Deceit and Intrigue in the Imperial Capital, Volume One - I

As a canal, the primary function of the Changqiao Canal was, of course, transportation. Outside the high walls of the capital, after crossing the long bridge spanning the canal, there were three main river ports: Ilseong, Jongil, and Jongun. After countless years of development, they have now become three small cities.

It is now 2 a. m. The port, which was bustling during the day, is deserted. Most of the workers have returned to their homes in the capital, while a small number are sleeping in their dormitories at the river port. Only a few night watchmen are still awake, guarding the cargo and keeping an eye on suspicious individuals.

At Zhengen Port, under the cover of night, two figures clad in black robes darted past without making a sound. They skillfully bypassed the patrolling guards and avoided the watchmen's gaze, approaching the cargo dock quickly and silently.

These two are naturally Haoyue and me. We are both currently wearing wide black robes to conceal our appearance, figure, and gender. Of course, we could also use Haoyue's Moon Mist Silver Veil, but that would inevitably put a burden on Haoyue and be detrimental to her in battle.

According to the information obtained from Haoyue's interrogation, the final delivery of goods will take place at 3:00 AM today; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Our task is simple: carefully ambush near the delivery dock, and once the unknown organization and the Cleon Family have completed the delivery, decisively intercept the goods— the Shielding Device. After intercepting the goods, immediately take the pre-prepared vehicle and leave with the goods. I will then deliver the goods to the Si Nan Family. This way, the Si Nan Family, upon discovering the truth, will be furious and wipe out the Tartaglia Family in one fell swoop, launching a fierce attack on the Cleon Family. In this way, mission accomplished, and with luck, we might even make it in time for the final clan competition.

Why not just have Haoyue hand over her Shielding Device? Firstly, having only one wouldn't be very convincing, and secondly, Haoyue is an outsider, making it difficult to gain the Si Nan Family's trust.

The only uncertainty is that unknown organization. My intuition tells me that this supplier is likely the mysterious organization that wants to build the World Crossing Gate, or at least the two must be inextricably linked. In that case, we must be extra vigilant against anyone from that organization... I hope it's just me being paranoid.

Climbing over the barbed wire fence and over the wall, a small cargo dock came into view. The moon was obscured by clouds, and the only light source was a small hanging lamp by the dock, making it very dim. The shadows of the barbed wire and metal stakes were cast on the ground and walls like spider webs, creating an eerie atmosphere. There were already three or four people guarding the place, their faces hidden in the shadows and indistinct. Several small trucks were also parked by the dock, used to transport Shielding Device.

"Moon Mist Silver Veil!" Haoyue whispered. A faint silvery mist flashed, and we immediately entered invisibility. Using this cover, we quietly climbed onto the roof and hid in the shadow of the sunshade. Only then did Haoyue release her invisibility.

Okay, now it's just a matter of waiting until 3 o'clock.

My keen intuition told me that the guards on the dock were only "averagely strong," and that I could easily beat them in a fight. But... what was this feeling of unease, like countless ants crawling inside me?

Seemingly sensing my unease, Haoyue gently took my hand and wrote in my palm: What's wrong?

I shook my head slightly and simply wrote on her hand: Be careful.

Time slowly passed as we waited, crouching in the shadows like stone statues, watching the small hanging lamp flicker on and off. One minute, two minutes, ten minutes, half an hour... At first, I was just focused on waiting, then I started reviewing the battle plan, and in the end, I was almost completely daydreaming.

Haoyue suddenly tugged at my sleeve and wrote in my palm: Something's not right!

Something's not right?

She wrote again: It's long past three o'clock, it's almost four o'clock.

What!?

I immediately tensed up. It was almost four o'clock! But there wasn't a single ship to be seen at the dock! Looking down at the Tartaglia Family members responsible for receiving the goods, they seemed impatient. Some were pacing back and forth, some were muttering complaints, and some were even smoking.

This seems to be a situation even the Tartaglia Family didn't anticipate. What exactly is that unknown organization up to?

"Hey! Here I come!"

Suddenly, someone pointed to the river. Everyone looked over immediately, and a small boat appeared vaguely on the dark river, approaching the dock like a ghost. The people receiving the goods immediately moved towards the dock, muttering complaints about how unpunctual the other party was.

The ship was moored at the dock, an inconspicuous old-fashioned cargo ship, positioned in the shadows where the overhead lights couldn't reach. A few large boxes could be barely seen at the stern, presumably the cargo containers holding the Shielding Device.

"Alright, Xiao Ye, let's get started..."

Haoyue gently arched her back, her hand beneath her black robe gripping the Snow Moon Sword, poised to strike.

"Let's... wait a bit," I said softly.

"Wait? Now is the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack!"

"No, my blood has been churning ever since... This is not a good sign."

As I was speaking, the people below who were preparing to receive the goods also started talking.

