Chapter 130: Work

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“Your Highness, how has your health been lately?” Ye Tian asked with a cheerful smile as he spoke to Dilufi, who was still sipping his tea. Ha! As expected of siblings, their gestures mirrored each other perfectly, and once again, Ye Tian found himself drenched in tea.

“I mean, is that really necessary?” Ye Tian sighed helplessly as he took out a handkerchief to dry off. Nearby, Reixina quickly turned her head away. “It’s you! No wonder my sister was so bold—did you encourage her?” Dilufi stepped forward and grabbed Ye Tian firmly.

“Don’t get worked up, don’t get worked up,” Ye Tian hurriedly said. “I was just sitting here quietly when the princess suddenly showed up—I’m the one who got the short end of the stick!” Dilufi snorted and, angry, released Ye Tian. “So you’re the one who spread the rumor about my sister feigning illness?”

“Yes,” Ye Tian answered bluntly. “Honestly, it’s partly your fault. You had the throne handed to your sister without a second thought, thinking it was all so casual. But do you think a little girl who knows nothing can survive against a pack of old foxes?” Ye Tian’s voice turned cold.

Dilufi fell silent immediately. She was fully aware of the political situation in the imperial capital but was bound by her oath and unable to intervene directly. This time, Ye Tian had given her a reason to act; otherwise, she would have been stuck helplessly on the sidelines.

“What do you intend to do?” Dilufi asked.

“Strip the military power away with a single toast—that is, to seize power,” Ye Tian said bluntly. “Since your sister is the queen, she must wield all the rights of a queen!”

“That won’t be easy,” Dilufi said solemnly as she glanced at Ye Tian.

“I know, which is why I need you here,” Ye Tian smiled.

“So what do you need me to do?” Dilufi asked.

“Do nothing at all. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself here for a while,” Ye Tian said with a mischievous grin. “Stay until your sister truly becomes queen.”

“Gell, my brother has arrived. What should we do next?” Reixina’s expression was weary. The recent training had been intense, and having just recovered from a serious illness, she was struggling to keep up.

“Don’t worry. Just focus on your own matters. What we need to do now is wait,” Ye Tian said cheerfully. “We’re not in a hurry, but someone else will be. When that time comes, we’ll know what to do next. By the way, take care of yourself; don’t overexert.”

“Are you worried about me?” Reixina tilted her head with a smile.

Ye Tian said nothing but gently stroked the girl’s head. “Here, take this.” He carefully withdrew a small porcelain bottle from his bosom and poured out a dull gray pill.

“What is this? It’s not something strange, is it?” Reixina eyed Ye Tian suspiciously.

“Cut the nonsense,” Ye Tian said, no longer bothering to explain. He shoved it into the girl’s throat, then gently pressed her throat to help it slide down.

“Ugh!” Reixina immediately felt a fiery sensation rising in her lower belly, a burning warmth spreading throughout her body but accompanied by an inexplicable comfort.

“How is it?” Ye Tian asked.

“My stomach feels like it has a ball of fire,” Reixina touched her belly. “Could it be...?”

“Hey, watch the effect,” Ye Tian glanced around to make sure Layla wasn’t nearby; otherwise, she’d be startled again.

“Hehe, just kidding. That’s no fun,” Reixina pouted.

“Alright, alright, you’re something else!” Ye Tian was speechless.

“No more jokes! I have work to do,” Reixina snorted, then called out, “Miss Layla?”

“Your Majesty,” Layla hurried over. Recently, Ye Tian had grown close to the queen, and Layla instinctively kept her distance from them.

“Miss Layla, let’s head to the training grounds.”

“Very well, Your Majesty.” Layla glanced at Ye Tian but said nothing, motioning for Reixina to follow her.

“What am I doing here?” Ye Tian looked outside. “Never mind, I’ll visit the old man. There are things I need to confirm.”

“Yo, Gray, you’re here?” Ralph smiled as he put down the potion in his hand.

“I was wondering why you didn’t answer the door,” Ye Tian said, looking out. Had he not pushed the door open himself, no one would have known anyone was inside.

“It’s fine. I’m not short of money,” Ralph seemed in good spirits. “I’ve got good news: since you left, the medicine’s effect is still active.”

“And the bad news?”

“Uh, I had diarrhea this morning.” Ralph’s face changed. “Do as you please—I’m out of here!” The old man then scampered away like a rabbit.

“Gurgle!” Even Ye Tian heard the sound. “Looks like the production failed again.”

“Dear Mr. Pulta, can we have a proper talk now?” The effect of the medicine had worn off, and Pulta was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Even the training he’d endured wasn’t this brutal.

