Chapter 1
[Game preparation in progress...]
"Miss, Miss."
Disturbed in his sleep, Pei Jian unconsciously frowned and mumbled, "What's wrong?"
"Duke Pei De has returned."
Duke Peder, mentioned by the maid, is the original owner's father. The world the original owner lived in was a place of constant conflict, with humans on one side and dragons on the other.
Dragons are a much larger and stronger species than humans, and they possess characteristics that humans do not have, such as the ability to fly or breathe fire without external assistance.
On the mainland, dragons occupied more abundant resources and vast lands, while humans were forced to live in a region in the east surrounded by mountains on three sides. Through changes, humans established their own kingdoms.
The original owner's father was a duke who held a high position of power in the country.
So, what do I need to do?
System: [You need to obtain the scales of the target you're trying to woo.]
Scales?
My target is a dragon?
System: [Yes. You need to obtain the white crescent-shaped dragon scale from the dragon's body, located between its throat and heart. Forcible capture and theft will not work.]
Where is my target now?
System: [Right here, imprisoned at the bottom of the central tower.]
"Miss, Miss," the maid lifted the bed curtains and gently patted Pei Jian's shoulder, "You should get up."
The maid helped the dazed girl sit up from the bed. "The water for washing your face is ready. Would you like to wash now?"
Pei Jian nodded absentmindedly, got out of bed, and sat down in front of the dressing table.
The person in the mirror didn't look much different from her original appearance. If she had to point out any difference, she would probably be thinner and have a fairer face.
It's a sickly white, like someone who hasn't been out in the sun for a long time, like a white piece used in a game of chess.
The maid cautiously reminded her, "The Duke is in a bad mood."
Pei Jian tried to guess the reason, but she regretfully discovered that she knew nothing about it.
System: [The Dragon Clan, having learned of Alo's imprisonment by humans, has been attempting to make a deal with them to ransom him, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.]
【Alo?】
System: [Your target for romance.]
What are the conditions for human beings?
System: [We request that the Dragon Clan return all the lands they have previously seized and sign a treaty promising a century-long peace.]
Pei Jian's assessment of this was that it was a pipe dream.
According to the game's background information, the dragons initially had no intention of fighting against humans, nor did they intend to invade human territory. It was humans who, overestimating their own strength, repeatedly provoked the dragons.
The dragons were initially forced to defend themselves, but humans mistook their actions for a helpless resistance due to the overwhelming disparity in strength, and thus became increasingly audacious.
Until the dragons could no longer tolerate it and launched an attack on humans.
The result is obvious.
After the maid finished washing and applying makeup for Pei Jian, Pei Jian followed her downstairs.
The original owner's father sat in the magnificent hall, the spotless floor reflecting a cold and unfamiliar light.
“Here he is,” he said. He was rather short and had a shrewd look on his face.
"Please sit down."
Pei Jian remained silent and sat down opposite him as instructed.
"I may not be back for a while, but your nanny will take good care of you."
Pei Jian replied obediently and sensibly, "I understand."
The father didn't eat much before putting down his knife and fork, wiping his mouth with a napkin, and saying, "Take your time, I'm leaving."
His behavior perfectly embodies the modern expectation of a gentleman.
“By the way, Father,” Pei Jian called out to Duke Pei De, a curious look on his face, “I heard you captured a dragon. May I go and see it?”
Duke Peder stopped and gave her a cryptic look. "Why do you want to go see that dragon all of a sudden?"
Pei Jian clenched her fist on her knees, looked into Duke Pei De's eyes, and said innocently, "Because of curiosity."
"Curious? You can't just go because you're curious."
That means I disagree.
This was within Pei Jian's expectations.
Pei Jian ate some breakfast and then decided to go out for a stroll to see the surrounding terrain and environment.
Fortunately, it seems that the family is letting their daughter run wild, and no one is stopping her. Her journey home went smoothly.
