novellhall Chapter 197 Home Defense Line [5000] Dungeon Story
Chapter 197 Home Defense Line [5000] Dungeon Story
Chapter 197 Home Defense Line [5000] Dungeon Story
Chen Xun, who had been working hard all night, had just woken up.
He glanced at Kate, who was still fast asleep beside him, and shook his head with a smile.
This woman insists on learning a foreign language.
You must be exhausted from studying now.
However, reading a new book from the back always has a unique charm.
Chen Xun also had a good experience yesterday.
He patted Kate on the shoulder.
The other person grunted twice, then turned over and went back to sleep.
Chen Xun reluctantly got up.
The progress of [Acting Skills] on the panel is currently 17.8%.
It rose another 0.5% overnight.
[Character Credibility] has increased to 62.
His progress has been slow recently because he hasn't challenged any high-difficulty characters.
He remembered the newly refreshed instance in the Dream Experience Space, which he hadn't studied in detail yet.
Back home, Chen Xun opened the panel and entered that space.
The instance still features the same three scenarios as before:
Jordan Belfort (Beginner's Version) of The Wolf of Wall Street
The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman (Intermediate Level)
The King's Speech, George VI (Elementary Version)
None of these are what he urgently needs right now.
[21 days until automatic refresh].
too long!
Chen Xun now needs to improve his understanding of the father role as soon as possible in order to prepare for "Interstellar".
Although I had experienced Cooper's copy before, having another perspective and another experience is definitely not a bad thing.
He looked at the option "Manual refresh: $10 per refresh" and hesitated for three seconds.
One hundred thousand dollars!
For Chen Xun, who had just received his salary for "Fast & Furious 5", it wasn't much.
It's not even a fraction of the total.
He clicked "Manual Refresh".
[Are you sure you want to spend $100000 to refresh the dungeon?]
Seeing so many zeros, Chen Xun was momentarily dizzy.
Refresh!
Chen Xun did not hesitate any longer.
My phone vibrated; it was a bank deduction notification.
Almost simultaneously, the copy library interface flickered, and the three old options disappeared, replaced by three new ones:
Pretty Woman - Edward Lewis (Beginner Version)
Cost: $100 million Expected Gains: Affluent demeanor, romantic comedy pacing, portrayal of the conflict between money and emotion Warning: May induce consumerist tendencies and emotional alienation *Whiplash* (Andrew Nyman, Intermediate Level)
Cost: $200 million Expected Gains: Artistic obsession, breakdown under extreme pressure, tension in the mentor-student relationship Warning: May cause anxiety, perfectionist tendencies Homefront: Phil Brock (Intermediate Dungeon)
Cost: $200 million Expected gains: The fighting instincts of a retired special agent, the protective instincts of a single father, and the loneliness lurking in a small town Warning: Potential for excessive vigilance and lingering violent tendencies Chen Xun's eyes lit up.
Homeland Defense
He remembers this movie.
The lead actor is Jason Statham.
The story revolves around a former DEA agent who lives in seclusion in a small town with his daughter. However, a conflict exposes his identity, forcing him to use violence to protect his family.
It's a typical action movie formula, but the core theme is the father-daughter relationship.
This is similar to the father-daughter relationship in "Interstellar," but also different.
Cooper deliberately left his daughter to carry out his mission, while Brock was passively drawn into the conflict in order to protect his daughter.
One wants to leave, the other wants to stay.
Moreover, the combat instincts he gained from being a retired special agent will be useful for him in his future action filming.
Although he now has "street vehicle attack and defense instincts," that's mostly for car chases and street fights.
The professionalism, composure, and efficient combat methods of special agents are another matter entirely.
"That's it!"
Chen Xun clicked on the "Homeland Defense" instance.
System notification: [Confirm entry to Phil Brock's Dreamland instance in Homefront? Cost: $200 million. Estimated duration: 6 real-time hours]
Sure!
Chen Xun clicked to confirm.
My phone vibrated again, announcing a deduction of $200 million.
Sleepiness struck instantly, even more intensely than last time.
Chen Xun barely made it to the bedroom, and when he collapsed onto the bed, his consciousness was already blurred.
I didn't sleep well last night, so I'm taking a nap now.
This was Chen Xun's last thought before he fell asleep.
When Chen Xun opened his eyes again, he smelled pine wood and paint.
Look around.
