'I've been waiting for you. I knew you would show up here.'
'I guess you found something useful.'
Ethan in the game listened to the Duke's words and took out the dirty yellow bottle he had obtained earlier. Ethan shook his head: 'I don't know if it's useful, it's just…'
However, the Duke's next words made Ethan freeze.
'Why? What you're holding is your dear daughter.'
Ethan in the game paused for a moment, not understanding what the Duke meant.
'Please look closely.'
Hearing the Duke's words, Ethan quickly wiped off the dirt. A small label was attached, which read: [Rosemary – Head].
As if he had seen a ghost, Ethan shivered all over, his strength draining away.
Clatter. The bottle slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
His legs buckled uncontrollably, and his voice began to tremble: 'No… wh, what…'
Ben in the game was also stunned.
Rose is dead? And dismembered?
Her head had been turned into a crystal and placed in this bottle.
Could it be that Boss Lucas's familiar knife had struck again?
However, Ben didn't curse this time like before.
The main reason was that the heavy atmosphere didn't create much empathy.
She was just an infant, and all her lines were just 'wah wah wah'. The only interactive moment was when Ethan carried her upstairs.
What really moved him was the almost broken Ethan in the game. That was the character he empathized with, as he was the protagonist he controlled.
It was precisely because he knew how much Ethan loved his daughter that Ben felt more pity for Ethan in the game at this moment, thinking about how desperate and broken he must be now.
Just as Ben thought, Ethan in the game was now completely stunned, not knowing what to say, his emotions on the verge of breaking down.
He knelt on the ground, looking at the bottle on the floor, reaching out to touch it, but hesitating.
'Rose is…' the Duke next to him wanted to speak.
But before he could finish, Ethan interrupted him.
'Don't say anything!'
'This… this is impossible… How is this possible!'
Ethan was completely collapsing. He had fought for so long in this strange village, and the only mental support he had was to save his daughter. But now she had fallen victim to foul play?
This was a cruel truth that Ethan could not bear.
Just as Ethan's heart turned to ash, the Duke spoke again.
His words rekindled hope in Ethan and the players.
'Your dear daughter is not dead. Her power is very special.'
'She can still be saved? Do you know?'
'Saved? She's like this? What nonsense are you talking about!?' Ethan said, but his eyes involuntarily looked up at the Duke, like a drowning person clinging to the last floating straw.
But whether this straw would help him reach shore or sink deeper, no one knew.
'There's a house with a red chimney to the west of the village. Go find the man living there. We'll discuss other things after you find him.' The Duke pointed the way.
At this moment, the anger of Ethan and the players alike was ignited.
"You damn bastard, you big, well-meaning fatty are also playing games with words? Just say it directly! How much have I spent on you? Tell me yourself!" Ben was extremely anxious.
Ethan in the game was the same, looking at the Duke and saying angrily: 'Don't hide anything, just say it!'
'You don't have to believe me… but do you have any other choice?' the Duke said with a smile, looking at Ethan.
'Don't play with me… If I find out you're lying, I'll make you pay!'
Before this, Ethan had seemed to be a man of few tempers. Even when treated brutally by the noblewoman in the castle, he mostly complained or grumbled.
But now, for his daughter.
Ethan was completely enraged.
Even if there was a minuscule, even 0.01% chance, Ethan had to try and follow the guidance of this mysterious Duke.
Now, Ethan's mind was focused on only one thing: reviving his daughter and then killing the culprit, Miranda.
After receiving the mission guidance, he regained control of the game character.
However, at this moment, Ben, the player, fell into a contemplative silence, looking at the yellow bottle in his inventory.
He wondered, could she really be saved?
Deep down, Ben naturally hoped Rose could be saved.
But if she were truly revived, it would seem to push things further into the realm of the unscientific.
"Resident Evil: Village." The crisis and the village indeed matched.
But was this really a survival horror game, or a fantasy?
Could science still be trusted? Or was the saying that the end of science is theology true? After all, Newton—
The guy before who manipulated magnets was already magical enough. Ethan healing a severed limb by detaching it was one thing. The noblewoman transforming into a dragon monster was also acceptable, considering Evelyn's ultimate form in the previous game was terrifying.
But with Rose in this state, could she really be resurrected!?
And following this logic, if the noblewoman was one part, wouldn't the other three lords also have a piece?
So, was the daughter divided into four pieces, four equal parts?
However, despite all the inner thoughts and complaints, there was one thing Ben had to admit: the experience of "Resident Evil: Village" so far had been incredibly fulfilling. It was extremely enjoyable to play.
He even started imagining the subsequent plot.
The enraged Ethan embarks on the path to revive his daughter, fully embodying the essence of the God of War title in "God of War: Washing Liquid."
Clearly, Ethan now possessed special abilities due to an incident three years ago.
His rapid healing ability was likely a result of the mold modifying his body.
The now enraged Ethan was sure to unleash immense power, relying on his terrifying self-healing ability, like a hot-swappable component, with his right hand.
Along the way to rescuing his beloved daughter, he might encounter more difficulties and obstacles, but they would undoubtedly be eliminated by Ethan's overwhelming firepower, defeating all the bosses.
Coupled with the exciting boss battle with the noblewoman that had just ended, Ben felt his spirit reignite just thinking about it!
"The most awesome game experience saved for tomorrow."
"Facing the most exciting part with the best state of mind."
Although he still wanted to continue playing, enjoying the mixture of a little fright and endless satisfaction, he was indeed feeling a bit sleepy. So, Ben decided to save this most wonderful gaming experience for tomorrow.
As for the subsequent game experience, he could rest assured a million percent.
Boss Lucas was no longer the Boss Lucas of the past.
(End of chapter)