Pei Jian had originally planned to just wander around aimlessly; it was her first day here, and she didn't want to get too caught up in the mission storyline. Perhaps preoccupied with something on her mind, she walked on and on—
Where is the Central Tower?
System: [West side.]
I thought we were in the city.
System: [The town is divided into an old town and a new town. The central tower was originally located in the town, but after the dragons occupied part of the land, its location gradually shifted away from the town center.]
Pei Jian followed the directions given by the system and arrived at a desolate and dilapidated place.
As its name suggests, the Central Tower is a tower.
It is only about three or four stories high, made of bricks, and looks like a building that was built a hundred years ago. It has been neglected for a long time.
Pei Jian carefully avoided the bricks and gravel under his feet and circled the tower once.
There was only an iron gate. Looking in from the outside, it was pitch black, and you could smell a very strong rusty and fishy odor.
"who?"
Pei Jian turned around in response, and two soldiers walked towards him. Judging from their tired appearance, they had probably been slacking off somewhere.
Hello.
"Why are you here?" The two soldiers didn't recognize Pei Jian, and their tone was aggressive, with a hint of guilt in it.
“I just wanted to wander around,” Pei Jian explained. “I got lost and ended up here by accident.”
Seeing that she was dressed in gold and silver, the soldier guessed she was probably the daughter of a duke. Observing her composed demeanor, he assumed she was right. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "In that case, I'll see you out."
Pei Jian turned her head and glanced at the desolate and lonely tower before leaving. She felt inexplicably lonely, like the only tree in the wasteland that had not yet completely withered.
Did you hear anything?
System: [What?]
[A sound similar to the tearing or biting of a wild animal.]
System: [No, it might be your imagination.]
【All right. 】
Pei Jian shook her head, and only after she had completely walked out did the voice in her head finally disappear.
On the way back, Pei Jian asked the system, "What should we do?"
The next instant, a diagram of the interior layout of the central tower appeared in Pei Jian's mind.
After returning to his room, Pei Jian studied it carefully.
The Central Tower, formerly a watchtower, was later used underground to imprison criminals. Its internal structure was also modified, and now the tower is more like a giant chimney, with access to the ground from the top.
A new problem arises: how do we get up there?
Pei Jian remembered seeing a claw tool before, where you would swing the side with the hook to the top and lock it in place, then you could climb up the line.
Are you familiar with this tool?
System: [I don't quite understand, but it seems feasible based on your description.]
Let's get right to it.
Pei Jian went out again before dinner, and the maid asked her what she was going out to do.
"Buy flowers."
I got out of the house without any problems.
After leaving the store, Pei Jian found a hardware store with a clear destination and bought the grappling hook gun she needed.
The grappling hook gun has a steel claw at one end and a gun-like gun at the other. When aimed at the target, the trigger is pressed to launch the grappling hook to the target and lock it in place.
“Not bad, not bad,” Pei Jian said with satisfaction, looking at the equipment in the bag. “This way, we can save even more effort.”
Pei Jian's residence is in a straight line with the market and the central tower. To avoid having to turn back to buy flowers after finishing her business, she bought them along the way, put them in her pocket, and took them with her to the central tower.
Having learned from her previous experience, she chose a path with her back to the guards.
But just like last time, the lazy guards at the gate had disappeared again.
Pei Jian breathed a sigh of relief, quickly pulled out his grappling hook gun from his pocket, aimed it at the top of the tower, and swiftly pulled the trigger.
'Thud.'
Pei Jian tugged hard on the rope and successfully got it in place.
The system flattered: 【Amazing!】
Pei Jian smirked smugly, wrapped the dangling hemp rope around his waist several times, tied it securely, glanced at the top of the tower, and estimated the distance.
I'm starting.
The central tower, which had been in disrepair for many years, had many small pits and grooves. Pei Jian took each step very steadily, carefully choosing his footing and climbing up without hesitation, without looking down.
