Before Suran stretched one rabbit hole after another.

Black Hare was timid by nature—rarely showing herself aboveground, always moving underground, only emerging when utterly alone.

She’d dug so many burrow entrances precisely to have an escape hole nearby the moment someone appeared.

After becoming a Nightmare Retainer, though her combat power remained a solid five, her escape skills were maxed out under cover of night—perfectly matching her personality. For this kindness, she remained deeply grateful to the Queen.

Though Suran looked nearly identical to Queen Lyasis—essentially a black-haired mirror image—Black Hare would never mistake her for the Queen. Fear still clung to her.

To lure the sensitive rabbit out, Suran had a plan: imitate the Queen to lower her guard. If all went well, she might even trick her into emerging.

But mimicking Lyasis in her queenly days required more than just voice—tone, cadence, and aura were all essential.

Fortunately, Suran recalled challenging Queen Lyasis a thousand times. She knew her inside and out. Confidence settled in.

“Black Hare, are you there?” Suran called, perfectly mirroring Queen Lyasis’s voice and tone.

The words felt so authentic it was as if the Queen herself had returned to this very spot.

A reply soon echoed from the burrow cluster.

“Hmph… I’m no fool, Lord Suran. You can’t trick me—yikes!”

Black Hare hadn’t finished speaking when a startled cry cut her off.

She was clever enough to know Lyasis was now the young mistress—the “Queen” had to be Suran in disguise.

But only half-clever: though she saw through the ruse, her overconfidence made her slip up and reveal her location with that very cry.

Suran pinpointed it instantly, teleported to the burrow, and reached in to grab her long rabbit ears.

“C-Caught! Lord Suran, please don’t kill meeeee—!”

“I-I was wrong! I shouldn’t have hidden, skipped paying respects, or made you gather raw materials! I apologize!”

Black Hare shrieked and thrashed wildly.

“S-So please don’t kill meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee—!”

“Calm down! Your shouting is hurting my eyes!”

Her reaction was so extreme Suran hesitated to pull her out. “I’m here to discuss something.”

“D-Discuss… Are you eating my meat or making a handbag from my fur? Nooo! My meat’s bland! Black fur’s ugly! Go find a white rabbit instead!!”

“I need your help making a potion!” Suran cut straight to the point.

Black Hare fell silent.

“R-Really?” she whispered cautiously.

“Really.”

Suran released the ears.

*Ouch!* Black Hare tumbled backward into the burrow with a pained yelp.

She didn’t flee. Her long black ears poked out again. “Aren’t you skilled in alchemy too, Lord Suran? Why need me?”

“I want a special potion whose formula I don’t know. So I came to ask you—the most skilled potion master.”

“Hehe, ‘most skilled’ is too much…” Black Hare chuckled foolishly. Though hidden, her ears twitched visibly—pride radiating.

“So… what potion, Lord Suran?”

“Truth Serum. Do you know it?”

“Of course. Refined from a hypnotic base. Forces truth-telling… but brings side effects.”

Curious, she asked, “Who is it for, Lord Suran?”

“None of your concern.”

“Mm… alright.”

*But… side effects…*

Suran’s mind tangled. *What if the young mistress suffers lasting aftereffects?*

“How severe are the side effects?” she asked carefully. “Can they be reduced or eliminated?”

“Pretty severe. But for interrogating enemies, does it matter?” Black Hare replied. “Methods exist to lessen them… it’s just…”

“Just what?” Suran pressed.

“The process gets far more complex. Craftsmanship must be flawless. One tiny mistake—failure.”

“If materials were plentiful, I’d have room for trial and error. Ten tries, one success. But…”

Suran’s heart sank.

“Don’t tell me the missing materials are exactly those for the Truth Serum.”

“Uh… yes, Lord Suran.”

Silence thickened the air.

Suran facepalmed with a sigh. “This is *too* coincidental…”

Night Raven had gathered countless raw materials—yet the Solflare Legion intercepted them. The very ones missing? Precisely those for the Truth Serum.

Now it was like fish in the lake spotting Klee—utterly doomed!

“With current supplies, how many attempts are possible?” Suran took a steadying breath.

“Uh… at most two, Lord Suran.”

“Can it be done?”

Instantly, the ears poking from the burrow shook wildly side to side.

“No way! Only two chances—margin for error is zero!” Black Hare pleaded pitifully. “Normally, ten tries? I’d succeed once. But now… with you here… just talking strains me! Making potions under your gaze? I’d panic. Impossible!”

Her voice trembled, terrified of displeasing Suran.

“I understand.” Suran’s tone stayed calm. “Then… do you have the Truth Serum formula blueprint?”

“Yes.”

Black Hare swallowed hard. “Lord Suran… could it be that you…”

“Mm. Since you said it yourself, I won’t pressure you.” Suran nodded slightly. “It’s fine. I’ll handle it myself.”