Chapter 2074: Suspecting You're Relatives
Xu Huo had displayed his mental powers before, so the players had already prepared corresponding props and instruments to avoid repeating the mistake with Fluorescent Powder. But when he killed someone just now, the instruments showed no reaction at all, clearly indicating he hadn't used mental powers. Under such circumstances, he still killed a player of the same level with a single fatal blow, and it seemed effortless—whether truly effortless or just pretended, this showed he was much stronger than the long-coated man from before. At the very least, he possessed a high-quality prop capable of destroying a B-level or even A-level defense barrier in one hit. Additionally, his preparations against attack props and traits were very thorough, so the sneak attack had no effect at all.
Regardless of whether his physical fitness and combat experience were rich, just relying on these top-tier props was enough to contend with everyone.
This tough nut couldn't be cracked, so some people silently shifted their gaze to the bespectacled player nearby.
It was almost dinner time when Painting Woman returned. Not only was she followed by a string of puppets, but she also held many small trinkets in her hands. It turned out that the castle owner not only made puppets but also crafted some small tools, mostly used in the kitchen. She had asked for a few while wandering around, planning to take them back to Mr. Dong. Additionally, she had taken a painting from the studio—the broken kitten one—and through the servants, she conveyed to the Puppet Maker that she wanted another one for Xu Huo.
Well, the Puppet Maker didn't directly refuse her; instead, he told her to choose freely and said that when Xu Huo left, everything would be packed up and given to them.
Now the other players weren't just envious; they even suspected that Painting Woman and the castle owner were relatives.
Xu Huo was genuinely surprised. Normally, as long as Painting Woman didn't slip up, ordinary people couldn't see through her identity. As a non-ticket player entering the instance, even if she didn't participate in clearing it, she shouldn't have received preferential treatment from the instance owner—non-ticket players dragged into ticket instances were everywhere; who could get such treatment? The castle owner's attitude was somewhat suspicious, like he was trying to deceive her.
"He wants to invite you to stay here long-term?" he asked.
"He didn't say." Painting Woman wore an "I've seen through everything" expression, leaning close to Xu Huo and raising her communicator. "Being nice for no reason definitely means bad intentions."
Painting Woman was a prop with self-awareness. Xu Huo had never tried it, but she had followed many players before, and some must have tried to put her into their item slots. Yet she hadn't been held by anyone, indicating it wasn't easy and likely impossible. However, whether she could be stuffed into the luggage compartment was another matter.
"Don't wander off anymore," Xu Huo said after a moment's thought. "We'll leave here immediately after clearing the instance."
Painting Woman nodded. "It's all snow here, and you can't see anyone outside."
Soon it was dinner time. When the castle owner appeared again, Painting Woman was much more enthusiastic toward him, even taking the initiative to give him two paper frogs she had folded herself.
The castle owner had the servants accept them. Beyond that, he showed no other reaction, but throughout the entire dinner, Painting Woman kept chatting nonstop, asking some very boring questions. Yet the castle owner didn't get angry; instead, he had the servants respond one by one, even if the answers were brief.
After the meal, Fluorescent Powder, who wanted to find another way, took the initiative to approach Painting Woman, asking her to request the castle owner for her own puppet. "It doesn't have to be given to me immediately; even just repairing mine would do."
This time, she didn't try to deceive with small trinkets like food but instead offered a proper price, willing to exchange props or other items.
Unfortunately, Painting Woman had little interest in these things and directly refused. What was even more infuriating was that her enthusiasm for the few puppets given by the castle owner didn't last long. Before bedtime, she gave them all to Xu Huo and ran off to the studio to pick paintings.
The players all stayed in the entertainment room, with only Xu Huo sparing some attention for the studio.
All the dust covers on the paintings in the studio had been lifted. Painting Woman looked from the front to the back and found a portrait on the easel placed at the very back. She stared at the person in the painting for a while, her expression doubtful, as if pondering something.
"Do you know this person?" Xu Huo appeared behind her.
"I think I do," Painting Woman said. "I feel like I've seen him somewhere, but I can't remember clearly."
It was a portrait of a man. His messy hair and beard made him look a bit unkempt, but his friendly smile and gentle eyes made the viewer feel very comfortable. Like the other animal paintings, the technique wasn't superb, but the emotions poured into it were completely different—it was entirely from the perspective of a younger generation filled with admiration for an elder.
Painting Woman suddenly pressed her face close, touching the hair of the person in the painting. "I should know this person, but I've just forgotten."
As a prop, Painting Woman's emotions were mostly feigned. She only behaved like a human but wasn't truly human, so she couldn't experience complex and delicate human emotions; she was merely stating what she believed to be true.
The birth of super props was accidental. Painting Woman was originally a painting, so it was more likely a result of unintended effort. Given the skill level shown in the studio's paintings, it was unlikely they were made by the Puppet Maker. Perhaps they had some connection?
Before Xu Huo could suggest talking to the Puppet Maker, Painting Woman brushed aside the painting and pointed ahead. "Which one do you like?"
Xu Huo smiled. "Why don't you choose for me?"
Influenced by Xiao Yuan and Yan Jiayu recently, Painting Woman had developed a preference for cute-looking things. She had taken the kitten painting herself, so she chose a white bear for Xu Huo. "Hang it in the study."
When the two left, the castle's servants didn't come out. Out of politeness, Xu Huo didn't photograph the portrait. Moreover, if the Puppet Maker didn't approach Painting Woman on his own, it meant he had no intention of reconnecting. Since Painting Woman didn't bring it up, Xu Huo naturally had no room to interfere.
The three puppets on the sixth day were even more sloppy, not only missing hands and feet but also having carelessly made clothing and decorations.
"He can spare time to make puppets for non-ticket players, but can't he put more effort into ours?" Pigeon Tattoo and the others felt frustrated but had no choice.
Nothing special happened during the day on the sixth day. That night, Sweet Girl, Fluorescent Powder, and Pigeon Tattoo joined forces to kill the bespectacled player, eliminating a strong competitor.
On the morning of the seventh day, the bespectacled player's puppet appeared in the display room, placed in the row of display cabinets closest to the entrance.
This stunned the players, and for a moment, no one dared to take it.
At lunchtime, Xu Huo led Painting Woman to knock on the study door, announcing their departure.
The Puppet Maker received them. Besides the restored puppet of Xu Huo, already packed in an exquisite glass gift box, there were also two packaged paintings and two tickets for visiting the castle.
Number One spoke on behalf of the Puppet Maker: "Welcome to visit again next time."
The game prompt appeared:
[Congratulations to player Passerby A for successfully clearing the instance "Puppet."]