I have a small question.
System: [What?]
If I were to have an accident, would I die?
System: [No.]
【That's good. 】
Pei Jian was small and tired halfway up the tower. He moved slowly like an ant, inching his way up. Fortunately, the tower wasn't very tall, and he could manage to climb it if he gritted his teeth.
When she went up, she found that the top layer was a very dense iron mesh that could not filter anything except air, sunlight, and water.
The original plan was difficult to execute.
Based on the principle of 'since we're already here,' Pei Jian stepped all over the wire mesh. When he found a loose spot, he squatted down and tried to pry it open, hoping to find a small gap to squeeze through.
Perhaps by divine intervention, she actually managed to find a small piece of the detached iron netting.
The iron mesh, exposed to wind, sun, and rain, had long since rotted away. Pei Jian held onto the outer wall of the tower top while stomping on it with his feet.
In just a few moments, the fragile mesh had already dented in. After jumping on it a few more times, a passage the size of a person could be created.
As the sun began to set, Pei Jian quickened his pace, turning the grappling hook gun around and carefully avoiding the sharp, hard steel bars and concrete protruding from it, slowly lowering the rope.
A moment later, his toes touched the ground.
arrive.
The interior of the central tower had been altered, and due to the dim lighting, Pei Jian could not see his surroundings clearly, but he could smell a putrid stench.
System: [Go to the left.]
Except for one side, which has an iron gate leading out, there is a staircase leading down to the east, west, south, and north.
Following the system's instructions, Pei Jian tried to land on her heels first and headed towards the stairs on the left.
Down the stairwell, there is a long corridor with a candle hanging every few meters along one side, the candle wax solidifying under the light.
It solidified and then burned again, burned and then solidified again.
And so it goes.
Pei Jian stared into the dimly lit passageway ahead, feeling as if he were walking through the throat of some large creature. The fine sand beneath his feet made a faint, yet somewhat eerie, scraping sound.
She swallowed hard. "It should be fine, right?"
The system replied vaguely: "Probably."
Pei Jian then leaned against the stone wall, looking at the stone wall which was not much taller than her, and slowly moved inside.
After walking about several dozen meters, the view suddenly opened up.
Suddenly, a slow and muffled echo could be heard.
Have we arrived?
Pei Jian strained to open his eyes, scanning the corner of the wall inch by inch.
System: [This should be the bottom. We need to find out exactly where Alo is being held.]
"Where else could it be?" Pei Jian pointed to the largest cell at the far end. "I bet it's there."
The room was pitch black, and the iron door reflected a cold light under the candlelight, like the teeth of a giant beast, threatening any intruder.
Pei Jian roused himself and, without hesitating for long, suddenly made up his mind and walked over without looking back.
but.
She discovered that the cell was tough on the outside but strong on the inside; no wonder it looked like an easy prison break from the outside, the most important security measures were actually inside.
Pei Jian couldn't even see A Luo's face; all he could see was a huge, dark shadow reflected on the wall, thicker than the night itself.
【what to do? 】
System: [Never mind.]
Pei Jian's purpose in coming here was simply to see if he could speed up the mission's progress, but it seems that that's probably not going to work.
But she was unwilling to leave just like that, wasting her time and energy on a futile effort.
So, before leaving, Pei Jian left a rose he had just bought from the flower shop as a gift, a silent gesture of goodwill.
Let's go, we'll have to wait for another chance.
In the darkness, a gaze was fixed on Pei Jian's departing figure.
The echoes, like ripples on water, gradually faded away, and Alo emerged from the darkness.
His blue eyes swept across the doorway, and he walked over and picked up the inexplicable rose.
Alo held the unusual flower to his nose and sniffed it.
Besides the floral scent, there was a hint of another fragrance lingering on it.
Like a cookie?
Or candy?
He couldn't find the exact same taste in his memory; it was somewhat peculiar.
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