"Hey, why is he stopping now? Didn't he unload the goods himself the previous times?"

"You're acting like a big shot just because it's the last deal? You expect us to do it?"

They were complaining as they approached the small boat, and just then, I noticed something was amiss.

My senses are several times more acute than the average person's, including my sense of smell. Thanks to this, I noticed a faint, strange odor in the air. What was that smell? It didn't smell like poisonous gas, nor was it natural gas; if I had to describe it, it was somewhat like... paint fumes?

"Hey, Haoyue..."

"I smell it too, it's... paint!"

At this moment, the people receiving the goods all approached the small boat and walked into the shadows where the lights couldn't reach. The drifting clouds once again obscured the moon, making it impossible to see what they were doing around the boat.

The night wind howled, carrying with it the chilly dampness from the river, sending shivers down my spine. I gently hugged my shoulders, trying to shield myself from the wind while carefully observing the situation, though I couldn't see anything clearly.

"They've left the ship..." Haoyue whispered. Sure enough, the people who were supposed to receive the goods reappeared within the range illuminated by the lanterns, but none of them were carrying any cargo. Moreover, their gait was a bit strange—they were all dragging their feet, as if they were lame.

"Hiss... Hah..."

The strange sound, like a groan or a sigh, took me a few seconds to realize that it was coming from the people receiving the goods.

"Something's not right, Xiao Ye... let's retreat!" Sensing the murderous intent in the air, Hao Yue didn't hesitate and decisively decided to retreat. The plan was important, but it couldn't compare to the preciousness of her life.

"Understood..." I slowly stood up with Haoyue, preparing to leave, just as we were about to depart—

"Hiss..."

Keep an eye on them!...

Suddenly, the strangely behaving people receiving the goods all looked up at us, their suppressed murderous intent exploding instantly! We finally saw their faces clearly, and not only me, but even Haoyue was taken aback!

With its yellowish-gray sclera, dark red bloodstains, grayish-black skin, and ferocious expression, it was nothing short of a monster!

Its appearance and movements are exactly like those of a classic monster that appears in countless games and is a staple of TV shows, movies, and ACGN—the zombie!

""""ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"""

The zombies roared and charged at us. Zombies don't suppress human potential, so they have superhuman strength. The one in front pushed off the ground and shot towards us like a cannonball!

"Blood Blade!"

"Moon Wheel Slash!"

A massive Blood Blade and an orange-yellow light blade flew out simultaneously, cleaving the zombie in three pieces mid-air. Before I could even catch my breath, the remaining zombies followed suit, roaring and leaping towards us. Not only the person who had received the goods earlier, but also a large number of zombies poured out of the nearby workers' dormitory! A quick glance revealed nearly a hundred!

"Haoyue! There are too many zombies! We can't maneuver here, let's retreat to the surface!"

"Okay-- Moon Seal!"

A rune flew downwards, and the moment it made contact with the zombie, it expanded into a huge seal, crushing a large group of zombies with the force of Mount Tai, and forcibly clearing a foothold!

The two leaped into the air, plummeting straight down amidst the whistling wind. I planned to unleash my ultimate attack as soon as I landed to clear the area, then retreat. Could the mysterious organization's visitors have the ability to turn the living into zombies? If so, as long as we move to a less crowded place, there's nothing to fear.

"Xiao Ye, watch out below!"

I looked at the ground again and couldn't help but gasp – the originally gray brick floor had changed color, as if it had been dyed with a lot of paint! Red, orange, and yellow were layered on top of each other, and at first glance, the ground looked like a sea of fire!

"Moon Bridge!"

Just as we were about to land, a bridge of light appeared out of nowhere and lifted us into the air, less than a meter above the ground. Once we reached that position, I immediately felt the temperature around us rise significantly, and the ground, painted like a sea of fire, actually emitted bursts of heat, just like a real lava pool!

What kind of ability is this...?

Beneath my feet lies a sea of fire, all around me a horde of corpses. How can I break free...? Should I fly away or unleash my ultimate attack to overwhelm them?

"Wow~~ho~~~♪, what a lucky day to meet two such beautiful ladies!"

It's here!

Right before our eyes, a man's figure emerged from the darkness, illuminated by the firelight on the ground, so I could clearly see his features.

It was an impressive face: a high nose, deep-set eyes, fair skin, and a beard; he looked to be around thirty years old. He wore a melon-shaped hat and a long black robe, holding a palette in his left hand and a paintbrush in his right—the very image of a painter straight out of a book.

Although he had the air of an artist, his frivolous laugh and strange tone ruined everything.

"Let me introduce myself first!" He bowed exaggeratedly, his head almost touching his knees.

"I am God's palette, the seeker of supreme art, and people call me -- I. B!"

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The main character is about to enter the boss battle! (≧▽≦)/~ Yay!

As for the palace... well, I won't spoil it.