Chapter 1168: YUNYUE VS FENGHUANG (III)

[PLAYER Noctis, welcome to the Orient Express. You will be taking on the role of Mary, a shy, timid seven-year-old girl who has just been adopted by the wealthy widow Mrs. Winslow. Mary is known for her extreme politeness and unwavering obedience, which is precisely why she was chosen by her new mother. However, there's more to Mrs. Winslow than meets the eye, and you must tread carefully to survive this mysterious arrangement.

Your mission objectives:

1. Maintain Your Cover: Never let Mrs. Winslow suspect that you're not the real Mary. Any slip-up could lead to dire, unimaginable consequences.

2. Uncover Mrs. Winslow's Secret: Find out what dark secrets Mrs. Winslow is hiding. The truth is crucial, but finding it without raising suspicion will be a delicate task.

3. Don't go out of character: You must play the role of Mary with absolute perfection until the final day. Stay in character, be polite, obedient, and maintain Mary's shy demeanor. If you succeed, you'll earn additional points. However, even a single misstep will result in deducted points.

Mission Structure:

- You can choose not to pursue these missions, but each objective completed adds to your point total.

- The more missions you complete, the more points you will earn.

- You have full control over the decisions you make—whether you remain in character or choose another path is entirely up to you. But remember: each choice has consequences.

Good luck, dear player! The fate of Mar and your success in this mission rest in your hands. Choose wisely!]

Luo Yan barely had time to process what was happening before a soft hand settled on his shoulder. Though the touch felt gentle, an unmistakable pressure weighed down on him, making it clear that the grip, though light, carried hidden force.

He glanced to his side and saw the woman seated next to him, her gaze fixed on him from above.

"Mary, someone has asked you a question. Don't you think you should answer?"

Again, the woman was smiling gently at him, but Luo Yan couldn't help but feel scared. It's not him per se that was feeling this fear, it was this body. As if the fear had been ingrained.

He suddenly recalled the earlier notification: if this woman, Mrs. Winslow, began to suspect that he wasn't truly Maria, the consequences would undoubtedly be severe.

Luo Yan pushed all his thoughts aside and concentrated on what needed to be done. He trembled slightly, then apologized in a voice so soft it was barely more than a whisper.

"I'm sorry. I got distracted and wasn't paying attention." He then turned to the older woman sitting across from him, trying to appear both apologetic and grateful. This time, he made an effort to speak louder, but his voice still came out soft. "I'm alright, ma'am. Thank you for asking."

"Oh my, what a well-mannered child," the older woman remarked, clearly pleased with his response. She turned to Mrs. Winslow with a smile. "Your daughter is truly delightful."

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Mrs. Winslow returned the smile. "Yes, she is," she replied, glancing down at Luo Yan. The subtle pressure she had exuded earlier vanished, and she gently patted his head. "A very, very lovely child."

Luo Yan lowered his gaze, acting shy, though inside, he was cursing up a storm. Playing the role of a seven-year-old girl was bad enough, but hearing his own high-pitched, childish voice made him want to throw something. And now, to top it off, he was stuck with a suspicious mother who might be more dangerous than she seemed.

How on earth was he supposed to find clues about Jack the Ripper with this woman hovering over him? And what chance did he have of helping Sherlock Holmes in this situation? If the game had given him an adult role, even as a woman, he wouldn't have minded. He'd done it before. But being a child in this setting was a huge disadvantage, especially with this unsettling 'mother' constantly watching him.

Luo Yan glanced up at Mrs. Winslow. She looked every bit the gentle and loving mother, but he could sense there was more to her than that. Something about her felt... off. Maybe this caring exterior was just an act, and the real Mrs. Winslow was much darker. He had a strong feeling that was the case.

If he considered the individual mission he'd been given, it was clear something was wrong with this woman. The game not only warned him not to let her discover his true identity, but it also tasked him with uncovering her secret. That felt like a huge red flag, practically screaming that this 'mother' was dangerous.

Still, the ultimate goal was stopping Jack the Ripper from killing on the third night. The game wouldn't throw in a side mission like this unless Mrs. Winslow was somehow connected to the main plot. Maybe she was one of the three victims the Ripper would target. If so, she was probably the last one—usually the most significant. And if he considered her hidden secret, it made sense.

Or, the game could just be messing with him, piling on extra tasks that had nothing to do with Jack the Ripper, simply to distract him from the main mission. Maybe the side missions were bait, luring players into traps in the guise of rewarding them with bonus points.

Luo Yan decided to play it smart. He would focus on the main mission but keep an eye on the individual tasks without actively doing them. He would just do the bare minimum by staying in character.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a moment. Right now, he was no longer Luo Yan—he was Mary, a seven-year-old orphan, timid and obedient to her new mother. That was who he needed to be.

When he opened his eyes, they held the innocence of a child, along with the guarded wariness of someone who had lost everything. As someone who had once lived that life, slipping into this role felt second nature.