Chapter 25: Armed Dogs in the Art Gallery

Zhang Fan had given the idea of a contract with Little Tear considerable thought. He was genuinely concerned about how she would navigate the treacherous waters of the "God's Game" after their current mission. Despite being a game, dangers lurked at every turn, as clearly outlined in the game's system.

Seizing this opportunity, Zhang Fan finally voiced his innermost thoughts. After spending so much time with Little Tear, he had come to regard her as a beloved younger sister. His affection wasn't driven by her being a character from a favorite anime, nor was it about acquiring a deity through a contract with her. It stemmed purely from a desire to protect and indulge her, to shield her from harm.

Little Tear's perseverance, strength, joyfulness, and her innocent, vivacious nature constantly drew Zhang Fan to her. His feelings transcended romantic love, resembling the pure and heartfelt affection one holds for family.

"Really, big brother? Can I really stay by your side?" Little Tear's eyes brimmed with disbelief. Though she had fantasized about it more than once, hearing it from Zhang Fan himself was nothing short of astonishing.

"Of course, as long as you're willing," Zhang Fan said, smiling as he gently stroked Little Tear's hair. He hadn't expected such an emotional reaction from her, but as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.

"I want to, of course I want to!" Overwhelmed, Little Tear embraced Zhang Fan tightly, her eyes welling up with tears. But she quickly composed herself, determined to work harder now that she had decided to become Zhang Fan's deity.

"We'll sign the contract after this mission," Zhang Fan assured her, hugging her back. He was genuinely happy, finding more than love in this game world – he had also found family and friendship. The tense and exhilarating missions and his growing power made this a game well worth playing.

Three days after making the pact with Little Tear, the day specified in the Cat's Eye notice arrived. That night, Zhang Fan and the sisters set out, sticking to the original plan. As they neared Seto's art gallery, Little Tong and Little Ai moved to the rear of the building, a perfect spot for providing backup with its sparse guard presence.

"The rest is up to you," Little Tear, clad in a purple bodysuit, whispered to Zhang Fan as they hid in a shadowy corner, with a clear view of the gallery's main entrance. Her outfit left little to the imagination, and her closeness caused Zhang Fan's heart to race.

Little Tear's request was clear: eliminate the armed dogs before entering, to reduce the mission's difficulty.

"Don't worry, leave it to me," Zhang Fan assured her, subtly moving away from her and surveying their surroundings. Climbing a nearby tree, he found a sturdy branch with dense foliage, an ideal spot for sniping.

He had considered using a sniper rifle but eventually decided on his familiar 4A1, fitted with a thermal scope and silencer. Through the scope, he spotted thirteen armed dogs patrolling the open space in front of the gallery – an unlucky number indeed.

Thanks to the thermal scope, the dogs were easy targets. Zhang Fan took them down one by one, their bodies crumpling to the ground without a sound.

However, an unexpected development occurred. After several dogs fell, the remaining ones became frenzied. Some ran towards the main entrance, with one even dashing into the gallery. This chaos was an opportunity.

"Let's go!" Zhang Fan signaled to Little Tear, and they quickly scaled the two-meter wall. The guards at the front were distracted by the commotion, allowing them to slip unnoticed into the gallery through an open window, hidden by the ceiling beams.

Inside, the gallery's classical architecture featured beams across the ceiling, allowing them to move directly to the room housing the "Warrior Goddess."

But as they approached, Zhang Fan sensed danger. The room was empty, yet three armed dogs lay in wait. As one lunged at Little Tear, Zhang Fan rushed to her aid, his timely intervention preventing her from getting hurt. Their resulting entangled position, however, was rather suggestive.

"Be careful, Little Tear!" Zhang Fan warned as he protected her from the dogs. Their close proximity in a compromising pose was hard to ignore, but their focus was on the mission – to safely secure the "Warrior Goddess."