Chapter 165-Death by Disclaimer

"Did you notice? The maids in this castle all move in a strange, rigid way, almost like soulless dolls, only able to act according to preset instructions."

Vicki shifted her plump hips back, curling up on the sofa, her voice pressed low as she kept glancing nervously at the door, afraid of being discovered.

"The nearby guards are the same. They're buried head to toe in armor, their voices completely emotionless. I can't sense the slightest trace of spirit from them at all."

Hearing this, Bai Yue Zero couldn't help recalling every person she'd met along the way. 

Aside from Gus and the butler, all the guards and maids she'd encountered really did move with an eerie stiffness.

Back then, the butler's explanation had been that they'd all undergone extremely rigorous training, so every movement was precisely standardized, but thinking about it now... that was just an excuse.

Bai Yue Zero's chest heaved as she tried to stay calm and asked, "So you're saying all of this is Gus's doing?"

"I think that butler is the one with the problem," Vicki whispered. "I barely know Gus—I've only met her once back in the royal capital."

"You think I'll believe you?" Bai Yue Zero narrowed her eyes at her. "The Black-Clad People's base is right near Pine Abyss City. For them to build such a terrifying force in secret, there's no way Gus, the lord here, isn't involved."

In truth, ever since she first saw Vicki, Bai Yue Zero had already started treating Gus as one of the Black-Clad, quietly guarding against the two of them making a move.

Unexpectedly, Vicki was momentarily stunned. "The Black-Clad People's base is here in Pine Abyss City?"

"Yeah, didn't you know?"

"I didn't." Vicki shook her head. "I only have a cooperative relationship with the Black-Clad. I don't actually know much about them."

"So... you didn't come to Pine Abyss City looking for help from the Black-Clad?"

"Of course not. I've already decided to cut ties with them," Vicki said with a frown. "It was General Tyma who helped me escape the palace and suggested I lay low outside for a while, and I chose to come to Pine Abyss City on my own."

So she came to Pine Abyss City by her own choice... Bai Yue Zero asked again, "How did you get back in contact with Tyma?"

"Is that not allowed?"

"First it was some mysterious organization trying to collect divine power, and now it's a bloodthirsty general plotting to seize the throne... Princess Vicki, why are you so bad at picking allies?"

"Because I want to change the hopeless future I've seen." Vicki bit her lip, her eyes brimming with both grievance and resolve. "Even if I have to ask a tiger for its hide... I have to try!"

Bai Yue Zero looked at her with a trace of pity. "Oh... So you'd rather trust a fierce tiger than your own family?"

"Family?" A look of despair flashed in Vicki's eyes. "Mother's illness is hopeless. Big Sister Huilian is obsessed with 'peace' and is a fool. Second Sister has no interest in the throne, and Fourth Sister is still studying at the academy... Who exactly am I supposed to trust?"

"Of course—you should trust me."

Bai Yue Zero leaped up, stepping on the sofa to look down at Vicki from above, her cute little face full of confidence.

Vicki shook her head. "You're just a traveler from another world. Besides, I could never trust someone from the Dark Faction."

"Looking down on travelers from another world?" Bai Yue Zero raised her brow slightly. "As for the Dark Faction... even the Goddess of Judgement has declared me innocent—are you still going to slander me?"

Vicki was momentarily stunned.

She could never understand why the Goddess of Judgement would acknowledge Bai Yue Zero. That dark and corrupted aura was so obvious—even last night, under the bed, she could sense it clearly...

If even she could notice, the Goddess of Judgement couldn't possibly have missed it.

But why did the Goddess of Judgement still acknowledge her?

While Vicki was still bewildered, Bai Yue Zero hopped down from the sofa and tiptoed over to Vicki with light feline steps.

"Princess Vicki, even though you've always opposed me, for Qingjin and Huilian's sake, I can let bygones be bygones."

"Stop trusting those wicked Black-Clad People and that scheming general."

"I have... a condition you simply can't refuse."

