Covered in moonlight, the group of people slowly left the palace gate under the watchful eyes of the guards. No one would doubt the helplessness and weariness reflected in their steps.
"Remember, redeem the reward and come back in three days." The guard's arrogant voice came from behind them.
"I know." Haoran responded coldly, and although his steps were slow, he didn't stop.
Just after turning a corner, the wall blocked the guards behind him. Haoran's movements suddenly became very fast. After he stepped aside, he made a hissing gesture to signal the people behind him to follow him quickly.
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"Is there something wrong?" Xiaoyun had already seen the problem, but he just kept holding back.
"Something must have happened in the palace," Haoran said as he put his ear to the corner of the wall. After making sure that no one was following him, he continued: "There is something wrong with that guard at first sight!"
"What should I say?" Although Xiaoyun also felt that something was wrong, he could not point out specifically what was wrong.
"He only has one person guarding the entrance to the palace." Haoran said: "I have been here many times in the palace, but I have never seen him before. Nine times out of ten, he is a fake."
"So what? Maybe he is a newcomer?" The bad cowboy interjected dissatisfiedly.
"Cousin, what Xiaobai said makes sense, please listen to it first." Lan Qing was not as careless as a bad cowboy, and she immediately understood the meaning behind Haoran's words.
"Cowboy, how can you let a newcomer guard such an important place like the palace gate alone?" Xiaoyun is also smart as ice and snow, and after being reminded by Haoran, he immediately understood the problem.
"That's true..." As soon as the bad cowboy heard Situ Muyun speak, he immediately became docile and stopped pushing the bull.
"Shh~" Haoran suddenly felt a slight movement coming from the air, and hurriedly winked at everyone.
Then he changed his usual image and yelled loudly: "Damn it, I'm half dead from exhaustion after killing monsters for a day. That scorpion tail can't be exchanged for reputation right away. What a shabby bodyguard!"
"Oh, just accept your fate. Besides, didn't the guard tell you that? After three days, the reputation will still be given to you." Xiaoyun understood, and sang along with him.
"I heard that the Qingzhu wine in the tavern not far ahead is good. How about we go have a drink to relieve the suffocation?" Qingqing also wisely interjected.
The bad cowboy said "hum" and stood in a cool posture. There were so many people here anyway, there was no need for him to act.
"Let's go, let's all drink together!" Haoran looked like a fierce man in need of diarrhea.
The group of people no longer walked slowly this time. It seemed that after being tempted by alcohol, they suddenly activated the remaining energy in their bodies.
Watching them go further and further, a dark figure appeared where they had just been. Under the bright moonlight, his face could be seen clearly. It was the guard just now.
"They are really a bunch of reckless men. They are worrying for nothing." He looked at Haoran and the others' backs with disdain.
While the guard was there, he gently leaned out and saw a dark figure behind him looking in his direction. After feeling nothing unusual, he hurried back to the palace. That figure was the guard just now.
Haoran leaned his ear against the wall and listened carefully, then breathed softly and said: "The person watching the sentry is gone."
"There's a problem!" Xiaoyun frowned and said, "Do I need to sneak into the palace to take a look?"
"We'd better inform Duke Nicholas first and see what he thinks about this matter. After all, we are not familiar with things in the palace. Even if we sneak in rashly, we won't gain much." Haoran thought for a moment and said.
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"That's fine." Everyone thought the same thing. Asking someone who understands anything will save you a lot of detours.
"The Magician's Guild is right in front, let's go." Xiaoyun nodded first.
A group of people entered the union. Since Haoran and Lan Qingjue were both disciples of the Great Mage and had special status, the apprentices outside did not stop them. They went straight to the door of Room 111 and gently knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" The old Duke's tired voice suddenly came from inside. It was so late, and the old man had already fallen asleep, so he was woken up reluctantly.
"Duke Nicholas, I am a newbie and I have something important to tell my friends." Haoran leaned close to the door wall and lowered his voice. Although he was in the Magician's Guild, it was still necessary to be careful about the ears next door.
"Wait a minute." There were some small voices coming from inside. It was obviously the old man trying to get up and get dressed.
Half a minute later, the door creaked open, and the old Duke signaled in a low voice: "Come in and talk."
"Just now we passed the entrance of the palace and encountered a very strange thing..." Haoran briefly gave an overview of his conversation with the strange guard and the subsequent follow-up.
"Ike is Larsis's confidant, and it is impossible for him to be transferred out of the palace." Nicholas thought for a moment and said: "Furthermore, I also know that the Scorpion Tail is offering a bounty for reputation. As long as he is an official guard, he has the right to fulfill that reward."
Reward. If the person doesn’t redeem it for you, there is only one possibility..."
"What?" Haoran asked quickly.
"He is not a real guard. Something happened in the palace!" Nicholas said with a trace of worry in his eyes: "Is it the queen who uses such methods?"
"The Queen wants to usurp the throne?" Haoran thought, and then he spoke out the questions in his heart.
"Does Larsis want to make the second prince the crown prince?" Nicholas fell into deep thought. If it weren't for the establishment of a crown prince, what else could cause the queen to make such a desperate move?
"No, if Filia has evil intentions and wants to usurp the throne, then Linda will be in danger!" Thinking of his niece who was still in the palace, the old Duke's face suddenly turned ugly.
"Then what should I do?" Qingqing got along quite well with the beautiful great mage who accepted her as her disciple, and she looked worried for a moment.
"Don't worry, let me think about it. Which one of you will help me call Grand Magister Leiwen?" Nicholas thought for a moment and said, "He has a quick mind, and he might have a good idea."
"I'll go." As Lei Wen's disciple, Haoran left the room without saying a word.
In the courtyard behind the Magician's Guild, Instructor Lei Wen was flying a big kite into the sky.
"Teacher." Haoran shouted from a distance. He was also a little curious about his master's strange behavior.
"Apprentice, you came just in time." Lei Wen pulled the kite string in his hand and said: "Come on, cast a few thunder and lightning magics in the sky, the more the better."
"Okay." Haoran found it very interesting, took out his staff and cast purple lightning. In a blink of an eye, purple arcs filled the sky, like countless twisting little snakes, among which there were more than a dozen strikes.
