After returning to the room, Alicia handed the items from her suitcase to Mika and Daisy.

"Is this Bruno?!"

Daisy recognized him instantly. Mika watched Daisy curiously.

"He’s King Garp’s second son," Daisy explained. "A good-for-nothing. What’s he doing here?"

"Just ask him," Alicia said. She yanked the gag from his mouth and kicked him. "Hey. What are you doing here?"

"Daisy! You murderer of our parents—you’ve been hiding here all along!"

Bruno ignored Alicia entirely, spitting venom at Daisy instead.

Daisy’s face turned ashen. Then the fool turned on Alicia.

"I once admired you. But to consort with a monster like Daisy? Still, this prince is merciful. Repent and serve me well—"

"Mitchell," Alicia summoned. "Teach him silence."

Mitchell materialized and cracked Bruno over the head. "Daring to insult milady?! Is that how a slave speaks?! Milady, use my prized whip—it doubles pain! Let this scum learn his place!"

Alicia tested the thorn-studded whip. Satisfied, she raised a silent Barrier. Softly, she told Mika and Daisy, "What comes next isn’t for young eyes and ears. Close them."

They didn’t. They watched everything.

Huddled in the corner, trembling, the two girls exchanged shaken whispers.

"Never knew Alicia could be so terrifying. And that Yuan Staff... it talks?"

"Must be a special one. Who’d think gentle Alicia..."

"Could Larry be...?"

"N-no way. Probably not?"

They pictured Larry’s sunny smile—nothing like Bruno’s broken form. Yet doubt took root.

"Talk! Talk! Talk!" Alicia’s strikes grew feverish.

"I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Queen, please stop—but what do you want to know?!"

"What?! You forgot my question? I asked the moment I entered!" *Crack!* "Think harder!"

"Exactly!" Mitchell cheered. "Break this forgetful slave! Milady, may I beg for your whip later? It thrills me—"

"Get in line. I’ll deal with you next."

"Oho!" Mitchell obediently shuffled aside.

"I remember! Don’t hit me! Please!" Bruno’s rusted brain finally recalled Alicia’s question.

He’d seen Daisy and heard nothing else since.

"I was returning from a mission to Jeep."

"What did you negotiate?" Alicia pressed.

Bruno hesitated, mumbling. State secrets.

"You worthless slave! Hiding things?!" *Crack! Crack!* "Hiding things?!"

"Ahhh! We’re ceding the Carolshi region to Jeep! For ten years of peace with Danga!"

"How could Uncle Garp agree to this?!" Daisy cried, trembling with fury.

"I just followed orders..." Bruno whimpered.

"Is the treaty signed?"

"Yes. I have it."

Alicia snatched the document. Both royal seals gleamed on the parchment.

Daisy crumpled. She reached to tear it apart—

Alicia stopped her. "Tearing it changes nothing. Kings will sign another. But this..." She tucked it away. "This is useful evidence. We’ll discuss it with Larry."

Daisy nodded weakly. Alicia signaled Mika to comfort her.

When they stepped aside, Alicia’s gaze slid back to Bruno.

He knelt, shivering. "I’ve told everything, Queen. May I go?"

Alicia smiled sweetly. "Go? Patience. I’m giving you a reward. A night with three beautiful women."

"Can you untie me then?" Bruno dared to ask.

"Oh, you misunderstand." She lifted the suitcase lid. "You’ll join us... inside this."

As darkness swallowed him, Alicia savored his terror. "Don’t worry. I’ll let you breathe during the journey. Try to run? Well..." She gagged him again and slammed the lid shut. *This one will be useful.*

Alicia’s group left the shady inn swiftly after a brief rest.

Bruno’s abduction wasn’t discovered until hours later.

His guard, revived, nearly fell on his sword—only duty to King Garp stayed his hand. He searched fruitlessly; Alicia’s trail had gone cold, her alliance with Daisy unknown. He raced toward the capital, head bowed.

Bruno tried escaping during every "breathing break." Each time, Alicia dragged him back. After "simple" corrections, he obeyed like a whipped dog.

*East?* He’d never glance west.

Alicia had no interest in keeping pets. Only his usefulness spared him.

After half a month’s travel, they reached the Western Hills—Larry’s decoy zone.

In a rented cellar, they planned the rendezvous.

"No problem," Alicia said. "Larry posts a ‘Find Person’ quest at the Adventurers Guild—for me. I’ll take it and meet his contact."

Leaving Mika and Daisy hidden, Alicia entered the Guild. She found Larry’s quest, accepted it, and approached the poster—a one-eyed brute.

He eyed her, then murmured: "Tian wang gai di hu."

Alicia choked back a laugh. "*Bao ta zhen he yao.*"

"Follow me."

Through winding alleys, they reached a shack. The brute knocked a coded rhythm.

"Enter."

Inside lay a ragged beggar. He scanned them warily. "The one the Prince sent?"

"Matches the password." The brute shut the door. Dusty light barely pierced the gloom.

"Come." The beggar lifted his straw mat, pressed a floor tile. A trapdoor yawned open.

Down they went. Deeper. Until a vast underground base sprawled before Alicia—figures bustling with urgent tasks.

At its heart, in a makeshift office, sat Larry.

No.

*Larry disguised as Daisy.*