novellhall Chapter 199 Anne Hathaway [8000] Dungeon Story
Chapter 199 Anne Hathaway [8000] Dungeon Story
Chapter 199 Anne Hathaway [8000] Dungeon Story
Over the next few weeks, Chen Xun's life in the dream instance entered a peculiar rhythm.
By day, he is Phil Brock, a single father who works odd jobs at a hardware store in small town, takes his daughter to and from school, participates in school activities, and occasionally chats with other parents over coffee.
He behaved so normally that even Sheriff Keith completely abandoned his suspicions.
On two occasions, Keith even waved to him as the patrol car passed by.
Chen Xun began to consciously teach McGrady some things.
Start with the little things in everyday life.
One Saturday afternoon, they were repairing the fence in the yard.
When McGrady handed him the tools, Chen Xun asked, "Do you know how to hold a hammer?"
"Isn't it just grabbing it and then smashing it?"
McGrady had a "does this even need to be taught?" look on his face.
Chen Xun took the hammer and began to demonstrate: "No, your fingers should be like this, and your wrist should exert force like this. You see, this way it's less strenuous and less likely to hurt yourself."
He taught her the correct grip, how to use her body weight to power her arm, instead of relying solely on brute force.
McGrady learned very quickly, and in no time he looked quite professional.
"Dad, where did you learn all this?" she asked.
"When I was working before, I often had to fix things myself."
This is just the beginning.
They went to the supermarket to buy groceries. In the parking lot, Chen Xun casually asked Maddie a common-sense question: "If you were alone here and someone approached you from behind, what would you do?"
McGrady thought for a moment: "Run?"
"Running was the right thing to do."
Chen Xun agreed with McGrady's reaction, and then continued to ask, "But how do you run? Which way do you run?"
He led her to a relatively open area of the parking lot and began to demonstrate: "If someone comes from this side, you can't run towards the area with fewer cars. You have to run towards the area with more people, like the supermarket entrance. And when you run, you have to shout loudly, not scream, but shout 'Fire!' That will attract more attention."
McGrady thought it was fun and tried it a few times.
Her voice was initially very soft, but Chen Xun encouraged her, "Louder! Imagine you really see the fire!"
"Fire!"
McGrady finally shouted it out, his voice loud and clear.
An elderly woman pushing a shopping cart nearby was startled and looked around.
Chen Xun quickly explained, "Sorry, we were playing a game."
The old lady shook her head and left.
McGrady stuck out her tongue: "How embarrassing!"
"But it works!"
Chen Xun looked intently into McGrady's eyes: "Remember, safety is more important than saving face."
These teaching methods are fragmented.
Chen Xun didn't teach too much at once, fearing it might arouse McGrady's suspicion or unease.
He simply instilled basic safety awareness and self-protection skills little by little in the gaps of daily life.
[Father-daughter interactive tutorial, drops attribute orb: Family Bond +4 (purple)]
[Protective guidance, drops attribute orb: Fatherly Responsibility +3 (Blue)]
[Daily skill instruction, attribute orbs dropped: Teaching Method +3 (Blue)]
Chen Xun absorbed these attribute orbs while also pondering.
Before entering this instance, when he read Homefront, he didn't quite understand why Brock taught his daughter fighting skills.
But now, having experienced it firsthand, he understands something deeper.
This is not just about teaching her to fight.
The father knew he might not be able to protect his daughter forever, so he had to give her the ability to protect herself.
I know the world is dangerous, but I don't want my daughter to live in fear, so I give her confidence by teaching her skills.
It was her hope that even if she wasn't there, she could still live a good life.
One evening, McGrady was watching cartoons in the living room while Chen Xun was flipping through magazines next to him.
In an animated film, during a fight scene, the protagonist uses a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw.
McGrady suddenly asked, "Dad, can you do that?"
"Which one?"
"The one that threw people out."
Chen Xun thought for a moment: "I know a little. Do you want to learn?"
"May I?"
"If you study hard."
Chen Xun turned off the TV, rolled up a section of the living room carpet to reveal the wooden floor underneath.
He first did a few simple warm-up exercises, and then demonstrated a basic self-defense move.
"Don't force it."
