During the preparation phase before the game started, Ben turned off the AI auto-fill for positions. Why bother with AI?
Wouldn't bringing AI just hold them back?
As for difficulty settings, right now they could only select the simplest contract difficulty.
In the game, the highest difficulty involved getting six kills. On higher difficulties, not only would the enemies' aim be more accurate and their damage higher, but the time and number of attackers would also increase.
Of course, on higher difficulties, players would also get double the experience and rewards.
"Zack, how should we handle our first score?" Ben handed the decision-making power to Zack.
"I think it's better if we use our brains for the first wave," Zack said after thinking for a moment.
From the promotional materials of previous games and the recent tutorial, the group had a pretty good idea of how to play "Payday."
Before the game begins, the crew would do a reconnaissance phase. If there was an inside informant, they would get all sorts of information about the robbery location, including how special tools would be placed in spots like parking lots.
However, even though there was this surveying and tactical planning process, players could also choose to be like a reckless robber.
Put on a mask, grab a gun, kick down the door, and just go for it.
But this kind of reckless robbery would have more serious consequences. Nearby civilian NPCs would call the police, and police reinforcements would arrive very quickly. If the players couldn't succeed and lingered too long, the difficulty would also increase.
The first responders were usually ordinary police officers, but later on, it would be SWAT, or even well-trained soldiers.
So, if you wanted to be a thief who left without a trace, a ghost who hid their fame, just rushing in clearly wouldn't work.
"That's right, let's be smart about it. Even though we're robbers, we can be like Robin Hood, honorable robbers. And if we just rush in, we'll easily hurt innocent people. Even as criminals, we have our limits," Hannah added in agreement.
"Well said!"
Zack and Ben nodded in agreement. As they were talking, the contract officially began.
The three of them spawned in a small alley. However, unlike what they expected, all three were dressed in suits, looking just like ordinary citizens.
"So, we're in the reconnaissance phase now, with no time limit."
Looking at the introduction, Zack understood the basics.
The mission was called "Four Stores." As the name suggested, there were four stores on this street: a convenience store, a coffee shop, a computer store, and an antique shop.
Their crew needed to rob all four stores, get a certain amount of money, and then make a quick getaway.
It was quite a simple mission, really.
In the alley, Zack, who was the commander for this operation, finalized the robbery strategy.
"For our first score, we need to stick to three principles: fast, accurate, and ruthless!"
"Let's each scout one store. Si Lang, you're in charge of the antique shop. Da Biao, you scout the computer store. I'll scout the convenience store and the coffee shop."
Zack said with a sense of immersion.
"No problem."
"Sure, sure."
The two nodded repeatedly.
"Okay, stay alert and don't reveal your identities," Zack reminded them, and the three started to move.
The three were playing very immersively. It had to be said that although this game wasn't a massive production and couldn't be compared to so-called AAA titles, Lucas had done a very thorough job with the graphics and details.
Combined with the VR version and the unique theme, the immersion was immense.
For example, in the pre-game reconnaissance mode, players could get a feel for the building's interior layout, the staff's positions, and whether there were cameras or easily accessible alarm buttons, allowing for better planning of their robbery.
Of course, if there were suspicious actions, like being discovered in an office clearly marked with "No Unauthorized Personnel," or loitering in front of security guards, it would trigger an alarm.
"Crab, crab, I've finished scouting the antique shop. There are two armed security guards inside, and I also found a large safe."
Ben's good news came quickly.
"My computer store also has one security guard. I haven't found a safe yet, probably in the office. As I was about to go in, the suspicion level of the nearby guard and the store clerk went up."
Hannah also reported.
Meanwhile, Zack had finished scouting the convenience store and was heading to the coffee shop.
"Besides the cashier and customers, the convenience store doesn't have much security. But there's an ATM. From the outside, it looks like a four-cassette machine. Each cassette can hold 200,000, so four would be 800,000. Of course, it's unlikely to be completely full, but I estimate at least one or two hundred thousand," Zack explained his situation.
He had watched a lot of movies and TV shows with similar themes in anticipation of "Payday," as well as quite a few legal shows.
His professional knowledge was top-notch. Back then, he wouldn't have been able to tell a four-cassette ATM machine from any other.
"Let's do it! Let's just crack the ATM, and that'll be enough for our first score!" Ben exclaimed excitedly in the voice channel.
"Ahem... But it looks like this ATM will need a cutting machine. Does anyone have one? I don't," Zack added with a slight cough.
"Then what are you talking about? Cutting machines cost money to buy," Hannah couldn't help but retort, having thought they could actually rob the ATM.
"How about we go to the antique shop? Don't they have a drill there? The safe shows a prompt that it can be drilled open," Ben suggested.
"Okay, when we get there, we'll see if there's a back door. We'll sneak in, knock out and deal with the two guards, and then Hannah, you'll control the store clerk hostage. Let's make our first score a beautiful one, aiming for..." Zack was discussing tactics.
But the next second, incredibly exciting and wild electronic music suddenly blared in his ears. At the same time, in the game, he involuntarily pulled out a mask and a gun from his pocket.
Sharp screams could be heard from outside the street, along with two gunshots.
A line of yellow text appeared at the top:
///Police Raid in Progress///
Zack was stunned.
"Holy hell! What's going on? I haven't even finished my plan yet!?"
At this moment, Ben's voice, tinged with awkwardness and a lack of confidence, came through: "My... I was thinking of putting on my mask at the store entrance, but I didn't notice a pedestrian and a camera, so we were spotted. But it's not a big deal, I've already controlled the antique shop."
"I think we should just be straightforward criminals, forget about sneaking! Let's just charge in head-on!" Zack smacked his lips, sounding a bit helpless, and then pulled out his gun.
Ten minutes for tactical planning, and they were exposed before they could even start. Sneaking was pointless!
"Robbery! Everyone get down!" Zack shouted, firing a few shots into the air with his gun.
The next second, people on the street screamed, but under Zack's gunfire, they quickly shut up.
A group of people immediately trembled, putting their hands on their heads and falling to the ground.
However, some people further away, terrified, turned to run. At the same time, a shrill alarm sounded in their ears, and the once peaceful street immediately turned into a dangerous crime scene.
"Don't move, any of you. Don't think about being a hero. Anyone who dares to move now, I'll make sure they can never move again!"
Seeing two restless hostages, Zack fired a burst at the floor nearby, reciting criminal lines with great immersion. Seeing the hostages obediently cowering like startled quails, Zack, satisfied, walked towards the convenience store behind him.
"Go squat in the corner. Heads in hands, don't move! Haven't you ever seen a robbery?" Looking at the cashier with a terrified expression, Zack pointed to the corner of the convenience store, then roughly smashed open the cash register with his gun, pulling out colorful bills and coins and stuffing them into his backpack.
(End of Chapter)