PNB Chapter 198 Stable 1st Wave [5000] Dungeon Story
Chapter 198 Stable 1st Wave [5000] Dungeon Story
Chapter 198 Let's Hold Our Brew [5000] Dungeon Story
"Ding-dong~"
Chen Xun pushed open the door, and the bell on the door jingled.
There weren't many people in the store. Two elderly people were reading newspapers in a corner, and a young man was using a laptop.
Behind the counter was a girl in her early twenties with a ponytail.
"Good morning, what would you like to order?"
The girl smiled and looked at Chen Xun.
"Black coffee, to go!"
Chen Xun suddenly paused: "Wait, let's drink here."
He chose a seat by the window.
This is something a secret agent would never do.
They sit with their backs to the door, in a conspicuous spot, and linger there for a long time.
But Chen Xun wanted to give it a try.
If a former special agent really wants to integrate into small-town life, what should he do?
The coffee was served, but it tasted so-so.
Chen Xun sipped his drink slowly, watching the town outside the window gradually awaken.
The store opens, the postman delivers the mail, and the school bus drives away.
The young man with the laptop suddenly looked up: "Hey, don't you live in that old house on the west side?"
Chen Xun's muscles tensed instantly, but he maintained his composure: "Yes, what's wrong?"
"I work for the town council."
The young man walked over and handed over a business card: "Jack Wilson, we're doing a housing census. Your house used to belong to the Griffin family, right? It hasn't been lived in for many years."
"I bought it!"
Chen Xun took the business card: "It's under renovation."
"I can tell."
Jack sat down opposite him: "However, some procedures may need to be completed. There seems to be a problem with the property transfer record; the town archives couldn't find the complete document."
Chen Xun became alert.
Brock's memory told him that the file issue meant more authentication was needed, which meant potential exposure.
Chen Xun paused for a few seconds, his mind racing, before finally speaking, "I can send over a copy of the document. When would be a convenient time?"
Jack was a little surprised.
He may have gotten used to residents' procrastination with government procedures.
"Anytime, I'm usually in the office, or—"
He glanced at his watch. "I'm free now. Would you mind going to the town council?"
Given Brock's personality, he would make an excuse to avoid it and then secretly go to the archives at night to handle it.
But Chen Xun nodded: "Okay, let's go now."
The two walked to the town council.
At the other end of the main street, there is a two-story building.
On the way, Jack chatted casually: "You're not from around here, are you? Your accent doesn't sound like you're from the South."
"Midwest!"
Chen Xun used Brock's preset background: "Ohio".
Why did you move here? For work?
"We wanted a change of environment; my daughter likes the school here."
The town council chamber was quiet, with only an old lady organizing documents.
Jack's office was piled high with folders and maps.
He rummaged through the documents for a while and pulled one out: "Found it, the Griffin family's property record. The last registration was in 1998, and it hasn't been updated since. The current owner should be—wait, what's your name?"
Phil Brock.
"Yes, Brock."
Jack wrote a few lines on the document: "I need you to sign to confirm the transfer of ownership. Also, the tax situation may need to be reassessed, after all, the house has been vacant for so many years."
Chen Xun signed the document naturally.
He noticed that Jack was watching him.
Brock was originally quite withdrawn in town, which left him completely clueless when it came to solving his daughter's problems.
Chen Xun wanted to see if changing some of his behaviors would bring about different changes.
Moreover, this way of observing life and experiencing other people's lives will allow him to accumulate more acting experience.
His current disadvantage is that he is too young and lacks the life experience of some more mature actors.
"alright!"
Jack put away the file: "The system will be updated in about a week. By the way, there's a spring market in town next week on the high school playground. There will be band performances, food stalls, and children's games. You and your daughter can come and check it out."
"We'll consider it, thank you!"
After leaving the town council, Chen Xun did not go straight home.
He went to the hardware store.
Not to buy anything, but to chat with the shop owner, Tom.
I saw you go to the coffee shop this morning!
Tom, tidying up the shelves, said, "That's unusual; you're usually always in a rush."
"I wanted to try their coffee, and while I was at it, I went to the town council to finish some paperwork."
Chen Xun leaned against the counter, trying to relax his body as much as possible.
Tom turned to look at him: "Did Jack give you any trouble? He just graduated from college, he takes everything very seriously, and sometimes he can be a bit annoying."