Chen Xun had Maddie grab his wrist: "The wrist joint is like this. If you turn it in this direction, the other person will feel pain and will let go. Come on, try it."
McGrady tried a few times, but at first he couldn't get the hang of it and was always easily countered by Chen Xun.
But she was very serious, adjusting the angle and intensity again and again.
"No, you need to use skill, not brute force."
Chen Xun corrected her movements: "Imagine your hand is a fish, trying to slide out of the net."
"Fish?" McGrady frowned. "How can fish be slippery?"
"that's all----"
Chen Xun demonstrated it again.
This time he slowed down his movements so that McGrady could see every detail.
After practicing for about twenty minutes, McGrady finally succeeded once.
She broke free from Chen Xun's hand, though her movements were still a bit clumsy.
"I did it!"
She jumped up excitedly.
"You did a great job!"
Chen Xun patted her head: "You have to remember, this can only be used against ordinary people, and it's best used for escaping, not fighting. If the other person is much taller than you, you should run first."
"Okay, Dad, what did you do for a living before? How come you know so many things?"
Maddie stared at Chen Xun curiously.
Here comes another question.
Chen Xun had already prepared his answer: "I used to work for a security company, training security personnel, so I know some basic things."
"cool!"
McGrady's eyes lit up: "Then what else are you teaching?"
Take your time~
"Learn a little at a time, and you may never need these things in your life, so it's best if you never need them."
But Chen Xun knew in his heart that it might be useful in this instance.
Because according to the movie plot, conflict is bound to happen sooner or later.
On Thursday morning, Chen Xun took McGrady to school as usual.
The weather was nice; sunlight shone through the clouds onto the streets of the small town, and everything seemed peaceful and normal.
"Dad, what are we having for dinner tonight?"
McGrady asked in the car, fiddling with a rainbow bracelet in his hand.
That was a gift from Lisa at the market last week.
Since Chen Xun integrated into the town, McGrady's life has become more colorful.
I've also made a few friends.
What would you like to eat?
Chen Xun countered with a question.
"Pasta! The kind with lots of cheese."
"Okay, pasta it is then."
"yeah!"
At the school gate, McGrady jumped out of the car, ran a couple of steps, then turned back: "Dad, remember to give my toy a bath! It fell on the ground yesterday and it's a little dirty."
"Okay, pay attention in class."
Chen Xun waved his hand.
He drove home and stopped at the supermarket on the way to buy ingredients for making pasta.
After returning home, he first cleaned the house and did the laundry, and then began preparing dinner.
It takes time to stew the meat sauce in advance.
At 3 p.m., he went to pick up McGrady.
After arriving home, Maddie put down her schoolbag and went upstairs. Chen Xun continued cooking in the kitchen, the aroma of meat sauce slowly filling the house.
Twenty minutes later, McGrady came downstairs, his eyes a little red.
"What's wrong, McGrady?"
Chen Xun put down the spoon.
My doll is missing.
McGrady's voice was trembling with tears.
Chen Xun's heart skipped a beat.
The doll is gone.
This detail triggered Brock's memory.
It's not Chen Xun's memory of movies as an actor, but Brock's real-life experiences.
In the original storyline, the destruction of the doll was a sign of escalating conflict, meaning that the other party was no longer just testing the waters, but posing a clear threat.
"It might have fallen somewhere. Let me help you look for it."
Chen Xun tried his best to remain calm.
They searched the entire house. McGrady's room, the living room, the kitchen, even the bathroom.
No!
"Could he be outside? I played in the yard for a while after school yesterday."
Chen Xun walked to the backyard.
The yard wasn't big; it had a small patch of grass, a few oak trees, and an old swing.
He looked around carefully and finally spotted it on a low branch of an oak tree.
The doll rabbit was suspended from a tree branch by a thin rope, its head cut off, and cotton was sticking out from the cut in its neck.
His body was filthy, as if he had been stepped on.
Chen Xun stood there, staring at the damaged doll, feeling a chill creep up his spine.
This is not a prank, it's a warning.
"Dad, did you find it?"
McGrady's voice came from the back door.
"No!"
Chen Xun immediately turned around, blocking her view: "It might have been blown away by the wind or carried away by a cat. Let's go inside first."
He pushed McGrady into the house and quickly closed the door.
