Chapter 87

Unafraid, standing behind the two figures, feigned a frightened appearance. The two decisively took out their weapons, stood in front of her, and prepared to deal with any possible attack from the large man.

"Let them in, Ivan," a man's voice came from behind the large man's door: "They are my guests." The tone of the voice was polite, with a slight accent.

Upon hearing this, Ivan put down his gun, walked back to the door, and opened it wide with his thick arms, then silently watched the players.

[A sharp mission has been triggered]

The system prompt sounded at the right time, and everyone could see the mission content in their menu: [Enter General Zaroff's castle and listen to him explain the game rules.]

When Feng Jue saw the mission, his expression quickly changed, and he muttered to himself: "General Zaroff, Ivan, I am a hunter who survived a shipwreck and came here..." He suddenly looked up, his eyes serious: "The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell." The memories related to this story immediately surfaced in his mind.

When he was out of inspiration, Feng Jue often read short stories to relax and collect material, so he was quite familiar with the content of these stories and could recall them quickly.

If there were no surprises, this script would be a game of hunting "people," and Feng Jue was very clear that the players would play the role of the prey...

After hesitating for a moment, Yidao and Yijian turned around to seek Feng Jue and Siyu's opinions. After all, if something good happened, everyone would vie to participate. But if there was danger, it was best to let others take the lead, and if that didn't work, at least they could shift some of the responsibility to others...

Feng Jue shrugged, sighed, and walked to the front, saying as he walked: "Just follow the mission instructions."

Ivan stood at the door like a fierce giant statue, exuding a strong deterrent. However, Feng Jue walked past him without even taking out a weapon, entering the castle.

Siyu followed closely behind, entering the castle second as soon as Feng Jue moved forward.

The remaining three looked at each other, but Yidao reacted first, clearing his throat: "Ahem... that... let's go too."

Yijian seized the opportunity to say: "Yes, if anything happens to them, we can support them."

Unafraid nodded and followed the two. The three of them also entered the castle gate one after another.

Ivan, standing at the door, watched each player pass with a condescending and vigilant gaze. After all five entered the castle, he silently closed the door.

Inside the door was a spacious hall with bright lighting. The marble stairs leading to the second floor were very wide, and a man in a tuxedo, with a robust build, stood straight, watching his five "guests."

General Zaroff was middle-aged, tall, and handsome. His hair was white, but his eyebrows and beard were still black, and his eyes were dark and bright. Besides his prominent features, his face had a unique quality, the air of someone accustomed to giving orders.

"I am very pleased and honored to welcome such excellent hunters to my home," he bowed slightly and said: "I am General Zaroff." As he introduced himself, he made a gesture.

Seeing Zaroff's gesture, Ivan put away his gun, saluted, and stood to the side of the stairs.

"Please forgive my subordinate's rudeness, gentlemen, and of course, ladies." Zaroff's unique tone made every word sound refined, as if each word had been carefully considered: "Ivan is a simple man, a bit rough. He is incredibly strong, but unfortunately, he is mute. God gave him some things and took away others..." His expression was quite intriguing as he said this.

"He looks like a Cossack," Feng Jue responded, knowing this fact.

"You are correct, my friend," Zaroff replied, smiling and squeezing out a sentence from his sharp teeth and red lips: "I am too."

He made another gesture, and Ivan quickly walked to stand in front of the general. Zaroff spoke to him, but only moved his lips without making a sound.

After receiving his instructions, Ivan left the hall, heading somewhere unknown.

Zaroff then said to the group: "Please follow me." He walked down the stairs and led them down a corridor.

A few minutes later, they arrived in a large, medieval-style study. The floor was covered with a gray carpet, and the furniture and bookshelves had a heavy, solid feel. Besides the numerous books, there were many animal specimens, such as deer heads, zebra skins, and even a standing gray bear.

"I have read all the books on hunting, in English, French, and Russian. My life has no other pleasures, only hunting," Zaroff slowly walked past his collection, as if to prove his words, and said: "Do you see that head of the black water buffalo from South Africa?"

"Quite impressive," Feng Jue replied.

