Baudin felt a deep contradiction.
The man before him didn't seem powerful—a judgment born from years of scraping by in the underbelly of society. Yet, there was an undeniable sense of danger emanating from him, creating a jarring disconnect.
If this man were undeniably strong, Baudin would've knelt and begged for mercy without hesitation. But if he was truly powerful, why waste words trying to scare them off?
This contradiction made Baudin hesitate. After a long pause, he spoke cautiously, "Sir, since you know killing us is pointless, why not let us go? I swear we won't reveal your presence."
"I don't know your goal, sir, but it must involve the Little Princess. How about we both step back and avoid interfering with each other's plans?"
"Baudin's promises are worth less than air," Lucille said bluntly. "Let me be clear: the person you're looking for is with me. Now, make your choice—try to escape, or try to kill me."
"Baudin, decide."
Baudin's stomach clenched painfully.
He hadn't felt this nervous since he was ten.
But now, as Lucille's words sank in, his mind went blank. Only the searing pain in his gut dragged him back to reality.
Gulp. He swallowed hard, trying to ease his fear, and forced a smile uglier than a sob. "That's… not a funny joke, sir. We'll leave now and won't disturb you further."
Baudin backed away slowly, not daring to turn and expose his back to Lucille. The prickling sensation of being watched—like a fish on a chopping block, awaiting the cleaver—overwhelmed him.
Can I escape?
Will he let me go?
His instincts screamed no.
There was no way out.
A strange calm settled over him. He prepared to kneel, but a sudden burst of rapid footsteps interrupted him.
Xiao Long, unable to bear the fear any longer, bolted.
He moved with startling speed, reaching the stairwell's corner in a blink. Baudin hadn't known Xiao Long could move like that—it was as if a gust of wind swept past, his figure nearly vanishing.
Bang!
But just as Xiao Long reached the corner, a gunshot snapped everyone back to reality.
His body pitched forward, tumbling several times across the floor before stopping. A bullet hole marred his forehead, his terrified expression frozen in death.
Xiao Long was dead.
The gunshot shattered the illusions of the remaining two. Danrisha, who had started to flee alongside Xiao Long, didn't stop—instead, he ran faster. In that moment between life and death, even he hadn't realized he could move so quickly. Perhaps… just a fraction slower than Xiao Long.
But if Xiao Long couldn't outrun a bullet, what chance did the slower Danrisha have?
Bang!
The second shot, the second life taken.
Two bodies lay sprawled on the ground, leaving long trails of blood.
At this moment, Baudin grew eerily calm. He stopped retreating and raised his hands.
"Sir, let's talk."
Lucille raised an eyebrow. "Talk about what?"
"I'm willing to betray the cult and work for you," Baudin said, struggling to keep his voice steady despite the trembling. "As you predicted, if all three of us die here, the cult will notice and investigate. But if you spare me, I'll tell them there's no one here to find."
"Beyond that, I'll report every move the cult makes to you. I'll be your eyes within the cult, loyal only to you."
Lucille stood silent.
Baudin couldn't tell if he'd swayed him or if Lucille was unmoved. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out a vial of potion.
"Master, this is the Heartbind Potion. Whoever drinks it becomes bound to the owner of this mirror." Baudin produced a small mirror from his coat, downed the potion in one gulp, and respectfully offered the mirror to Lucille. "Please accept it, Master. Test its power. Anything I can do, I'll do with all my strength."
A flicker of regret passed through Baudin's heart. His life was now tethered to servitude, but surviving this moment might be his chance.
Serving a master wholeheartedly wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps his loyalty would earn him a Duty Crystal.
Baudin knew the cult's promises were hollow, but they were his only shot at transcendence. Now, another opportunity stood before him.
Death, or a chance to rise above?
He chose the latter.
"No interest. Die." Lucille fired the final shot.
The mana-powered bullet pierced Baudin's heart. He collapsed heavily, unable to comprehend, even in death, why his master rejected his loyalty.
Did Lucille not trust him? The potion was real, the mirror was real—on this, he hadn't lied.
But he no longer had the capacity to think. Until his consciousness faded, he never understood Lucille's reason: he simply wasn't worth keeping.
"Lucille…" Sudiya emerged from the secret room, looking hesitant.
Seeing her expression, Lucille assumed she had concerns and explained, "Baudin was ruthless, a notorious thug who killed without remorse. I don't take people like him as subordinates."
"Otherwise, I'd be betraying the souls of his victims."
Sudiya opened her mouth, but that wasn't what she'd meant. "No… I meant, why did you reveal my presence? What if they were Duty Wielders? That could've put you in danger."
"First, I was certain they were ordinary people. Even if they weren't, they're no match for me," Lucille said, pausing in his tracks. "Second, I don't like lying or hiding."
I don't like lying.
Sudiya recalled their first meeting, a bitter smile crossing her face.
But as the smile faded, she lowered her head, pursing her lips.
In the palace, everyone was full of flattery and deceit. Even those closest to her rarely spoke the truth. Sudiya had never met someone so straightforward, someone she thought existed only in fairy tales.
How nice, she thought.