South Tivian, Bishop Square.
In the cold wind of the dark night, the lively performance continued. Miss Adele, appearing on stage for the second time, was performing her third dance of the evening.
Melodic, melancholic... The tone of Miss Adele's third dance was completely different from the previous ones. Under the sorrowful music, Miss Adele's own movements also appeared tragic and beautiful. The struggling white swan she portrayed in distress couldn't help but evoke pity from the audience below.
Unlike the previous dances, due to the tone of the dance, the crowd below was much quieter while Miss Adele performed this one. Although quiet, everyone's attention was still focused on Miss Adele. The audience watched the stage with worried and tense expressions. They were truly affected by the emotions conveyed in Miss Adele's dance, and everyone was genuinely concerned about the fate of the swan.
Finally... in the latter part of the dance music, both the music and the movements gradually became more uplifting. Miss Adele's dance posture gradually changed from heavy and slow to light and powerful, as if finding a glimmer of hope in hardship and struggling forward with all her might towards that opportunity. Finally, after enduring countless hardships, the downed swan finally spread its wings again and soared into the sky. At the same time, the audience below the stage burst into thunderous applause.
Another song ended. Miss Adele breathed a huge sigh of relief watching the cheers and applause from the audience. Then, after her final bow to the audience, she slowly retreated backstage.
After retreating backstage, Miss Adele smiled, welcoming the greetings from her dance troupe members behind the scenes. Amidst the echoing laughter, a hint of deep exhaustion was visible in the depths of Miss Adele's eyes.
'Oh dear... it's been a long time since I danced something this tiring...'
After dealing with the people who came to greet her, Miss Adele sat down on a nearby seat and thought to herself. At this moment, due to excessive use of her ability, her inherent Spirituality was almost depleted.
'Although the influence on each person is very slight, this is still affecting several thousand people simultaneously. If I hadn't fused with a part of my teacher's Spirit beforehand, allowing my ability and Spirituality reserve limit to be correspondingly enhanced, it would have been very difficult for my former self to achieve this...'
Covering her forehead, Miss Adele thought to herself. Such a scene just now would have been very difficult for her former self, who was just an ordinary Desire Dancer, to pull off.
'Hmph, but I didn't expect it. Those spider perverts actually infiltrated the side of the Royal Family. How did they do it? I wonder what method that Detective Miss will use to deal with that assassin.'
Sitting in the backstage seat, Miss Adele thought. At this moment, she understood that the only person who could deal with those spider assassins was the famous Detective below the stage. She was also looking forward to seeing what kind of actions they would take.
...
"Ah... another impressive dance, but the final twist was a bit abrupt. I can feel that this dance by Miss Adele should have been a tragedy from beginning to end. That swan might never be able to fly again. This ending was probably changed by Miss Adele on the fly."
On the VIP balcony, Duke Barret commented on Miss Adele's dance as usual, and Princess Isabel on the side nodded in agreement.
"Mm... that's how it feels to me too. Perhaps it's not very suitable to perform purely tragic works during the New Year. If the ending is good, most people can accept it, especially commoners who prefer happy endings. Although tragedy can pursue deeper artistic value, those who can appreciate this art are always a minority. Here, I can see that Miss Adele is still more inclined to make her dance more accessible to the public during this evening party."
Princess Isabel continued to comment, and then she and Duke Barret began a more in-depth discussion on this topic. Meanwhile, behind them, among the row of three standing bodyguards, one was listening to their discussion while vigilantly observing the surroundings with a focused expression.
Among these bodyguards, the one on the far right was a muscular man with a scar near his eye, slightly dark skin from sun exposure, and a fierce face. In the depths of his eyes as he looked forward, a deep killing intent was hidden.
...
On the other side, in the still lively audience, Dorothy, standing among the crowd, had no interest in watching the new program on stage. At this moment, she was observing the scene on the VIP balcony through the perspective of the Corpse Puppet, staring intently at the disguised Eight Point Nest assassin standing behind the two Royal Family members, while her mind was rapidly thinking.
'Assassinating the Royal Family... so that's their real goal? Among the Princess and the Duke... did someone do something to become the target of the Eight Point Nest? Is it possible that the Duke's research had some results, which were detected by the Eight Point Nest?'
Dorothy thought this way. Thinking back and forth, the only reason for the Eight Point Nest to suddenly make a move on these two Royal Family members was this. According to Misha's previous statement, Duke Barret is a consultant for the An Yin Bureau.
Because the Eight Point Nest frequently targeted the mirror moon statue, the An Yin Bureau also began research on the mirror moon statue. However, to avoid pollution, the An Yin Bureau's research on mysticism would not go too deep, so in the end, the research work on the statue was entrusted to Duke Barret.
