"Uh, this... this..." Faced with Xiao Xi's question, Bailu looked a little guilty. She scratched her head, but couldn't manage to get the words out.
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded in the distance. Bailu's expression changed at once. Her eyes darted around, and she instinctively hid behind Xiao Xi and Stelle.
Seeing this, Xiao Xi and Stelle quickly recalled all the shady things the Vidyadhara had done earlier. The two exchanged a glance.
"Careful." Xiao Xi reached out and pulled Bailu behind them, then casually cast a concealment spell on her.
The footsteps drew closer, and several people hurried around the corner.
The newcomers were physicians from the Alchemy Commission, along with a Vidyadhara?
Honestly, this was a lineup with every red flag imaginable. No matter how you looked at it, something was definitely wrong. Xiao Xi silently signaled to Stelle.
"What are you doing, sneaking around like this? I thought the Alchemy Commission and the Vidyadhara were supposed to be under investigation."
"You left without permission, and you're rushing along. Could it be that you have something to hide?"
Xiao Xi cut them off before they could speak, confronting them first.
"This... no, it's not like that. I'm the High Elder's maid. I came to find Lady Bailu, the High Elder. I'm absolutely not trying to evade the investigation," the Vidyadhara hurriedly explained.
"The High Elder? But as far as I know, Lady Bailu was handed over to the Divine Strategy Mansion for care some time ago. In fact, I was there when that order was issued. I heard it with my own ears."
"The Vidyadhara and the Alchemy Commission are under investigation precisely because they colluded with the Abundance, and Lady Bailu was entrusted to others for that reason. Now you claim you've come to find her. That doesn't just make no sense—it only proves you're up to something."
"And the Abundance aura on you is incredibly strong," Xiao Xi added.
"N-no, that's not it. You've misunderstood," the Vidyadhara hurriedly tried to explain.
"Enough. Stelle, go get the Cloud Knights. I'll keep an eye on them here," Xiao Xi said decisively.
"No problem. Leave it to me," Stelle replied confidently.
"N-no, you can't do this! I'm the High Elder's maid!" As the Vidyadhara cried out in despair, Xiao Xi restrained them all with a spell.
In the distance, Stelle had already brought the Cloud Knights over.
"Everyone—oh, are you Nameless from the Astral Express? What happened here?"
"They're from the Alchemy Commission and the Vidyadhara. For some reason, they tried to take Lady Bailu, the High Elder, who had already been placed under the Divine Strategy Mansion's care," Stelle explained.
"We have reason to suspect they're up to no good. To be safe, we thought we'd ask the Cloud Knights to handle this."
"I see." The Cloud Knight's expression turned serious. "The Alchemy Commission and the Vidyadhara are indeed being investigated by the Divine Strategy Mansion, to make sure no one who colluded with the Abundance is hiding among them."
"These people have absolutely no right to be here. I'll report this to General Jing Yuan. We're grateful for your help."
After thanking Xiao Xi and Stelle, the Cloud Knight turned a stern gaze on the others. "Leaving without permission during an investigation is a serious offense, and we'll deal with it accordingly. Now take them away."