“Mm…”
After closing the door and drinking the milk, the “Xiliya” didn’t make it two steps before she suddenly felt dizzy. Her feet gave way, and she collapsed to the floor.
Fortunately, a pair of hands reached out from the shadows to catch her—Xiliya’s hands, or rather, the real Xiliya’s.
Once Xiliya had helped her onto the bed, the disguised Ximo couldn’t help but let out a deep yawn.
“Masha’s drug packs quite a punch. It kicked in so fast?”
“Relax, it’s just normal sleeping pills. Dizziness is to be expected.”
Xiliya had confidently let Ximo drink the milk in her place because in her previous life, Masha had done the exact same thing. Looking back now, all the food and drinks Masha had sent her under the guise of concern were probably tainted.
A system prompt chimed in Ximo’s mind. Masha’s actions had conveniently helped her complete this daily task.
“Just sleep it off, and you’ll be fine.”
Xiliya watched as Ximo gradually drifted off on the bed, then tucked her in.
After finishing all this, Xiliya didn’t rush into action. Instead, she cast Disguise Magic and continued hiding in the shadows, waiting patiently.
About half an hour later, as night deepened and all the mansion’s servants had retired, the door to Xiliya’s room creaked open again. Masha slipped in quietly. After confirming that the “Xiliya” on the bed was fast asleep, she withdrew from the room.
Xiliya, concealed in the shadows, witnessed it all. She knew it was time to move.
—
In the study on the top floor of the mansion, Masha gently closed the door and placed a small hourglass on the desk. A tall figure in the shadows watched her silently.
Scattered pattering sounds came from outside the window—it had started to rain.
“No issues with this shipment either, Masha. Your payment and the list of goods needed next time will be delivered the usual way.”
“Got it. Same here—the time and place for the next deal, the usual way, Samuer.”
Masha sank into the wide chair with a sigh, looking somewhat troubled. The towering Beastman named Samuer emerged from the shadows. At over three meters tall, he nearly brushed the ceiling and had to hunch down to speak with her.
“Let me guess what’s bothering you. It’s your young lady, right?”
Masha said nothing, which was as good as agreement.
“I’ve got something to discuss with you too. Last time we met, the Beastmen covering for us all got caught. You know about that.”
“That’s on your people for screwing up,” Masha waved irritably. “I can’t openly let them go.”
“No, those ones don’t matter—they were just hired drifters anyway. That’s not what concerns me.”
“The priest I planted in the group told me the whole story. Things were going smoothly until a mysterious figure in a black robe showed up, knocked out every Beastman on site, and left.”
“The City Guard couldn’t make heads or tails of it,” Masha said after a pause. “Some think it’s some vigilante.”
“What if I told you that vigilante might be your young lady?”
Masha looked shocked. “Impossible. Xiliya’s never passed any mage certification exam.”
“My priest clashed with Xiliya while escaping—just one exchange—but he said her magical aura felt a lot like the vigilante’s.”
Under normal circumstances, few could identify someone by magical aura alone, but the Beastmen Clan’s priests had innate spiritual senses that made them better at it.
“We need to get rid of her.” Samuer stated calmly.
The rain outside grew heavier, and a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. The hourglass on the desk reflected an eerie gleam.
Xiliya, listening just beyond the wall, clicked her tongue softly and pocketed her recording device.
As expected, Masha was prepared—no chance of anyone secretly recording their conversation.
She’d specially evaded surveillance a few days ago and asked Luo Keke to buy the device in the neighboring city while making a delivery.
Powered by a magistone, it was a common household magitool. The downside: it failed if any anti-magistone device was nearby.
No matter. Even without a recording for evidence, she’d gleaned plenty of useful info from their talk.
Xiliya wasn’t surprised that Samuer and Masha wanted her gone. She’d been taking a hardline stance lately.
What did surprise her was Samuer himself—the name wasn’t unfamiliar.
In her previous life, when the Empire clashed with the Northern Border Beastmen, Samuer’s tribe had been the first to strike the border. He’d somehow built a well-equipped army that inflicted serious losses early in the war.
Xiliya had figured Masha was at most dealing with some Beastman merchants up north. She hadn’t expected a direct line to a tribal leader—which explained the harsh treason charge when Masha was exposed.
She wondered if Masha had always planned deep collusion with Samuer, or if she’d just boarded the pirate ship and couldn’t get off…
Xiliya held her patience and kept eavesdropping with her magic.
But suddenly, Samuer paused in the room. He glanced at the hourglass. “Masha, you sure the mansion is ‘safe’ tonight?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Instinct—mine’s always spot on.”
Xiliya held her breath in the corridor, tightening her eavesdropping spell.
“No worries. The servants won’t come up without my say-so, and Xiliya—I checked on her myself. She’s out cold.”
“Fine. Anyway, vigilante or not, your young lady’s City Guard has been a pain, blocking my ops two or three times.”
Xiliya knew it well. Relying on her memories, she’d had Sifuke lead intercepts on Beastmen raids several times.
“I won’t allow someone that troublesome to become City Lord. She has to go. You’ll help me when I make my move.”
“No,” Masha frowned in refusal. “I told you, if Xiliya turns up dead now, I’m suspect number one. We wait longer…”
“Masha, do you think you have the right to refuse?”
An invisible pressure emanated from Samuer, startling Masha. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I like working with you.” Samuer patted her shoulder—his three-meter frame nearly knocking her off balance. “But we’re too deep in this. You’ve boarded the pirate ship. No getting off.”
“I won’t let Xiliya become City Lord. The City Lord of a human border city has to stay under my control.”
