someone of his position should have. Instead, he possessed a mix of nouveau riche and spoiled young master's qualities, perfect for easily intimidating those who are faint of heart.

Despite being the head of the company, she always found it difficult to show him the respect he was due. At his blatantly crude remarks, she managed a strained smile and turned to Qin Shimoon, "Did Manager Qin call me up here for a reason?"

"Of course," Qin Shimoon said indifferently, gesturing for her to sit in front of a computer nearby. "There's a mission that needs Vermilion Bird Group's attention."

Wu Min'er glanced at the computer before her, understood his intent, and logged in with her username and password. Before long, her character was online—

A sexy female assassin clad in black Leather Armor, with a curvaceous figure, looked strikingly similar to her own appearance, but adorned with a black mask and hood. Armed with a bow and dagger at her waist, the game version of her carried a sense of mystery and lethal beauty that she lacked in reality.

"Meet up with my people at the tavern."

Quickly, Wu Min'er arrived at the tavern, only to meet a stranger she had never seen before. After their meeting, the stranger traded a blueprint to her. Glancing at the mission item in her hand, Wu Min'er was suddenly taken aback. She had played the game for so long and completed many missions, but this was her first encounter with a so-called world storyline mission.

Moreover, the penalty for mission failure made her eyes twitch.

"What is this?"

"Take on this task," Qin Shimoon said indifferently, not answering her question.

Wu Min'er's hand trembled on the keyboard as she stubbornly looked up, "If I remember correctly, this type of item's task isn't within the scope of the Vermilion Bird Group's business, is it?"

At that moment, Dugu Han happened to make a terrible shot. Angrily tossing his club to a nearby caddy, he turned around and said, "You're right. Actually, it was intended for the Qilin Group to handle, but the Qilin Group has been very busy lately, with too many things to deal with. Plus, didn't you see the note about a punishment for failing the task?

I can't risk any slip-ups with the Qilin Group, given all the effort I've put into it. So, it's better if your Vermilion Bird Group takes it on. Of course, if you're not satisfied, you can find anyone else in your group to accept it. After all, I just need to know what the task's final outcome is and what kind of rewards can be gained."

After finishing, he looked at Wu Min'er with an expression that suggested he thought this was perfectly reasonable.

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(So he's actually using me to scout out the situation?) Wu Min'er bit her lower lip. Despite not wanting to accept the task, it wasn't in her nature to push unknown dangers onto her comrades. "I'll do it, there's no need for someone else to take this on," she said, while double-clicking the blueprint.

System prompt: Quest triggered — The Rise of the Demon Clan.

Quest Introduction: After examining the "Abyssal Gate Blueprint," you realize it is a construction blueprint for a device of the Demon Clan, filled with the Demon Clan's writing. If you bring it to the Lord of Nine Dragons City, you may receive an unexpected reward. Accept? Yes/No.

The task seemed quite simple at first glance, but Wu Min'er didn't think so.

Having chosen to accept the task, Wu Min'er headed to the City Lord's Mansion with the blueprint in hand.

The Lord of Nine Dragons City was an NPC with a dark gold name, 'Warlord Zhang Xiaotian.' Wu Min'er had met this NPC several times before and even spoken with him; she had found him to be a very astute and capable individual. Zhang Xiaotian was a very powerful human, and even within the game, this power made Wu Min'er maintain the proper respect for him.

Upon completing the task and showing the blueprint, the NPC showed great surprise.

Warlord Zhang Xiaotian, "This—this is the writing of the Demon Clan!? Adventurer Wu Min'er, where did you get this blueprint?"

Wu Min'er typed in response, "I got it from a demon. We lost many comrades just to kill it."

Warlord Zhang Xiaotian, "You've done very well, I will remember the sacrifices Qilin Hall has made for Nine Dragons City. However, the situation is urgent, and now I need to continue serving Nine Dragons City. Take this document to the curator of Nine Dragons City Royal Library. He is proficient in any known language in this world.

Have him decipher the writing on this blueprint and then bring it back to me."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

System prompt: Your Prestige in Nine Dragons City has increased by 500 points, and Zhang Xiaotian's favorability towards you has increased by 50 points.

System prompt: Quest triggered — The second step of The Rise of the Demon Clan series: The Lord's Command. Accept? Yes/No.

"How about it, the task is pretty simple, right?" A carefree voice sounded from behind her, followed by a large hand that untraceably landed on her shoulder. Even through her shirt, she could distinctly feel the hand's warmth and dampness, which filled her with a deep sense of revulsion.

"Clearly, it's a series of tasks, not something that can be completed in a short time. There's likely to be more fighting ahead. I think I need to gather my teammates to complete this mission together," Wu Min'er said, while simultaneously exiting the game and standing up from her seat, subtly shaking off the hand resting on her shoulder.

Dugu Han waved his hand impatiently, "Whatever you want, just make sure to give me the results as soon as possible."

Watching Wu Min'er's departing figure, Dugu Han rubbed his hands with a sense of unfulfilled desire. With his status and position, getting women was usually easy, but those who came too readily often lacked appeal. It was the challenge of conquering women who kept their distance that gave him a sense of achievement.

He glanced at Qin Shimoon next to him, thinking she would also be a fine catch if not for the boss's specific instructions not to touch her.