"That thing caught me and threw me into a tree, breaking my bones, but I eventually finished it off," Zaroff seemed to vividly recall that hunt.

Feng Jue understood the significance of these words. Based on the information provided in this dialogue, the players should have a concept of this boss's formidable strength.

"I think the black water buffalo from South Africa is probably the most dangerous in big game hunting," Feng Jue tried to match the dialogue from the novel in his memory to get Zaroff to the main point faster.

The general suddenly fell silent for a moment, then gave a meaningful look and slowly said: "No, that is not the most dangerous." He walked to his desk, picked up a bottle of whiskey, raised it, and looked at everyone: "Would you like some?"

"No, thank you," Feng Jue replied.

Zaroff poured himself a glass, sipped it, and said: "On this island, in my domain, I have invented a more dangerous form of hunting."

"Invented?" Feng Jue asked knowingly.

"Ha, yes, invented," the general laughed and nodded: "You must be wondering how one can invent hunting." He paused: "Of course, I am not God and cannot create a dangerous animal out of thin air. However, I discovered a species that has existed but has never been hunted. They are not native to this island, but I can introduce them. What prey have you introduced, General? Tigers?"

Besides Siyu, the other three were a bit puzzled. They were thinking: This kid is really getting into character, acting like he's the hunter in the script. Why is he wasting so much time talking to an NPC?

Zaroff grinned: "No, tigers have already bored me. I've hunted them enough, and hunting tigers has lost its appeal. Those animals no longer make my hands tremble for even a second." He took a puff of his cigar: "I am the kind of person born to enjoy danger, but most animals can no longer make me feel it." Zaroff exhaled smoke: "God made some people poets, some kings, some beggars... and me, he made a hunter, the best, the strongest." He looked sad: "But after a happy period, I eventually realized that hunting no longer appealed to me. You are a hunter too, can you guess why?"

"If hunting is a sport, you always know you will win before the game starts, right?" Feng Jue responded.

"Exactly, I didn't expect you to understand," Zaroff said happily: "I always successfully hunt my prey because they are just animals, with nothing but legs and instinct. But I am a wise human, and using wisdom against instinct is not fair. When I realized this, I felt very miserable, almost pitiful." He took another puff of his cigar: "Until one day, I had an idea. I realized there was something I had never hunted before, the perfect prey because they can think."

At this point, the other four finally understood the basic situation of the script. The General Zaroff in front of them was a madman who hunted humans for thrills. The mission to "listen to him explain the game rules" referred to the rules of the upcoming "hunt."

"Are you sure this isn't a joke?" Feng Jue responded seriously, though he was already certain it was no joke.

"I never joke about hunting," Zaroff replied: "I bought this island, built this house, and I am here for hunting. This island is an unparalleled hunting ground, with a jungle as complex as a maze, full of winding paths, cliffs, and swamps. Most importantly, it is surrounded by the sea. I hunt almost every day here and have never felt bored."

"I am puzzled, General," Feng Jue said: "There are five of us. Can't we just stop your crazy murder here in the study? Ha ha ha ha" Zaroff laughed loudly: "Murder? No, no, no, this is an intellectual competition, a game between hunter and prey." His gaze swept over the five players: "As for the situation you mentioned" he raised his arm and made a gesture.

Ivan suddenly appeared from somewhere, holding a tray with aromatic Turkish coffee for the general. He placed the coffee and stood like a tower next to Zaroff, his eyes glaring at the players.

"Once, a group of Spanish sailors arrived on this island. I invited them to join my hunt, but they refused and showed clear hostility," Zaroff said calmly: "Ivan tore them to pieces and fed them to the animals on the island." Hearing this, Feng Jue's expression changed sharply. He didn't remember the novel mentioning other wild carnivores on the island: "May I ask... what kind of animals?"

"Ha ha" Zaroff smiled coldly: "There are many: pythons, coyotes, Bengal tigers, and more. I wanted the jungle to be lively, so I brought in a lot of 'cargo.' Humans are not the primary food; usually, they eat wild boars, of course, live ones. Each one must be hunted by the animals to keep them wild." Zaroff said to Feng Jue: "Your face looks a bit pale, my friend. I was hoping to hear about doves or parrots, not various predators." Feng Jue replied.

