"Cangqing Tower? What kind of place is that?"

Yuri caught Useless’s expression. Slightly intrigued by the place that had so drastically altered his demeanor.

However, Bai Ling shook her head. "I don’t actually know. My sister always says I can’t go there alone, and no one else will accompany me. But since she forbids it, it must be fun!"

Useless: "..."

No. That place was absolutely not fun.

With Bai Ling’s intelligence, once she entered, she’d never come out—not even her bones would remain.

As Central Capital’s largest pleasure quarter, it was also the most luxurious den of vice. Those who lingered there were either obscenely wealthy or cunning, greedy old foxes.

Besides, why did a place forbidden by one’s master automatically become fun!?

If not for his slight facial paralysis and habitual fake smile, Useless’s expression would have been spectacular.

"Huh? You don’t know either?" Yuri’s gaze shifted to him. "But your butler’s face suggests he knows something."

Bai Ling glanced at the inexplicably guilty Useless, then pouted. "Hmph. He’d never tell me. And he’s not my butler—just a temporary bodyguard."

Dark lines creased the black-clad butler’s forehead. How could he explain?

Should he say it was a high-class brothel? If he did, his master would never spare him later.

Useless sighed helplessly. "Ahem, miss... your food’s getting cold."

Bai Ling shot him a disdainful glance. "Useless, your topic-changing skills are the lowest level!"

Useless: "..."

"...You two get along well," Yuri remarked with a smile.

"Who gets along with him? He’s just a bodyguard. And he’s been freeloading the whole trip, not doing a single—"

Boom!!

The airship jolted violently as Bai Ling spoke. The noisy restaurant fell dead silent.

It settled quickly.

"What happened?" Bai Ling blinked blankly, unease creeping in.

A gentle voice emanated from the overhead voice-transmission device. "A minor incident occurred. We apologize. It’s resolved—please stay calm..."

"Just a minor incident?" Bai Ling muttered. "What incident could happen on an airship? Did they smash the controls?"

Minor incident?

Yuri pursed her lips. It was an incident—but far from minor.

Meanwhile, in the lowest work area...

Drip.

Dark red liquid pooled beneath an instrument.

Before the voice device, a blood-soaked man cowered. "I-I did as you said. C-can you let me go... uh!?"

A blade flashed before he finished.

Squelch!

Blood sprayed anew.

"So talkative," the youth said coldly, retracting his sword. "Did I promise to spare you? And that anomaly you caused—I’m furious."

His gaze shifted to nearby thugs. "Clean this up. And you haven’t forgotten how to fly this airship, have you?"

"Don’t worry—it’s simple," a few chuckled, splitting up.

Some dragged away dozens of corpses. Others took the dead crew’s posts, operating controls smoothly.

"Change course. Head to the target location."

"Aye!"

Unaware, the passengers sailed toward a new destination... hell.

The youth pulled a spiral device from his pocket. "My side’s done. Yours?"

The device flashed. "Finally? I’ve waited ages. You’re so slow."

"...I won’t argue now," the youth growled, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Hmph. We’ve sparred 626 times. Half were verbal—you’ve won only 22. I’m stronger."

Youth: "..."

"You asking for death? Don’t think I won’t hit you mid-mission!"

"Tch. Fine. For the mission’s sake, I’ll ignore you."

The dismissive tone turned the youth’s face dark as charcoal.

"My side’s secure. The airship’s ours. But the target’s heavily guarded by strong fighters. Before that person arrives, we should... Hey? Listening?"

Youth: "...Right now, I just want to kill you."

"Hey! Stay silent and I cut the link. No trouble—if the mission’s delayed..."

The youth’s lips twitched. "Shut up! I know what to do—I don’t need your advice!"

He cut the connection and tossed the device away petulantly.

A cold glare silenced the surrounding "sympathetic" stares.

Elsewhere, a red-haired woman pocketed her device with a smile. She stretched, her voluptuous figure straining her clothes. "Messing with that idiot daily really refreshes me."

Her gaze drifted to fresh corpses oozing blood. The standing figures had numb faces, ashen gray in their eyes—like puppets.

"Alright. Time for real work..."