Chapter 68 Shadow Veil, Let's disappear into the shadows, everyone.
Ancia acted decisively, slamming the Shadow Embrace heavily onto the wooden table, the loud, crisp sound drawing everyone's attention.
"You Berserker, you want to protect the Dark Night Guild until Mortley returns? Now is your time to step up and stop them! Franka, activate Project Shadow Veil and immediately evacuate everyone through the secret passage! Prioritize escorting non-combatants. Move out now! This is the Guild Master's order!"
Upon receiving the clear command, the warrior Tucker was taken aback for a moment, but immediately reacted, grabbing his battle axe and rushing towards the door.
The captain of the guard immediately stepped in front of Verion, looking at him and waiting for him to give the order to attack.
Two seconds later, Verion spoke, "Take them down, control both exits, and prevent anyone else from escaping."
The captain of the guard immediately engaged Tucker in battle. The valiant berserker, wielding a battle axe, was like a god of war in the cramped tavern. The captain of the guard, clad in armor, barely managed to parry his attacks.
Vilian stepped back a few paces, surrounded by guards, seemingly observing the fight between the royal guards and the berserker, but actually keeping an eye on what was behind the counter out of the corner of his eye.
Before leaving, Franka gave Ancia one last look, a resolute glint in her eyes. Trusting the people Murtrie had chosen, she carried out the order without hesitation, “Yes, sir! Everyone follow me!” She led her team into the wine cellar, where the bartender quickly activated a mechanism to open the entrance to the secret passage.
The guild members quickly entered the secret passage, and Franka urged, "Hurry! The support staff should evacuate first."
The stone door scraped against the ground, making a moderate noise. The captain of the guard, with his keen hearing, immediately pointed in that direction. "Your Highness, there seems to be a secret passage over there."
Vilian glanced at the curtain behind the counter, where members of the Dark Night Guild were evacuating in an orderly fashion. He looked away, seemingly drawn to the fight between the warriors. "Guards, suppress that warrior!"
Once Ancia had also entered behind the curtain, the warriors fought and retreated. Verion seemed to finally notice the existence of the secret passage and calmly ordered the captain of the guard, "Send a few men in to take a look."
Before the curtain fell, Ancia and Verion looked at each other across the tavern and the curtain. She was not sure if it was just her imagination, but she almost thought that the complex emotions in Verion's gray eyes were urging her to leave quickly.
The two exchanged only a glance before Ancia disappeared behind the curtain. Verion's brow relaxed almost imperceptibly for a moment, and after realizing his feelings, he turned around abruptly and said coldly, "Search this place thoroughly, and seal all items and documents."
Ancia and the warrior Tucker retreated into the secret passage, where the bartender waited at the entrance and turned a mechanism to close it.
The stone door slowly closed, and at the last moment before it shut, Ancia caught a glimpse of the guards' armor gleaming through the crack, and heard hurried footsteps coming from the entrance of the wine cellar.
Bartender: "The triple stone gates should at least hold them off for a while."
As the three walked down the long corridor, Ancia suggested, "Shall I treat your wounds?"
Tucker had sustained several injuries while stopping the guard captain, but now, clutching his wounds, he muttered, "I don't need your treatment."
Ansia nodded. "Oh."
A pure, warm golden light flashed, and the bleeding from Tucker's wounds stopped instantly. The burning pain disappeared, leaving only the tingling sensation of the wounds healing rapidly. He called out with slight annoyance, "You!"
Ancia smiled. "I'm not asking, I'm informing you."
Tucker's momentum inexplicably weakened. "Even so, I will not agree to you becoming the chairman!"
Ancia nodded again, her tone calm, "I understand."
She arrived at the guild's headquarters lobby. The magic crystal screen that had been used to display commissions in turn was now closed, and several members were destroying it with magic. Franka was frantically flipping through documents behind the front desk, putting the important ones into her spatial jewelry to take with her, and throwing the unimportant documents into the flames beside her.
Ancia recalled the intelligence monitoring devices in the underground level, "How was the underground intelligence network dealt with?"
Franka: "It's also physical damage, beyond repair. Guild Master, what's the next step in Shadow Veil's plan? I've never heard of this plan before. Was it something you and Lord Mortri devised?"
Anciya smiled slightly, "Of course you haven't heard of it, because I just came up with this idea."
Franka: "..."
Before they could question it, Ancia spoke again, "But this plan does exist. I've divided the guild's next steps into three phases." She held up a finger, "First, immediately abandon all current strongholds, regardless of which city they are in or whether they are known to outsiders. Abandon them all. Discontinue all existing contact methods and passwords. Avoid contact and activities unless absolutely necessary. If contact is absolutely necessary, use disposable contact items to prevent tracking."
Franka: "I know several absolutely safe locations that can be used as temporary contact and hiding places."
Ancia: "Second, suspend all proactive intelligence gathering and release false information to the royal family to mislead their investigation and protect the guild members in hiding."
