"Lucille," Sudiya called softly as she walked slowly down the corridor. "Lucille, are you there?"
"What's wrong, Sudiya?" Lucille's voice came from around the corner. Moments later, he stepped into her view.
Sudiya glanced at his arm, still dripping with some kind of liquid, and tilted her head. "Where were you just now?"
"Well, I'll be blunt," Lucille said without hesitation. "A member of the Shadow Cult noticed something unusual and was about to report to their higher-ups, so I dealt with the threat." He made no effort to hide it, not even bothering to clean the bloodstains off himself.
Sudiya opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to ask, Was that really necessary? But the memory of the cult's attempt to assassinate her stopped her, and she silently accepted Lucille's actions.
"Thank you… Lucille, can you take me to see?" Her face paled slightly, as if it took immense resolve to say, "I can help deal with it too."
"No need," Lucille said, shaking his head. "I can handle it alone. You should rest. If you have time, practice the skills you've gained."
"Okay," Sudiya nodded obediently, turning to leave. Suddenly, her expression shifted. "Lucille, someone stepped on the ash at the entrance—someone's come in!"
Lucille frowned and hurried to the window, peering down. Sure enough, he spotted several shadowy figures sneaking through the gate, creeping toward them.
After observing for a moment, his expression relaxed. "Judging by their movements, they're just ordinary people. Probably the Shadow Cult's spies. We can't stay here. Let's go."
Sudiya nodded, following close behind Lucille. His calm, steady demeanor eased her nerves.
After a moment's thought, she pulled out a small handgun and poked Lucille's side with her finger. "Lucille, if you don't want to reveal your strength, use this. It's as powerful as a real gun but powered by mana."
Lucille glanced at the magical artifact and took it naturally. He was familiar with it—his favorite weapon in the game. He hadn't expected Sudiya to have one.
As expected of the Little Princess. How many treasures does she have in that spatial ring?
Lucille familiarized himself with the gun's weight. He might need it soon.
He led Sudiya through the mansion, weaving left and right until she was completely disoriented. Finally, he stopped and felt along the wall.
Moments later, he found the mechanism and pressed it lightly. A classic "ancestral secret room" was revealed—once a meeting place for the Shadow Cult, now conveniently theirs.
The magically enhanced room had unique properties: sounds from outside were crystal clear inside, but no noise from within could be heard outside. Lucille sat calmly in a chair, waiting for their uninvited guests.
His response to them would depend on who they were.
Soon, clear footsteps echoed from a distance. Normally, such sounds would be inaudible at this range, but with the room's magical amplification, Lucille could even hear their hushed conversation.
"Baudin, do we really have to keep searching for them?" a cold voice asked. "They promised you, but now they're denying it! It's just a Duty Crystal! They won't even give you that?"
"Quiet, Xiao Long," Baudin snapped. "Plenty of people would kill for a Duty Crystal. It's the only way for an ordinary person to become a Duty Wielder. Countless people would do anything for one."
"Even if it's just a guess, the person we ran into that day probably wasn't with the cult. I asked Lord Paul, and he said there's no such person in the Shadow Cult."
"But he knew about us and the cult," Xiao Long countered. "If he's not with them, then who is he? Are you saying he's with the city guard? That he knew about us but didn't arrest us and instead told us to report to the cult? That makes no sense!"
"Whether it makes sense or not, forget about the Duty Crystal for now," Baudin said grimly. "If we find a lead on the Little Princess, becoming a Duty Wielder will be within reach! Lord Paul said it in front of everyone: whoever finds her first gets a Duty Crystal on the spot!"
"Let's hurry," Danrisha interjected. "We're not the only ones looking. The whole capital's being turned upside down. Even the big shots' mansions have fearless idiots sneaking in. Honestly, our chances are slim."
"If that's the case, why bother?" Xiao Long sneered. "With so many people searching, what makes you think we'll find her? Might as well go home and sleep."
"No way," Baudin shot back. "You want to defy Lord Paul's orders? We don't leave until we've searched this place thoroughly—unless you want the cult to brand you a traitor."
"Remember, the moment we became their spies, there was no turning back."
"It's either become a Duty Wielder and rise to the top, or end up as fish on the chopping block. I don't know if I'll succeed, but I refuse to be the fish."
Lucille couldn't help but mentally applaud. Opening the secret room's door, he stepped out.
"Baudin, I didn't expect such ambition from you," Lucille said, his tone approving. "Too bad your intelligence is holding you back."
"Who's there?!"
"Show yourself!"
Xiao Long jumped, startled. He hadn't imagined anyone else would be here besides the three of them.
When Lucille emerged from the shadows, their faces paled in shock.
"It's you! The man from that day!"
"Who are you?! What's your goal?!"
"Don't come closer! Stay where you are!"
Seeing their agitation, Lucille chuckled. He hadn't even drawn the handgun yet. "Baudin, haven't you ever considered one thing?"
"How could ordinary people like you possibly survive against a Duty Wielder?"
"Paul assigned you search areas, but he's not counting on your reports. He just needs to know which areas people don't return from."
"That's enough for him to pinpoint where the problem lies."
"Baudin, you say you don't want to be the fish, but you've already been placed on the chopping block without realizing it."