She leaned in, taking Vicki's slender, fair fingers, and with one finger traced tiny words onto her palm.

Those few words formed a single sentence—

"I can cure Qingjin."

Vicki's entire body trembled violently. She grabbed Bai Yue Zero's hands with sudden force, her breathing turning urgent and uneven.

"You... You're serious?!"

"I've got no reason to lie, do I?" Bai Yue Zero shrugged. "If you don't believe me, just go ask Huilian back at the capital."

"Haah... Haah..."

Vicki's face flushed bright red as she panted with excitement.

If this big-chested white-haired girl was telling the truth, there would be no civil war in the kingdom, and that hopeless future would never come to pass.

All the chaos in the kingdom had started with Qingjin's illness. Once Qingjin recovered, the chaos would naturally end as well.

Vicki could distrust her peace-obsessed elder sister Huilian, but she had absolute faith in her cold and aloof mother!

Vicki took a deep breath, staring dazedly at Bai Yue Zero, her exquisitely beautiful face tinged with an excited blush.

I hope you're not lying.

Just a few days ago, she'd considered this girl a mortal enemy and had tried more than once to have her killed.

But now, in this very moment, she almost wanted to kneel down and beg her softly, praying that she was telling the truth, praying she wouldn't betray her trust.

"If it's really as you say... then I'll do anything!" Vicki said earnestly, looking at her. "Even if you want me dead, I won't hesitate."

"That's not necessary." Bai Yue Zero shrugged. "If I'm lying, let the Goddess of Judgement strike me down with a thunderbolt."

At that moment, the door suddenly swung open.

The butler entered holding a divine staff, bowing respectfully to them both. "Priest Heroine, this is a divine staff from the Lord for you."

Bai Yue Zero thought for a moment, then said cautiously, "Just leave it on the table, I'll get it later."

After Vicki's warning, Bai Yue Zero now regarded both Gus and the butler as enemies.

But rather than starting a fight here and now, she wanted to regroup with her teammates first.

"Why leave it on the table? Priest Heroine, do you not trust me?"

Suddenly, the butler's head twisted ninety degrees to the right in a bizarre fashion. Her pupils rolled back, her whole body began to convulse.

"So you figured it out after all... That useless fool Gus... always causing me trouble."

Bone spurs burst through her skin, streaked with blood, rapidly transforming her into a terrifying white-boned monster.

【Name: Jia Coffin】
【Race: Undead】
【Level: 40】
【Class: Necromancer】
【Description: Gus's butler. For reasons unknown, was seduced by necromancy and began using the lord's authority to gather corpses for study. In the process, lost her humanity, and to keep her secret, forcibly took control of everyone in the lord's manor.】
【Note: Apparently Gus escaped unscathed thanks to her need to frequently meet outsiders and her blissful ignorance.】

A level 40 Necromancer!

Bai Yue Zero immediately pulled out her starter staff, preparing to cast a Holy Light Orb.

Just then, she felt an immensely powerful gaze from the distant heavens sweep over them, utterly devoid of emotion.

Crap! The Goddess of Judgement, that crazy woman, just had to show up now—

As the butler's huge skeletal claw swung down, Bai Yue Zero's face went pale, bracing herself for death.

In that instant, her hair stood on end as a blazing bolt of lightning pierced the roof and struck straight down—

Boom!

Under the terrifying heavenly thunder, the butler was instantly reduced to a pile of charred remains, not even ashes left.

【Appraisal by the will of the Goddess of Judgement: Passed.】

Bai Yue Zero stared in shock at the scorched mark on the ground, silent for a long time.

Goddess of Judgement...

Did the Goddess of Judgement suddenly have a change of heart and decide not to torment me anymore?

She turned around to find Vicki staring at her with an extremely suspicious look.

-- If I'm lying, let the Goddess of Judgement strike me down with a thunderbolt.

Bai Yue Zero's delicate body trembled as she hurriedly tried to explain, "Uh... let me explain, I really wasn't lying..."

Used lightning... to smite the butler in an instant?