"But the doll—"
McGrady was about to cry.
"I'll take you to buy a newer and better one tomorrow."
"I don't want a new one! That was given to me by my mother!"
Chen Xun squatted down and looked into her eyes: "Maddie, listen to me, the doll may really be lost, but Mom's love for you will not be lost. She wants you to be happy, not sad because of a doll."
McGrady sniffed and didn't insist any further.
At dinner, McGrady ate very little.
Chen Xun had no appetite, but he forced himself to eat.
It requires physical strength and staying alert.
After dinner, while Maddie was washing the dishes, she suddenly said, "Dad, Ms. Susan asked me today if I was free this weekend."
"Ms. Susan? Your counselor?"
She said she had a beautiful garden at home and wanted to invite me to see it, and also said she could teach me how to grow flowers.
Ms. Susan.
A school counselor in a small town.
In the original storyline, she didn't have many scenes.
But at that moment, a thought flashed through Chen Xun's mind.
If the original storyline continues, what will happen next?
Gates' men would storm into the house, attempting to kill Brock, and if they failed, would kidnap McGrady as a hostage.
Brock will fight his way to rescue his daughter.
Chen Xun can replicate this plot.
He now has Brock's skills, a gun, and the confidence to win.
But that would mean McGrady would have to experience the fear of being kidnapped, and might even get hurt.
He didn't want that.
Do you want to go?
Chen asked McGrady.
"I'd like to. Ms. Susan is a very nice person, and her garden is really beautiful. I've seen photos of it."
Chen Xun thought for a moment and said, "Then how about this, I'll call Ms. Susan tomorrow. If you really want to go, you can come to her house for a day this weekend."
"real?"
McGrady's eyes lit up.
"Hmm. But—"
Chen Xun carefully considered his words: "It might stay overnight, if it gets too late."
"overnight?"
McGrady got even more excited: "Like a pajama party?"
"almost."
Maddie cheered up and temporarily forgot about the doll.
She started planning what to bring: pajamas, a toothbrush, her favorite book —
Chen Xun looked at her, quickly formulating a plan in his mind.
On Friday morning, Chen Xun first took Maddie to school, and then went home.
He didn't go to work at the hardware store; instead, he called Tom and said he wasn't feeling well and asked for a day off.
Then he did a few things.
He called Ms. Susan.
Ms. Susan readily agreed, adding that she really liked McGrady and happened to have no plans for the weekend.
Chen Xun breathed a sigh of relief.
He checked the house's defenses.
The locks on the doors and windows are all good, but not enough.
He rummaged through the attic and found some of Brok's hidden alarm devices.
A simple infrared sensor connected to his phone will trigger an alarm if someone breaks in.
He installed them on the front and back doors and the first-floor windows.
They also prepared an emergency kit.
Two sets of clothes to change into, some cash, a spare phone, a power bank, water, and energy bars.
He put the bag in the trunk of his car so he could leave at any time.
When picking up McGrady in the afternoon, Chen Xun deliberately took a detour to the main street and stopped at a gas station.
He filled up his tank and then went into the gas station's small shop.
Besides the shop assistants, there was one other person in the store.
Chen Xun recognized him; he was one of Gate's men, the short, stout one, who was buying cigarettes.
Chen Xun pretended not to recognize him, bought a bottle of water, and when paying, he pretended to accidentally drop his wallet on the ground, scattering his belongings all over the floor.
He squatted down to tidy up, his movements a little flustered.
The subordinate glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Chen Xun stood up and said to the shop assistant, "By the way, I won't be in town this weekend. If there are any deliveries or anyone looking for me, just say I'm taking the kids to visit relatives."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for the people nearby to hear.
"Where are you going?" the shop assistant asked casually.
"My sister's house in Baton Rouge, Maddie misses her cousin."
"Okay, have fun."
As Chen Xun left, he saw his subordinate making a phone call in the rearview mirror.
That evening, Chen Xun helped Maddie pack her luggage for the night.
The little girl was very excited and stuffed her favorite clothes and books into her small backpack.
"Dad, are you really not coming with us?" Maddie asked.
"I have something to take care of, I'll pick you up on Sunday. Be good at Ms. Susan's house, okay?"