"Ha ha ha... you are very humorous," Zaroff said, looking extremely happy: "Now, let me tell you what you need to know about this hunt."

He walked to a window and pressed a button on the wall. "Do you see that?" the general pointed to the distant sea, where lights quickly appeared and then disappeared.

"The lighthouse seems to indicate a route, but there is no such route. The rocks there are as sharp as razors, like sea monsters, capable of crushing any passing ship as easily as a nut." The general said: "I think your ship is now sunk nearby. So, don't expect to escape to the sea for help."

After demonstrating the real ship trap, Zaroff moved to another window. He opened a mechanism, and lights flickered in the basement below, revealing a strange space with many large, dark shadows moving around, their eyes glowing green in the darkness.

"As prey, staying in one place is also a very unwise choice," Zaroff said: "My hunting dogs are well-trained. In my collection room..." his gaze swept over the animal specimens around him, grinning: "I mean, in my real collection room, there are many heads of specimens. Some were very clever, but they all ended up in my dogs' mouths."

Zaroff closed the window and stood in front of the group again. "Well, the rules are simple. There are five hours until sunrise. You can leave the castle at any time, and I will start looking for you in an hour." He put down his cigar and glass, stood with his hands behind his back in a military posture: "I don't want you to think I am boasting, but the number of prey I have hunted far exceeds your imagination—whites, blacks, Indians, Mongolians. A few prey were indeed excellent, clever, strong, and with great endurance and adaptability, but I must say, I have never failed."

"What if you fail?" Feng Jue asked: "I mean, if we survive until sunrise, you lose, right? Ha ha" The general smiled confidently and said with enthusiasm: "Then your efforts will be rewarded. I will prepare a monorail sailboat for you and show you how to reach the nearest town on the mainland." Zaroff picked up his glass again: "You can trust my promise. I guarantee it as a gentleman, a soldier, and an athlete. Of course, you must agree to keep everything that happens here a secret." He lowered his voice: "If you can really leave..."

[Current mission completed, main mission updated]

The system prompt sounded, and the original mission in the game menu was checked, with a new mission appearing: [Escape the castle, avoid General Zaroff's hunt, until sunrise.]

[Time until Zaroff starts: 59 minutes]

[Time until sunrise: 299 minutes]

Besides the mission description, the task bar below could always show the values of these two times, though not to the second.

The general sipped his drink and, before the players left, gave a few sincere and well-meaning pieces of advice: "By the way, I suggest you avoid leaving footprints near the castle; that's a rookie mistake. Also, don't go to the southeast corner of the island; there's a large swamp we call the 'Death Swamp.' It has quicksand. A smart guy once went there, and my favorite dog, Lazarus, followed him. They both ended up in the swamp, and you can't imagine how I felt. Lazarus was the best of my dogs, and it was a terrible loss." Feng Jue was already shaking his head and turning to leave.

He didn't expect that, after all the obvious hints from Zaroff, one of his teammates was still planning a rash and foolish act.

Without warning, Yidao Qiancheng drew his sword and attacked, his intent to kill clear. The sword was already in his hand from the castle entrance, so his attack was very sudden, and the other four were all taken aback.

Yidao Qiancheng had his own understanding of the plot. He thought this was the best opportunity to take down this boss, and there was no need to run away. Directly solving Zaroff here was the best move. Running into the jungle to face unknown dangers and then being hunted by the boss and his dogs when exhausted was a sure loss.

From the start of the script, only two human-like figures had appeared in the castle, and they were just ordinary humans. Their bodies were within normal human limits, and they used ordinary guns. In this world, it was roughly two centuries ago, and these bosses couldn't have superpowers. Even if their physical abilities were close to human limits, it didn't matter because the players' combat abilities were also above average.

The most critical point was that Yidao Qiancheng was very confident he could take down this boss. His confidence came from a skill, the title skill of [New to the Sword School]: Decapitation.