ps. First draft, silent reading after twenty minutes.

Upon seeing the black butterfly brooch on Princess Theresa’s chest, Su’en’s gaze faltered.

He immediately realized that things might be more complicated than he had anticipated.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt a chilling sensation.

On his first day after crossing over, he had encountered a ghostly young girl named “Pestoya” in this very manor, in this very banquet hall.

That young girl had given him a butterfly brooch just like this one.

Su’en had once used the All-Seeing Eye to detect “???” information within the brooch and, to be safe, had hidden it in a corner of the catacombs.

Looking back, he still felt that his decision to hide the brooch was absolutely necessary.

This was a world of mysterious powers.

Every time the All-Seeing Eye identified “???” information, it involved something extremely high-end.

Although Su’en didn’t know what it specifically was, it was likely some indescribable entity.

Moreover, Su’en was no longer the naive newcomer he was on his first day after crossing over.

He now knew that the people in the cursed space, no matter how real, were either remnants or illusions.

Typically, even ghostly entities were NPCs with less intelligence.

But after experiencing so many cursed spaces and encountering numerous monsters, Su’en realized that “Pestoya” he had met was on a completely different level of intelligence.

Emotions, dialogue, logical thinking…

“Pestoya” was just like a real person!

This made Su’en even more certain that the level of the cursed space in the “Storm Manor” was unimaginably high.

Or very special.

After all, Pestoya had another identity; she was Sir Isaac’s own daughter!

Now that Su’en had learned some of the background of Dawn City, he felt even more certain that this strange story must involve some secrets from a thousand years ago.

So the appearance of that brooch here…

Was even more bizarre!

…….

The moment he saw Princess Theresa, Su’en quickly averted his gaze and subtly shifted his position to avoid being noticed by her.

Seeing the brooch, he reflexively thought of two possibilities.

1. The brooch he had buried was discovered and dug up by someone, and it was just an ordinary cursed object;

2. There was a big problem with the brooch;

Su’en’s way of thinking always leaned towards the worst-case scenario.

He chose option 2.

And now, the likelihood that there was a problem with the brooch seemed very high.

He had been suspecting what it was in the Dawn Relic that could attract the princess of the grand ducal family to risk coming in person.

Now it seemed that either she had discovered some secret from the brooch, like a treasure map.

But even if it was a treasure map, there was no need for her to come personally.

After all, the entire underground world was her family’s mine; sending someone would suffice.

Or there was some reason she had to come.

And urgently so.

Whichever it was, Su’en felt it was best not to get involved.

Observing the aloof aura of Theresa, he also vaguely understood what that familiar feeling was all about.

……

When Theresa made her appearance, all eyes were focused on her.

Even within the inner city, very few of the great tycoons had seen the princess.

After all, which mining magnate’s daughter would regularly delve into her own mines?

Most people present would think Theresa’s aloofness was the demeanor of a high noble.

But who could imagine that the ducal mansion in the inner city might just be for show?

The occasional descent into the mines for inspection by the princess was taken as a grace by these people.

After entering the banquet hall, Theresa didn’t say a word.

But it was this attitude of indifference that excited the inner city crowd below.

Ah… this was true nobility.

Each one generously lavished their praise, sounding like whispers, but their voices seemed to wish for their compliments to reach the princess’s ears.

“Oh, Princess Theresa is so beautiful, like an angel…”

“To see the princess with my own eyes today, even if it meant going to my death instead of coming to this relic, I would not hesitate…”

“Yes. If she would allow me to kiss her toes, it would be the honor of my lifetime…”

“Ah! My Valen family will always be the most loyal servant of the Duke and Princess Theresa…”

“…”

Su’en listened and felt something odd in his heart.

Attending such an upper-class social gathering for the first time, this culture of flattering the lord made him somewhat uncomfortable.

However, fortunately, it seemed that Theresa had no intention of dining and drinking here. As soon as she arrived, she went straight to the main topic.

Her lady-in-waiting announced: “The purpose of summoning everyone to the Dawn Relic by Her Highness the Princess is already clear. This mission requires everyone to explore the relic and find certain things…”

She rattled off a bunch.

Listening to the lady-in-waiting, Su’en quickly analyzed some key information in his mind.

Pioneering, finding things.

It meant that Theresa wasn’t sure where the “things” were and needed to pioneer the entire relic.

Then there were tasks and rewards.

Listening to the lady-in-waiting, it seemed that whichever family found what the princess wanted would be favored by the ducal mansion and become the number one family in the inner city.

……

“All major families must arrive at the core urban area of the relic on time and according to the route…”

Before long, the lady-in-waiting finished speaking.

She waved her hand and called out, “Draw lots!”

As her words fell, a group of servants carrying platters came forward.