Chen Xun found himself lying on a wooden bed that wasn't fully assembled yet, with tools piled up beside him: an electric drill,
Screwdriver, level.
He sat up and looked around.
The room wasn't big.
The walls were freshly painted white and still a bit damp.
The ground was covered with a dust-proof cloth, and the windows had no curtains. Outside, you could see a grove of trees and distant mountains.
He looked down at his hands.
It's rough, with large knuckles and several old scars on the back of the hand.
There's a callus on the web of my right hand.
These are marks left from holding a gun for a long time.
Phil Brock, 42, a former DEA agent, was exposed during a drug bust, and his wife was murdered by drug dealers in retaliation.
He moved to this small town in Louisiana with his daughter Maddie, changing their names and living in seclusion.
I bought this old house with my savings and am currently renovating it myself.
"dad!"
A girl's voice came from downstairs.
Chen Xun got up and went downstairs.
The stairs didn't have handrails yet, so he carefully walked down.
In the living room, a girl of about ten years old sat on the floor with a pile of puzzle pieces spread out in front of her.
Brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a T-shirt with a dinosaur print.
McGrady.
"Look!"
McGrady held up a small piece he had completed: "I've finished the border!"
Chen Xun walked over and squatted down next to her.
This movement felt natural, as if I had done it countless times before.
He patted his daughter's head: "Great job, are you hungry? I'll cook."
"Canned food again?"
McGrady wrinkled his nose.
"We have fresh ones today!"
Brock went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator: "I went to town yesterday and bought chicken and vegetables."
The refrigerator wasn't full, and everything was neatly arranged.
The chicken was wrapped in plastic wrap, and the vegetables were washed and packed in a box.
There were also a few cans of beer nearby.
It's a cheap item, the most basic kind.
Chen Xun started cooking.
With practiced skill, he chopped vegetables, put them in the pot, and seasoned them all in one smooth motion.
Chen Xun could sense the muscle memory of this body.
His cooking skills are mediocre; they're more of a survival instinct.
He unconsciously used the Chinese cooking skills he knew.
He didn't know what kind of changes this would bring to the plot.
In the previous instance, he was only focused on experiencing the storyline and didn't properly study the relationship between the instance and his special existence.
"How's school?"
After skillfully frying the chicken, Chen Xun opened a can of cola on the counter and poured it in amidst Maddie's exclamation.
"good----"
McGrady, ignoring the puzzle in her hands, was so startled by Chen Xun's unusual actions that she covered her mouth.
She had never seen this practice before.
"I still don't understand math class, but Ms. Jenny said I can get extra lessons from her after class."
Seeing Chen Xun put the pot lid back on and turn to look at her, Maddie continued answering the question.
Are you going?
Chen Xun's current state is essentially a fusion of his abilities with this body.
Therefore, his love for McGrady stemmed from his own instincts.
"I don't want to go; my classmates will say I'm stupid."
McGrady looked a little aggrieved.
Chen Xun squatted down in front of McGrady: "You're not stupid, you just need more time. And—"
He paused for a moment: "If anyone laughs at you, just tell me."
Although his tone was calm, Chen Xun could feel the tension in the body and the vigilance of someone ready to protect their daughter at any moment.
This is not the concern of an ordinary father; it is the instinct of someone who has experienced loss and knows how dangerous the world can be.
Because of Chen Xun's arrival, the cola stewed chicken also appeared.
McGrady ate with a satisfied look on his face.
After finishing her meal, Maddie sat at the table chattering about school.
Who argued with whom? The teacher wore a strange skirt today. There's a stray cat on the playground.
Chen Xun listened, nodding occasionally, but didn't say much.
But he remembered every detail of McGrady's words.
This is an instinct from a former secret agent.
Gather information and assess the environment.
After dinner, Chen Xun washed the dishes while Mai Di did her homework.
At nine o'clock, he urged the girls to take a shower and go to bed.
"Let's play a little longer, the puzzle is almost finished."
McGrady was acting cute and affectionate with her father.
"I'll work harder tomorrow, it's time to sleep."
Chen Xun gently touched McGrady's face, his tone mild, but he didn't give McGrady any room to bargain.
McGrady pouted and went upstairs.
Chen Xun watched her departing figure, his eyes filled with guilt.
He felt that he had dragged his daughter into this life of anonymity and distance from a normal life.
