Chapter 87: A Desperate Plan Unfolds

“So, now that you’ve heard all that,” Rodd asked softly, still seated on the ground, “don’t you feel things are a little more balanced between us?”

His gaze lingered on the faint, almost imperceptible markings on my neck, making me feel strangely unsettled.

“…My curiosity has certainly been appeased, I suppose.”

I instinctively averted my eyes, but after a moment’s thought, I pressed him further.

“And then you became the leader of those pirates, robbed the original Lord of Moon Isle, impersonated him, and came here to Moon Isle, right?”

“Something like that, yes…” He nodded. “But what about you? If you don’t kill me, won’t you be disobeying the Lord of Coldwind and Governor Sherlock’s orders?”

“Tsk… You really want to die, don’t you?”

Even though I knew my face held no real intimidation, I forced a fierce expression and glared at him.

“Of course I don’t want to die, but I want even less to see you sacrifice yourself for nothing.” His tone softened. “I’m guessing you intend to rescue that child they’re holding hostage all by yourself, aren’t you?”

“…”

I offered no rebuttal. It wasn’t difficult to deduce such a thing, especially after integrating the information I had just disclosed.

“It seems I was right…”

He shook his head slightly.

“But don’t you think trying to accomplish something like that with your own strength is akin to reaching for the heavens?”

“You don’t know what kind of man Sherlock is, do you? His family has managed Clearwater Port for generations, accumulating untold wealth and cultivating countless influences. Even I, when I tried to assassinate him, ultimately failed.”

“Not to mention he’s colluding with witches and has the dark assistance of demonic forces. Under such circumstances, if you try to save someone on your own…”

“Of course I know all that!”

I looked at him, agitated, my lips trembling, my eyes stinging and red.

“But I… I have… I have no other choice!”

“That child was transported from Coldwind Lordship like a mere commodity. When I held her, her body was so light and cold.”

“She was going to be sold off… and I… I couldn’t bring myself to be ruthless. If I don’t make a decision quickly, it will be too late!”

“Then why couldn’t you bring yourself to be ruthless?”

Rodd looked at me with a serious expression, his voice tinged with an apology.

“Honestly, I don’t quite understand, because I thought I was usually quite strict with you…”

“Because… because…”

My voice broke, caught in my throat, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to continue. My cheeks, however, seemed to burn hotter with embarrassment and shame.

“Eh?”

At that moment, Rodd seemed to notice something.

“Why are you still wearing those old shoes today? The ones I gave you yesterday…”

“No, stop!”

“Hmm?”

“Just stop talking!”

I lowered my head in mortification, shouting at him with a surge of irritation. “I’m just a pathetic, weak-willed person, alright?! I receive a little kindness, feel a touch of warmth, and then I just f*cking soften, so soft that I can’t do anything at all…”

“I… I’m just a useless person. I’m completely worthless. It was like this in my old world, and it’s like this in this damned place too. I can’t do anything… I can’t do anything at all…”

I was trying to vent my emotions at him, but as I shouted, I ended up using him as a trash can for all my negative energy, dumping it all onto him.

Before this, I had always believed myself to be someone who could hide emotions behind a mask. No matter what happened, I could calmly handle and deal with it.

But perhaps it was due to inhabiting this female body; now, I found it incredibly difficult to maintain that composure.

“You can do it.”

Two hands gripped my shoulders, steady and firm. His voice, too, came through steady and firm.

“You can do it. If you use my strength, you can do it.”

“You… what did you say?”

I looked up in disbelief, staring at him. I suspected I had misheard.

“I will help you rescue that child.”

“Help me? Rescue her?”

I repeated the words in a murmur, still finding it hard to believe.

“Why? You… you also know how terrifying Governor Sherlock’s power is, don’t you? If you don’t help me, you could just leave. Even if you do help me… I have nothing to give you in return.”

“Because I cannot allow that tragedy…”

His brown eyes gleamed with fierce resolve.

“…to repeat itself.”

After packing my belongings and tidying my clothes, I set off again. By the time I reached the familiar harbor, it was already deep into the night.

The massive wooden ship I knew so well still lay anchored there, its lights blazing brightly.

I glanced back. The thicket behind me was already swallowed by the night, leaving no discernible trace.

‘You can do it.’

His words of encouragement resurfaced in my mind.

‘Can I really do it?’

Truthfully, I wasn’t entirely confident, but now, there was no turning back. I slowly walked forward, and upon reaching the shore, I lit a torch as per my agreement with Governor Sherlock, waving it a few times.

Soon, a ladder descended from the ship. I cautiously climbed aboard and whispered to a guard.

“Please inform His Excellency the Governor that Lilian has completed her mission and returned.”

The guard quickly entered the structure atop the ship. Seizing the opportunity, I looked back down at the water below the vessel.

Under the dark, heavy night, ripples spread across the surface—nothing out of the ordinary. Of course, perhaps my eyesight simply wasn’t keen enough to perceive anything.

‘I can only trust them,’ I thought.

After a while, the guard who had gone to report reappeared.

“His Excellency the Governor requests your presence in the reception hall now.”

I quietly acknowledged him, suppressing the nervousness in my heart, and moved forward step by step. Along the way, I occasionally observed the surrounding guards from the corner of my eye.

Perhaps because of the late hour, there weren’t many guards present, but each one appeared exceptionally sturdy and exuded a dangerous aura. I was suddenly struck by a wave of apprehension.

If Rodd hadn’t stopped me, if I had gone to this banquet alone, I probably would have been torn apart by these tiger-like men before I could even lay a hand on Sherlock.

Fortunately, that was no longer necessary. As long as I could distract Sherlock and hold his attention, Rodd could quietly lead his men to abduct Lulona, the child.

If this plan truly succeeded, it would be for the best. While I would undoubtedly owe him a huge favor, I would do my utmost to repay him.

Even if it meant I could never change back, even if I had to be his maid or lover for the rest of my life, I would! With these complex emotions, I reached the entrance of the reception hall. Before I could even knock, I heard laughter spilling from within.

“Hahaha, His Excellency the Governor truly is a master strategist! I told you that foolish lord wouldn’t even realize we were putting on a show.”

“Oh, when we were tied up and brought in, a few of us were kneeling there, practically dying trying to hold back our laughter, hahaha!”

Such familiar voices…

I gently pushed open the reception hall door and slowly stepped inside. The next instant, my sensitive body detected several lecherous gazes.

“Well, well, the main course has finally arrived~”

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