The heads of the major families stepped forward to draw lots, dividing the relic into more than thirty routes like cutting a cake, and whichever route was drawn was theirs.

Coincidentally, when the young girl Rena went to draw, she got number sixteen.

Number fifteen was the Oliver family, and number seventeen was the Clark family…

Meaning that on the way to the hunt, they would be flanked by enemies.

Compared to Rena’s troubled face, Su’en chuckled to himself upon seeing this: “These guys still have some tricks up their sleeves, managing to tamper with the drawing of lots…”

But it was just as well.

He was still thinking about the treasure in Danze Junior’s hands.

This hunting expedition would be fraught with danger, and it was highly likely that the young master would bring it along.

After the drawing of lots, Princess Theresa left the scene.

Su’en also inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

Only then did the feeling that had been causing a dull pain in his brow disappear.

Although he had only seen a familiar butterfly brooch, he still felt an inexplicable palpitation.

…….

After the princess left, everyone thought the formal banquet would follow.

But unexpectedly, at that moment, a group of maids carrying silver-covered platters walked in, starting to serve the “main course.”

As the main course was served, a strong smell of blood immediately swept through the entire banquet hall.

Everyone looked at each other, thinking it was some kind of fresh “sashimi.”

Princess Theresa had already left, and the people at the party were no longer so restrained.

Someone curiously lifted the cover of a platter to take a look.

All eyes were focused on it.

But to their shock, they found a simply marinated bloody head!

Not all inner city young masters and misses had seen bloodshed, and at this sight, they turned pale with fright, instantly exclaiming. But since it was the temporary residence of Miss Theresa, they all covered their mouths, and no one dared to scream out loud.

Someone recognized the origin of the head, tremblingly said: “This… isn’t this the youngest son of Mr. Marino of the ‘Tessali family’?”

Upon opening the other platters, they saw that the Tessali family was all accounted for.

From old to young, the heads of more than twenty direct members of the family were all present.

A banquet of heads…

This terrifying scene stunned everyone.

Looking at the table full of heads, these inner city young masters and misses immediately understood something.

This was a warning to scare the monkeys.

But they didn’t understand why the “Tessali family” was suddenly exterminated.

“Why… why is this…”

“Yes, weren’t Mr. Tessali and his family actively responding to the hunt? They also sent quite a few people this time…”

“Could it be a mistake, or is there another reason?”

“…”

There are no secrets in the upper-class social circles.

At this time, a woman stood up and revealed the truth of the matter.

“Ah… I probably know what’s going on. Mrs. Tessali was always reluctant to let her son join the hunt, and then, hoping for luck, she temporarily replaced him with the son of a bodyguard’s family as a stand-in. She even advised me to do the same…”

As she spoke, the lady did not forget to express her own stance: “I warned them not to play tricks, and now look what happened. They should have just followed the Duke’s orders properly, but they had to make it like this.”

With that, everyone understood.

What they thought was a flawless plan was all under the control of the Black Tower.

This also made those young masters and misses who had originally planned to play tricks during the hunt feel a chill on their necks.

Princess Theresa’s tough attitude shattered any illusions they had.

For a moment, the grand banquet hall was silent.

But…

These people had worked hard even if they had no merits.

As subjects of Duke Raphael, those who could stand here were at least prominent figures in the inner city.

To warn them with such a brutal and tyrannical method?

It didn’t seem like a crime worthy of death, yet the ducal mansion showed no mercy, erasing an entire major family just like that?

The crowd had complex expressions, filled with worry, anger, confusion, indignation…

Yet no one dared to speak out.

But the more top-tier families in the inner city knew the terror of the Black Tower.

Especially those who had heard bits and pieces about the “rebellion” fifty years ago from their elders, they dared not speak.

…….

Su’en watched from a distance, and his shock was no less than that of the others.

However, it wasn’t the bloody banquet of heads that shocked him, but the method, which felt eerily familiar to him!

The same banquet hall, the same bloody methods…

It was as if Su’en recalled the scene from the past, thinking to himself: “Why does Theresa’s method feel like Pestoya’s… Could it be a coincidence?”

For a moment, related clues in his mind connected.

He vaguely felt that he might have guessed part of the truth of the matter.

But some aspects contradicted each other, and something didn’t seem quite right.

For example, the most critical question: why would Sir Isaac have burned his daughter to death?

Suddenly, a speculation emerged in his mind that he found hard to believe: “Or perhaps… the Pestoya I met wasn’t Sir Isaac’s daughter at all? If not, then who was she?”

The only certainty now was that there was definitely something wrong with the butterfly brooch.

…….

As Su’en’s thoughts were still drifting, at that moment, Pestoya approached from somewhere.

The only necessary part of the party had ended, and there was no need for them to stay.