After tidying up the kitchen, Chen Xun went outside.
Night had fallen, and the town was quiet, with only the occasional barking of dogs in the distance.
He lit a cigarette.
Brock had this habit, but Chen Xun himself did not smoke.
The smell of smoke is very strong.
Chen Xun took a breath and coughed.
"Damn, what's so great about this stuff?"
He muttered a complaint under his breath, but didn't turn it off.
This is Brock's habit.
He leaned against a porch pillar, gazing at the night sky.
There is little light pollution here, so you can see the stars.
Chen Xun's mind flashed to the image of Cooper looking at the stars in space, and then he returned to reality.
He is now Brock, a former special agent hiding in a small town, whose greatest wish is for his daughter to grow up safely.
Chen Xun got up on time at six o'clock the next morning.
This is a biological clock developed over many years of special agent work, and it remains unchanged.
He first inspected the area around the house.
Walk around the house to look for any suspicious signs and check if the doors and windows are intact.
Then I went back to my room to make breakfast: fried eggs, toast, and milk.
He made the fried egg into a heart shape and spread ketchup on the toast.
McGrady got up at seven o'clock and ate breakfast while still sleepy.
Upon seeing the heart-shaped fried egg, she exclaimed in surprise, skipped over to Chen Xun, and kissed him on the cheek.
It was wet, like a bird pecking at its beak.
McGrady returned to the table and ate heartily, thoroughly enjoying his meal.
Then Chen Xun drove her to school.
Oak is a small town with only one main street, a few shops, a gas station, and a comprehensive school from kindergarten to high school.
Chen Xun was driving a second-hand Ford pickup truck; the paint was almost completely peeling off, but the engine was still in good condition.
At the school gate, before Maddie got out of the car, Broke stopped her: "Remember, if anyone asks what Dad does—"
"You are a freelancer."
McGrady smoothly replied, "We moved here from Ohio because we wanted a change of scenery after my mother passed away."
"Good child, I'll pick you up at three o'clock this afternoon."
Chen Xun patted her head.
"I can walk home by myself."
"No, I'll come pick you up."
Chen Xun's tone was firm.
McGrady sighed, but didn't argue further.
She jumped out of the car and ran into the school.
Chen Xun watched her figure disappear into the teaching building before driving away.
Instead of going straight home, he went to the hardware store in town.
We still need to buy some renovation materials.
The shop owner was an old man in his sixties named Tom, bald and with a beer belly.
Brock had bought things here a few times, so the two were somewhat familiar with each other.
Good morning, Phil!
Tom greeted him, "What would you like today?"
"There are some wooden planks and nails. Several pieces of the second-floor floor are broken and need to be replaced."
"Change it yourself? Why not hire a worker?"
"I can handle it."
Tom nodded and went to the warehouse to get the materials.
While waiting, Chen Xun stood in the shop, seemingly casually observing his surroundings.
This is an agent's instinct.
When you arrive at a new place, first familiarize yourself with the layout.
Several exits, window locations, where to use as cover, and where are blind spots.
Chen Xun could clearly sense this way of thinking.
Unlike his own observations of the environment as an actor, Brock's observations were driven by a clear defensive and combat purpose.
When he got home, he started replacing the flooring.
This is no easy task. First, you have to pry up the old planks, clean the base layer, and then cut, install, and fix the new planks.
But Brock did it very skillfully, with precise and efficient movements.
As Chen Xun experienced the process, he mentally complained, "I spent two million US dollars just to learn how to change the floor? Isn't this dungeon a bit of a waste?"
But he soon discovered that it wasn't just about replacing the flooring.
Brock's mind was constantly working as he did the job.
From the second-floor window, what angle of the street can be seen outside? And if someone is approaching, from which direction would they be most easily spotted?
This is an immersive state of being.
At noon, he ate something simple and then continued working.
At 2:30 p.m., he washed his hands, changed into clean clothes, and drove to school.
Some parents were already waiting at the school gate.
Chen Xun parked the car a little further away and sat inside to observe.
When Maddie saw his car, she ran over: "Dad! Ms. Jenny praised me today!"
"Really? That's great!"
Chen Xun started the car.
"So, can we have ice cream? To celebrate?"
McGrady blinked, his eyes filled with longing.
Chen Xun glanced at her and smiled indulgently: "Okay, but only a small portion."
"yeah!"
