The manager of the gambling house appeared and announced, "His Highness' private room is ready for use."

Zhao Rong proceeded with the manager. When he realized there were no footsteps following him, he commanded, "What are you waiting for? Follow this prince."

As Hasan and Bing Shi started to advance, two of Zhao Rong's guards positioned themselves in front of Hasan. They handed him thirty thousand Kangs and said, "Only she is allowed to proceed."

'Noooooo! My meeeatshieeeeeeld!'

"W-wait," Hasan stammered and retrieved a contract. Quickly noting the price and date, he handed the contract to Bing Shi, "Your Highness has one day to return Tian Shi in the same condition as when you received her."

Zhao Rong paused and his guard whispered something in his ear, adding further complexity to the situation. After a moment, he replied, "En."

This wasn't a war; all the merchants and officials present were from the same kingdom as Zhao Rong. They bore witness to this exchange, and the contract was well-known among them.

Though the life of a mere slave might not matter to many, the fact that Zhao Rong had agreed to the exchange meant something significant. If he were to tear down the contract without reason, it would severely damage his reputation and his ability to conduct future business.

"Master, you should head home and rest," Bing Shi advised Hasan, looking out for his well-being and preventing him from losing money in her absence. With the contract in hand, she followed Zhao Rong, her mind filled with doubt.

'Was my deduction wrong?'

The gambling house resumed its calm, though the atmosphere felt different—less lively and more contemplative. Minds periodically wandered to Hasan's new business, creating a buzz of speculation.

It was such a pity that Tian Shi caught Zhao Rong's attention and was taken away. Was the prince going to use her as his pawn? If yes, they'd have to be careful around Tian Shi from now on, let them reveal something they shouldn't.

But then again, why worry? Hadn't the prince just spent thirty thousand on her? It seemed unlikely that he would openly use her as a spy. Perhaps they were overthinking things. It could all just be a coincidence.

Regardless, there was a growing curiosity about the mysterious Tian Shi. Beyond her appearance, what else did she have to offer?

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

As Hasan walked towards the manor, the guards observed his peculiar behavior: he kept stumbling and then regaining his balance. Was their boss trying to lose weight?

Hasan had to take lots of breaks to catch his breath, cursing under his breath. The weight of the money he carried seemed to slow him down, but the memory of injuring someone while being watched by the snake kept him from slacking off.

That angel was unbelievable. To raise her value, she came up with such a risky plan. The person with the highest stake would establish the price of her services for a day.

Prince Zhao Rong offered thirty thousand, meaning that from today onwards, only people who paid thirty or more thousand could afford her. Wealthy men wouldn't bat an eye to pay that price to show off.

Nonetheless, there was a huge backlash. Because Bing Shi excelled in nothing, they stalled for time, waiting it out until her weak body regained its strength. If her services didn't match up the price, she'd become a laughing stock.

The same went for all the other girls and him. Hasan fanned his face nervously, should he visit the church to pray for their wellbeing? What was God thinking, putting the weight of the world on the shoulders of such a tiny angel?

Hasan suggested Bing Shi use Kuro to change people's opinions and take the reign of the world, which was instantly shrugged off. It would make things worse. People like Zhao Rong would never succumb, and the power-hungry religious factions would seize the opportunity to further their influence. Everyone knew how it could result in a never-ending war.

Arriving at his lavish manor, Hasan had to come up with a plan on how to spread his information network to other kingdoms, to the regions where even walls had ears — Sabra and Zeku.

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

After closing the door to the room, the manager wiped a bead of cold sweat from his nose. The oppressive aura emanating from Prince Zhao Rong created an atmosphere that could be likened to a hog being led to the slaughterhouse.

The accommodation for those who wanted to spend a night in a gambling house reflected the culture of Rania Kingdom. Ornate lemonwood furnishings adorned the space, while intricate wall frescoes stretched from the mosaic floors all the way up to the lofty ceiling.

In an effort to infuse a touch of nature into the environment, trailing green plants were elegantly positioned in vases above statues of female figures on either side of a luxurious sofa.

"Close your eyes and don't open them until instructed," commanded Zhao Rong to the young courtesan, his tone leaving no room for defiance. With that, he retreated behind a privacy screen to begin the process of removing his cumbersome armor.

