There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

[Scripted Murder Game "Rainy Night Villa" begins its performance.]

After the system's last prompt sound fell, the mountain villa, which had been extremely quiet, suddenly came alive.

Apart from the distant rumble of thunder and rain outside, other noisy sounds gradually began to rise.

As Xu Shuo turned his head, he saw a robust old man dressed in a proper black suit with a white bow tie and gold-rimmed glasses walk in.

The man was dressed like a traditional-style butler.

Without showing it, Xu Shuo sized him up as he heard the other person say, "The Manor Owner plans to invite the new guests for dinner later, so you can start preparing now."

"Alright," Xu Shuo nodded in response.

The butler seemed to have come only to relay this message to start the chef's story, and left after leaving the prepared menu behind.

Xu Shuo picked up the menu and glanced at it when the system suddenly popped up with a helpful hint:

[Please poison Mr. Guo, the Manor Owner, and complete Main Quest One at this time.]

Seeing the huge arrow instruction and the detailed methods of poisoning explained in the mission statement, Xu Shuo was convinced it was a tutorial for new players.

He looked around and then reached into his apron to pull out the poison, and emotionlessly smeared the poison onto one of the bowls in the sanitizer cabinet, as instructed by the system.

Xu Shuo was quick, accurate, and ruthless in his actions, and he swiftly returned the bowl to its place after the deed was done.

He then rolled up the two-centimeter packet of poison and stuffed it into the sink drain, turned on the tap to wash his hands, and incidentally flushed the evidence of the crime down the drain.

After preparing the required murderous technique as prescribed by the script, Xu Shuo opened the freezer, took out the ingredients, and started making dinner.

Frankly, he still couldn't understand.

With this method of killing, did the murderer not worry about revealing themselves too quickly?

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Xu Shuo felt his second task was exceedingly difficult.

Just as he had finished washing his hands, a voice suddenly came from behind, "Master Zhang, the butler asked me to come and help."

Xu Shuo turned sharply to see a young man standing at the kitchen door, also dressed as a chef, with a shy and awkward expression on his face.

There were two resident chefs in the villa, one was the identity Xu Shuo had taken on, specifically to prepare meals for the Manor Owner, and the other was an apprentice responsible for cooking for the servants of the manor.

Both had started working here at the same time, but the meals prepared by Xu Shuo's character were obviously more delicious.

"Thanks." After sizing up the young man, Xu Shuo nodded and said.

...

An hour later, the traditional-style butler came over to check on things.

By then, Chef Xu and the Nameless Junior Chef had successively completed several dishes, and the female maids entered, nodded at them, and then began setting the table, opening the utensil sanitizer.

As Xu Shuo was plating the dishes, his gaze unintentionally swept over the cabinet, where a maid casually took out that special bowl.

He memorized the girl's appearance.

The European-style dining room outside.

After being individually notified by the manor's butler, the invited players sat awkwardly at the round table, watching the pretty maids in maid outfits place one dish after another before them.

The main seat was still empty; it seemed the Manor Owner would make his appearance last.

Besides the main seat, there was another vacant spot, which the players didn't think much of at the time, assuming it was reserved for the player who was cooking in the kitchen.

After all, these seats were just enough for the number of players.

"Wow, that chef can really cook," said the photographer, leaning his body to the side, craning his neck to whisper to Tan Xiaohe beside him.

"Yeah, it's good that he can," Tan Xiaohe smiled.

There was a mischievousness in the girl's smile, which made the photographer remember something, and he awkwardly smiled in return.

After all, everyone had learned during the earlier introductions that the man who got the photographer identity actually knew nothing about photography.

"I hope that experienced player can really lead us to coast through, otherwise, I don't even know how to play this game," the photographer suddenly sighed with a hint of melancholy.

The mysticist Zhan Qian he referred to was sitting opposite the group, on the right-hand side of the main seat.

Next to her sat another male student, Yang Ming, followed by Tan Xiaohe, the photographer, Miss Painter, and another empty seat to the left of the main seat.

Apart from Miss Zhan, who was seated there by the butler's guidance, the other guests had taken their seats at random.

The round table was very large, and the gap between each person was also considerable; one had to lean in to whisper.

Seeing the photographer whispering to "his girlfriend," Yang Ming, who was sitting idly by, couldn't help but join in and said in a lowered voice, "I bet the owner of this villa has something quite special for that... for her."

He surreptitiously pointed at Zhan Qian sitting beside him.

This mysticist, dressed in a black gown with her makeup meticulously applied, exuded an air of natural pride and sophistication as she sat quietly, resembling an esteemed guest, and seemed out of place among the rest of them, who were uneasy and restless.

"After all, we are the only ones who barged in," Tan Xiaohe said with wide eyes and a convincingly serious expression.

Yang Ming: "..."

The photographer: "..."

There was no need to put it quite so bluntly.

But it seemed to be the case during the earlier introductions.

They were the only ones who had gotten lost and come seeking shelter.

At this point, after all the dishes had been served and the well-ordered maids had withdrawn, the few players, who had been whispering among themselves, also quieted down.

The butler, who had been out of sight just moments ago, reappeared and bowed apologetically, "The master was busy just now and kept you waiting."

The few players smiled in a courteous manner but said nothing.

It was obvious to everyone that the host was putting on a show.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in a gray suit, with a somewhat portly, cheerful smile, descended from upstairs. He carried with him an aura of gentleness that spontaneously made others relax.

He seemed like a congenial landlord.

The guests collectively took a discreet sigh of relief, fearing that the manor owner might embarrass them, the temporary lodgers, and being novice players clutching their scripts, they were utterly unsure how to proceed.

Even the mysticist Zhan Qian relaxed slightly upon seeing the villa owner's welcoming demeanor.

Mr. Guo sat down at the main seat, which the butler had pulled out for him, and first smiled at Miss Zhan, "Miss Zhan, thank you for accepting my invitation to come. You should know that this matter has troubled me for some time."

Zhan Qian offered a cool yet polite smile, nodding reservedly, "Mr. Guo is too kind."

"My villa has not had so many guests for a long time. It's a rare chance to liven things up, so I invited everyone for dinner. I hope you won't mind it," Mr. Guo then smiled at the other guests.

His demeanor was very polite and gentle, the epitome of a courteous gentleman.

Upon hearing this, the other guests also expressed their gratitude for his hospitality. They might not know how to play the game, but they could still muster a bit of small talk.

After these words were said, dinner was about to begin, but just then, the ever-smiling Mr. Guo suddenly furrowed his brow.

He abruptly put down his chopsticks and, looking dissatisfied, pointed to the empty seat on his left and said, "Butler, didn't I say that no one could be absent from tonight's dinner? Where is he?!"

"This..." The old butler bowed slightly, saying with difficulty, "The young master refuses to come down for dinner."

The young master?

As their words fell, the gazes of the few players shifted slightly.

Was that seat not for the player who was playing the chef?

It seemed that there was another significant character in the villa; the young master who was currently at odds with Mr. Guo?

...

At that moment in the kitchen.

The junior chef who had come to help had left after the meal was prepared, and Xu Shuo took the opportunity to make a small meal for himself. He leaned against the door frame, eating while keeping an eye on the situation outside.

As a player with the role of a chef, even he was not allowed to dine at the table; the Scripted Murder Game had clearly defined roles for each character.

He was now merely the culprit waiting patiently for the crime scene to unfold.