They went to the small ice cream shop in town.
The shop owner was a plump middle-aged woman who scooped a vanilla bean for Maddie and poured Chen Xun a cup of coffee.
"You've just moved here, haven't you?"
The shop owner struck up a conversation: "I've never seen you before."
"Yes, I've been here for a few months."
Chen Xun gave a brief response.
"Where did you buy the house?"
"That old house on the west side of town."
"Oh, that place—I heard it's haunted."
The shop owner hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
McGrady's eyes widened: "Really?"
"Don't listen to her nonsense!"
Chen Xun patted his daughter's head: "There are no ghosts, it's just that the house is a bit old."
But he became wary.
That's how small towns are; even the smallest thing can spread quickly.
They need to keep a low profile and not attract too much attention.
On the way home, Maddie was eating ice cream when he suddenly asked, "Dad, will we live here forever?"
'
Chen Xun tightened his grip on the steering wheel: "Do you want to stay here?"
"It's alright. The school is better than the old one, and the classmates are okay too, but I don't have many friends."
"It will happen, take your time."
Chen Xun lay on Phil Brock's bed, staring at the cracks in the ceiling.
The sky outside was just beginning to lighten; it was 5:40 in the morning.
He could sense that Broke's body instinctively wanted to get up immediately.
Special agents are trained to be punctual, disciplined, and vigilant.
But Chen Xun's thoughts held the body in check.
If he is completely led by Brock's memories and habits, then the two million dollars will just be a rewatch of the movie, not an experience of the character.
Chen Xun needs to make some changes.
It's not a major plot change.
That might cause the dream to collapse.
After all, this is a copy generated from a movie.
Chen Xun just wanted to make some minor adjustments, to understand Brock in his own way, rather than completely replicating every choice in the movie. He sat up and, instead of checking the surroundings of the house as he had done yesterday, went to the window.
Outside, the town was quiet in the early morning. The neighbors' houses were still dark, and a cat strolled slowly down the street.
Brock's memory tells him that he had to check the outside of the house every morning; it was a security procedure.
If there were real danger, would they choose to come in the morning?
More likely, it's at night or when no one is home during the day.
After all, this was just an ordinary small town, not a war zone.
Moreover, being overly vigilant can easily attract the attention of neighbors.
Although he doesn't have many neighbors.
But a man who walks around the house every morning is too suspicious.
"Relax!"
Chen Xun said to himself, "Try to live a day like an ordinary person."
He went downstairs to make breakfast, and unlike yesterday, he didn't keep an eye on what was happening outside the window.
He even hummed a tune while frying the eggs.
Brock had no memory of this habit; it was Chen Xun's own.
When McGrady woke up at seven o'clock, breakfast was already on the table.
Fried eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit cut into small pieces.
"Wow, this is such a feast today?"
McGrady rubbed his eyes and sat down.
"Congratulations on receiving praise from your teacher!"
McGrady smiled and started eating.
Chen Xun sat opposite her, unlike Brock who ate while reading the newspaper or listening to the radio.
Those were means of obtaining information, but at this moment he chose to simply watch his daughter eat.
"Dad, you're a little different today. You seem more relaxed!"
McGrady took a bite of bread.
Chen Xun was startled.
The child has such keen observation skills.
"Maybe you slept well."
He brushed it off, saying, "Hurry up and eat, we're going to be late."
On the way to take McGrady to school, Chen Xun didn't stop the car at a distance to observe as he had done yesterday.
He drove directly to the school gate and parked his car alongside those of other parents.
As he got off the bus, he even nodded to a mother next to him.
Brock had no memory of this action; he always tried to avoid eye contact with anyone.
"Is that your father?"
One of McGrady's classmates asked.
"Um!"
McGrady is a bit arrogant.
Chen Xun's heart stirred upon hearing these words.
In the original storyline, Brock's overprotective nature led to McGrady becoming somewhat isolated at school.
Other children are picked up and dropped off by their mothers, or by both parents, but she only has this taciturn father who is always in a hurry.
See you this afternoon!
Chen Xun said to McGrady, then added, "Pay attention in class."
It was just a simple remark, but McGrady's eyes lit up: "Hmm!"
After leaving school, Chen Xun did not go straight home.
Brock's memory told him.
We should try to minimize the time spent in public places.
But Chen Xun still drove to the coffee shop in town.
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