Shi Gen's death, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, stirred up small ripples among the slaves and some officials at the bottom of the royal court, but the surface quickly returned to calm. However, Su Nian knew that beneath this calm, the undercurrents would only be more turbulent.

She brought the domino with the strange symbols back to the stone hall and studied it repeatedly. 088 accessed the database for comparison and analysis, confirming that the symbols were similar to the patterns on some ancient sacrificial artifacts of the Baishan tribe, but not exactly the same. They seemed more like a simplified and modified ciphertext used for rapid information transmission.

"Host, this ciphertext is too crude, lacking system and regularity; it's like a hastily agreed-upon code," 088 analyzed. "We can only roughly deduce that it might represent some kind of instruction, identity, or location, but its specific meaning... without the key, it's very difficult to decipher."

Su Nian placed the dominoes on the table, the candlelight illuminating their twisted lines, as if Mo Duo's treacherous eyes were watching from the shadows. Shi Gen's exposure was too quick, his death too easy—this in itself was suspicious. He seemed like a pawn deliberately pushed out to attract attention. So, where was the real killing move, or rather, the more important pawn, hidden?

She recalled the warning in Helian Jue's secret letter—"Have you exposed the scoundrels in the royal court?" He was clearly aware of the seriousness of the internal threats.

They couldn't wait passively any longer. Su Nian decided to take the initiative.

Under the pretext of checking the implementation of the slave redemption policy, she expanded the scope of her investigation, not only targeting applicants but also low-ranking officials and stewards involved in slave management and resource allocation. She believed that Mordo could not possibly operate his conspiracy with just a few low-level slaves; he must have informants or collaborators within the upper echelons.

At the same time, she strengthened her security precautions once again. The three hundred guards left to her by Helian Jue were reorganized, with both overt and covert sentries, making her stone palace and daily activity area as impregnable as an iron fortress. Having experienced a whisper in her ear and an attack on her guards, she dared not be careless in the slightest again.

A few days later, the official battle report finally came from the front.

Helian Jue led the main force of the royal court in its first direct confrontation with the Fengxiao tribe's army on the edge of the desert. The royal army, with its superior equipment and discipline, emerged victorious, beheading hundreds and forcing the Fengxiao tribe to retreat dozens of miles. However, the battle report also mentioned that the Fengxiao tribe, utilizing the terrain, continued to harass and launch surprise attacks, and the battle showed signs of reaching a stalemate.

Meanwhile, the elite squad dispatched by Helian Jue also sent back news. They had successfully infiltrated the Fengxiao tribe and spread the message that "only the ringleaders will be punished, and those who are coerced will be spared," which did indeed cause some lower-level herders and warriors to waver. However, Arsleng reacted strongly, executing several suspected disloyal leaders with swift and decisive action, temporarily suppressing the internal turmoil.

More importantly, the squad confirmed that Modo was indeed in the Wind Owl tribe and enjoyed Arslan's deep trust, being regarded as a "wise man" against the royal court. There were indications that Modo was actively contacting several other wavering tribes in the northwest, attempting to form an alliance against the royal court.

When the news reached back, the officials remaining in the royal council hall wore grave expressions. The Wind Owl tribe's tenacity had exceeded expectations, and Modo's activities were even more worrying. Once the Northwest Alliance was formed, it would pose a significant threat to the royal court.

"We must break the deadlock as soon as possible!" a general said urgently. "Although Your Majesty's forces are strong, they are on a long expedition with a long supply line. If they are bogged down in the Northwest, something may happen."

"Yes, and that old scoundrel Modo is cunning; he must have other plans within the royal court..."

The crowd's gazes drifted subtly towards Su Nian. With Helian Jue absent, her role as "Advisor" had unwittingly placed even more pressure on her in making decisions.

Su Nian remained silent, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. Helian Jue was holding back Feng Xiao's main force on the front lines, Mo Duo was stirring up trouble in the rear, and within the royal court... they had to find that thorn in their side as soon as possible.

She thought of the domino. Shi Gen was discovered while trying to leave the royal court. Where was he going? Who was he going to see? Was that domino his pass or token?

A bold plan gradually took shape in her mind.

Su Nian ordered a suspension of the final approval of all slave redemption applications, citing the need for "further verification of merits and backgrounds to prevent meritorious individuals from being overlooked and to prevent unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of the situation." This move caused some unease and discussion among the slaves waiting for redemption, but it was understandable.

At the same time, she secretly dispatched her absolutely loyal guards, disguised as merchants or wanderers from different tribes, to operate in several slave gathering areas and near the black market on the outskirts of the royal court. Their main task was to gather information about the special dominoes and whether any unidentified people were secretly contacting slaves, especially those slaves who had distinguished themselves in battle and had hope of being redeemed.

She's fishing. Using the anxiety and uncertainty caused by the suspension of her bailout as bait, she's fishing for the "big fish" that might be hiding deeper in the water.