"Okay."
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Chen Xun drove Maddie to Susan's house.
Susan lived on the other side of town in a white detached house with a large yard full of flowers.
Wow~
McGrady exclaimed as he got out of the car, "She's even prettier than in the photos!"
Ms. Susan, around fifty years old, wearing glasses, and with a gentle smile, came out to greet us.
She chatted briefly with Chen Xun to confirm their contact information, then took Maddie's hand and went inside.
Chen Xun stood at the door, watching McGrady turn around and wave at him before disappearing behind the door.
He got back into his car but didn't leave immediately.
He sat in the driver's seat, looking at the house, calculating in his mind.
McGrady is safe now.
Ms. Susan's house is far from the main street, and the surrounding neighbors are all retired elderly people, so it is very quiet.
Gates wouldn't know she was here, and even if they did, they had no reason to target a high school counselor.
Next is his part.
Chen Xun drove home.
On the way, he noticed that the familiar black Chevrolet had reappeared, following behind but keeping its distance.
After arriving home, Chen Xun did not go inside.
He first parked his car in a conspicuous spot in the yard, then walked to the front door and deliberately spoke loudly on the phone.
The call never actually went through.
"Yes, I've already set off—I'll be there in about two hours—McGrady fell asleep in the car—"
It was performed for potential eavesdroppers.
Then he went inside and closed the door.
The lights were off, making the house appear empty.
He checked his phone.
The app connected to the door and window alarms shows everything is normal.
Then he went up to the attic and took out all of Brock's equipment from a secret compartment.
Two pistols, four magazines, a shotgun, a tactical knife, a stab-proof vest, night vision goggles, and a communication headset.
He put on a vest, tucked a pistol into his waistband, and strapped a tactical knife to his calf.
Then he sat by the window in his second-floor bedroom, looking out through the gaps in the blinds.
The streets were quiet.
It's Saturday noon, and many people are out at the market or out in the streets.
Chen Xun waited.
If the other side is going to take action, it will most likely be today.
A notification suddenly popped up in front of Chen Xun's eyes:
[Actively change the plot line]
Risk-averse decision-making
[Father and daughter separated for protection, dropped attribute orb: Responsibility Choice +4 (purple)]
Chen Xun sat by the window of the second-floor bedroom for about forty minutes.
The streets outside were unusually quiet.
Brock's memories were reminding him.
This is a sign that action is about to be taken.
My phone vibrated.
It was a simple monitoring system he set up.
He installed a miniature camera on a utility pole at the street corner, so people could view the live feed on their phones.
The screen showed a black van turning in from the main street and stopping about 100 meters from his house.
Four people got out of the car, all dressed in dark clothes and carrying things in their hands.
It was too far away to see clearly, but its shape resembled a spear.
Chen Xun counted: four.
Including those who might still be in the car, there are at least five people.
He put his phone back in his pocket and checked his gear.
Two Glock 19 pistols, 9mm, each with two spare magazines.
The shotgun was loaded with bullets.
The tactical knife is on the right calf.
The stab-proof vest is already on. Although it can't stop bullets, it can protect against knives and blunt objects.
A slight noise came from downstairs.
It didn't come in through a door or window.
It's from the basement.
Chen Xun frowned. He remembered that the basement window had iron bars, so he shouldn't be able to get in.
Unless they cut the railings.
Brooks' memories came flooding back.
A professional approach.
Instead of launching a direct attack from the main entrance, they infiltrate from the most unexpected place to disrupt the defenders' rhythm.
Chen Xun quietly walked to the top of the stairs, squatted down, and listened to the sounds below. There were footsteps, very light, but more than one person.
At least two!
He slowly retreated to the bedroom, closed the door, but did not lock it.
Locking your phone is like telling the other person where you are.
He moved to the side of the wardrobe, where he could see the door from an angle, but he wasn't in direct line of fire.
wait.
The footsteps downstairs moved slowly and cautiously on the first floor.
They are searching.
Chen Xun could hear the sounds of them rummaging through things.
Drawers in the living room, cabinets in the kitchen.
Then footsteps came toward the stairs.
Chen Xun held his breath. He saw the first person clearly when they appeared at the top of the stairs.
Wearing a ski mask and holding a shotgun.
