Betrayal

Between the Duchy of Uno and the Shipu Federation stood a mountain nearly three thousand meters high.

The mountain lay within the Duchy of Uno, serving as Uno's natural defensive line.

Because of this, during the more than hundred years since the two countries were established, Uno and Shipu had never experienced any conflicts. They were both partners and allies.

Although the towering mountain stood between the two countries and prevented large-scale contact between them, there was a fairly flat plain on the other side.

Most trade between the two countries passed through that small plain.

It was also where the two countries maintained their tightest defenses.

Not only did people need to show proof to enter or leave, but they were sometimes subjected to strict body searches.

So Amy's route of illegal entry definitely wasn't there. Without any accidents... her route would be across that natural defensive line more than three thousand meters high.

The Castile Mountain Range.

"To bypass the checkpoint, we can only cross this mountain range. As you can see, it's very high, and there are vicious beasts inside. If you want to cross it, you'd better think it through carefully."

Outside the city, in a place where the distant mountain range was clearly visible, Amy warned Li Qi.

Li Qi looked at her.

"Don't worry. You don't need to concern yourself with my safety. Just take me to the destination as agreed."

"...Fine. I've already warned you."

Amy muttered to herself while Li Qi ignored her.

He turned to Generro behind him and said,

"You can go back."

"You don't need me to keep following you?"

As he spoke, Generro glanced at Amy.

Li Qi shook his head. "No need."

Unlike Li Qi, who wouldn't need to return after reaching the Shipu Federation and thus wouldn't have to cross the mountain road again, Generro still had to go back.

There was no reason for Li Qi to make Generro take another unnecessary trip. It would be better for them to part ways here.

Seeing that Li Qi was insistent, Generro said nothing more.

He nodded slightly, bowed, and left.

Generro wasn't overly worried about his young squad leader's safety, because he knew his squad leader's strength.

Without firearms, there was practically no one who could defeat his squad leader one-on-one.

Besides, Li Qi was carrying a revolver.

Generro left, leaving only Amy and Li Qi standing there.

Amy fell silent for a long while, her expression rather strange.

"You really aren't worried that I might do something to you?"

Li Qi glanced sideways at Amy. Instead of answering her directly, he looked toward the distant mountain range and asked,

"How do we go?"

"..." Amy glanced at Li Qi's current clothes. Although he was still wearing a skirt, it wasn't Lady's Attire for a noble. Instead, it was a light, practical outfit suited for traveling.

After glancing at the handbag in Li Qi's hand, Amy said,

"Just follow me. Once we cross this mountain range, someone will come to meet us."

"So you're a spy from the Shipu Federation?"

"No. I'm neither from the Shipu Federation nor a spy. Miss Angela, you seem to have misunderstood me."

As they approached the mountain range near the border and were about to leave the Duchy of Uno, Amy seemed to relax considerably.

She corrected Li Qi's understanding of her and denied being a spy.

Li Qi said nothing. He merely looked at Amy's waist.

The cylinder containing the Magic Lock was hidden in a pocket at her side.

Noticing Li Qi's gaze, Amy knew what he wanted to ask and immediately answered,

"Although I stole something from your country, I really am not a spy. This... can only be called an accident."

"You accidentally stole my country's classified information? Hmm, what an 'accident.'"

"To tell you the truth, I wasn't the one who took this." As they entered the mountain range, Amy said to Li Qi, "One of your nobles gave it to me. He knew my identity, which was why he chose to hand it over to me."

Amy probably wasn't lying when she said this.

Ever since separating from Generro, Li Qi had been using his superpower constantly. He observed that Amy's heartbeat was perfectly normal, proving that she probably wasn't lying.

Even without using his superpower to observe her, Li Qi wouldn't have thought Amy was lying.

Because... this was exactly the sort of thing those Traditional Faction nobles would do.

They might not know the value of what was inside the cylinder. They might not know how much the blueprints inside could change the world.