Franka nodded. "The existing intelligence devices have been shut down. We can create false intelligence to make the guards think we're disguised as traveling merchants and are fleeing to Red Maple City. President, what is the third phase?"
Ancia smiled. "For the third phase, we'll discuss it together once I find Merri.
Tucker gazed intently at her, recalling their brief collaboration, and finally gave a heavy snort, turning his head away without further argument. But after only a few seconds, he turned back, unable to resist asking, "Is Lord Murtley really coming back?"
Ancia's eyes were firm. "Yes, he promised me he would only be away for a short while. If he can't return, no matter where he is, even if he's in the abyss, I will bring him back."
No one opposed Ancia anymore. After directing the evacuation and the Shadow Veil plan, all the key members placed their initial trust in her, tacitly agreeing to let her take over the guild.
The sound of light footsteps came from behind the door. The captain of the guard had already entered the passage. Before he could say anything more, Ancia looked around at the faces of the guild members and said softly, "We are bats in the shadows. Now, let's disappear into the shadows, everyone."
The captain of the guards led his men to the stronghold, only to find it deserted. He and his men searched all three floors before returning to the tavern to report to Verion, "Your Highness, all the intelligence data has been taken away."
Verion: "Hmm, where are the guild members?"
The guard captain said, "They've all disappeared too."
Vilian nodded, his face revealing neither joy nor anger. "Understood. I will report back to my grandfather."
At this moment, Ancia had already left the base through a hidden exit and returned to Gracia.
During the second week's in-depth magic theory class, Ancia did not speak to Verion until the end of class, when Ancia and Verion brushed past each other in the hallway.
People come and go in the classroom, but the sunlight seems to freeze the moment they brush past each other.
Verion's lips moved slightly, "Keep the guild in line."
Ancia smiled. "Yes, Your Highness, but the truth will not remain silent forever."
She didn't urge Verion to investigate the truth. Even if he did, what difference would it make? She had a vague feeling that all of this was related to the old king. Could Verion really punish his own grandfather? Others' promises were unreliable; only the information she gathered herself was true and effective.
The two passed each other, and instead of returning to the villa, Ancia went to the underground greenhouse that Aurora had prepared.
The underground greenhouse was secluded, located in the basement of a house near the Nightingale Salon. If anyone saw Ancia frequently going there, they would only assume she was going to the salon for relaxation and entertainment. The greenhouse was equipped with temperature-controlled and soundproofing magic arrays, and only a silent and reliable gardener worked inside. Aurora had given her enough money to keep her completely silent about everything related to the greenhouse.
A seemingly ordinary foliage plant is planted in a pot, with fine, hair-like silver veins on the back of its leaves that are barely visible to the naked eye.
Aurora looked at the plant curiously. "Is this a successfully cultivated variety? How can I tell how it's doing?"
Ancia explained, "Yes, I call it the Whispering Bonsai. As for its effects..."
The wood-based magic in her hand touched the bottom of the flowerpot, and a slightly distorted sound came out.
"Is this a successfully cultivated variety? How can we assess its effectiveness?"
"Yes, I call it the Whispering Bonsai. As for its effects..."
Aurora couldn't suppress her smile as she pulled Ancia out of the room before bursting into laughter, "Great! Cultivate a few more pots, and I'll set them up in the Nightingale Salon right away."
These first batch of Whispering Potted Plants were placed in the most private rooms of the Nightingale Salon, some on top of bookshelves and others in corners of windowsills, becoming part of the room's decor. The vibrant, fresh bouquets drew the attention of the guests, making the Whispering Potted Plants seem inconspicuous.
When the first Whispering Potted Plant took effect, Aurora and Ancia only overheard the noblewomen gossiping about their lovers' strengths, which was of no use as intelligence. However, as spice for afternoon tea, Aurora listened with great interest.
Until one late night, the word "Your Highness" appeared for the first time in the sound of the Whispering Bonsai replica.
Lady A: "Have you heard? His Highness the Crown Prince had a dispute with that person."
Lady B: "Your Highness dares to argue with that person? You really have courage."
Lady A: "Actually, it was His Highness's one-sided questioning. He seems to have found out something terrible. The palace doors were closed, but the maids guarding the door kept hearing heated words and the sound of things being smashed."
Lady B: "Ah, this..."
Lady A: "Not only that, His Highness the Crown Prince stormed out and sat alone in the garden for a long time."
Lady B: "I really don't understand. What are His Highness the Crown Prince arguing about? When that person wants to relinquish power, won't he still be the one to inherit the throne? In my opinion, it's enough to appease the elders and turn a blind eye to things."
...
Then they changed the subject and started talking about the popular clothing in the Eternal City.
Aurora covered her mouth, utterly shocked.
Ancia's suspicions were confirmed; the things in the secret room were indeed done with the old king's tacit approval.
The truth, of course, will not remain silent forever. Just like at this very moment, what happened in the palace has been recorded in the Nightingale Salon's intelligence network through the words of noblewomen.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