“Give me the medicine! Please, give me the medicine first!” Pulta had no strength left. Though he still felt the gnawing sensation of countless insects biting him, he was too weak to resist. All he wanted now was the medicine that would let him drift away in bliss.

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“Introduce yourself first.” Ye Tian opened a small bottle and held it gently beneath Pulta’s nose. Inside was poppy ointment.

“Give it to me! Give it to me!” Pulta’s spirit flared, and he struggled fiercely.

“Don’t be so anxious!” Ye Tian waved the bottle under Pulta’s nose. “Introduce yourself first. If what you say satisfies me, I’ll let you go.”

“Give me the medicine!” Pulta roared.

“Forget it, looks like we won’t have a chance to talk.” Ye Tian took the bottle away. “You can rest now. I’m leaving.”

“Wait!” Pulta suddenly shouted. “I’ll tell you everything if you want to know. Please, give me the medicine!”

“Introduce yourself first. I’ve said it three times.” Ye Tian frowned. “I know you’re not mad, so no need to pretend.”

Pulta was secretly surprised. He hadn’t expected this unseen fellow to be so sharp.

“Someone like you, a high-level assassin, must have endurance beyond ordinary people. So let’s be frank—I want to know who’s behind you. Stop playing games. Honestly, you’re no match for me, and I don’t have that much time. Understand?”

“Alright, what do you want to ask?” Pulta surrendered. This guy wasn’t someone he could handle. In terms of wit, perhaps not even his father was a match.

“Dear Mr. Pulta, who ordered your guild to assassinate the queen?”

“I don’t know,” Pulta sighed.

“Ah.” Ye Tian sighed, turning to leave.

“Don’t go! I’m telling the truth! I really don’t know!” Pulta urged. “The target is assigned by the chairman. We only carry out the assassination plan; nothing else.”

“Is that so? Then how do you receive orders?” Ye Tian smiled. “Where is your guild located?”

“The branch is under a bar in the eastern part of the city,” Pulta said with a sigh. “I’m just a small assassin leader, leading a small team for the assassination.”

“Oh, thanks.” Ye Tian turned to leave.

“Wait! You haven’t given me the medicine!” Pulta called out.

“You didn’t tell the truth. Why should I give you the medicine?” Ye Tian retorted angrily.

“I’m telling the truth! You can check if you don’t believe me!” Pulta said urgently.

“I already told you, don’t test my patience. My time is limited.” Ye Tian leaned close to his ear and said sinisterly, “Where did you get that bow? Don’t say you picked it up on the street.” Pulta immediately fell silent.

“You have no credibility, so there’s no point in continuing this conversation.” Ye Tian turned to leave.

“Come back! Come back! I was wrong!” Pulta shouted in terror. He never wanted to feel that bone-chilling agony again. “Come back! I was wrong!”

“What mistake did you make?” Ye Tian’s voice suddenly echoed. “You only missed your chance to be released.”

“I was wrong. If I tell the truth, will you let me go?” Pulta asked desperately.

“Yes, I promise. You haven’t seen my face, so I’m not afraid you’ll do anything. But you must tell the truth.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell the truth! I swear I’ll be honest.”

“Thank you very much. But I have things to do, so I’ll leave for now. I’ll come back tomorrow.” Ye Tian turned and left, closing the door behind him.

“No! Come back! Come back! I was wrong! I’ll tell you everything! Please, give me the medicine!” Inside, Pulta screamed with heart-wrenching agony, but Ye Tian was unaware.

“Feeling better?” Ye Tian asked.

“Much better. I made some potion myself; it should be fine,” the old man said, still wary as he rubbed his belly. “Looks like it’s better not to take those pills.”

“No worries, you’ll know next time.” Ye Tian smiled awkwardly.

“Don’t blame you. If I hadn’t been careless at the end, I wouldn’t be like this.” Ralph scratched his old face. “By the way, what are you planning to do next?”

“Don’t know. Maybe read some books,” Ye Tian smiled.

“Gray, what’s on your mind?” Ralph looked at Ye Tian curiously. “What are you really after?”

“Home.” Ye Tian said the word with a trace of melancholy, leaving Ralph utterly baffled.

“Why are you here?” Akanara was flipping through a book while playing with a furry creature beside her, which was rolling contentedly. Inui, the little hawk, stood quietly on a nearby chair, flapping its wings excitedly when it saw Ye Tian approaching.

“Have you been good?” Ye Tian smiled, placing the little creature on his shoulder. It stretched its legs contentedly and then closed its eyes, settling down.