"It's alright, it's just a normal procedure."
"That's good!"
Tom paused, seemingly hesitant, but finally spoke: "To be honest, when you first came, I was a little suspicious of you."
Chen Xun's heart tightened: "Why?"
"I don't know, it's just a feeling."
"The way you walk, the way you look at people—it's not like someone who moves here to retire or look for work. My son is in the Marine Corps, and he called last week to say that some veterans do go like that after they retire. They're overly wary and have difficulty integrating into normal life."
"He said it's called PTSD?"
Chen Xun remained silent for a few seconds.
Brock's previous cautious approach indeed aroused suspicion from others.
Tom's misunderstanding, in turn, gave him a perfect cover.
"More or less!"
Chen Xun gave a vague reply, as if Tom had guessed correctly: "I used to have a lot of work pressure."
Tom nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
After returning home at noon, Chen Xun continued his renovation work.
But this time he turned on the radio.
They were transferred to the local country music station.
Brock had never had this habit; he always kept quiet so he could hear any unusual sounds.
When picking up McGrady in the afternoon, Chen Xun arrived early and waited at the school gate with other parents.
He overheard several mothers chatting: "I heard someone lives in that old house on the west side?"
"Yes, a father with his daughter. The daughter is at our school."
"How is he?"
I saw him at the coffee shop this morning; he was quite quiet.
"Where is his wife?"
"I don't know, I didn't ask."
"
Ordinary small-town gossip.
If Brock remains highly secretive, these rumors will only turn into suspicion.
Appropriate appearances and appropriate interactions are the true means of concealing one's identity.
On the way home, Maddie was more lively than yesterday: "Dad, Lisa invited me to her house this weekend! Can I?"
According to Brock's original plan, he would refuse.
It's too dangerous; they can't let others know too much about them.
But Chen Xun asked, "Where does Lisa live?"
"It's near the school. Her mother greeted you today; she's the one in the red dress."
-
Chen Xun remembered the mother who nodded and smiled at him at the school gate.
"Okay, but I need to talk to her mother first."
"Yeah!" McGrady cheered.
For dinner, Chen Xun made spaghetti.
McGrady ate with great relish.
"Dad, you seem different today, you seem happier?"
"Yeah?"
"Maybe it's because the renovation is almost finished."
Chen Xun patted McGrady's head.
After Maddie went to sleep that night, Chen Xun sat in the living room.
They didn't check the doors and windows, and they didn't take out the gun to wipe it clean.
Those were all part of Brock's daily life.
Completely replicating a character's behavior may not lead to the deepest understanding; sometimes, experiencing things in your own way can be more effective in reaching the core of the character.
Through Chen Xun's transformation today, he can better understand Brock's cautious and secretive behavior as a father who wants to give his daughter a normal life.
He was terrified!
He feared losing his daughter as much as he would lose his wife.
But overprotection can also be harmful.
McGrady needs friends and normal social interaction.
That way she can feel like she's not an outsider.
Chen Xun walked to the door of McGrady's room and gently pushed it open.
The girl was fast asleep, clutching an old doll in her arms.
That was left by her mother.
Brock's memories flooded back.
On the day of his wife's funeral, four-year-old Maddie hugged this doll and asked his mother when she would come back.
He was unable to speak.
Chen Xun felt that pain, as real as his own memory.
If Brock hadn't completely shut himself off, allowed himself to grieve, and allowed McGrady to grieve as well, and chosen to face it together instead of hiding it from each other, would things have been different?
This is not part of the movie plot.
This is Chen Xun's interpretation of the character as an actor.
He closed the door and went back to his room.
[Proactively adjust role behavior patterns]
[Deepened understanding of the characters]
[Gain Attribute Orb: Character's Deciphering Power +5 (Purple)]
[Gain Attribute Orb: Emotional Immersion Flexibility +3 (Blue)]
There was an unexpected bonus.
This means that Chen Xun's attempt was accepted by the instance and he could even receive additional rewards.
Chen Xun spent five weeks in the dream instance.
During this period, he continued to adjust the course of action.
After dropping McGrady off at school, he would sit in the coffee shop for a while, occasionally chatting with the owner about the weather.