A classic goal-scoring weapon.
The man scanned the second-floor corridor, the muzzle of his gun following his gaze.
He made a gesture, and another person came up from behind, carrying a pistol.
The two began inspecting the room.
The first room belonged to McGrady; the door was open, but no one was inside.
The second room is the study, which is also empty.
Then they went to the bedroom.
The door was gently pushed open.
Chen Xun, positioned to the side of the wardrobe, could see the gap in the door slowly widening. The first person slipped in sideways, the muzzle of their gun sweeping across under the bed and behind the curtains, before finally reaching the front of the wardrobe.
Just as his gaze was about to turn to the side of the wardrobe, Chen Xun moved.
He kicked the inside of the wardrobe.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was clear in a quiet room.
The man immediately turned around and pointed his gun at the wardrobe.
His accomplice followed him in, and both of them focused their attention on the wardrobe.
Chen Xun darted out from the side and fired two shots.
"Bang! Bang!"
Two gunshots rang out deafeningly in the enclosed room.
The first person was shot in the chest. His bulletproof vest provided some protection, but the impact still caused him to stagger backward.
The second person reacted quickly and immediately fired in Chen Xun's direction.
Chen Xun has already moved.
He rolled to the other side of the bed, and a bullet hit the spot where he had just been standing, shattering the wooden floorboards into pieces.
[Street Vehicle Offense and Defense Instinct] will automatically activate at this time.
He knew that in a confined space, the most important thing was to move, not to stay still.
The second person continued firing, bullets piercing the mattress, sending cotton wadding flying. Chen Xun rolled out from the foot of the bed, aimed as he rolled, and fired.
He shot the opponent in the thigh.
The man screamed and fell to the ground.
The first person who was shot had recovered and raised his shotgun.
Chen Xun didn't give him a chance.
He grabbed the bedside lamp from the bedside table and threw it, not to hit it, but to distract it.
The moment the lamp flew past, Chen Xun rushed out from the other side, closed in, and struck the other man's chin with the butt of his gun.
The sound of bones breaking.
The man fell to the ground.
Chen Xun picked up the shotgun and examined it.
Five rounds in the magazine, already loaded.
He walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain.
Outside, three people were standing next to the bread cart.
They heard the gunshots and were watching nervously, their rifles already raised.
Chen Xun did not take the stairs.
Those two people may not have completely lost their ability to move.
He walked to the bedroom window, opened it, and saw the eaves of the second floor outside.
Not tall, about 3.5 meters.
He flipped over, landed on the eaves, and then jumped onto the grass in the yard, rolling over to dissipate the force.
The three men next to the bread cart saw him and immediately opened fire.
"Da da da da!"
The bursts of rifle fire were much louder than those of pistols. Bullets struck the ground around Chen Xun, kicking up dust.
He hid in a corner of the house and took a deep breath.
Three against one, all armed with rifles, a direct confrontation offers no chance of victory.
He glanced at the shotgun in his hand, then at his surroundings.
The yard isn't big; there's a tree, an old swing, and some leftover renovation materials.
A few planks of wood, a bucket of paint.
[Street Vehicle Offense and Defense Instinct] came up with a plan in his mind: use the environment to divide the enemy and defeat them one by one.
Chen Xun peeked out from the corner of the wall and fired two shotgun blasts—not at people, but at the windshield of the bread truck.
"Bang! Bang!"
The glass shattered, shards flying everywhere.
The three people instinctively ducked to avoid the danger.
Right now.
Chen Xun rushed out, running in a zigzag pattern, while continuing to fire his gun.
Shotguns have a large spread area, so precise aiming is not required; suppressing the opponent is sufficient.
He ran behind the oak tree.
It's the tree where the dolls are hung.
The bullet hit the tree trunk, sending wood chips flying.
The three people separated.
One flanked from the left, one from the right, and another pressed from the front.
Chen Xun observed from behind the tree.
The one on the left is closest to him, about fifteen meters away.
He waited until the other man was reloading before emerging from behind the tree and firing two quick pistol shots.
One shot missed, the other hit the man in the shoulder. The man fell to the ground.
The man on the right had already circled around and was aiming his rifle at Chen Xun.
Chen Xun did not retreat, but instead charged forward.
