Chapter 41

When Xiaolan returned to the inn, it was already deep into the night.

He noticed something strange; the servants’ glances at him were off, whether intentional or unintentional.

Unlike the look in Nini Luo’s eyes when she arrived, this was different, and he could roughly read it.

Caution.

Yes, it was a look of caution.

He was accustomed to observing the gazes others directed at him, as he could discern many meanings from them.

Observing one’s surroundings was not a bad habit, especially when one was in an unfamiliar environment. The gazes of others were like a premonition.

A premonition of the surroundings, of them, of you.

So, what did the servants’ gazes premonize?

Could it be because the investigators from the Investigation Department had traced him here?

He disliked this eerie feeling, as it was like an unknown black vortex constantly pulling at him, leaving him to struggle passively.

Before entering his room, he took out his sword from the void ring.

He opened the door and turned on the light.

No one was inside.

Had he been overly cautious? Xiaolan frowned, thinking to himself.

After observing the room again, he knew his caution was not misplaced.

Someone had been in his room, and they had even searched it.

The layout of the items in the room was imprinted in his mind, and he could immediately spot any discrepancies, such as the sofa he was about to sit on.

The sofa had creases, creases from someone sitting on it.

Unfortunately, the intruder might be disappointed, as the important things were all in his void ring, and they would find nothing.

He would not leave any obvious oversights for anyone, unless it was intentional.

Perhaps he should consider changing inns.

With this thought, he sat on the sofa and took out a document from the void ring. It was the document Nini Luo had brought him.

Information about the personnel who had access to the military archives.

After parting ways with the young pharmacist in the afternoon, he had gone to the Tiri District of the capital, and only returned now.

There might be many people who could enter the military archives, but Nini Luo’s information listed only three, and they all shared a common trait: they were the easiest to coerce.

Nini Luo seemed to have guessed what he intended to do, so the information was concise and straightforward.

The risks were hard to control, as human hearts were always the most complex.

They also shared another commonality: they all lived in the Tiri District of the capital.

Speaking of the Tiri District, he was not unfamiliar with it, as it was the residential area for the families of the capital’s military personnel.

Everyone had their weaknesses, and everyone had their inner taboos.

From the information to the observation of the real person, he had already chosen one.

Graul Meston.

He had graduated from the Royal Military Academy with excellent grades in his youth, then entered the Sefar military town bordering Suguro to hone his skills, thus beginning a military career that lasted over a decade, until he was ambushed during a border conflict and lost the sight in one eye, suffering severe injuries.

Due to his injuries, his body could no longer endure the hardships of war, and he was forced to leave the front lines after more than a decade of service and return to the capital to recuperate.

When he returned to active duty, he was transferred to the logistics department of the capital’s military due to his meritorious service. Later, due to a conflict with his superior, he was transferred to the military archives to become a records officer, a position he held to this day.

Meston came from a common background and did not have the shortcuts that noble offspring had for promotion. He could only rely on his own efforts to distinguish himself in war. If he had not been injured, he might have become a new military noble at some point, but he did not.

His injuries no longer allowed him to continue fighting for his country.

Without meritorious service, there was no path for promotion.

His superior in the Sefar military town had once fought for his ennoblement, but each time the title was taken by noble offspring. In the final border war, he was also stripped of his last chance for ennoblement due to a command error.

Without his superior’s help, he might have been forced to retire.

But he stayed in the capital.

Meston married late, dedicating his entire youth to the border military.

When he returned to the capital and considered marriage, almost no one was willing to marry their daughter to him because of his one eye and his injuries.

No one knew the extent of Meston’s injuries, and no one knew if he might suddenly die one day.

After a long time, he married a cousin from his hometown in the countryside.

His cousin wife died early, leaving behind three young children.

The loss of his wife, the setbacks in his career, and the command error in the final border conflict had left a deep scar on his heart. He seemed to have placed his children as his only hope for living.

