Chapter 70: A Treacherous Alliance

“Hmm, it’s good that you’ve come,” Shadow said. “If Rona truly uses what I gave her, I might not be able to handle it all by myself.”

Shadow’s words made Xiluo’er pause. ‘Did that mean Shadow and Rona had already met? And what exactly had he given Rona?’

Yet, if Rona wasn’t the true culprit behind the missing persons cases in Kana City, how could she have met Shadow so peacefully?

Moreover, Xiluo’er had a faint premonition that whatever Shadow had given Rona was certainly not simple.

Looking towards the storage room once more, a hint of anxiety entered Xiluo’er’s eyes.

It was now clear that Rona and Serol were in the basement beneath the storage room. Otherwise, Shadow wouldn’t be here, and judging by his earlier words, something was definitely happening down there right now.

She should hurry down to assist Rona or stop whatever was unfolding. But…

Stealing a glance at Shadow beside her, Xiluo’er understood that she had to outwardly obey this contact’s commands. If he ordered her to stay put, she couldn’t go down to help Rona.

“By the way, Cat Tail.”

Shadow suddenly spoke again.

“During your time in Kana City, you haven’t exposed your whereabouts, have you?”

Shadow’s reason for asking this was simple. When he met Rona earlier, she clearly knew his identity as part of the Chaos Cult. Yet, Shadow felt he hadn’t revealed anything problematic in the city.

After all, relying on his special abilities, he could usually disguise himself as an ordinary resident in Kana City quite well. Perhaps Cat Tail had inadvertently exposed herself somewhere.

However, his casual question instantly made Xiluo’er tense up.

‘Tsk, I knew this mysterious contact never trusted me!’

Xiluo’er admitted that she had harbored ulterior motives towards the Chaos Cult from the very beginning. If it weren’t for the poison, she would have stopped working for this unscrupulous organization long ago.

It was normal for Shadow not to trust her, and she had never trusted this contact who kept secrets from her… but Xiluo’er couldn’t afford to have him distrust her!

If Shadow decided she harbored rebellious intentions, the consequences would be severe.

“No, after all, at this stage, I’m only lurking around Eve, aren’t I? There’s nothing I need to actually do.”

Xiluo’er’s reply was calm, seemingly just a normal exchange of information with Shadow. Yet, in her heart, she was already weighing an idea.

She no longer had time to earn Shadow’s trust. If anything, she desperately needed to enter the basement right now to see what was happening.

If she defied Shadow’s arrangements here again today, Xiluo’er estimated she would lose any chance to declare, ‘My lord, I am a loyal subject!’

If all else failed, she would seize this very opportunity…

Xiluo’er suppressed her restless heart, deciding to probe first before taking action.

“By the way, my performance recently, it’s been quite good, hasn’t it?”

Xiluo’er’s question made Shadow raise an eyebrow.

“Quite good. The High Priest’s secret weapon indeed possesses remarkable strength. Why do you ask?”

Xiluo’er deliberately remained silent for a moment before speaking again. “Then, what about the antidote?”

Shadow chuckled soundlessly. Sure enough, he knew Cat Tail would bring that up.

A small vial was produced from Shadow’s robes, and he dangled it before Xiluo’er.

“You handled the matter of the hero Eve quite well.”

“Once the situation here in Kana City concludes, I will give you the complete antidote.”

Seeing the small vial flash before her eyes and then be tucked away by Shadow, Xiluo’er’s lips curled into a faint smile.

‘Excellent. I was afraid you wouldn’t have it with you.’

“Is that so? Then thank y—”

Xiluo’er’s words were cut short. A black dagger slid from her sleeve into her hand. Grasping the cold hilt, Xiluo’er thrust it forward with sudden force!

Feigning speech to distract her opponent while striking directly—this move was truly effective. Backstabbing felt incredibly satisfying!

Xiluo’er hadn’t originally intended to break ties with the Chaos Cult so quickly. If all else failed, she could have pretended to work for Shadow, tricked him into giving her the antidote, and then fled.

However, her objectives clashed significantly with Shadow’s instructions. She had no more time to wait. Any further delay, and the Lord’s Mansion might transform into the scene she had witnessed in the game’s storyline.

Rona becoming a monster, Serol dying, the entire Lord’s Mansion engulfed in flames, and heavy casualties among nearby residents…

Although the plan to attack Shadow was a last-minute decision forced by circumstances, Xiluo’er had sufficient confidence to act.

However, despite landing a hit, Xiluo’er keenly noticed that the feel of the dagger piercing the black robe was off.

Instead of flesh, it felt as though she had stabbed into cotton, a soft, yielding sensation in her hand.

The next second, Xiluo’er saw the Shadow before her completely soften, like melting ice cream. His entire form, along with his black robe, slowly vanished from her sight.

“Cat Tail, what is the meaning of this?”

Shadow’s icy voice emerged from behind her. Xiluo’er swiftly spun around, gripping two daggers tightly in a reverse grip.

The reappeared Shadow was still the same—clad in a voluminous black robe, his face hidden beneath the fabric, his voice cold and sharp.

Xiluo’er sighed silently to herself. ‘Sure enough, I knew this person wouldn’t be so easy to deal with. I never expected that one blow to finish him.’

“A good bird chooses its tree to nest in… I apologize, but I wish to be a good person.”

Xiluo’er had wanted to say this phrase for a long time, ever since she decided that one day she would break free from the Chaos Cult.

A classic line like this felt so cool when used at such a moment!

Well, to be frank, it was just showing off, but Shadow didn’t seem to react to Xiluo’er’s righteous declaration.

‘Choose a good tree to nest in? What a joke?’

Shadow frowned, completely failing to understand why Xiluo’er would make such a choice.

Honestly, he hadn’t anticipated Xiluo’er attacking him at all; he was completely unprepared.

It was said that the relationship between the High Priest and his hidden pieces was more than just a simple superior-subordinate dynamic. Even without any so-called poison, Cat Tail shouldn’t easily betray the Chaos Cult.

‘The consequences of betraying the Chaos Cult… doesn’t she fear them?’

“So, you have chosen to ally with the hero Eve and betray the Cult, is that correct?”

Xiluo’er snorted coldly, speaking with righteous indignation: “I have no habit of serving two masters. I simply can no longer tolerate the actions of the Chaos Cult.”

“If you must know, I’ve sided with justice. Is that acceptable?”

‘Alright, even Xiluo’er herself knew saying this sounded incredibly chuunibyou… but at a time like this, what harm could it do to say it?’

In any case, only one person would leave this place alive.

Staring intently at Shadow, Xiluo’er tightened her grip on her daggers.