"What do I do now?"
Vodka's mind began working with unprecedented activity:
"First, Uzo may have ordered my murder, but he definitely isn't carrying it out himself... That's a blessing in disguise! The enemy I have to face directly isn't Uzo, but that ruthless 'Villa Vandal.' Even if he's under Uzo's influence, he can't possibly react as quickly as Uzo does—I still have a chance. I haven't lost yet!"
Realizing this, Vodka felt greatly reassured: although being targeted by the Villa Vandal was no good thing, it sounded far safer than "being Uzo's enemy."
"So the next question is how to escape this dangerous situation." Vodka pushed up his sunglasses again and began secretly observing his surroundings:
"Should I avoid the traps and leave? But since that guy has his eye on me, he probably won't let me go easily. If he has a gun or something like a crossbow bolt, and he hides in the bushes to shoot me when he sees me trying to run, things will get troublesome."
"If I move slowly, the Villa Vandal might attack me. But if I move too fast, I might fail to watch where I'm going and run into other truly lethal traps—I've only taken a few steps and already found two traps in a row. Who knows how many more are hidden ahead? That's far too risky."
A string of countermeasures flashed through his mind, only to be rejected one by one.
Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he found a path that might prove useful.
Vodka began to ponder.
Vodka looked conflicted.
Vodka's expression gradually became resolute, as though he had made some sort of decision.
At the same time, inside the bushes.
The dark figure, holding his breath as he peered through a gap, frowned at the sight, his