The Tycoon's Odyssey

Each member, trained in assassin techniques from the Virtual Real world, donned the sleek, dark gear and carried a backpack containing the nerve gear.

The night air was cool and filled with a sense of foreboding as they adjusted their equipment and double-checked their gears.

Aurora's voice crackled softly in their earpieces. [Stay on the safe routes. The drones are covering you. Watch for patrols and wild animals, and stay cautious as some beasts might be hidden under the thick bushes.]

Evan glanced at Suri, who gave a quick nod of acknowledgment. The team moved silently through the dense underbrush, their steps barely audible on the forest floor. Overhead, the drones hovered quietly.

The tiny flight bodies were nearly invisible in the darkness.

The environment was indeed grave and eerie, with the foliage casting haunting shadows that danced with every gust of wind that only lacked a ghostly soundtrack to complete the atmosphere and scare everyone.

After maneuvering around the perimeter, they finally reached the walls of the Sentinel village and came to a halt.

"Can they even see us in this dark? I don't think the light from the flame torch can reach here," Mac muttered aloud.

The wooden barriers, intricately carved and overgrown with thick foliage, loomed high above them.

Aurora's voice came through once more. [Guards patrol the perimeter. You'll need to avoid them and enter through the blind zone. There will be a brief window and in those moments, you need to run to the other side. Go in a squad of 10—any more might be risky.]

They waited for Aurora's signal. After a few moments, the guards moved away.

[Now…]

SWOOSH!

The team moved with practiced efficiency, scaling the walls with deft movements.

Their coordination was flawless—one would scale the wall while the others provided cover, everything being silently communicated with the help of hand signals. As they made their way over the top, a sudden rustling sound in the shadows caught their attention.

Before anyone could react, a lone figure emerged from the darkness, startling them.

Without hesitation, Suri darted forward with lightning speed and struck the figure at the base of his neck. He crumpled silently to the ground.

Evan almost squealed, barely registering the blur of motion. The speed… it was totally inhuman that scared the shit out of him.

It was as if Suri could end everyone's lives here if she really wanted to.

'Until I am strong enough, I shouldn't offend her no matter what,' Evan thought grimly.

The team quickly dragged the unconscious guard to the side, fitting him with a VR gear to ensure that he would be out of commission for the rest of the operation. They then hid him in a secure spot within the bushes.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Evan led the team toward the village chief's cottage while the next squad prepared to move in.

The building was modest, with a simple door and no locks. The low ceiling made it awkward for Evan to crouch, but he managed to carefully open the door and slipped inside.

The interior was dimly lit by a flickering torch made of some primal herns.

Evan's eyes adjusted to the gloom as he moved silently through the space, resisting the urge to activate his night vision lens for fear of it glowing and getting caught. There were three rooms, out of which the village chief—an elderly man—lay asleep on a simple bed.

In the adjacent room, the chief's family—his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren—all rested peacefully.

Seeing this, a hint of guilt flickered in Evan's eyes, making him hesitate.

'Am I really doing the right thing? It feels as if I am invading their privacy.'

Though he had managed to stay straight at Suri's face before, but now that he had seen people living peacefully, he felt that he was bringing unnecessary chaos to their lives…

Just then, a chiming voice came from the far corner of his mind.

[It's not necessarily bad.]

[What you are doing might save them in the future for real. At least they can still preserve their culture and heritage under your leadership. Do you think centuries from now, people who invade this place would care. And as per the future, believe me, one day such an invasion is bound to happen.]

'Damn! You are the real influencer, Lord System. Always managing to hit the mark.'

[Hmm! After all, I am nothing less than Almighty.]

The system snorted and Evan chuckled inwardly.

'Hail the system.'

After the small matter was sorted, Evan approached the sleeping old chief cautiously. Any slightest noise could wake him, causing Evan's heart to race with the tension. As he reached the bed, the chief stirred but only mumbled in his sleep. Seizing the opportunity, Evan pulled out a handkerchief soaked in chloroform and swiftly placed it on the chief's face, covering his mouth and nose properly.

The old man's eyes shot open and he struggled, kicking his hands and feet before going limp, and falling unconscious.

Evan took a deep breath, he could literally feel his pulse pounding in his ears. He then quickly placed the headgear on the chief, making sure that he wouldn't wake up during the operation.

Turning his attention to the next room, Evan hesitated. The sight of the four sleeping children and their parents struck a chord within him. His initial plan was to incapacitate them as well, but the risk seemed too high.

His heart pounded so wildly that he feared that it would alert everyone.

After a moment of intense consideration, he decided against it and left them untouched. He couldn't risk a situation where a misstep could cost them everything.

'Let's not be greedy.'

Evan then slipped out of the cottage, his heart still racing.

[Go northeast of current position. The drones have shot down the Panther to sleep.]

'Okay!'

As minutes ticked by, Evan and his team continued their meticulous work, ensuring that their objectives were met. Approximately 15 minutes into their operation, Evan's earpiece crackled to life with a message from Aurora.

[The job is done on my end. You're clear.]