After Liu Xing finished discussing the plan to escape Ains Castle with everyone, the final Escape Room Time also came to an end. Everyone knew that the last act of this tabletop RPG had begun.
Everyone took their places.
Liu Xing had not waited long in his room before Old Wayne entered. "Mr. Liu Xing, the Lord is ready. Please follow me to the study on the second floor now."
Liu Xing nodded with a smile and followed Old Wayne to the second-floor study. The lights were on now, and Gary was sitting behind the desk.
"Mr. Liu Xing, please have a seat," Gary said with perfect gentlemanly manners.
Liu Xing nodded with a smile and sat across from Gary. After Old Wayne brought Liu Xing a cup of coffee, he turned and left the study, closing the door behind him.
That left only Liu Xing and Gary in the study.
"So, Mr. Liu Xing, could you first tell me why you came to Ains Town this time?" Gary asked with a genial smile.
Liu Xing took a sip of coffee. At first, he had been worried that the coffee might have been tampered with, but on second thought, he was the first person to come talk to Gary. If Gary made a move against him right away, it would definitely alert Bai He Cheng and the others. Unless Gary was confident he could take all five of them in one sweep, doing so would not be worth the risk. Therefore, Liu Xing believed Gary would not make a move against him first.
"It was like this. I came to Ains Town because I'm a Manchester United fan, so I took advantage of my vacation to watch one of their matches. Then I heard there was a castle in Ains Town, and that its owner, Mr. Gary—you—was willing to open it to the public, so I came here." Liu Xing repeated the background story the tabletop RPG had assigned him.
Gary showed little reaction after hearing Liu Xing's account and continued smiling. "I see. Perhaps this is what one of your widely circulated Chinese verses means. If I remember correctly, it goes something like, 'Those destined to meet will meet even from a thousand miles away,' doesn't it?"
Liu Xing nodded with a smile, then flattered Gary. "Mr. Gary, you really are learned. I didn't expect you to know even that verse."
Gary chuckled and pointed at the bookshelf beside him. "Not at all. It's only because I usually have nothing to do in the castle, so I enjoy reading. Especially the classic masterpieces from China—I've read them again and again..."
The moment Gary looked toward the bookshelf, Liu Xing knew he was in trouble, because the conspicuously placed parchment scroll on the shelf had already been taken by him!
Sure enough, Gary's words came to an abrupt stop, his gaze locking onto the spot where the parchment scroll had once been.
Gary's face darkened. He rose directly from his seat, walked over to where the parchment had been, and fell into thought.
Just as Liu Xing was considering whether he should take the chance to slip away, Gary turned back to him. "Mr. Liu Xing, please return to your room for now. It seems something has gone wrong here, and I need to verify a few things."
Liu Xing decisively nodded and said with a smile, "Uh, all right. I'll return to my room first, then. If Mr. Gary is still willing to hear my story after you finish your business, just have Wayne come call for me."
Gary forced a very strained smile. "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Liu Xing. Then I'll be going first. Mr. Liu Xing, you may return to your room on your own."
After saying that, Gary hurried out the door. However, Liu Xing noticed that Gary seemed to be heading toward Isabella's room!
Liu Xing immediately stood up and prepared to go to Isabella's room, ready to climb over and jump out the window if necessary. After all, he did not dare say for certain whether Isabella would tell Gary that he had been on the second floor. If Isabella told him the truth, Liu Xing felt he would have no choice but to run.
Thus, Liu Xing went outside Isabella's room and found that the door was already open. He carefully listened to the sounds within.
"Since Isabella's door is open, and neither Gary nor Isabella intends to lower their voices, your Listen check automatically succeeds." Liu Xing felt that KP004 sounded rather bored, and the weight on his heart finally lifted. Whenever Liu Xing and the others faced danger, KP004's tone would become gleeful at their misfortune. This tone meant Liu Xing was not in danger of being exposed.
"Isabella, did anyone come to the second floor today while I was out?" Gary asked angrily.
"No. Other than Grandfather Wayne, no one came upstairs today," Isabella replied in confusion.
At that moment, the sound of dice hitting the ground rang out. Liu Xing knew that Gary was most likely using Psychology on Isabella.
"Damn it, Isabella, stop lying to me! I already know you're lying. I'll give you one more chance—tell me the truth! I know your hearing is excellent. You must know who came to the second floor!" Clearly, Gary's Psychology check had succeeded this time, and he had discovered that Isabella was lying, making his tone even angrier.
Just when Liu Xing thought Isabella would reveal the truth after Gary saw through her lie, she stubbornly maintained her previous claim. "I said I don't know because I don't know. You should leave now, Gary. I don't want to see you right now."
As soon as Isabella said that, the room fell silent.
Just as Liu Xing was considering whether he should go inside to take a look, he heard a loud slap. Clearly, Gary had struck Isabella.
Liu Xing's blood suddenly boiled. He rushed into Isabella's room. "Mr. Gary, what are you doing?"
Gary turned around and said angrily to Liu Xing, "Mr. Liu Xing, please do not interfere in our family matters. You should leave here now!"
Liu Xing gave a cold laugh and pointed at Isabella angrily. "Mr. Gary, why are you hitting a child when you're a grown man? What did she do wrong?"
With an angry look on his face, Gary strode up to Liu Xing and shoved him hard. Before Liu Xing could steady himself, Gary actually pulled a pistol from his coat and pointed it directly at him!
Cold sweat instantly covered Liu Xing's forehead. After all, the dark barrel was aimed right at him, and the metallic gleam was a reminder that this pistol was no toy replica.
Gary advanced step by step with the pistol raised, while Liu Xing could only retreat step by step. In the end, Gary forced Liu Xing out the door and back against the second-floor railing.
PS: I planted some foreshadowing in this chapter, so I got a little stuck while writing it. Please continue to favorite and recommend it.
Before you continue