"..." Observing her surroundings, Bing Shi's gaze landed on a roll of bandages resting on a nearby commode. Nodding in acknowledgment, she replied, "Yes."

A few moments later...

Emerging from behind the screen, Zhao Rong was now dressed in a lighter robe and held a small medicine bottle in his hand. His mask remained in place, concealing his features.

There stood that girl with a fruit bowl on her head, covering her upper face. It was a sight to behold as he tried not to laugh at her spectacular idiocy, "I paid thirty thousand for a comedian?"

'Is he looking down on us comedians?! Xuan Mu, off with his head!'

Bing Shi had to make sure to fulfill Zhao Rong's order no matter what. He might be testing her. For what? She was not sure.

Smiling ignorantly, she threw the blame right back at Zhao Rong, not forgetting to implement the contract and his well-being, "This humble servant assumed that Your Highness wished to witness the actions of a blind fool. To prevent any mishaps, this ignorant servant could only devise this straightforward solution."

What if he suddenly decided that her eyes were not closed enough? Her words carried the implication that she had followed his instructions precisely to the last dot.

"Good," Zhao Rong felt like he was speaking to a fruit bowl, "You may open your eyes now."

Bing Shi extended her hand towards the bowl.

"Too slow," a voice chided her with impatience.

Crash

The sound of shattering ceramics echoed as the lid of the medicine bottle collided with the fruit bowl, causing the pieces to scatter around her. The sudden noise assaulted her ears, leaving her frozen in shock.

Her wide-open eyes remained fixed on the scene before her, the brightness of the room almost irrelevant in that moment as her heart seemed to momentarily cease its beating.

From close by, Zhao Rong's commanding voice broke through the stillness, his finger coated with medicine extending toward her wound. "Stay still," he instructed, his tone holding authority.

Terror surged within Bing Shi, her instincts urging her to flee from this impulsive man, while her rational mind kept her limbs immobilized, as if bound in place. The mere thought of movement seemed to whisper that this man could end her life in an instant.

Before his touch could reach her, Bing Shi's features twisted in a mix of fear and revulsion. "This lowly one is staying still," she forced out, a reminder to herself as much as to him.

But her compliance wasn't enough for him.

Suddenly, his hand shot out, gripping her hair with a cruel force. A sharp pain pierced through her scalp as he jerked her toward the sofa, her body landing with a thud against it.

In the same breath, Zhao Rong flung the medicine bottle at her, his voice dripping with icy disdain, "Useless."

When it came to interactions with women, Zhao Rong seemed to disregard consequences entirely. Even the slightest provocations could trigger an intense reaction, causing him to lose all sense of self-control.

Bing Shi massaged her aching scalp, her head spinning from the rough treatment. A peculiar thought entered her mind with surprising ease, and she couldn't resist sharing it, "But Your Highness...perhaps you're not aware of how to properly utilize this humble servant."

She cast a glance at the mirror reflecting the bandages, the broken bowl, and Zhao Rong himself, "May this lowly servant take care of my injuries by myself?"

"En," Zhao Rong's jammed-up tension was invaded by her divine peace, without leaving a trace or a clue that it took hold of the situation.

· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·

As Bing Shi diligently applied the medicine to her wounds, Zhao Rong strode out to the balcony and issued a command, "Gather information about her." He then reentered the room, his presence filling the space once more.

The fear that had once gripped Bing Shi had now vanished from her facial expressions and skin. Her complexion remained composed, her gray eyes unwavering as if nothing had transpired. Only the shards scattered on the floor served as a reminder that the scene was indeed real.

Outside the balcony, a single green eye gleamed conspicuously amidst the dark backdrop.

"Yes, Your Highness," a low voice responded, its tone almost blending into the shadows. She touched her left eye patch; under it, an eye was missing.

Her eye was gauged out by none other than the sole prince of Rania. This was her fate as a shadow guard. She existed solely for Zhao Rong. If the truth about her being a female ever came to the surface, her life would be gone.

In the previous life, Mao An had uncovered her secret, leading to a friendship between them. However, Zhao Rong's jealous tendencies resulted in this female shadow guard's death.