In the fractions of a second before the other man pulled the trigger, he swung the shotgun like a stick, striking the man's wrist.
The rifle slipped from his hand.
Chen Xun closed in, kneeing him in the stomach and elbowing him in the back of the neck.
The other person collapsed.
There was one left, facing them head-on. They panicked and started firing wildly without any rhythm.
Chen Xun picked up the rifle from the ground.
He had used an M4 carbine in training before.
He leaned against the tree, took a deep breath, then suddenly turned to the side, aimed, and fired three shots.
"Da da da!"
The third person fell; a bullet hit his bulletproof vest, but the impact was enough to hurt him.
The fighting has temporarily ceased.
Chen Xun, panting, looked around.
All five people have been dealt with, but it's uncertain whether there are any more.
He walked over to the bread cart and looked inside.
There was no one in the driver's seat, but the car key was still in the ignition.
There were several boxes in the back seat, and he opened one.
Inside were packaged white powder and cash.
Gates's goods.
It seems today is a trading day. These people were originally here to deliver or pick up goods, and they took care of this troublesome matter while they were at it.
The sound of a car engine could be heard in the distance.
Chen Xun looked up and saw a silver Cadillac driving from the street corner. It was going very fast, but it didn't get close and stopped about two hundred meters away.
The car window rolled down, and Chen Xun could see the people inside.
Jeb Gates himself.
Bald, wearing sunglasses, he's making a phone call.
Then the Cadillac turned around and sped away.
"Trying to run away?"
Chen Xun smiled.
He jumped into the driver's seat of the van and started the engine.
The car is a bit old, but it's still drivable.
He shifted gears, floored the accelerator, and the bread truck shot forward.
[Street vehicle offensive and defensive instincts] are fully activated.
Chen Xun automatically calculated in his mind.
The bread truck is heavy and accelerates slowly, but its high position provides good visibility.
The Cadillac is nimble, but it doesn't have much of an advantage on small-town streets.
The two cars sped out of the residential area one after the other and onto the main street. At midday on Saturday, with people and cars on the street, Gates's car was forced to slow down.
Chen Xun seized the opportunity, swerved the steering wheel, and the van veered onto the shoulder, narrowly missing the outdoor seating area of a cafe, causing a chorus of screams.
He took a shortcut.
Go through the alley and come out from the other end, and you'll find yourself blocking the way in front of the Cadillac.
Gates braked suddenly, then reversed, attempting to make a U-turn.
But Chen Xun didn't give him a chance.
He drove his van straight into it.
"Bang!"
The impact wasn't severe, but it was enough to cause the Cadillac to lose control, slide to the side of the road, and crash into a fire hydrant.
A column of water shot into the sky.
Gates climbed out of the car, holding a pistol, and fired at the bread truck.
The bullets struck the car with a clanging sound.
Chen Xun crouched down and waited for the other person to change magazines before pushing open the car door, rolling out of the car, and hiding behind another vehicle.
The two faced off, twenty meters apart.
The streets were deserted, and shops were all closed.
"Brock! Do you know who I am?"
"I know, a man who's about to die."
Gates laughed: "You think you've won? I have twenty men in town! The cops are my men! You and your daughter aren't getting away!"
Chen Xun remained silent.
He observed his surroundings.
The street is lined with shops on both sides, with windows on the second floor and a platform on the roof.
Gates stood in the mist spraying from the fire hydrant, in a very conspicuous position.
He moved from the side, using the parked vehicles as cover, and gradually approached.
Gates continued firing, but his hand was shaking and his aim was poor.
When the distance closed to ten meters, Chen Xun emerged from behind a pickup truck and fired.
It wasn't aimed at Gates, but at the ground near his feet.
The concrete floor shattered, and shards struck Gates in the calf.
He cried out in pain and knelt on one knee.
Chen Xun rushed over, and the instant Gates raised his gun, he kicked the pistol away, then pressed the rifle against Gates' head.
"It's over!" Chen Xun said.
Gates stared at him, then suddenly laughed: "Your daughter—McGrady, right? She's at Ms. Susan's house, you think I don't know?"
Chen Xun's heart tightened, but his face remained expressionless: "Give it a try!"
