Dear Miss Li Yue:
I bought some roses from a shop under the academy's jurisdiction. I've wrapped them in cloth, so watch out for the thorns—though with your constitution, you probably won't be scratched easily.
Things at the academy have been quite hectic these past few days, but I still have time to write. If anything happens, remember to write and let me know.
Your Clo.
Li Yue toyed with the roses in her hand. Their fragrance was incredibly rich. In her memory, most of the flowers she had seen or received were plastic; people who gave her real flowers were few and far between.
Well, this is the first time someone has sent me roses. But that idiot Clo probably doesn't know the language of flowers.
She put the letter and the roses away together. Looking out the carriage window, her gaze passed through the frolicking crowds and reached deep into the street to that magnificent courtyard. The last time she had seen a residence of such scale was at the banquet hosted by Marquis William.
She recalled her conversation with Roland last night. She had the feeling that the captain wanted to entrust her with something at that moment, but was afraid she would refuse.
She straightened her clothes. She had specifically chosen a few sets of casual wear that weren't too flashy—simple, but not mediocre.
The carriage slowly came to a halt. Caesar’s butler politely opened the door for her. She grabbed the doorframe and leaped down, showing no intention of needing a helping hand.
“I read Mr. Roland's letter. He mentioned to me that you would be coming,” Caesar said, greeting her with a smile. His concubines stood to the side, their faces obscured by folding fans, making their expressions unreadable. However, judging by their eyes alone, Li Yue sensed waves of unfriendly emotion.
She gave them a cold glance. Her blood-red eyes stunned them, and their whispering immediately ceased. The scene grew quiet, and the atmosphere gradually turned awkward.
Caesar looked at her with a smile that seemed to hide a joy Li Yue couldn't quite decipher.
“The matter discussed in the letter—what do you think?”
“I am naturally here to discuss the plan with you.” Caesar smiled and gestured for Li Yue to follow. As they walked toward the manor, he signaled the butler not to follow and told his concubines to wait for him in the courtyard.
Following behind him, Li Yue felt sharp gazes from all around directed squarely at her. At some point, her perception of malice had become exceptionally keen.
“Which family's young lady is this?” a woman dressed like a canary asked, frowning as she hid her face behind her fan.
“She’s certainly not from a noble family. We’ve never seen her at our tea parties!” a woman in a pink dress fanned herself, her eyes filled with contempt.
“Perhaps she's a relative of one of Lord Caesar’s friends. Many of his friends have red eyes.”
“No wonder they're all just as creepy,” the woman in the pink dress muttered, stamping her foot.
...
“In this half-day, what scheme have you come up with?” Li Yue looked around the quiet conference hall. Caesar pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit.
“I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you again this time.” Caesar smiled. “I plan to invite Marquis William on a short political trip over the next few days. We will tour around Parvati. I hope Mr. Roland will accompany us; that should dispel William's suspicions.”
“There are many other members in the Hunter's Association. Their abilities should be much better than mine,” Li Yue said, frowning slightly as she leaned back and looked up at Caesar.
“William has records on all of them.” Caesar shook his head. “During this trip, defense measures across the city will be increased. Almost everyone will be dispatched to the outskirts. The guards at William’s estate will likely be patrolling their respective districts as well.”
“At a time like this, only you are a loophole in his information network. You have been in a probationary period and haven't fully joined the ranks yet.” Caesar smiled, crossing his hands. “Or rather, he might know of you, but he has never cared about you.”
Li Yue blinked, not having realized she wasn't a full member yet. But on second thought, during this extraordinary period, there was likely no time to hold an induction ceremony. Even Mr. Roland had only just returned last night.
In truth, no one wanted Li Yue to stay in the Demon Hunter Team forever. They felt she should go to school, become stronger, see the wider world, and leave her story across the continent rather than being an ordinary demon hunter in a single city.
“What do you think?” Caesar interlaced his fingers, looking at Li Yue with a faint smile.
“I have to go back and discuss it with Mr. Roland...” Li Yue lowered her head. She actually wanted to agree immediately, but she felt Roland might take an opposing stance.
She hurriedly put on her hat and walked out of the manor with her head down. As she boarded the return carriage, Caesar stood where he was, slowly waving toward the distance before stretching and strolling back to the courtyard.
In the shadows, a black figure stood up. His face was pitch black and blurred. He slowly put on his smiling face mask and watched the direction of Li Yue's departure, letting out a muffled, surprised cry.
Li Yue bit her thumb nail, only then realizing how long her nails had grown without her noticing.
She didn't know how she ended up in front of Roland again, like a sister who had done something wrong going sadly to find her brother.
“I don't want to agree...” Roland looked out the window and spoke slowly. To him, as a demon hunter, dying in the line of duty was a form of redemption, but he didn't want to see those around him leave before he did.
He had reviewed Li Yue’s record. Her experience far exceeded that of any colleague with the same tenure, and even surpassed what he had been capable of at the same stage.
“Do you want to go?” Roland sighed, once again feeling helpless. If he could promote to Great Mage, this city could enjoy at least several hundred years of peace.
“It doesn't matter. I'm very good at running away. My vitality is strong; his guards can't kill me,” Li Yue said calmly. In her blurred memories, she remembered her body being pierced and her blood crystal being ripped out, yet she was still standing here perfectly fine.
“Take this.” Roland handed Li Yue a small clip that made a faint sound when squeezed.
“Crush it if you're about to die, and I'll get to you as fast as I can,” Roland said seriously. “I'll be as fast as sound itself.”
“I understand.” Li Yue solemnly accepted the sound clip. She wasn't sure if she would gamble on her own vitality or let this precarious situation collapse entirely.
She casually drafted a letter to Caesar, with only a few elegant words written on it: The plan begins.
“Mr. K, what stage are we at?” The man in the smiling face mask stepped out from the shadows. In the dim parlor, Caesar calmly drank a cup of black tea, seemingly enjoying this leisurely time.
“The prelude to the final chapter.” Caesar took a sip of tea, feeling the warmth travel from his mouth to his stomach. “Regardless of the process, this is the inevitable conclusion. There is no need for excessive worry.”
“Is this the secret you've been protecting? Afraid you aren't the one to bear destiny?” The man in the smiling face mask stood to the side. Through the holes in his mask, his gaze seemed to fix on the spot where Li Yue had just been sitting.
“Play your own role and stay out of other business,” Caesar said flatly. The man in the smiling face mask bowed slightly and retreated into the shadows as if he had never appeared.
The next day, Caesar sent an invitation to William, inviting him to inspect the current state of Parvati’s surroundings together to prepare for future management. Everyone seemed to realize at this moment that a storm was coming.
In the afternoon, Roland was summoned to lead the security for the inspection. After a few days of leisure, the Demon Hunter Team began their busy routine once again.
Li Yue sat in her room, a small stack of picture books at her feet. She read softly, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at the innocent girl before her.
She wrote a letter telling the girl that if she didn't return, she should eat the bread on the table when she got hungry, and when the brown-haired big sister returned, she should give the letter to her.
The letter didn't have many words, just a brief note saying that the girl was being left in her care for a few days and that she would return after the turmoil.
On the evening of the third day, the grand procession began. The streets on the route had been secured long ago, and shops were temporarily closed. Everyone seemed to believe a new era was coming.
At night, beneath the prosperous buildings, Li Yue stood on the outermost perimeter dressed in black. In her hand, she held the magic scroll Roland had lent her, which contained several of the spells Roland was most proud of.
The side effect of this magic tool was that Roland would temporarily lose the spells recorded upon it.
A new era was indeed coming, following close behind this best of times, this worst of times.
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