“I’m going to read. Do you have anything suitable?” Ye Tian asked.

“Still haven’t given up?” Akanara looked up at Ye Tian. “Gray, what exactly are you looking for?”

“Hehe, the way home. Trying to find the way home.” Ye Tian tapped on the table. “Well, I’m going to wander around on my own. Don’t worry, I’ll bring it back.” With that, he turned and walked inside.

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Akanara continued reading. “Squeak, squeak!” The furry creature cried out in pain. The girl looked down and realized she had been gripping too hard, almost plucking the fur off the little beast.

“Sorry.” She said softly, loosening her grip. The creature nuzzled her gently.

“I’m fine.” The girl said calmly as she gently stroked it.

Ye Tian watched quietly, pulling out books that looked promising, flipping through them, and putting them back when they didn’t have what he wanted. Finally, he found a biography on mythological legends, but it was written in poetic form, which Ye Tian couldn’t understand.

“What’s this?” Ye Tian suddenly noticed a slip of paper tucked inside. Strange characters were written on it.

“Miss Akanara, what is this?” Ye Tian hurried over.

“I don’t know. The script isn’t used on this continent anymore; it’s a lost language. So I can’t help you,” she replied calmly.

“Can I copy it down?”

“No need; give it to me.” Akanara closed the book and took out a piece of parchment. “The sky’s glow, the stars gather once more; mankind’s gaze will never see beneath their feet. At the end of the lonely mountain lies the final point of despair.” She recited softly, then waved her hand, projecting the text from the parchment onto the paper Ye Tian had found.

“You said you don’t recognize the script!” Ye Tian was frustrated.

“I don’t, but I know the content. Actually, many people do.” Akanara tossed the parchment to Ye Tian. “This is a record of the Land of Death. It’s the most detailed legend.”

“Land of Death?” Ye Tian rubbed his chin. “I think I’ve been near something similar. Ah, the Tomb of the Dead!”

“The Tomb of the Dead is inside the Land of Death.” Akanara closed the book. “Land of Death—no living soul should enter. That’s the earliest saying about that forbidden place. But there are always some who don’t fear death and keep exploring. Eventually, the Tomb of the Dead was found, but no one has ever entered it.”

“I don’t understand.” Ye Tian was confused. “So the Tomb of the Dead is the Beast Domain, and the Land of Death is the Academy. Got it?”

“Got it. But what’s inside?”

“Don’t know, but it’s tempting.” Akanara said calmly.

“Isn’t that the mercenary mission issued before?” Ye Tian suddenly remembered Gray and the others encountered the guy named Rattlesnake who recommended that mission.

“I’ve heard about that mission. Later, many people went in, but so far no mercenary group has come out.”

“Oh.” Ye Tian was still puzzled but didn’t plan to ask further. It wasn’t his concern.

“Aren’t you going to ask more?” Akanara was curious.

“It’s so dangerous in there, why should I go?” Ye Tian shrugged.

“Isn’t the wealth of a nation enough to tempt you?” The girl resumed reading.

“Yellow and white things, you bring nothing in life and take nothing in death. Why need so much?” Ye Tian shrugged, tucked the old paper back into the book, and returned it.

“I wonder how Gray and the others are doing.” Ye Tian’s lips curved slightly. Though their time together was short, their friendship wasn’t so fragile. At least, Ye Tian still thought of them. “Hope you all are safe,” he thought.

Ye Tian continued searching for the information he needed. The library was vast, and it would take time to find anything useful. Some ancient events seemed deliberately hidden, and only scant records remained.

“For now, just a pastime.” Ye Tian stretched. The authors of these historical records wrote beautifully, and some descriptions were vivid—as if these were not solemn histories but carefree personal biographies.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Ye Tian asked Akanara, who was still reading.

“I won’t. You go ahead,” she said without looking up.

Ye Tian looked around the library; no one else was there. Most young ladies and gentlemen only came here to kill time, rarely staying long. That was why Akanara had so much free time.

“Still dwelling on that day’s matter?” Ye Tian suddenly leaned on the counter, bringing his face close to hers.

“What are you doing?” Akanara’s breath quickened, and she instinctively stepped back.

“Are you afraid of me?” Ye Tian asked.

Akanara closed her book. “What nonsense are you saying?”

“So you dislike me and are afraid of me?”

“No.”

“Then why?” Ye Tian pressed on.

“I just... I don’t know how to say it,” Akanara turned away.

“We’re friends, aren’t we? So even if we have a falling out, as long as we talk it out, nothing is a problem.” Ye Tian smiled brightly. “What do you want to eat today? I’ll cook for you.”