Petrus (3)

Mi returned to the inn and lit a lamp. The gray thread resembled her witch's body, yet she could clearly sense that it wasn't her witch's body. The other end of the gray thread was completely intertwined with the witch's body, indistinguishable from it. Mi loosened her grip, and the thread melted into the witch's body, never to be found again. A strange emotion welled up in Mi's heart, as if a voice kept asking, "Who are you? Where are you?"

From then on, Mi could no longer sleep peacefully. There was always a voice calling in her ear, and Mi, who had no peace at night, was eager to solve this problem.

On the third day of the New Year, Fried came to the inn to ask if Mickey wanted to come to his house and spend the New Year with his family. Mickey, seeing Fried's triumphant expression, was delighted to be invited. The residents of the West End rarely had such a long holiday; everyone prepared their specialties and gathered together to sing and dance. Family members with incomes could also invite friends home, and if they could invite their employers, they would receive special hospitality.

"Do you know how to get to the Adventurers' Guild?"

"The Adventurers' Guild is behind the Royal Palace," Fried scratched his head. "Do you want to go, sir? But the Adventurers' Guild won't be open for the next few days; the whole of Sun City is celebrating the New Year."

Mi hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you know anyone in the Adventurers' Guild?" Mi didn't have high hopes, but she had no better options at the moment: "I mean someone important, not an ordinary adventurer."

Fried thought for a while and said, "There is such a person. Some people say that the gossip boss is Qiluda, one of the twelve elders of the Adventurers' Guild, an old man who particularly likes gossip. They all say that the old man has a good reputation, will protect new adventurers, and is fair in his dealings."

Is the source of this information reliable?

“I overheard two adventurers talking about it while they were drinking,” Fried said, scratching his head. “Ordinary people don’t know about adventurers, and even nobles are afraid of them.”

Where can I find Qi Luda?

Fried took Mickey to Chiluda's house on Garden Street. Number 12 Garden Street was an unassuming little house, without even a doorbell. As Mickey pushed open the fence gate and entered the courtyard, a boy ran out, shouting, "Where are you from? Where are you from? What are you doing in someone else's house?" Fried pulled out a bag of candy for him, and the boy took it, opened the wrapper, ate two pieces, and said contentedly, "You wait here." A moment later, the boy waved to Mickey and Fried from the porch. Mickey went inside, while Fried and the boy ate and chatted under the porch door.

"Miss Mi, where are you from?" Qi Luda described her exactly as Thurfrid had described her: plump and kind-looking, with a snow-white beard that gave her a somewhat otherworldly air, except that she had an overly bulky figure and an overly ruddy face.

“Maicheng,” Mi said, referring to the information on his new pass. The new pass was processed by Di, and issued by Nora, the lord of Maicheng.

“Miss Mi knows that’s not what I’m asking about.” Qi Luda waved his hand. “Go ahead and ask.”

“Redstone Town,” Mi cautiously stated the information on the pass that Janda had given her. Mi’s first pass was issued by Redstone Town, with the Adventurers’ Guild base as the guarantor. The old man in front of her was said to be one of the twelve elders of the Adventurers’ Guild, but Mi wasn’t sure if there was any connection between the Adventurers’ Guild and the Adventurers’ Guild base.

“Miss Mi, please don’t say such things to me,” Qi Luda waved his hand. “Miss Mi can provide this kind of information, so I’m not afraid of being investigated. What I’m asking is, where did Miss Mi come from before arriving in Redstone Town?”

“The Misty Forest,” Mi thought for a moment and said, “I forgot everything after I came out of the Misty Forest. The people of Redstone Town told me all of this.”

"Forgot everything?"

“Yes,” Mi thought for a moment and said, “Back then I couldn’t even speak and didn’t know anyone. It was Janda from Redstone Town who took me in, and Annie the Redhead who taught me the language of the Flower Kingdom. It was also Annie who invited me to come and see the Sun City.”

Did they tell you what to look at or who you were looking for?

“No, they only gave me this,” Mi said, taking out a marigold coin and a letter with the Adventurers’ Guild insignia that Jane had given her. “She told me to take it out when I need it.”

"Do you think now is the time to need it?" Qi Luda took the marigold coin and examined it.

“I don’t know,” Mi put down the envelope. “I met two very strange people last night.”

Where are they?

"I've taken care of them."

Qi Luda paused for a moment before asking, "Why did you come here?"

"I want to know if the Adventurers' Guild is friend or foe?" Mi hadn't concealed his whereabouts along the way.

“Child, you know there’s nothing completely white or black in this world. Whether someone is an enemy or a friend depends on your choice.” Qi Luda didn’t answer Mi’s question but instead said, “Thank you so much for bringing me news of an old friend. Tell me how Red-haired Annie is doing these days?”

“Anne is fine,” Mi shook her head. “I don’t know what Anne was like before. I only know that Anne in Redstone Town is the Anne teacher whom all the children in town fear and love. She has a lot to do every day, and her life is simple but fulfilling. Redstone Town is very peaceful, and they welcome me back anytime.”

“Really! I didn’t expect her to be the same as before,” Ziluda said with a smile. “We’re all getting old, and Annie probably wouldn’t want to see us like this.” With that, Ziluda stood up. “Come on, I’ll take you to meet Annie’s old friends.”

