Chapter 47: The Grey River District and a Hidden Threat

Two days later, Alice, in disguise, walked along the roads of the Grey River District.

A wave of nostalgia washed over her.

As she gazed at the dilapidated, aged houses surrounding her, a thought surfaced: ‘This was where Levi had grown up.’

The slums of the Grey River District were home to the city’s most impoverished inhabitants, with over half being immigrants from beyond the empire’s borders.

It wasn’t quite the lawless wasteland outsiders often claimed, though the public order was certainly lacking, making it unsuitable for solitary night walks. Yet, for those who could adapt, it remained a place where one could eke out a living.

Alice wore a coarse linen smock and a veil over her face, for her appearance would have been far too striking here. Indeed, moving through the Grey River District would have been considerably easier if she had adopted a male guise.

However, if she were to use the Gender Transformation Potion, her witch’s ability to foresee danger would vanish.

Weighing the pros and cons, it was clearly better to retain her abilities, especially since the search for the Mad Hatter was not without its risks.

“The twelfth bungalow on the left side of Bauhinia Lane, Riverside Road.” Alice confirmed the address she had memorized, her mind drifting back to yesterday when the Duchess had given it to her.

****

“I’ve found the information you requested.” The previous noon, the Duchess handed her an envelope. “There is indeed a hatter in the Grey River District nicknamed the Mad Hatter, who frequently sets up illegal stalls in the wealthy areas, just as you described. This is his address.”

“So quickly?” Alice was somewhat surprised. She had only discussed this with the Duchess that morning, and in just half a day, she had received a response.

Despite having been in Maplewood City for only a few days, the Duchess had already established her own intelligence network within the city.

“I know some nobles here. Through their connections, I reached out to the Public Order Bureau and found an informant who sells information to the constables in the Grey River District. The news came easily with a single inquiry,” the Duchess explained. “The information was obtained with little effort, however…

“However?”

“In my personal experience, information that is too easily obtained may conceal hidden dangers,” the Duchess said meaningfully. “Do you remember what I taught you in our previous lessons? Sometimes, the intelligence you acquire isn’t something you’ve dug up, but rather something deliberately provided to you.”

“You mean this information might be false?” Alice asked.

“Not necessarily. The information could be true, and there might be something at that address, but it could also be bait intentionally released by the other party,” the Duchess clarified. “According to your description, the man is a Redlander and a Blessed One of a path not recognized by the Church. This city also has an Inquisition, so he would surely be wary of anyone who approaches him unsolicited.”

“Then will you come with me?” Alice inquired.

“No. According to custom, Blessed Ones of mid-tier or higher should not act as emissaries for initial visits between factions,” the Duchess replied seriously.

“Why not?” Alice asked, perplexed.

“You must understand that mid-tier Blessed Ones are already considered rare powerhouses in this world. As for those who reach the Divine tier, they are truly a handful of top-tier individuals. Such people visiting is akin to bringing an entire army, and the other side is bound to be vigilant. Therefore, until a sufficient relationship of trust is established, it’s better if I don’t appear.”

“But that leaves me feeling unsettled,” Alice expressed her concern.

“Take the Beast Transformation Potion His Majesty prepared for you. It can give you a measure of self-preservation,” the Duchess calmly advised. “I have a feeling that this Redlander might be backed by a group opposing the Church, and this group could become our potential allies. Regardless, you must proceed with caution.”

****

Now, with the potion tucked away, Alice arrived at the alley indicated by the address. The alley was deserted, with only the echo of her footsteps, which made her somewhat uneasy.

Even though she had grown up in the Grey River District, she hadn’t been to every corner of it, especially not places like this.

Considering the need for caution, before setting out today, she had performed another divination regarding her search for the Mad Hatter.

To her astonishment, in the magic mirror, she saw a memory from her past in the ‘Rabbit Hole’ dungeon. In the vision, the Mad Hatter, speaking to her when she was still Levi, uttered a peculiar question: “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

Then, the image vanished.

To this day, she hadn’t fully grasped the meaning of this divination result. She had asked the Duchess, who also had no clue about the strange riddle, only reminding her that it would likely be a crucial piece of information, urging her to remember it and adapt accordingly.

Her destination was the twelfth bungalow, so she began counting them one by one.

Just as she reached the sixth bungalow, a thought inexplicably sprang into her mind:

‘Someone is watching me from behind.’

She immediately turned her head to confirm. Having become a witch, she had learned to trust her instincts more.

However, within her field of vision, from behind her to the alley’s entrance, there was no one.

She looked around repeatedly, confirming she saw no one, before turning her face back.

‘Strange, was it just my imagination playing tricks on me?’

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than a sudden, inexplicable chill enveloped her entire body.

Alice gasped, drawing a sharp breath. This time, it was no illusion!

The sound of rushing wind abruptly filled her ears. Almost simultaneously, Alice instinctively tilted her head, dodging.

She felt something graze her cheek, followed by a stinging sensation on her face. She instinctively raised a hand to touch it, horrified to find blood on her fingertips.

She turned her head and saw a dagger embedded in the wall of the adjacent bungalow.

Someone had thrown a dagger at her!

She immediately scanned her surroundings and, for a fleeting moment, caught sight of a slender figure clad in a night suit.

The figure stood near the alley’s entrance, a dozen paces away from her.

Then, with a blur, the figure suddenly vanished without a trace.

A chilling dread still enveloped Alice. She realized this ominous premonition had originated from that very person!

This person had been tracking her the entire time!

It seemed the Duchess was right: their easy acquisition of the Mad Hatter’s address was merely bait, and someone was specifically watching for those who sought him near this location!

The person’s movements were so bizarre; they were likely a Blessed One as well!

With an unprovoked attack, Alice had no other choice but to pull out the potion hidden in her sleeve and quickly swallow it. It was the Beast Transformation Potion concocted by Queen Isola!

The potion tasted like strong liquor, rolling into her stomach like a fireball, transforming into a hot current that surged through her limbs.

The medicine took effect instantly. Alice felt something burst forth from within her.

A pair of horns sprouted from her head, a pair of bat wings extended from her back, and a tail with a heart-shaped tip unfurled from the base of her spine.

The Beast Transformation Potion, concocted by a Third-tier Banshee, allowed the user to temporarily assume the demonic beast form of a Sixth-tier Succubus.

Now, Alice was abruptly transformed into a Sixth-tier Succubus!