Caging the Canary: Choices and Arrangements

Lainas also felt that the Kingdom's nobles were somewhat foolish, and this difference was even more pronounced when compared to the empire's current policies.

But regarding his choice to leave the empire.

Lainas had no regrets, especially as the rider of the man before her.

I experienced the Great Marsh.

Lainas knew very well how powerful this seemingly gentle man was; he could summon Fourth-Tier Angel, and his strength had reached the level of Adamantite Rank adventurer.

The depths of the Great Marsh are already extremely dangerous, yet the adult spent more than two days alone in the dense forest deep within, and returned without a single injury.

This is something that even an entire team of Adamantite Rank adventurers couldn't do!

And it can also help you break the curse...

No!

She can now freely control the cursed power within her, which is not a way of lifting the curse at all.

Lainas didn't know how Tang Zheng had done it, and she certainly wouldn't ask about such a secret.

Powerful! Mysterious!

As a knight of adults, this is her honor.

"My lord, what should we do next?" Lainas asked Tang Zheng, her clear, deep blue eyes shining brightly.

"A very beautiful outfit."

Tang Zheng glanced at Lainas's smart and aristocratic attire and praised her, "Since you just returned from a banquet, you must have already had some contact with the Kingdom's nobles."

"Tell me about your senses."

Imina, who was sitting at the table behind her with her legs crossed, chewed her food a little louder.

Lainas's expression turned serious. She knew perfectly well that what the adults had asked her to say was not an evaluation of these nobles.

I paused to think for a moment.

"I attended several small parties held under the pretext of celebrating the Earl's birthday."

"Based on current observations, the Nobles' Faction in the Kingdom is divided into two factions: one is the Royalist Faction, and the other is the Nobles' Faction whose primary interests are self-interested."

"The Nobles' Faction is the most powerful, led by the first prince Barbro, who has the rightful right of succession. His subordinates believe that given the first prince's situation, he may not be able to control this Nobles' Faction faction once he ascends the throne."

Lainas gave a detailed report on the information she had observed and analyzed, paused slightly, and then continued:

"According to rumors, the Second Prince Zanac possesses considerable talent, but he lacks noble backing. If Your Excellency wishes to use the Second Prince as a starting point, he might be a good choice."

She was neither a pretty face nor a fool with only martial arts skills; naturally, she could guess some of her master's intentions.

"As expected of you, Lainas," Tang Zheng exclaimed in admiration.

In such a short time, Lainas has already gathered so much information. Indeed, only nobles truly understand nobles.

"The second prince didn't have any support?"

Tang Zheng chuckled lightly, "That's not necessarily true. Don't you think it's unusual that they were able to find out about the Second Prince's talent in such a short time?"

Lainas's delicate face paused for a moment, then she immediately realized what was happening.

"You've missed one," Tang Zheng said.

Lainas looked blank. Currently, apart from the first and second princes, there shouldn't be any other princes in the entire Kingdom with the right to inherit the throne.

"Princess Renner?" Lainas asked softly.

Whether it's an empire or Kingdom, princesses have no right of inheritance and are not worth investing in.

suddenly.

"Wait a moment, my lady." Lainas's eyes flashed, as if she had realized something, and she quickly turned and left.

A short while later.

Lainas then returned, this time with an invitation in her hand, and respectfully handed it to Tang Zheng: "This is one of several invitations that arrived on the second day after we moved into the Noble District; it's an invitation from Princess Renner."

"I didn't pay any attention to it, and Princess Renner didn't send any more invitations after that."

I picked up the invitation and glanced at it; it was rather ordinary, even unremarkable.

Tang Zheng, however, smiled.

"A canary trapped in a cage."

"No matter how intelligent someone is, if they can't break free of their cage, they only have value as an object of observation."

Tang Zheng turned his gaze away from the invitation and looked up at Lainas: "What if you were that kind of canary in a gilded cage?"

For a moment, Lainas was at a loss for words.