And since Barret has now become the target of the Eight Point Nest's assassination, it is possible that his research has made some progress, and the Eight Point Nest wants to strike first.
'It seems Barret must have found out something, so the Eight Point people are in a hurry to get rid of Captain. If that's the case, then Captain Barret absolutely cannot die. But the problem now is, how can I save Captain Barret from this environment of backstabbing and sniping.'
Dorothy thought this. She hadn't expected why the Eight Point people could infiltrate so close to the Duke, even replacing his personal bodyguard.
There were two assassination points. The sniping point was manageable, but the bodyguard behind Barret was a bit difficult to deal with. At such a close distance, it would be very difficult to stop his assassination.
'That bodyguard assassin... if I directly arrange someone to stop him, they might be mistaken for assassins themselves and be stopped by the other normal bodyguards. If I try to warn them, why would they believe me? This is very difficult to handle...'
Scratching her head, Dorothy thought worriedly. The only person who could possibly warn Barret was Miss Adele, but doing so would inevitably expose Miss Adele's identity in front of the Royal Family and the Eight Point Nest. Miss Adele's Spirituality was already insufficient due to the previous wide-area ability release. Exposing herself like this would likely put her in danger.
And if she used an ordinary Corpse Puppet instead of Miss Adele to warn them, why would they listen to her? Directly making a move would instead make her seem like the real assassin.
Dorothy also thought about creating chaos to forcibly stop the performance, but this would only make those guys act prematurely. After succeeding, they could also blame the chaos creator, herself. At that time, she would be playing the role of Sado and the others, which the Eight Point Nest would be even more eager for.
Unable to create chaos to stop the performance, unable to directly stop the assassin, and even more unable to directly give a warning... Under these constraints, trying to prevent the assassination was extremely difficult.
Just like this, Dorothy was stroking her chin and thinking seriously in the crowd, while still locking onto the positions of the two assassins through the Corpse Puppet's perspective. This was the first time she had encountered a situation where she knew the enemy's whereabouts but it was still difficult to make a move.
'I feel like I still need to warn the Royal Family in the end, but how can I successfully warn them in a way that won't be detected by the Eight Point Nest and won't be suspected by the Royal Family?'
Dorothy thought silently in her mind. At this moment, she felt her shoulder suddenly being patted, and was startled. Turning her face, she found that the person who patted her was none other than Grego.
"Hi! Dorothy! Did you see that just now?! That magic trick up there was amazing! The person went into the box and when it opened, it became another person! How did they do that?"
With an excited expression, Grego patted Dorothy's shoulder while pointing at the show on stage and said loudly, Dorothy, who was startled, looked at Grego, then glanced at the transformation magic on stage, and said with a slight twitch of her mouth.
"Ah ah... Yes, it's really amazing..."
While saying this out loud, Dorothy couldn't help but inwardly complain speechlessly.
'Bro... you're an Extraordinary too, can you stop being so surprised watching magic performed by ordinary people? Besides, transforming into other people, isn't that something you can easily do too?'
Dorothy complained to Grego like this in her heart, and during this process, she suddenly seemed to realize something, freezing for a moment, and then a thought emerged in her heart.
'Perhaps... I can try doing it this way?'
Glancing sideways at the Grego beside her, Dorothy stroked her chin and thought, after which she closed her eyes and, in her identity as the Detective, began to pray to Aka.
'Great Aka, please convey this prayer for me to Black Dog Mr. Mays House, I know he is attending the New Year's Eve party at Bishop Square in South District, there is a great crisis on the square where he is now, behind this performance is the sinister plot of Eight Point Nest, I need his help to stop this plot now.'
After finishing the prayer, Dorothy immediately sent the entire content of the prayer to him through the information channel connected to Grego, then stood still, silently watching the show, and observing Grego beside her with the corner of her eye. She clearly noticed that Grego, who was enthusiastically watching the magic, suddenly froze, then frowned and looked around at the surrounding scene, and then a clear worry appeared in his expression, obviously no longer interested in watching the performance.
Frowning, Grego hesitated for a while, then after firming his expression, he silently closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking in his heart, and after a while, Dorothy heard Grego's prayer.
"Great Aka... please convey for me to the Detective, I have heard his words, please ask what specific crisis he is referring to?"
Hearing Grego's prayer, Dorothy immediately responded without waiting. In her response, she simply explained the current situation on the square to Grego, letting him know that the Royal Family members on the stands and other audience members could all be threatened by the plot of Eight Point Nest, and that she must rely on his help to stop the opponent's plot.