"My men have already gone there and should be here by now. Do you think a high school teacher can protect her?"
Gates laughed even more wildly.
Chen Xun stared at him, trying to determine whether what he said was true or false.
A notification suddenly popped up: "[A critical decision point has been detected]".
But this time there were no suggestions, only one line: "[Make your own decision based on your role's logic]".
Chen Xun made his choice.
He pulled the trigger.
The gun didn't fire.
He turned the gun around and struck Gates in the temple with the butt of the rifle.
The other person fainted.
Chen Xun took out his phone and called Ms. Susan.
It rang three times before being answered.
"Feed?"
"Ms. Susan, this is Phil. How's McGrady?"
"That's great, you're helping me plant flowers. What's up?"
"It's nothing, I just miss her. Can I let her answer the phone?"
A few seconds later, Maddie's voice came through: "Dad! Ms. Susan's garden is so beautiful! We're planting sunflowers!"
"That's good. Have fun. I'll pick you up later."
Chen Xun breathed a sigh of relief.
"good!"
After hanging up the phone, Chen Xun looked at the unconscious Gate.
The sound of sirens could already be heard in the distance.
With such a commotion from the gunfight, the police are finally arriving.
But I'm not here to help him.
Sheriff Keith is one of Gates's men.
He then put his phone back in his pocket, stood up, and watched the police car getting closer and closer.
He should go.
Back in the van, Chen Xun started the engine and drove away via another road.
The police car sped past where he had just been, but didn't give chase.
After leaving the town, Chen Xun parked the car next to a grove of trees, got out, and walked in.
He found a rock to sit on and looked in the direction of the town in the distance.
A system prompt pops up:
[Main storyline of Homefront completed]
[Plot change: Daughter was not kidnapped]
Overall Performance Rating: A
Character fusion rate: 72%
[The Dream Realm instance is about to end —]
Chen Xun sat on the edge of the bathtub, letting the hot water wash over his body.
The water temperature is very high.
Steam filled the entire bathroom.
He just sat there, not moving at all.
The feeling of waking up from the dream instance of Homefront was even stronger than that of Interstellar.
Just now, when he left the bedroom, his body automatically followed a tactical route.
I stood close to the wall, first observing both ends of the corridor, before heading towards the bathroom.
This isn't Chen Xun's habit; it's Broker's.
And those hands.
He looked down at his hands, his fingers clearly defined, his palms calloused.
In reality, it was still his own hand, but the muscle memory was too real.
Just then, a series of attribute orbs fell from his body:
[Deep Understanding of Fatherly Bonds +136] (Silver)
[Agent Combat Reaction +3] (Blue)
[Crisis Decision-Making Instinct +4] (Purple)
[Daily Life of a Single Father +7] (Purple)
[Protective Fatherly Love +6] (Purple)
[Street Environment Utilization +3] (Blue)
[Emotional repression and outburst +4] (Purple)
All the attribute orbs were absorbed by Chen Xun.
He could sense a noticeable change.
Chen Xun now truly understands the extent to which a father can go to protect his daughter.
Character credibility +18 (Current: 80/100)
[Cultural Influence +5 (Current: 5/200)]
[Acting skills development progress +10%, current: widespread acclaim 27.8%]
[New Passive Skill: Fatherly Guardian (Beginner)]
[Effect: When the performance involves scenes of protecting children or family members, the emotional impact is automatically increased by 30%, and the body language becomes more realistic]
Chen Xun stared at his gains and took a deep breath.
Two million US dollars and six hours of sleep have yielded so much real growth.
-
In particular, the passive skill "Father Guardian" is practically tailor-made for Cooper from Interstellar.
Chen Xun turned off the control panel and continued showering.
The warm water gradually relaxed him, and Brock's memories and instincts began to settle, no longer dominating his thoughts so strongly.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, he had basically switched back into Chen Xun mode.
But there was something deeper in his eyes.
I had just dried my hair when my phone rang.
It's Robert.
"Chen, are you awake? I have good news!"
Rob sounded excited.
"What good news?"
Chen Xun dried his hair with a towel.
The female lead for Interstellar has been confirmed!
Chen Xun paused for a moment: "Who?"
"Anne Hathaway!"
Chen Xun blinked.
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