Perceptive

Gratton rushed into the castle prison with a squad of fully armed guards, his face tight with worry.

The Inheritance Item had been stolen!

When he heard the news, Gratton had frozen where he stood.

He knew exactly what punishment awaited him if Duke Merck found out.

He would lose more than his position.

He would lose his reputation.

As Duke Merck's knight and the official in charge of the duchy's western region, Gratton valued the latter more than his life.

I have to get the location of the Inheritance Item out of that damned "thief"!

With that conviction, Gratton entered the prison.

But just as he was about to descend, something beyond the window caught his eye, and he stopped.

The window was closed.

But the square wooden bar that secured it had slipped from its slot and fallen to the floor.

It had landed in an inconspicuous corner.

Anyone who failed to look closely would have missed it.

Gratton walked to the corner and picked up the bar.

He looked at the window.

The next moment, he shoved it open.

There was nothing outside.

"No one?"

Gratton cautiously leaned out.

He looked down first, then checked both sides.

There was nothing but darkness. Not a soul in sight.

Gratton straightened, frowning.

Then a thought struck him, and he leaned out again.

This time, he looked up.

Still no one.

Am I being paranoid?

Gratton drew back and gave a rueful smile.

With the Inheritance Item weighing on his mind, he had no energy to spare for this. He ordered one of his men to stand guard there, then hurried into the prison.

In a room roughly five meters above the room at the prison entrance.

Qin Ran and Lawless, who had just climbed inside, let out long