Chapter 15: Pressing the Advantage

The next morning, as the first pale light crept across the horizon, I gently lifted the edge of my blanket and glanced at my three teammates, still deep in sleep, their breathing steady and serene. I dressed with utmost care, each movement measured to avoid the slightest noise. Then, on tiptoe, I made my way to the basement, where my meticulously crafted secret weapon awaited—a long-range sniper rifle.

It lay silently on the workbench, exuding a cold metallic sheen. With nimble, practiced hands, I picked it up and placed it into my suitcase along with a specially designed carton. Emerging from the basement, I drew a deep breath, and under the cover of dawn, I wheeled the suitcase through the quiet campus, my heart pounding with both tension and anticipation.

On the rooftop of the twelfth floor, I opened the suitcase and set up the vividly colored sniper rifle. The slanting sunlight cast a gentle golden hue over the cold metal, bathing the rifle in a faint glow. Holding my breath, I peered through the scope, sweeping slowly across the scene. The hotel across the way loomed like a giant beast, its glass façade glinting in the morning sun, every window a watchful eye concealing untold stories.

A quick glance at my phone revealed Li Feng’s location, a small smile curling at my lips. His signal flickered faintly in a room by the window, and my heartbeat quickened, the rush of blood in my veins nearly audible. A subtle chill drifted on the breeze, but my hands remained as steady as stone, the crosshairs in the scope locked firmly on my target, excitement blazing in my eyes.

Just as I was about to pull the trigger, the rooftop door burst open and my three roommates stormed in. They had realized my absence and, recalling the noises from earlier, guessed I had come to the rooftop.

As they pushed open the door, the morning light poured in like a tidal wave, illuminating the dim edges of the rooftop. The three of them appeared tense and frantic, their faces etched with confusion and anxiety. Zhou Jie led the way, hair slightly tousled, the hem of his pajamas fluttering in the breeze. His eyes were wide with disbelief. Feng Danyan followed, her hand covering her mouth, shock quickly giving way to reddening eyes on the verge of tears. Wang Qing arrived last, breathless and clutching the railing, her gaze darting between me and the sniper rifle, her expression one of utter incredulity—as if witnessing a sudden, surreal dream. In that moment, the air seemed to freeze, the rooftop’s tense atmosphere a stark contrast to the resolve in my heart.

Startled by their sudden appearance, my finger trembled involuntarily, and the rifle shifted slightly off target. Fury surged within me as I glared at my roommates, my eyes blazing with anger and regret at the interruption. In that instant of distraction, the dot on my phone screen jolted—Li Feng had moved. My chest tightened, and I realized I had missed the fleeting perfect shot; the target had slipped into the shadow behind the curtains, leaving only a void in my scope and a pang of bitter regret.

Bathed in the morning light, my grip on the rifle tightened in frustration, my knuckles whitening as the weight of missed opportunity pressed down like a leaden shroud. Meanwhile, my three roommates were still utterly bewildered, oblivious to the true nature of the situation.

I slowly returned the sniper rifle to the suitcase, ensuring it was securely stowed. Then, with a swift motion, I drew the triangular-bladed dagger concealed at my side. Its cold gleam reflected my resolute expression.

Gripping the dagger tightly, I advanced toward them with heavy, deliberate steps, each one sounding a tense rhythm on the rooftop floor. The three of them shrank back instinctively, fear flickering in their eyes, yet they watched me intently, searching my face for any clue to my intent.

My gaze was sharp, but I slowed my approach, halting less than a meter away. The dagger sliced through the air, whistling a faint but chilling tune. Instead of striking, I pressed the blunt side against Zhou Jie’s shoulder, signaling him to stay put. Swiftly, I circled behind them and bound each one in turn—quick and precise, yet gentle enough to avoid causing real harm.

Once they were secured, I returned to the sniper rifle, calmly adjusted my aim, and fixed the crosshairs on Li Feng’s position.

Drawing a deep breath, I squeezed the trigger. Thanks to the custom silencer, only a muffled thud sounded. In the distant hotel room, the glass shattered instantly, shards glittering in the sunlight.

At that same moment, Li Feng’s body convulsed and then slowly collapsed, blood rapidly pooling beneath him into a shocking crimson lake. The pill bottle in his pocket rolled out as he fell. A surge of indescribable excitement rose within me. I glanced back at my three roommates bound at the edge of the rooftop, still paralyzed by shock, their eyes hollow as they stared into the distance, too stunned even to struggle or cry out.

I sped to the hotel, my heart pounding like a drum. Bursting into the lobby, ignoring all stares, I headed straight for the elevator. As the doors closed, sealing me from the outside world, the hum of metal filled my ears. On the target floor, I slipped out and crept silently to Li Feng’s room.

From my pocket, I produced the prepared hacking device. My fingers flew over the keys, code streaming across the screen, and the lock yielded with a click.

Inside, chaos reigned—sunlight streaming through the shattered window, illuminating streaks of blood and casting harsh shadows across the wreckage. I hurried forward, searching amid the broken furniture until I found the familiar pill bottle on the floor by the bed. My hand trembled as I picked it up, as if clutching the very key to life itself. The weight in my chest finally lifted, warmth flooding through me until everything around me blurred into a comforting haze.

At last, I came to my senses and realized the situation had been exposed. I had no choice but to rush out, drive back toward the dormitory, all the while pondering how to handle my three roommates—at the very least, they were not fools.