I actually took Maddie to Lisa's house over the weekend. The two girls did crafts in their room upstairs, while he had coffee with Lisa's mom downstairs and chatted about some trivial things.
How's school?
Which supermarket in town has the freshest vegetables?
Will spring rains affect fishing?
Chen Xun even took a part-time job at a hardware store in town.
There's no such plot in the movie.
Shop owner Tom's back injury flared up, making it difficult for him to move heavy goods. He asked Chen Xun if he could help out for a few days, offering to pay him by the hour.
Chen Xun agreed.
The dungeon occasionally drops attribute orbs such as "lifelike performance" and "realistic details".
Chen Xun felt he had a better grasp of the state of retired special agents trying to integrate into ordinary life.
But he didn't completely let his guard down.
Brock's muscle memory was still there; every time he entered a new room, he would subconsciously scan the exit and cover.
My muscles still tense up when I hear a sudden noise.
Chen Xun did not suppress these instinctive reactions.
They have now become part of the performance material.
That night, after McGrady fell asleep, Chen Xun decided to go to town to buy some cake base. Tomorrow was McGrady's birthday, and he wanted to give him a surprise.
He drove to the cake shop in town.
The cake shop is located in a very remote area; it's the only one in the entire town, so business is quite good.
He had just bought the cake base and walked out when he saw a car parked at the street corner with the engine running.
His instincts as a secret agent prevented him from starting the car immediately. Instead, he stood in the shadows beside the vehicle and quietly observed it.
After a while, a patrol car also drove up.
Both cars were turned off.
Two figures stood between the two cars.
Chen Xun narrowed his eyes.
Brock's training enabled him to recognize outlines even in dim light.
One was Sheriff Keith, a tall, thin old man whose badge gleamed in the moonlight.
I couldn't see the face of the other Chen Xun clearly.
But he was thin and wore a black top.
Chen Xun hesitated for three seconds.
He didn't get on the car and leave.
Firstly, starting the car at this time would definitely attract the attention of the two people and cause unnecessary trouble.
He also needed to confirm that the chat content between the two people had nothing to do with him.
The man in black handed Keith an envelope that looked like money.
Before Chen Xun could get a good look, the cake shop owner suddenly came out. Seeing Chen Xun still by the car, he asked curiously, "Brock, why haven't you left yet? Is there a problem with the cake base?"
"It's nothing, I was just looking for my keys."
Chen Xun started the car and drove away.
The moment Chen Xun started the car, he saw in the rearview mirror that the two people who had just been making a transaction had turned to look in his direction.
Following the light, Chen Xun could also see the face of the man in black.
It's Gates.
Chen Xun's mind went blank.
In the movie, Brock only comes to Gates' attention later, when Maddie has a conflict with Gates' sister's child.
Now, because of his change in course of action, he has unexpectedly stumbled upon this deal ahead of time.
Chen Xun drove home quickly.
[Current Dungeon Status: Story Deviates]
[WARNING: Major plot point triggered ahead of schedule]
[Recommendation: Maintain consistency in character behavior and avoid excessive intervention that could cause the instance to crash]
The instance crashed?
Chen Xun frowned.
This means that if he changes too much, the dream experience might end prematurely, and the two million dollars would be wasted.
What does it mean to maintain consistency in character behavior?
What would Brock do if he witnessed something like this?
Chen Xun was a bit overwhelmed.
Chen Xun searches Brock's memories.
As a former DEA agent, his first reaction would be to gather evidence and file an anonymous report.
But as a father who protects his daughter under an assumed name, his first reaction would be to stay away from danger and pretend he didn't see it.
Or you can simply choose to move.
Chen Xun decided to adopt a compromise.
Be vigilant, but do not intervene proactively.
After all, he's not here to complete the game; he's here to experience the role and collect performance material.
For the next few days, Chen Xun's life seemed to continue as usual.
But he made some minor adjustments.
When taking McGrady to school in the morning, he would take an extra street to avoid the direction of the police station.
When he went to work at the hardware store, he would pay attention to unfamiliar vehicles on the street.
Especially the black SUV I saw last night.
He started checking the doors and windows three times a night instead of once, and he took out the pistol that Brock had hidden in the attic, checked the ammunition, and put it in the bedside table drawer.
McGrady naturally noticed Chen Xun's changes.
"Dad, you haven't been smiling much these past few days. Did I do something wrong?"