* * *

In a dark basement of Derek Palace, two corpses lay on a stone bench. Severus, holding an oil lamp, examined the two faces before him. A plume of black smoke billowed from his nostrils, swirling around one of the heads. The smoke seeped into the sky, revealing a dark expanse. The dim eaves obscured half the blue moon, leaving only a sliver hanging in the sky. A flash of cold light, and then nothing remained in the smoke, only darkness.

“Useless trash, you saw nothing.” Severus put down the oil lamp, poured more oil into it, and the flame flickered upwards before settling back down. Severus leaned over the lamp, greedily inhaling the last bit of gray smoke from the flame. The lamp burned out again, and Severus let out a burp, saying regretfully, “Too bad you’re a fake; such good oil wasted on you.”

Severus poured the last of the oil lamp into the burner, then held it above the other man's head, and black smoke once again enveloped the entire secret room. A blurry figure moved through the alley, disappearing from sight one moment and reappearing in the next. Finally, a woman's face appeared in the smoke, and a cold voice rang out: "Who sent you?"

Severus's cackling laughter rang out: "Remember, it was King Derek who sent men to take your life." Severus blew out the oil lamp, left the basement, and quickly sketched a portrait. A thin, hunched-over man emerged from the shadows and took the portrait. Severus instructed him: "Find this woman as quickly as possible, and then kill her."

* * *

“Miss Betrius, Her Majesty the Queen heard that you are ill and sent me to visit you.” Wen, the first lady-in-waiting to Queen Angelis, entered the room numbered 17, and Lily quickly stood up to greet her.

"Alright, go and get us some tea and snacks," Wen instructed Lily, who was following closely behind Beatrice.

“Yes, sir.” Lily stood up and walked out of the room. She hesitated at the door, then beckoned a maid and gave her a few instructions. The maid immediately walked toward Derek's Corridor.

"How are you? The Queen is very concerned about you." Wen walked over and hugged Betty, whispering in her ear, "The Queen will make it up to you."

"Aunt, my mother?" Bai Cuisi couldn't help but ask. The honor of sitting in the first row at the New Year's celebration was usually given to the children of the city lord of Lincheng who had died for the country.

“Don’t ask, child, you know nothing.” Wen took a step back, took Bertram’s hand and said, “Come on, I’ll take you to see the Queen.”

Wen and Petrus encountered Lily in the corridor: "Her Majesty the Queen wishes to see Petrus, you don't need to come along." Lily, carrying a tray, watched Wen and Petrus disappear around the corner, a smug smile on her lips.

The Queen was not at Blue Moon Palace; she was waiting for Beatrice in the Queen's Reception Room upstairs at Nys Palace. As soon as Beatrice entered, the Queen embraced her, then took her hand and examined her face: "Oh, my poor Beatrice, why are your hands so cold? I heard you've fallen ill again?"

“Your Majesty, I am healed.” Beatrice knelt down in front of the Queen.

"That's good. I was just as worried about you as your mother was." The Queen released Beth, pulled her to sit down, and handed her a cup of tea. "Here, have some tea."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Beatrice held her teacup and took small sips.

“You’re always so cautious, Petrus. I’ve told you, this place is like your home.” The Queen stroked her head. “Has Lily been disobedient? Shall I get you a different maid?”

"Lily is fine, Your Majesty, please don't worry." Bertram thought of how the previous maids had been replaced so easily, but no one knew where they had gone. The maids that had been replaced were no different from the previous ones. The hostage from Lin City was no innocent little rabbit.

“Your mother and I are good friends, and you are just like my daughter.” The Queen looked at her affectionately. “I have already sent last year’s portrait to Lincheng. Your mother will be happy to see you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Beatrice stood up and bowed.

"You child, why are you always so cautious?" The Queen didn't know what to say to a ten-year-old. She didn't know how to tell her that Zara had passed away and that the city of Lin City 17 had a new lord. Zara had once been her most important ally. She could only say, "If you're not feeling well, go back and rest early. If you don't want to attend the ball, then don't. Beauties, be at ease. You can be at ease."

Petrus stood up and bowed again to bid farewell to the Queen. At the door of the Queen's reception room, she met King Derek, and Petrus stopped and bowed again.

"Oh, you are Petrus from Lincheng 17?" The king glanced at her, waiting for her answer.

"Yes, Your Majesty, may Your Majesty have a good day." Bertrand bowed again and turned to leave.

His Majesty the King opened the door and looked at the Queen, saying, "This Beatrice cannot be put back."

The Queen stood up and, peeking through the crack in the door at Betrice as she descended the stairs, said, "Colin has already delivered them. Lincheng 17 cannot keep two hostages."

“Right now, Lin City 17 is controlled by Zara’s two henchmen. Ang, you should know that this Bertram is more useful than Colin.” The king’s gloomy eyes fixed on the queen. “You can’t show favoritism just because they were once your friends. If you do, Delga will immediately expel you from the council.” The king patted the queen’s hand and looked at her quietly.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I know what to do." The Queen took a deep breath before smiling and speaking to the King.

“Angnis, I knew it. You’ve always been the smartest.”