The wait was agonizing. Battle reports from the front continued to arrive, but the stalemate persisted. Helian Jue's secret letters became shorter, revealing impatience and growing violence between the lines. Su Nian could imagine how anxious he must have been, being dragged into the northwestern desert, watching Modo run rampant.

A few days later, one evening, the fish finally seemed to be taking the bait.

A guard disguised as a fur trader sent back a secret report: in an inconspicuous corner of the black market, someone seemed to be secretly inquiring about the reason for the sudden tightening of the royal court's policy on the redemption of slaves, and vaguely mentioned the name "Shigen," showing considerable interest in the "lost domino."

"The other party was very cautious and did not reveal their identity, only trying to get information indirectly. Our men dared not follow too closely, for fear of alerting them. We only vaguely saw that after they left, they went... towards the craftsmen's workshop," the guard reported in a low voice.

Craftsmen's workshop?

Su Nian's heart skipped a beat. The artisan workshops were a diverse place, containing artisans who had been enslaved for generations, foremen with some freedom, and low-ranking officials in charge of management. Here, one could access core information about the royal court's weapon manufacturing and tool improvements, yet it wasn't as conspicuous as the military or high-ranking officials—truly an excellent location to hide an inside agent!

She immediately ordered increased surveillance of the artisan workshop area, with a focus on investigating personnel involved in slave management and material procurement.

However, just when she thought she had found a breakthrough, an unexpected accident disrupted all her plans.

In the dead of night, a fire suddenly broke out in the granary in the northwest corner of the royal court! Fueled by the wind, the fire spread extremely quickly, instantly turning half the sky red!

"Fire! The granary is flooded!"

Screams, running sounds, and shouts for firefighting erupted into chaos. The entire royal court was alarmed, and a large number of manpower and troops were mobilized to fight the fire at the granary.

Su Nian was also awakened. She rushed out of the stone hall and looked at the towering flames in the distance. The ominous premonition in her heart reached its peak.

The granary! That's the royal court's strategic reserve, crucial for supplying the frontline army and maintaining the stability of the entire royal court!

Was it an accident? Or... a diversionary tactic? Or perhaps, this was the moment Mordo's inside man had been waiting for?

[Host! Something's wrong! This fire started way too suddenly!] 088 shouted anxiously, [According to weather records, the wind tonight wasn't strong enough for the fire to spread so quickly! It looks like someone used an accelerant!]

Su Nian's eyes narrowed, and she immediately ordered the captain of the guards standing beside her: "Send a team of men to come with me to the artisan workshop! The rest of you, guard all the key points. Without my order, no one is allowed to enter or leave the royal court!"

She had a strong intuition that the grain warehouse fire was just a smokescreen, and the real target might be elsewhere!

Su Nian led a team of elite guards, braving the scorching heat and chaotic noise coming from the direction of the distant granary, and headed straight for the craftsmen's workshop.

At this time, most of the artisans in the workshop had been conscripted to fight the fire, making it much emptier and quieter than usual, with only a few guards and a small number of elderly and weak artisans remaining.

However, near the stone house where the craftsman Luger worked and stored important blueprints, Su Nian heard the sound of weapons clashing!

"Quick!" she exclaimed in alarm, and immediately led her men to rush over.

Outside the stone house, two guards who had stayed behind lay dead in pools of blood, their fates unknown. Several other men dressed in royal guard uniforms were attacking a dark figure! The figure was agile and ruthless; it was none other than the deputy general whom Helian Jue had left behind at the royal court to assist Su Nian in investigating the mole!

The door to the stone house had been pried open!

"Take him down!" Su Nian shouted sternly.

Her guards immediately joined the fray. Seeing that their plan had been exposed, the "royal guards" became even more ruthless, attempting to break through the encirclement.

In the chaos, the deputy general spotted Su Nian and hurriedly shouted, "Counselor Su! Be careful! They're after your improved siege crossbow blueprints!"

Siege crossbow! Su Nian was shocked. It was a blueprint she had just completed, drawn from her memory and considering the technological level of this era, intended to counter the Wind Owl tribe's defensive posture! There was only one copy, stored in Luger's stone house!

Modo's goal was actually this! He not only wanted to hold off Helian Jue on the front lines, but also wanted to steal the royal court's latest weapons technology!

Just then, one of the "guards," despite his hand injury, smashed open the door of the stone house and rushed inside. The lieutenant tried to stop him, but was held back by the other two.

Without thinking twice, Su Nian drew the dagger given to her by Helian Jue and was about to rush in herself.

However, a faster black shadow, like a ghost, darted out from the shadows beside her and rushed into the stone house before she could!

A short scream came from inside the house, followed by the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

When Su Nian led her guards into the stone house, they saw the "guard" who had rushed in already lying in a pool of blood with his throat cut. A slender figure dressed in night clothes stood before the wooden shelf where the blueprints were stored, holding in his hand the blueprints for the siege crossbow!

Hearing footsteps, the person slowly turned around.

In the interplay of firelight and moonlight, Su Nian could see the person's face clearly, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

It was him?!

(End of Chapter 121)