Chapter 90: The Unraveling Deception

“I feel it’s better if our cooperation doesn’t end so soon…”

Accompanying this ambiguous remark, I noticed the man’s hand, still unsatisfied, slowly descending.

Even through a layer of clothing, I could distinctly feel his greed.

Ugh…

I stared blankly at his smiling face, a creeping unease coiling around me like tentacles.

‘Strange.’

‘Why was he looking at me like that?’

‘Could Axas really not have told him I was a man?’

‘It was possible. After all, no lord would want others to know about their cooperation with a witch.’

‘If his collusion with a devil were exposed, he would become a target, watched by all the other lords…’

‘Considering this, it wasn’t surprising that Governor Sherlock had mistaken me for a woman.’

Therefore, before his hand could descend further from my hip, I subtly took a step back, evading his next move.

“Governor, perhaps we should first discuss the matter you promised me.”

I tried my best to maintain a calm expression, though his recent actions had certainly left me feeling uneasy.

“Once that matter is settled, we can then slowly discuss whether to continue our cooperation.”

“Heh heh…”

Governor Sherlock slowly withdrew his hand. The fingers that had touched my body were brought to his nose, much like a cigarette, slowly tracing its bridge as he inhaled.

“Miss Lilian, there’s no need to rush. While you were busy eliminating those men, I already dispatched people to Fallenwind Town. They will locate Rodd’s body and complete the final step of the plan. By dawn, they will return, and my plan will be fully concluded.”

“Then you can meet that child.”

‘Meet that child, huh…’

Even though I hadn’t followed his instructions, in this moment, hearing those words, I still imagined the child’s face.

Those bright, watery eyes, that delicate, rosy skin, and the quiet, obedient way they always waited for me.

“But once you’ve met, do you truly believe you’ll be free?”

Like glass shattering, the man’s voice shattered the illusion in my mind.

I glared at him, my expression grim.

“You… you’re going back on your word?”

“Not me.”

“Is it Lord Axas?”

“Not… not him either.”

“Then who is it?”

“It’s that little brat, you see.”

Governor Sherlock spoke with a casual air.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… From the Lord of Coldwind’s territory to Moon Island, traveling for days, enduring such hardship in a damp, musty cargo hold—even an adult might not be able to withstand it, let alone a frail infant.”

“That delicate body has held on until now. Do you truly believe… they could have done it on their own?”

“Heh heh heh… Without a special elixir to prolong their life, how long do you think that child could last? I don’t think they’d make it three days before…”

My pupils instantly dilated.

“You—”

In my agitation, I longed to strike this man before me, but as soon as I raised my hand, a powerful force instantly disarmed me, pinning me brutally to the ground.

“Don’t move.”

Raven’s cold voice drifted down from above.

“Ugh—let, let me go!”

I struggled, twisting my body, trying to stand, but my strength was failing. I glared fiercely at Raven, then at Sherlock, trying to muster my last reserves of energy.

Yet, neither of them showed any fear. One’s expression was as cold as iron, while the other smiled, as if watching a plaything.

“Hush—calm down, calm down, Miss Lilian~”

Governor Sherlock crouched down, his rough fingers gently stroking my smooth cheek.

“Am I not offering you a suggestion? In truth, as long as you continue to cooperate with me, that child will be safe~”

“Ugh—why, why are you doing this!?”

I stared at him with utter incomprehension, a bitter cocktail of sorrow and fury brewing in my chest, my eyes wide as if they might tear.

“Why do all of you insist on clinging to me like this!?”

“Hahaha… How should I put it? Honestly, my interest in you wasn’t that great to begin with. After all, while playthings like you are rare, I’ve had my share of them.”

“After the Lord of Coldwind handed Raven’s command over to me, I originally only intended to use you for a bit before disposing of you.”

“But just as I thought that, your murderous demeanor suddenly made this old man feel the taste of youth again. It was as if I saw a beautiful maiden dancing amidst a bloodbath…”

He abruptly covered my face, the corners of his perpetual smile rising even higher as he struggled to speak.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic!!!!”

In that moment, my vision suddenly blurred, plunging into darkness.

My ears, too, seemed to gradually lose the ability to hear.

My body grew so tired, so heavy, so uncomfortable.

‘Why, why…’

‘Why is it that no matter how hard I try, I can never quite succeed…’

‘I only wanted to earn more money to support my family, which is why I worked overtime every night until deep into the night.’

‘I only wanted to rush to the hospital to see my sick daughter, which is why I chose to drive onto that unfamiliar overpass.’

‘I only wanted to escape that vagrant life, which is why I became the Lord of Coldwind’s manservant.’

‘I only wanted to avoid being trampled upon by others, which is why I…’

‘I only wanted to prevent others from enduring bullying, which is why I stained my own reputation to become the lord’s steward.’

‘I only wanted to spare that child from suffering, which is why I willingly transformed into a woman and endured humiliation.’

‘I only wanted that child to return safely, which is why… why…’

Holding onto a sliver of hope…

But since, no matter what I do, it always falls just short.

Luck, fate, the future—none of them are on my side.

Hiss…

Suddenly, I felt a loss of spirit, a sense of ‘whatever happens, happens.’

So, why not just…

“Boom———!”

A thunderous explosion erupted from outside, accompanied by a dazzling red light that illuminated the entire darkness.

My vision was instantly pulled back to reality, and what met my eyes was Sherlock’s astonished face.

“Enemy attack———ah!”

The sound from outside was sharp like a whistle, drawn out, and then ended with a scream.

Screams, clashes, and the sounds of cutting echoed incessantly, pressing in with a rumbling force.

“Governor, I will escort you away.”

Raven released me, then moved to shield Sherlock.

“Calm down! Calm down!”

Governor Sherlock tried to regain his nonchalant expression from earlier, offering reassurance.

“My ship is impregnable! Not even a fly can get in—”

“Thud———!”

The next moment, the wooden door of the reception room was kicked open, and several heavy corpses were thrown in like garbage, rolling to Governor Sherlock’s feet.

His face instantly turned ashen, like a sheet of paper.

“Who… who exactly are you people?”

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