After hearing Dorothy's explanation, Grego's expression became even more serious. He then asked the "Detective" some questions, and Dorothy answered them one by one.
Just like this, Dorothy and Grego, this brother and sister pair, communicated in their minds using prayer, despite being less than half a meter apart. At the end of their communication, Dorothy instructed Grego.
"In short, Mr. Mays House, you need to immediately rush to the end of Blue Weave Street on the right side of the square, in the alley between number 11 and 12. Once you get there, I will give you the next command. Time is urgent, please hurry!"
After hearing these words, the serious-faced Grego stood still for a moment, then he solemnly turned around and patted Dorothy's shoulder beside him.
"What's wrong?"
Turning her head to look at Grego beside her, Dorothy tilted her head and asked with a confused expression, while Grego squatted down and said solemnly to Dorothy.
"Listen to me, Dorothy, I need to go out alone for a bit now, but it's dangerous for you to be in this place alone, I'm not quite at ease, so you come out with me first..."
"Did something happen, Grego? There's only half an hour left until the New Year's countdown, if we squeeze out now, we won't be able to squeeze back in to see the countdown."
With an innocent and confused expression, Dorothy asked Grego, while Grego continued to answer seriously.
"This matter is a bit complicated, I can't explain it clearly right now, so don't ask for now, I'll explain it to you later. I'm sorry you won't see the New Year's countdown this year, but I promise you, I will definitely take you to see a complete one next year. Now, Dorothy, will you leave with me first, okay?"
Listening to Grego's words, Dorothy thought for a moment. Although a hint of confusion still flickered in her expression, she still obediently nodded and spoke.
"Okay, then let's go first, Grego."
"That's great, you're truly my little angel, Dorothy..."
Seeing Dorothy being so sensible and obedient, Grego said thankfully. At first, he was worried that Dorothy would be like other children, fussing about wanting to continue watching the performance and not wanting to leave. After explaining to Dorothy, Grego took Dorothy's hand and began leading her through the crowd. Soon after, the two of them walked out of the audience crowd, and then quickly walked away from the direction of the venue. Not long after, the two of them left the square.
Afterwards, in an unmanned corner on the outskirts of the square, Grego placed Dorothy here, and then gave his final instructions.
"Alright, Dorothy, now you wait for me here, don't go inside the venue. Don't go with anyone who comes to pick you up except me. If anything happens that you feel is dangerous, run back immediately, understood? I'll be back right away."
Grego said seriously to Dorothy, and Dorothy also nodded seriously after hearing Grego's words. Seeing this, Grego breathed a sigh of relief and immediately left. Looking at Grego's receding back in the cold night, Dorothy couldn't help but complain in her heart.
'Bro, do you know that pile of words you just said was setting a flag? In some movies, you might just disappear like that...'
'But thankfully... the task I gave you isn't very dangerous...'
Dorothy thought this in her heart, and then began to prepare to transmit new instructions to Grego.
...
On the other side, after placing Dorothy in a location far from the dangerous area of the square, Grego also quickly rushed to the designated location, the outskirts of Bishop Square, the end of Blue Weave Street, the alley entrance between number 11 and 12. After checking the building numbers on both sides were correct, he walked in, then closed his eyes inside and began to pray to Aka, sending information.
And after a while, he received a reply.
"Very good, now... Mr. Mays House, use your ability as a Shadow Masked Man to disguise yourself as this person..."
Along with the reply, the image of a man appeared in Grego's mind. After seeing this image in his mind, Grego was slightly startled, but he immediately followed suit and began to use his ability to transform.
As Grego's bones constantly made cracking sounds, his body began to grow rapidly. As the skin on his face began to squirm, his appearance began to change. After a short while, Grego completely transformed into another image.
Tall, with slightly tanned skin, a fierce face, and a small scar below his eye, this figure was none other than the bodyguard behind Duke Barret and Princess Isabel, the bodyguard whose true identity was a member of Eight Point Nest!
After the transformation was complete, the male voice belonging to the Detective sounded in Grego's mind.
"Mr. Mays House, after you have finished the disguise, please immediately take off your clothes and dress up as if you have just been through a battle. Afterwards, go to Blue Weave Street number 1, go upstairs from the main entrance there, and warn the security personnel inside who are protecting the Royal Family."
"Remember, you are now one of the personal bodyguards protecting the Royal Family. Vicious cultists from Eight Point Nest attacked you, attempting to seize your identity and secretly harm the Royal Family. Fortunately, you survived the ordeal and returned. You need to warn your colleagues about the hidden risks around Duke Barret and Princess Isabel."