Xiaolan shook his head, holding the document in his hand. His children might be a reason for him to live, but he still had another bond.

In the final border conflict where he made a command error, his unit suffered heavy casualties, with dozens of close comrades and subordinates dying. How could this not become a heart knot for him?

In the years that followed, he would send a large portion of his salary to the impoverished families of the fallen comrades, which was the only way he could redeem his past actions.

Therefore, he also became Xiaolan’s target.

Putting away the document, Xiaolan took out a small leather case from the void ring. It was the potion he had taken from the teahouse in the afternoon.

Holding a purple and a green transparent bottle in his hand, he gently shook them, the colors were beautiful and dazzling.

Glancing at the bathroom in the room, he sighed lightly, uncapped the bottles, and drank the purple and green liquids one after the other.

It was a quiet night, with insects chirping.

"Rachelle, Avis asked me to tell you that he is waiting for you outside. Do you want to see him?"

At the girls' dormitory of the Royal Central Academy, a girl suddenly came to Rachelle Magi’s room and asked.

"Roshan, did he say what he wanted?" Rachelle got up from her bed and looked at the girl who had entered.

"No, but he said you should definitely come out and see him," Roshan shook her head.

"Ha, if he has something to say, why doesn’t he come and find me directly?" Rachelle said with a cold laugh.

"Rachelle—" Roshan said helplessly, "If he dared to come here at this time, it would be a disaster."

Thinking of something, Rachelle covered her head and said, "I almost forgot what time it is."

"If I hadn’t just returned, who knows how long he would have waited outside," Roshan shook her head. "Why don’t you see him? After all, it’s not a good idea for you two to keep this up."

"Yes, Rachelle, you should have a good talk with Avis," Magi, seeing the situation, couldn’t help but join in to persuade her.

Rachelle sighed and said, "Alright, where is he?"

"Outside the dormitory, at the first bench," Roshan smiled. "Since my task is done, I should get some rest. Tomorrow is the long-awaited school festival."

With that, Roshan took light steps and left the room.

"Rachelle, it’s so late, what could Avis want? Is he here to make up with you?" Magi, holding a stuffed animal, poked her head out and asked.

Rachelle sat in front of the mirror, combing her slightly messy hair, and said, "I don’t know. If he’s willing to put aside his pride and make up with me, I don’t mind."

"Just hope you two don’t argue again," Magi said worriedly.

Taking out a set of clothes from the wardrobe and trying them on in front of the mirror, Rachelle shook her head and said, "Don’t worry, it’ll be fine."

Magi could only watch silently as Rachelle got dressed.

Rachelle still cared about Avis, didn’t she? Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dressed up so nicely to see him. I hope they can make up.

"I’m going out," Rachelle said with a smile, waving to Magi before leaving the room.

"Okay, good luck," Magi raised her fist to encourage her.

Rachelle’s dormitory was not far from where Roshan said, and she was familiar with the place because it was where Magi’s cousin and Avis had appeared the last time.

Under the glow of the magic street lamps, she saw Avis sitting on the bench, his head lowered.

Hearing her footsteps, Avis looked up with a tired face and quickly stood up, saying, "You came?"

"I’m here," Rachelle stopped a few steps in front of him. "What is it?"

"You look beautiful tonight," Avis said, looking at Rachelle’s gentle face under the street lamp.

Rachelle kicked the ground casually, seemingly not caring about Avis’s compliment, "So, I’m not beautiful at other times?"

"No, no, no, you’re always beautiful," Avis quickly said upon hearing Rachelle’s words.

"Ha—" Rachelle laughed lightly, "Let’s get to the point. What do you want?"

"There’s something that’s been bothering me, so I wanted to talk to you about it," Avis said, taking a deep breath.

"What is it?"

Rachelle’s response was casual, but she felt a surge of joy in her heart. Could it be that Avis was finally willing to put aside his pride and apologize to her?

"Tomorrow!" Avis extended his palm, his voice tinged with excitement, "Tomorrow, I’m going to become a hero of this country!"

