Chapter 340
Wensha, immersed in her surroundings, was completely oblivious to the muffled sounds outside. It wasn't until a maid opened the door that she was still in the process of shedding her clothes, crawling onto the bed.
"Your Highness, do you have any orders?"
The maid approached Xia'er, bowing respectfully.
"What Wensha? Silly child."
Xia'er cupped the maid's face, compelling her to meet her gaze. "You are Wensha."
"I..."
The maid's brown eyes were gradually overtaken by a hint of pink as she followed Xia'er's pointed finger.
"Look, isn't that your beloved Xia'er?"
Xia'er leaned closer, whispering in her ear, "Now you can finally kill her."
After giving the maid a reassuring pat on the shoulder, Xia'er straightened her clothes and walked out of the glass birdcage. With a sharp click, the door closed behind her, sealing off the sounds within.
Snap—
Xia'er snapped her fingers, and reality began to merge with the dream. Her appearance and attire transformed into that of the maid she had just left behind.
This was an illusion that could deceive anyone who had seen the maid.
As Xia'er entered the palace, she could see the heavily guarded outside world through the grand doors, even spotting members of the Queen's Sword patrolling.
Yet, in plain sight of everyone, Xia'er walked straight toward the exit. Any ordinary guard who focused on her would find their gaze inexplicably drawn away, while the patrolling members of the Queen's Sword paid no mind to a mere maid's presence.
She boldly stepped out of the princess's residence.
"System."
Xia'er silently invoked the system, and a countdown appeared before her.
Twenty-three hours left...
Xia'er decided to first find Lucy at her residence, to inquire about the changes in Ansu City during her absence and the obstacles she faced while attempting to rescue her, while also gathering information about Tara.
In the simulation, Xia'er had no idea where Tara was at that moment.
Though she wasn't familiar with the roads of Ansu City, she remembered the address on Lucy's business card—she never overlooked written information.
She took a carriage to Lucy's luxurious residence.
A servant approached her without a word, simply opening the door.
Subconsciously, he regarded Xia'er as a distinguished guest who didn't require an announcement. The "Subverter" could influence ordinary people without uttering a word; such a trick was child's play for Xia'er.
After asking the maid for Lucy's whereabouts, Xia'er arrived at the main bedroom on the third floor, reached out, and opened the door.
As soon as the door swung open, a pungent mix of smoke and alcohol hit her senses. Expensive bottles lay scattered across the floor, and in the center stood a tall woman with short hair, clad in a golden nightgown, pouring liquor down her throat.
The woman was Lucy, swaying unsteadily, clearly unaware of how much she had consumed or how many days had passed in this state.
"Lucy."
Xia'er spoke calmly, observing Lucy.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Lucy turned toward the door in a daze. When she finally recognized her visitor, she raised the bottle and hurled it against the wall, shouting in frustration, "I've never lost a bet! Never!"
Gasping for breath, she glared at Xia'er, gritting her teeth. "You better have come to make me rich, my friend."
**Chapter 189: The Death and Reunion of Wensha.**
Though Lucy reeked of alcohol and could barely walk, her logical thinking seemed largely unaffected by her inebriation.
She staggered around Xia'er, closed the door, and turned to face her, asking, "How many servants have seen you?"
Lucy spoke in a calm tone, as if she would "handle" anyone Xia'er described.
But Lucy didn't realize that the person standing before her was no longer the "Judge" Xia'er.
"Don't worry, no one can see me."
Xia'er shook her head and inquired, "What has happened outside while I was inside?"
What Xia'er needed to understand most was what had transpired in the nearly month-long period since her arrest by the Royal Symphony on September 27, until now.
In the simulation on October 2, she had just received her "Spiritual Notebook." By the time she arrived on October 25, the information she could gather had mostly come from Wensha, and even reading newspapers had been forbidden.
Wensha had a pathological need for control over Xia'er, dictating what she could and couldn't see... Xia'er couldn't fathom how her simulated self had endured.
Hearing Xia'er's question, Lucy let out a slow sigh.
This period had been the darkest time of her life.
During Xia'er's absence, her closest ally, Aivina, had chosen to return to her family for negotiations in pursuit of revenge and to rescue Xia'er, effectively seeking refuge with the Russell family.
All the pressure had fallen on Lucy, who had welcomed Xia'er and her entourage to Ansu, forcing her to seek external cooperation.
To prevent the Redemption Society from discovering Xia'er’s sister's whereabouts, she secretly contacted high-ranking members of the society, conveying that she still had samples in her possession.
At that moment, the Redemption Society was pent up with frustration, their subordinates in the Ansu Medical Association being the largest medical consortium in all of Ansu.
Upon learning about the samples, they sealed off all information regarding Xia'er’s sister and continuously sent people to contact Lucy, hoping to obtain the samples.
How could it be that such a large family as the Russells had investigated a nationwide shocking explosion for so long without any information leaking out, only to finally announce that the perpetrator was merely a gang from the Holy Church district?
Could anyone believe that?
The public might accept this explanation, but the Redemption Society, aware of the involvement of extraordinary powers, would never buy it.
The Redemption Society also sensed something was amiss, no longer trusting any information provided by organizations linked to the Russell family, and began their own investigation.
However, they lacked the mindset of Xia'er and were too afraid to confront a high-ranking bishop of the Order of the Divine, resulting in little progress in their investigation, and they didn't even suspect the Order itself.
Lucy believed the time was ripe and revealed that Xia'er, the informant, was imprisoned by the royal family. If they could find Xia'er, they could unravel the mystery behind it all.
But the Redemption Society, upon realizing the connection to the royal family and the Order of the Divine, fell silent, abandoning their pursuit. They assured Lucy that they would not disclose any information and promised to protect those they needed to protect.
After all, the Redemption Society's original intention was to heal and save lives. Continuing the investigation could spark a larger war, something they wished to avoid.
Lucy was taken aback by the Redemption Society's sudden cessation. She knew she might be sold out, and she couldn't even contact Aivina, forcing her to divert attention elsewhere.
Just after she had relayed covert messages to Xia'er’s maid, that very night, she was investigated by the Dutton Inspection Department.
There was a mole within the Oracles or among her own subordinates.
Fortunately, within the Dutton Group, holding a director's position was akin to a get-out-of-jail-free card. Although Lucy was suspended and questioned daily, the Dutton Group did not subject her to any violence. She managed to feign madness and ignorance to get through the daily inspections.
It wasn't entirely an act; being dismissed was a massive blow to Lucy, as if all her previous efforts had been in vain. She had barely held the director position for two months...
But if this continued, if the royal family learned of the situation and increased pressure on the Dutton Group, the next visit might not be from the Inspection Department...
Sometimes, Lucy hesitated, wondering if she should just give in. Although it would mean selling out Xia'er, she could return to her director's seat and avoid the looming threat of death.
Most importantly, it had been nearly a month since she had received any news from Xia'er’s organization. She didn't even know if Xia'er was still alive.
Now, Lucy was living day by day, relying on tossing "luck coins." She thought that when she rolled two tails, she would decisively go to the Inspection Department and reveal everything.
—Because she didn't believe she could withstand the misfortune of two tails in such a dire situation.
So many lives lost, Professor Ashford injured, and the Redemption Society just swallowed it all?
Xia'er listened to Lucy's account, her brow slightly furrowed.
If that was the case, the Redemption Society was no longer a viable option for cooperation... While they might agree to continue protecting Lichi, the society's principles prevented them from wanting to escalate the situation further.
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