Inside the villa, Li Nian sat in the second-floor study, playing with two newly acquired props.
Torn cling wrap lay on the floor—this was her "method" of entering the game.
Wrapping her head in cling wrap until suffocation.
The cling wrap remained scattered on the floor.
Li Nian wasn't afraid of being discovered, since tonight the enormous villa only housed the live-in housekeeper and herself.
"Tonight's dungeon was quite dangerous... but also quite boring."
"In the end, no one discovered my scheme—ah, truly talented individuals are rare indeed."
"The Psychological Society has been quiet this week too."
After growing tired of playing with the props, Li Nian stored away the two items she'd obtained and leaned back idly.
Just as Li Nian sighed this thought, she suddenly heard faint noises from downstairs.
"Click—"
Li Nian immediately perked up.
She recognized that sound all too well.
It was the careful sliding open of the patio door connecting the yard to the living room.
Since joining the Death Game, Li Nian had frequently sneaked out of her home late at night.
Most people might not notice such sounds, but Li Nian knew them intimately.
Moreover, while that door normally remained unlocked, scaling her family's walls without triggering the alarms required considerable skill.
More importantly, knowing his daughter often went out at night, her father had kept a Rottweiler in the yard to prevent Li Nian from feeling afraid.
Yet the dog hadn't barked at all!
"Finally someone tracked down my home address," Li Nian excitedly rubbed her hands together, pulling out her utility knife from her pocket before putting on sunglasses, "I wonder what caliber of opponent has come."
She silently approached the study window, soundlessly standing on tiptoe on the windowsill before flipping directly out the open window.
Li Nian landed lightly on the outdoor AC unit below the window, surveying the moonlit courtyard.
The yard stood empty—the imposing Rottweiler had vanished from its kennel.
Sliding slowly down the drainpipe, Li Nian confirmed the patio door had indeed been opened.
The evening breeze fluttered the sheer curtains as she cautiously peered inside.
A slender figure dressed in white sat on the living room sofa.
The typically ferocious Rottweiler now lay obediently on the floor, enjoying the figure's petting.
A stranger.
Though she couldn't see the face clearly, Li Nian knew she'd never met this person before.
Someone from Order? Or Jiangcheng's Game Master?
No, judging by the clothing style resembling a lab coat... possibly the Psychological Society!
As Li Nian pondered...
The figure in the living room suddenly spoke.
"Miss 'A Nian', please come out."
The voice sounded gentle and warm.
After brief consideration and sensing no hostility, Li Nian emerged from the yard gripping her utility knife.
Then she clearly saw the figure in the living room.
A delicate-looking woman wearing a lab coat, appearing no older than twenty.
Noticing Li Nian's approach,
She stood up, smiling at the younger girl.
"Hello, 'A Nian'. I didn't expect you to be so young."
Li Nian stared at her, arms crossed.
"So? Breaking into someone's home in the middle of the night... just who are you?"
"And what exactly do you plan to do?"
The woman maintained her gentle smile: "Right, I should introduce myself... you may call me 'Zhu Ming'. My profession is—"
"A veterinarian, correct?" Li Nian rudely interrupted.
"You're quite perceptive. Yes, I'm a veterinarian," unfazed by the interruption, the woman continued warmly, even complimenting Li Nian, "I knew I came to the right place!"
As she spoke, Li Nian narrowed her eyes.
"So what?"
"To be direct, I wish to join the Free Alliance."
The woman calling herself Zhu Ming said softly.
Hearing this intention, Li Nian blinked in surprise.
"Oh? You want to join the Free Alliance?"
"Yes, I want to join the Free Alliance."
Facing Li Nian's questioning, "Zhu Ming" nodded firmly.
"Why?"
Li Nian's attitude shifted slightly as she curiously examined the woman.
"Because I need an organization's protection... my next dungeon will be my seventh, when I'll undergo the Promotion Trial," the woman named Zhu Ming explained, "Moreover, I've recently offended certain organizations."
"Reaching Promotion by your seventh dungeon... if you're not lying, your potential qualifies."
"These organizations you offended... let me guess, the Marauders or Psychological Society?"
Li Nian said with growing interest.
"You're indeed clever," the delicate woman whispered, "That's precisely why I sought out the Free Alliance."
"How amusing. If you seek protection... why not join Order instead?"
Li Nian took a step forward.
Almost instantly, her figure seemed to flicker as she appeared before the woman.
The cold utility knife blade pressed precisely against the carotid artery.
"We Free Alliance members aren't exactly benevolent folk either."
Yet faced with this sudden mortal threat, the woman showed no fear.
"Because I dislike Order... I've researched all organizations and determined one thing—only the Free Alliance suits my temperament."
Her voice remained calm as she pinched Li Nian's blade between fingers, moving it from her neck.
"Besides, managing to offend both the Marauders and Psychological Society... do I look like someone who accomplished that through excessive righteousness?"
Her quiet question met Li Nian's scrutinizing gaze.
After a long moment, Li Nian burst out laughing.
"Ahaha, what an interesting character!"
"However... as you know, our Free Alliance has extremely strict admission standards—that's why we remain the smallest organization!"
"You may admire us, but... how can you be certain you meet the requirements?"
Facing Li Nian's teasing question, "Zhu Ming" smiled brilliantly back at her.
"I believe that by appearing in your living room and declaring my wish to join... I've already passed the preliminary evaluation."
"Wouldn't you agree, Miss 'A Nian'?"
Hearing Zhu Ming's answer, A Nian shrugged helplessly.
"Well, though this question has no standard answer..."
"You've passed, Zhu Ming."
"I'll inform the others about this!"