"Huh?" Rachelle was taken aback.

"I said, tomorrow, I’m going to become a hero of this country!" Avis clenched his fist and repeated excitedly.

"Avis! Are you out of your mind? You came here just to tell me this?" Rachelle frowned, her voice tinged with anger.

"What? Rachelle, aren’t you happy? Your future husband is going to become a hero of this country tomorrow!" Avis spread his hands and called out to Rachelle excitedly.

Looking at Avis’s excited and even distorted face, Rachelle felt a chill in her heart. "Who said you’re my future husband? Whatever you become tomorrow has nothing to do with me! If you have nothing else, I’m going back."

As she said this, Rachelle prepared to leave, disappointed and truly disappointed with him.

But she didn’t move, because Avis suddenly stepped forward and hugged her, forcefully turning her to face him.

"What are you doing?" Rachelle was startled by his sudden action and immediately became angry. "Let me go, or I’ll call for help!"

"Rachelle! You know I love you, but why do you always hurt me?" Avis held her in his arms, his voice tinged with sorrow.

Rachelle struggled to break free from Avis’s embrace, but she couldn’t.

She calmed down and looked at his face, which was very close to hers, "Avis, I think you need to calm down."

"Rachelle! Don’t you love me anymore?"

"Love! But I don’t love the Avis I see now."

Avis looked at her in silence, and she didn’t know what he was thinking, but his silence made her feel uneasy.

"Ugh—"

Rachelle was suddenly shocked because Avis suddenly kissed her.

She felt the heat of his lips, the roughness, and his tongue trying to pry open her teeth.

This wasn’t their first kiss, but this time was the most unexpected.

Unexpected anger!

"Ah—"

Avis suddenly cried out, and Rachelle pushed him away, spitting out a mouthful of dark red.

"Rachelle! Are you crazy?"

Under the street lamp, Avis’s lips were bleeding, bitten by her.

"I think you’re the one who’s crazy!" Rachelle stepped back a few steps, looking at him warily and said coldly.

Avis looked at her with cold eyes, "You weren’t like this before."

"You weren’t like this before either," Rachelle returned his words.

"Crazy woman!" Avis clenched his fists, his voice filled with coldness, "Where did you and Magi go this morning?"

"What does it have to do with you?" Rachelle said.

"Don’t think I don’t know, you and Magi went to see that man!" Avis said coldly.

"That man?" Rachelle frowned, and after a moment, she looked at him, "You mean Magi’s cousin?"

"Who else?"

"So what if we saw him? What can you do about it?" Rachelle looked at Avis, her tone slightly provocative.

"Sure enough! You finally admit to your infidelity!" Avis said.

"Huh?"

Rachelle clenched her fists, at that moment, she really wanted to punch him to wake him up, but she didn’t. She chose another way.

"Avis! I don’t know how twisted your mind has become, but do you think you can hide your feelings for Magi from anyone? Ha! Now Magi is with her cousin, so stop dreaming!"

"Hmph!" Avis’s forehead veins bulged, his nails almost piercing his flesh. "At least I’m not the one who’s throwing myself at someone!"

"Avis!" Rachelle’s face turned cold, her voice suddenly calm, frighteningly calm. "If you apologize now, I will forgive you."

"Forgive? Ha! Ridiculous!" Avis laughed, and when he looked at her again, his face was cold. "You should be the one to apologize! One day, you will regret it."

With that, Avis turned and ran away without looking back.

As he left, his mad laughter echoed.

Rachelle stood alone, watching him disappear into the darkness.

Her steps trembled slightly as she walked to the bench he had sat on.

"Avis! You big fool!"

Tears wet her face, and she sobbed quietly. In the quiet night, who would know?

If they had both taken a step back, the misunderstanding would not have happened, he wouldn’t have left, and she wouldn’t have cried.

Because neither of them was willing to put aside their pride.

Who should regret?

And this, was just the beginning...