But they knew that if the Reformist Faction lost this item, it would certainly suffer a major blow.

For the sake of internal strife, did they no longer care about external enemies?

Li Qi instinctively glanced back toward Uno. If the internal conflict between Uno's Reformist Faction and Traditional Faction wasn't resolved soon, Uno probably wouldn't exist for much longer.

It seemed Li Qi had made the right decision in going to Inglis.

After all, even if Uno were truly conquered and became another country's colony, Li Qi could at least continue living safely in another country.

After discussing those serious matters, both Li Qi and Amy grew somewhat silent.

The Castile Mountain Range was extremely high, with roads winding through it in all directions and vicious beasts roaming within. Ordinary people truly would have difficulty crossing it.

But that did not include Mage Masters of Tactical Rank or higher.

Amy was Tactical Rank, while Li Qi was an entire level above her. Their bodies, tempered by magic power, allowed them to move through the mountain range as easily as walking on level ground.

Although Amy didn't know Li Qi's strength, seeing that he could keep up with her, she understood that this Young Lady who dared to cross the mountain range with her was not one of the delicate little girls she had seen in Uno's Royal Capital.

After walking for about half a day, they rested briefly beneath a rock. Amy pointed toward a distant cliff and said,

"There's a steep slope over there. Going down that slope will take us into the territory of the Shipu Federation. It's just that... it's not easy to traverse. Are you sure you can manage it?"

Li Qi answered without hesitation,

"No problem. Just keep going."

Amy scratched her cheek. "No, I mean... if you can't, I can carry you down."

Perhaps because they were far from Uno, and because Li Qi was the only one with her, some of Amy's thoughts began to stir.

She sized up Li Qi's body, a look that made Li Qi feel somewhat disgusted appearing in her eyes.

Click.

Li Qi said nothing. He simply raised the revolver at his waist, cocked it, and stared expressionlessly at Amy.

Amy's smile instantly stiffened. Pretending that nothing had happened, she turned and walked toward the cliff.

"...It's almost evening. Let's hurry, or we'll have to spend the night in the mountains."

"Heh."

Li Qi seemed to let out a mocking laugh.

Amy acted as though she hadn't heard anything and continued forward with Li Qi.

The slope Amy had mentioned was indeed extremely steep, almost a ninety-degree incline, with only a few seemingly unstable protrusions to use as footholds.

When they reached the slope, Amy observed it first, then said to Li Qi,

"I'll go down first. Watch how I do it, then follow me."

With that, she carefully descended the slope.

The slope was several hundred meters high, with few places to stand. Amy watched her path while cautiously making her way down. It took her nearly fifteen minutes before she finally "jumped" from the top to a safe spot at the foot of the mountain.

After wiping the sweat from her forehead, Amy was about to look up and call for Li Qi to come down.

But when she turned around, she saw Li Qi standing right beside her.

"?! What the hell, when did you..."

Li Qi's ghostlike appearance made Amy cry out instinctively, but the next second, she heard Li Qi ask,

"I remember you said someone would come to meet you?"

"Mmph—"

"Then there should only be one or two people coming to meet you, right?"

Li Qi asked again.

Amy rolled her eyes and said helplessly,

"What else? Shipu isn't my territory. Finding even one person to meet us is already pretty good, okay?"

"Is that so?"

Hearing Amy's answer, Li Qi narrowed his eyes and looked toward the woods below.

He silently removed his hand from Amy's mouth and asked her meaningfully,

"Then these people aren't yours?"

"These people...?"

Amy froze and likewise turned to look toward the woods below.

Behind the large trees at the foot of the slope, a group of burly men emerged.

They wore slightly worn clothes and carried an assortment of weapons. They vaguely blocked the path ahead of Amy and Li Qi.

Sensing the faint Killing Intent emanating from the group, Amy fell completely silent.

She knew.

She had been betrayed.