She called out to Su’en and the other: “Let’s go, we’re heading back too.”

Saying so, Pestoya naturally took Su’en’s arm.

The three of them headed down the road.

“We drew number fifteen, and we’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow at the latest. But we haven’t recruited a hunting team or mercenaries yet…”

“It’s not a big problem. The people from the Cross Society will be at your disposal when the time comes. And Mr. Zolo will also go with you; he’s very capable. If you have any problems, just ask him…”

“…”

Su’en listened to the two women’s conversation on the side, unable to interject.

Walking along, he became curious about something: had this gambling-addicted woman gotten used to wearing this ladylike dress? He hadn’t heard her complain.

Before long, they arrived at the “Unicorn Hotel.”Su’en had intended to return to the Rose Hotel for a good rest, but Rena had also invited him along.

He couldn’t refuse and followed her upstairs.

The hotel was luxurious, with exquisite decor.

There were two suites on the top floor, and since Miss Rena was staying in one, no one else was arranged to stay there.

The suite was several times larger than the hotel room Su’en had stayed in before, complete with a bathtub.

It seemed that Qian Tiao was quite happy, as the two women took up one room.

Su’en went to the other.

…….

The bed in the room was very comfortable, soft to sit on.

Thinking that he would be hunting in the wilderness soon and probably wouldn’t be able to bathe for a long time, Su’en also took a quick shower.

It turned out that inspiration and thought are most active while bathing.

With bubbles on his head, as the hot water cascaded over him, it was like weak currents of electricity stimulating his thoughts, making his senses even clearer.

On the way back, he had been thinking about the “butterfly brooch.”

He still hadn’t figured it out and decided not to dwell on it.

His thoughts shifted to Rena next door.

“Rena’s situation is really quite dire. From what she said, it seems like several branches of the family and a few of the Oliver families in the inner city are planning to thoroughly deal with the main branch this time. But her father has such a large share of the business in the inner city, he must have more tricks up his sleeve…”

Su’en pondered.

Maybe it was the Black Tower targeting the main branch of the Reiss family?

He knew that Qian Tiao was a member of the “Mirror Organization” and suspected that the Reiss family was definitely related to “Mirror.”

But if that were the case, it should be the Umbrella Organization making the move.

Or perhaps, it was simply because the Duke’s Mansion didn’t want to see too large a conglomerate emerge, so they took action?

So, was the commotion within the great Oliver family tacitly permitted?

Su’en’s thoughts raced.

…….

The room was soundproofed well, and he couldn’t hear any noise from next door.

But listening to the faint sound of water flowing within the walls, Su’en guessed that someone next door was taking a bath.

Probably Qian Tiao.

Su’en thought.

With a bathtub, that gambling-addicted lady would probably enjoy a good soak.

But suddenly, a flash of insight struck him.

“Eh! Something’s not right. Qian Tiao has been acting a bit strange since we left the manor…”

Su’en suddenly thought of something, frowning.

If it had been back in Old Lingdun, he might not have noticed anything.

But having spent so much time with Qian Tiao recently, he was all too familiar with her temperament.

When they left the manor, although they were holding hands and appeared affectionate, Su’en had distinctly noticed something subtly different.

At this moment, with a flash of insight, he finally realized what had been missing all along.

The soft touch was gone!

They were very familiar with each other, and Qian Tiao had no reservations around Su’en. On a normal day, her carefree nature would have her clinging to him.

But just now, she had maintained a very rational distance.

“Was that ‘Qian Tiao’ just now not the real Qian Tiao?”

Su’en thought of a possibility that terrified him.

Yet he was also puzzled.

“No, that can’t be right! The aura, the figure, they were exactly the same. Even the best disguise couldn’t achieve that level.”

He was confident that his perception was sharp enough that he couldn’t have been holding a fake Qian Tiao without noticing.

And he felt that the gambling-addicted lady’s strength had reached the fourth tier; she couldn’t have been silently replaced by someone else.

But then a thought flashed through his mind.

Thinking of the bizarre appearance of the “butterfly brooch,”

Or perhaps some special ability-sealing item…

It might not be impossible to create a convincing fake!

“A special talent, or perhaps a profession skilled in disguise?”

With this thought, Su’en was no longer calm.

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious the “Qian Tiao” from before seemed.

It was a detail that others wouldn’t notice!

……..

Once this year started, things became increasingly uncontrollable.

If things were as he suspected, the problem was huge!

Who would impersonate Qian Tiao?

It must be that the Black Tower had discovered some clue and confirmed her identity.

They came fishing for her!

It wasn’t just targeting one person, but targeting the “Mirror Organization”!

But as soon as this thought occurred, Su’en considered too many strange possibilities…

What if he was overthinking it?

To clarify his suspicions, Su’en decided to personally verify the situation.