McGrady seemed a little aggrieved during dinner.
"It's okay, I'm just a little tired from work."
Chen Xun picked up a piece of chicken for her.
"Grandpa Tom said you work really fast, you can do the work of three people. You don't have to work so hard, I can eat less, and that way we can save on our living expenses!"
Maddie quietly put the chicken from her bowl back onto the plate.
Chen Xun's eyes reddened slightly when he saw McGrady's actions.
He hadn't expected McGrady to be so sensitive.
It seems that his previous performance made McGrady feel insecure.
The next day, Chen Xun worked at Tom's shop as usual.
He moved a bunch of newly arrived paint buckets onto the shelf quickly, his shirt soaked with sweat in a small patch on the back.
Tom sat behind the counter doing the accounts, occasionally glancing up at the counter: "Phil, with this efficiency, I could retire early."
"Then you have to give me a raise first."
Chen Xun joked as he put away the last bucket of paint.
Just then, the store door opened, and it wasn't a customer but Sheriff Keith. This time he wasn't wearing a police uniform, but a plain plaid shirt and jeans, looking like he was just passing by. But Chen Xun noticed that his car was parked outside, the engine still running.
Good morning, Tom!
Keith greeted him, then looked at Chen Xun: "Phil, busy?"
Chen Xun dusted off his hands: "Sheriff, you're not on patrol today?"
"Rotational rest!"
Keith walked around the store, finally stopping at the tools section. He picked up a hammer and weighed it in his hand. "By the way, Phil, you said you moved from Ohio?"
coming!
Chen Xun's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface: "Yes, Columbus."
This is clearly a test.
Chen Xun's mind raced.
Brock's disguise background has a detailed setting, but he has to recall it.
Keith nodded: "You must have had a good income before, to be able to buy that old house in one go!"
"Fortunately, I had some savings before, and as you can see from the condition of the house, I can save a lot of money by renovating it myself."
Keith should be fairly satisfied by this point in the conversation.
But the sheriff asked another question: "Where is your daughter Maddie's mother? I haven't heard you mention her."
Chen Xun paused for two seconds, his expression naturally darkening: "He passed away. Cancer."
Keith's expression softened a bit: "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"It's okay, it's all over now."
Chen Xun forced a smile.
Keith chatted for a few more trivial words, then left.
Tom waited until the police car was far away before whispering, "Keith's acting a bit strange today. He never usually asks about these things."
"
"Maybe there's been a lot going on in town lately."
Chen Xun's recent changes have been effective.
He seems perfectly normal now.
A single father with a respectable job, who renovates his own house, and whose daughter performs well at school with nothing suspicious about her.
In the logic of a small town, such a person is not worth investigating.
At 3 p.m., Chen Xun left the hardware store early to pick up Maddie.
As he drove down the main street, he caught a glimpse of a black Chevrolet parked next to the town library.
The car windows were tinted dark, making it impossible to see inside.
Chen Xun didn't slow down and drove straight past.
He saw in the rearview mirror that the car hadn't moved.
After picking up McGrady, Chen Xun deliberately took a different route on the way home.
McGrady asked, "Dad, why don't we take the usual route?"
"I want to go to the supermarket to buy some milk, because we've run out of milk at home."
While parking at the supermarket, Chen Xun saw the Chevrolet parked on the street corner opposite the supermarket, about 100 meters away.
Someone is watching him!
Chen Xun, looking perfectly normal, led Maddie into the supermarket and bought milk, bread, and some fruit.
When he checked out, he saw the car was still there through the supermarket window.
"Dad, what are you looking at?"
Maddie blinked curiously at Chen Xun.
"It looks like it's going to rain!"
After returning home, Chen Xun cooked, ate, and helped Mai Di with her homework, just like always.
He kept thinking about that car.
It must be one of Gates's men!
At nine o'clock in the evening, McGrady went to sleep.
Chen Xun turned off the living room lights and walked to the window.
The woods outside were quiet; the Chevrolet wasn't there.
But that doesn't mean no one is monitoring us.
Even if Gates were stupid, he wouldn't park his surveillance car in front of his house.
Chen Xun sat in the darkness, pondering a solution.
He decided to play it safe, since his purpose was simply to experience the father-daughter relationship and he couldn't stray from that goal.