Huh? Isn't This A Galgame?

The other players, like students who have just received their report cards, were deeply engrossed in discussion when they looked up and saw Wen Nan staring at the box of "Little Umbrellas" in his hand, wearing a smile full of meaning.

That smile undoubtedly means he hit the jackpot!

It must be a low-star strategy character.

As expected, the pros always make the right choice, don't they? He managed to get the only welfare option out of these eight items!

While thinking about this, the information on the overhead screen changed—

[The Intermediate Instance officially starts now! Good luck to the contestants!]

[A new contestant task has been delivered, please check!]

[Main Quest 1: Find your strategy target.]

After the earlier commotion about item selection, such a main quest was not surprising at all.

All of the players' attention was tightly fixed on the screen as the information updated again—

[Quest Description: You have braved the severe cold and blizzard to come to this villa, all for the chance to meet that special someone you have been constantly longing for.

Now, you have finally overcome all obstacles, climbed up this mountain, and stand just a step away from your destination. What are you hesitating for? Quickly climb to the top, enter Snow Mountain Villa, and find them!

The portable item in your hand is your best detector in this vast snowy field; it will help you find that special someone.

If you locate a potential target you suspect is them in the villa, please use your item to make contact with the target, at which point the item will trigger a target lock option.

Once the target is locked, the built-in system in the item will inform you if your choice was correct; if correct, you will pass this main quest. If incorrect, you will have one chance to unlock and continue to search for the next target.

If you exhaust both lock attempts and still cannot find the correct strategy target, the main quest will be considered a failure for this round. Failing the main quest on the first attempt might bring you some surprises~

So, good luck! Go and find them!

[Now entering mission countdown—]

[48:00:00—]

[47:59:59—]

Upon seeing the quest description, the two "solo queue" players turned pale instantly.

It was only then that they truly realized how hot this item in their hands was—

Locking a target requires them to touch the target's body with the item; using things like "Little Umbrella," candle, or rope to touch someone is fine. However, taking a rock axe or handgun to touch the strategy target...

The target might go berserk before the item even makes contact, right?!

In other words, just the "locking the target" step is severely challenging with these items.

They may regret it now, but it's too late; the item is deeply bound to their player accounts and cannot be exchanged. Moreover, even if they wanted to, there's no way to swap it.

While others were still absorbed in the main quest description, Wen Nan was already hastily heading towards the mountaintop without looking back.

Several members standing under the drafty tent looked at Wen Nan's determined departure and couldn't help but remark that their guild leader is truly courageous and wise! Leading the charge on the mission is indeed a rare quality in a leader.

The wind whistling past Wen Nan's ears naturally drowned out the players' flattering remarks; he was simply walking fast because he was freezing.

It's damn cold.

He couldn't stand staying at this refresh point for even one more second and had to hurry to the villa to find shelter from the cold.

With this in mind, Wen Nan climbed to the mountaintop and was stunned by the scene before him—

This "Snow Mountain Villa" truly lived up to its name; it was a castle built from ice and snow?

What's this? Frozen?

So they are now supposed to complete all their main quests inside this giant ice sculpture?!

Thinking of this, Wen Nan shuddered, tightened his thin clothing, and headed towards the snow-built gate.

Climbing the steps to the porch, the anticipated blast of cold air akin to entering a freezer—a warmth he found surprising—did not appear.

Wen Nan stopped for a moment and instinctively moved to the side, reaching out to touch the crystal-clear door pillar—

It wasn't cold, in fact, quite a bit warmer than the surrounding ice and snow, and its texture was unlike ice, more like... some kind of dried-up slime.

While his fingers rubbed against it, a system prompt echoed in his mind—

9527: [The main structure of Snow Mountain Villa is composed of a very special compound nanomaterial derived from ice and snow. With the assistance of a special item in this instance, it chemically bonds the organic and inorganic molecules, creating this villa, which has far superior cold-resistance and habitability than most concrete buildings.]

Most of the complex introduction by the system flew over Wen Nan's head, but he grasped two key points: Firstly, this villa, though it looks like an ice sculpture, is warm and comfortable. Secondly—

"A special item? What special item?"

9527: [Sorry, this information is unknown. If interested, contestants can explore the map in the upcoming tasks to find the answer.]

Alright then.

Wen Nan shrugged, turned back, and found that the other players had also started to arrive.

Just then, the two translucent doors of the villa swung open to the sides.

A young woman, wearing a camisole and paired with ultra-short shorts, stepped out in high heels.

Looking at her attire, as if ready for a tropical vacation, Wen Nan couldn't help but wonder in his mind—

Even if this so-called special building material was very insulating, at best, it was like a cave warm in winter and cool in summer, with an indoor temperature probably comparable to late fall or early winter.

Isn't she afraid of catching a chill, dressed so skimpily?

But then again, perhaps this was a perk provided to players by the instance?

Since that's the case, Wen Nan gladly took a couple more looks—

The woman appeared about twenty-five or six years old, with long silver-gray hair tied in a low ponytail, draped over her chest.

Her chest was so prominent it could almost overflow from her camisole, and similarly, the two bumps under her shorts were just as prominent in their appearance.

After scanning the players, she opened her arms and smiled, saying, "Welcome, esteemed guests from afar, to Snow Mountain Villa!

"I am the steward of this villa, Jiang Xueying. From now on, I will be in charge of your meals and accommodation.

"You may call me Xiao Xue. If you have any needs, feel free to tell me. Xiao Xue will surely—"

Jiang Xueying's words halted midway, and her smile froze.

She found that the row of guests standing in front of her were suddenly reaching into their pockets, seemingly gripping some weapon, and then staring at her intently.

Jiang Xueying's heart tightened, "Umm, is there a problem, guests?"