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out from behind.

"Either I struggle desperately to escape from the cage, or I'd rather starve to death," Imina said calmly, wiping the pastry crumbs from the corner of her rosy lips.

Tang Zheng smiled and glanced at Imina.

Princess Renner is actually a rather complex character, and cannot be understood using simple notions of good and evil or moral judgments.

She didn't care whether her proposals were adopted or not; instead, she wanted to use the Empire's spies to pass them on to the Blood Emperor.

Such a completely self-destructive behavior is something no normal person would do. Renner might be doing it simply out of boredom, or perhaps to prove her own worth.

Like Climb, the Loyal Dog he was when he was a slave, the way he looked at Renner brought her a sense of satisfaction and comfort.

so.

In Tang Zheng's view, the key to Renner's truly distorted personality lies in her "self-identity" and "value"!

"The First Prince has all the prestige and status, but he's a complete idiot."

"The second prince is intelligent and indeed possesses the talent to be a king, but that's about it."

Tang Zheng handed the invitation back to Lainas and said earnestly, "You can consider this woman as a female Jircniv."

Lainas's eyes widened as she looked at Tang Zheng in disbelief.

The Blood Emperor Jircniv was undoubtedly the most remarkable emperor in the history of the entire empire, a fact that even the corrupt and incompetent nobles had to acknowledge.

And the adults actually gave Princess Renner such high praise!

"After your battle with Gazef, go and meet Princess Renner and join her side."

Tang Zheng's smile faded, his gaze becoming deep. "Many things don't need our planning; this woman will do them for us."

"Once the obstruction is removed, the gemstone will spontaneously release its Radiance."

"Yes, sir." Although Lainas still had some doubts, she did not voice any questions and spoke seriously.

"This woman is too smart, so you don't need to hide many things from her. Just treat her like a clever canary in a cage."

"Be careful of Gazef's special move, ' Fourfold Slash of Light,' during the battle. If his strength increases again during this time, it might evolve into ' Sixfold Slash of Light.'"

Tang Zheng glanced at Imina beside him and chuckled, "I probably won't be staying within the Kingdom's borders for quite some time, so you two will need to coordinate things."

"Hello."

Imina's amber eyes widened, and a fierce look immediately appeared on her cold face as she looked at Tang Zheng:

Don't make it sound like I'm on the same level as your subordinates.

"So far, where has my reward been? And I have no ability to help this noble lady at all."

Tang Zheng stood up and said casually, "It will be ready soon, and the reward will be more than enough to satisfy you."

night.

Inside a small inn located on the outskirts of the Royal Capital.

One after another, figures dressed in black bodysuits emerged from the night and Silent Shot approached the small hotel.

"That Half-Elf is here, isn't he?"

"That's right, they've already changed locations three times. Our people spotted this small hotel they're staying at."

"Be careful, this Half-Elf is quite strong."

"Half-Elf? That's a very rare breed. Selling them as slaves would definitely fetch over 1000 gold coins. I just wonder what they taste like?"

"Hehe, I really want to try it."

"Stop dreaming. Lord Mawmvis has ordered that we capture him alive."

The Assassin whispered among themselves, but their movements didn't falter at all; they approached the small hotel quickly and silently.

However!

Just as the group was about to approach the small hotel, the hotel's previously closed door suddenly opened.

Imina walked out of the hotel with an expressionless face, her gaze cold as she looked at the Assassin hidden in the darkness.

"We've been discovered!"

The Assassin' expressions changed.

"Now that we've discovered it, let's launch a full-scale attack," one of the Assassin said coldly.

Fortunately, the location is remote, so even if there is a commotion, it won't be noticed immediately.

"As prey, you seem to have misjudged yourselves." A calm voice came from behind the Assassin.

This caused the group to freeze.

Tang Zheng was not wearing his conspicuous Priest's robe at this moment, but had changed into a black robe, with his whole body covered by a hood.