They don't want me to try anymore.

Although sometimes her words are not pleasant to hear... you can tell that it's not because she intends to annoy anyone, it's simply because she doesn't think too much about it.

To put it in less emotionally intelligent terms... well, in general, it's possible to make friends with them.

It is precisely because he has realized this that Richard is now even more enthusiastic about participating in competitions.

If he truly befriends Lauren's granddaughter, his protection within the empire will be even more secure.

After a short break, the three trained for another half hour. This time, it was Catherine's turn to train two against one, but of course, she didn't last long either.

After it was over, she waved her hand wearily: "That's enough for today... Let's do some light training for the next three days, get some rest, and prepare for the official competition."

She exhaled a final breath and said in a deep voice, "We will definitely win!"

"Yeah, definitely!"

The three of them went out. Catherine went first, while Sophia stretched and said in a sweet voice, "I'm exhausted, I'm going to have a good sleep~"

As she spoke, she looked at Richard with a slightly strange expression.

"Uh, is there something on my face?"

"No, I just feel like I might dream about you...hehe, just kidding~"

Sofia turned and left, leaving Richard with only her slender back view.

Richard blinked, thinking that this woman was becoming more and more baffling.

But it didn't matter; he had more important things to do now, so he didn't think about it much.

He returned to the men's dormitory, asked Katyusha to guard the door, and then lay down on the bed.

[Hardcore Ruthless Simulator Now Launched]

In the year 3541 of the Caesar calendar, you are at St. Goethe's School, about to participate in the Easter competition.

Before starting, Richard pondered his plan for this round.

First, we need to actively participate in the competition. We don't necessarily have to win; we just need to meet Lauren's requirements.

Secondly, we still need to find an opportunity to get involved in the internal strife of the empire. Considering what happened to Professor Megan, let's try to see if we can get rid of the Dulles family first.

Finally, try to get to the Central Prison and investigate that mysterious voice.

call……

After thinking it through, Richard continued the simulation.

You and your teammates participated in the highlight of the competition: the tactical combat game.

The match went very smoothly. You cooperated very well with Catherine and Sofia. Most teams were no match for you.

Okay, that's it...

Wait a minute!

Richard's eyes widened as he saw a portrait of Sofia wearing a crown, holding a scepter, and dressed in an ice-blue gown. Her confident smile exuded queenly aura.

She has a character illustration!

In other words, Sophia is someone who knows about simulation?

Richard was stunned for a long time, and his impression of this teammate completely changed.

No wonder, I always felt she was deliberately getting close to me...

I thought it was just another rich older woman that the "older man killer" had helped me seduce!

However, this means that the judgment of this person needs to be re-evaluated.

Human nature is unpredictable.

Richard understood the situation, but pretended nothing had happened.

You continue to throw yourself into the competition, overcoming all obstacles along the way.

During your split-up search for the trophy, you encountered a special team: one Silver and two Bronze members. They posed no threat to you and even initiated a conversation.

[The opposing captain whispers to you: someone has seized two ferries in Connaught and plans to kill everyone on board after the game to stage a shipwreck.]

Those people demanded that you behave passively in the upcoming games before they would let those two boats of people go.

What the hell?

Is this some kind of underhanded tactic?

After his initial shock and anger, Richard fell into deep thought.

Is what he said true or false?

Who are those people?

From a purely interest-driven perspective, the one least willing to win should be old Dulles... Moreover, given the other side's power, if even Megan could be taken care of, then seizing two ships full of civilians without anyone noticing wouldn't be difficult.

Richard never hesitated to assume the worst about his enemies.

Therefore, he believed that if something bad, no matter how terrible, was done, the enemy would definitely do it if they had the ability to do it.

Then these words are most likely true.

Damn...

After hesitating for a moment, Richard still felt that he couldn't give in to the other party's wishes, otherwise he would only become a pawn.

But those lives...

Phew, it's just a simulation...

You knew in your heart that this was a real threat, but after making a rational decision, you still refused the other party's request.

However, the other party cast an illusion on you depicting the deaths of the Connaught crew members. Although your mental strength granted you some immunity, you still felt intense guilt.

In the following matches, you inevitably became hesitant in your actions.

Ultimately, your team lost to William and finished second in the competition.

Catherine noticed your passive play and was unhappy with you, but Lauren still managed to rescue your teacher.

After the competition, you sent people back home to inquire about the situation. Sure enough, you learned that two ferries had sunk, and all three hundred people on board, including men, women, and children, had perished. The manner of their deaths was...

Richard fell silent as he read the system's detailed description...

Anger was brewing in the silence.

You sent people to investigate and discovered signs of fighting and struggle on the sunken ship at sea.

[You secretly located the opponent who had sent the message during the competition, used the Great Memory Restoration Technique (torture) to obtain their online name, and then tracked down that online person and used the Great Memory Restoration Technique Plus (beat them until they shit themselves), and you confirmed that this operation was planned by Robert Dulles.]

The goal is set.

But Richard did not choose to launch an immediate attack; he knew that would be futile.

After suppressing his anger, he continued to carry out his original plan.

You've rebuilt the newspaper, and this time, with the added advantage of second place in the Easter competition, your development is even smoother than before...

[But unlike last time, you didn't use all the money you earned to dominate the market. Instead, you secretly used the funds to build a mercenary group in Connaught, while also actively investing in the financial industry, buying a lot of Standard Fruit stock, and appointing a trusted confidant as a shareholder on your behalf...]

Five years later, you have successfully reached the Silver rank.

Meanwhile, your confidant, who was posing as a shareholder, also learned that the company was going to hold a shareholders' meeting, and found out the location and attendees.

You saw the name Robert Dulles.

Richard took a deep breath and began to act.

The day before the meeting, you wrote two letters and sent them to Luvia and Alice respectively, and also prepared a full-page article, requesting the newspaper to publish it the following day.

You went to the conference venue in advance and made some arrangements.

On the day of the conference, you will divide your mercenaries into two groups: one group will attack Standard Fruit Company's fleet and various branches, while the other group will cause trouble on the outskirts of the conference venue.

Mercenaries' loyalty has always been questionable, and given that their opponent was a powerful figure in the southwest of the empire, they were destined not to last long.

However, the mercenaries successfully drew most of the attention, forcing Robert Dulles to leave the venue and move to a safe area.

[On the way, their carriage stepped on a landmine you had planted beforehand. The carriage was blown apart and disintegrated in the explosion, and old Dulles and two guards fell from the wreckage.]

Old Dulles was injured but not dead; a magical shield formed on his skin as his fingers flashed.

[You, who had been lying in ambush nearby, immediately rushed out, launched an attack, broke through the shield, and planned to press your advantage and end your enemy's life.]

Just then, a chilling shadow wrapped around your hands and feet. You recognized the person blocking your way as a Silver-level peak assassin-type professional—Shadow Servant.

After a long and arduous battle, you barely managed to win against the Shadow Servant, but you were severely injured, while Robert escaped using a teleportation scroll.

It turned out to be the case.

Does Old Dulles carry a teleportation scroll with him, and also have a shadow guard who is almost at the gold rank?

It seems that to assassinate him, we need to specifically target these two aspects...

Although the operation was unsuccessful, Richard was not disappointed; instead, he kept the experience firmly in mind.

Sooner or later...

He will succeed in reality.

What's next...