As the enemies drew closer, Nelly tightly gripped her dagger, gathering strength and waiting for the target to approach.
Twenty steps, ten steps, five steps…
Just in time, three light sounds came from behind, and a cool breeze blew from behind. Nelly took a few steps back without thinking and entered the pitch-black cellar.
Who opened this door?
She was on guard, paying attention to the surroundings. A hand stretched out from the darkness, silently closing and locking the door. Nelly cautiously retreated, and waited until the masked person walked away before noticing: it was the eunuch sent by Pi Ping earlier!
He made a “follow me” gesture to Nelly, silently turning around.
Naily followed two steps behind, following the eunuch through the dim cellar, turning into a stone-lined secret passage that led upward. The map did not indicate the route, but she did not ask where they were going.
Silently traversing the underground maze of the Red Fortress for an unknown duration, the eunuch finally stopped and opened another small door, making a gesture of invitation. Naily walked past him, softly saying, “Thank you for saving me.”
The other party smiled gently: “What are you talking about. This is all on the orders of the Palace Minister.”
Naily said no more, passing through the low stone door first and ascending the stairs. She suddenly found herself in the light, blinking to adjust. The map showed this was the Palace Minister’s Tower, and she was in the center of a simple circular hall, surrounded by countless sheepskin scrolls and books. They were not dusty, obviously frequently read by the room’s owner.
Naily quickly located the other person in the room.
A slightly shorter middle-aged man wore an elegant blue-indigo long robe, with a small cap. His fingers were interlaced in front of his chest, his eyes as deep as his hair. Standing before a map of Verdea, he silently observed Naily for a moment, revealing a smooth yet weary smile: “We finally meet again.”
“Palace Minister,” Naily slightly bowed, instinctively using her black dagger to probe the surroundings – except for Pi Ping and herself, the tower was empty.
