The heavy words 'treason' echoed in Roni's heart.
Taught from childhood by Fu Hua Er Alton to be loyal to the kingdom, she found it difficult to comprehend the immense burden of treason.
She was terrified.
Rose's every word struck Roni's heart like a hammer.
The royal family was already aware of the Er Alton family's thoughts of treason.
Patience was limited.
It was highly possible that the royal family would act against her family.
If the royal family were to annihilate the Er Alton family, their clan would have no means of resistance, and their kin in the royal city or scattered throughout the kingdom would suffer calamities.
Could it be that all of this was instigated by Chen Yu?
In her heart, Fu Hua Er Alton would never do such a thing. However, Chen Yu, belonging to a foreign land, did not hold the kingdom in such high regard.
He truly might do such a thing!
Overthrowing the Tatu Kingdom's regime would allow his city-state to maximize its profits in times of chaos.
"Have you thought it through?" Rose whispered, having waited for Roni for a long time. "Will you reveal the mastermind, or not? I believe Sister Roni wouldn't want Uncle Fu Hua Er Alton to go astray, would you? Think of your family, the lives of your kin might depend on your decision."
Rose's whisper was like a needle pricking Roni.
It urged her to make a decision quickly.
She hesitated.
From not believing anyone in the City Lord's Mansion at first, she now found herself wavering, unsure of how to resolve the current predicament.
Who should she trust?
Ever since entering the City Lord's Mansion, she felt as though she had entered a high-stakes game she shouldn't be involved in.
Chen Yu had warned her not to mention the Cloud Sky Inn to anyone in the City Lord's Mansion. Carloye had genuinely expressed his weariness of the kingdom, and when Rose arrived, he had cautioned her not to trust anyone in the City Lord's Mansion.
Now, Rose was telling her that Carloye wanted to kill her.
And that someone had instigated her father to commit treason.
She truly trusted Chen Yu. Based on their brief interactions, Chen Yu had given her the impression of being trustworthy, and she also believed him to be sufficiently intelligent.
Trusting him, he shouldn't make a mistake.
Yet now, Chen Yu was the one who instigated his father's treason.
For a moment, she was lost.
She didn't even know if she should trust her father. Could it be that Chen Yu's sweet talk had truly led her father to make such a reckless decision?
One that risked the fate of the entire family.
She wasn't entirely clear about the challenges her clan had faced during this period, but she could sense that their situation hadn't been as smooth as before. Many of the clan's businesses were operating at a deficit, which was why Fu Hua Er Alton had abandoned the high-end market that the Er Alton family specialized in, choosing to expand their clan's industries into towns and advanced city-states.
Even so, the results were still not very encouraging.
If one considered this situation, and Chen Yu suddenly presented a batch of equipment to her father, saying that if he followed his instructions, the Er Alton family's decline could be averted.
Fu Hua Er Alton might very well accept it!
"Rose."
After a long silence, Roni suddenly looked up. Rose, who had been waiting, had a smile in her eyes.
"Sister Roni, have you made up your mind?"
"There's something I'd like to confirm," Roni whispered softly. "You said you are loyal to the royal family, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then I believe you."
Roni pursed her lips, clenched her fist slightly, and gazed intently at Rose's face.
"I'm willing to believe everything you just said. Then I have one more question: what is the royal family's current attitude towards our Er Alton family?"
"It's clear that the kingdom still doesn't want to give up on you,"
Rose shrugged and smiled. "Regardless, the Er Alton family was supported by the kingdom, and they have made significant contributions to the kingdom's economic development. Naturally, the royal family does not wish to see the Er Alton family go astray and hopes you will change your ways. However, as I said, the royal family's patience is limited."
"I know."
Roni still clenched her fist, gazing at Rose.
"Then, if I were to reveal the mastermind, would the royal family truly be willing to spare the Er Alton family and forgive my father's past mistakes?"
"I believe so, and I can also help mediate on your behalf."
"Thank you."
Gratitude filled Roni's eyes as she gritted her teeth.
"Then... I'm willing to tell you everything."
As night fell.
In a wilderness outside the city, Chen Yu gazed at the bright moon overhead, then lowered his head to look at his wristband.
"Alas!"
"I knew she wouldn't be able to get out once she entered the City Lord's Mansion."
Chen Yu sighed dejectedly.
The City Lord's Mansion was a den of wolves and tigers, and Roni was a little lamb. Once inside, she couldn't just leave. If she wanted to leave, the people in the City Lord's Mansion wouldn't let her.
"Can't contact her?"
Little Demon walked over, arms crossed.
"It's not surprising. It would be strange if we could contact her." Looking at the unanswered video call, Chen Yu sighed with exhaustion in his eyes. "In the best-case scenario, Roni has been brainwashed by the City Lord's Mansion and views me as an enemy. In the worst-case scenario, Roni has already been controlled by the City Lord's Mansion. If it's the latter, then this rescue might involve considerable casualties. Therefore, my thought is that Hei Dou shouldn't go."
The trip to the City Lord's Mansion was fraught with danger.
As the leader of this expedition, Chen Yu had to go personally. Regardless of Roni's attitude towards him, he needed to bring her out safely.
Although Little Demon's strength was not at its peak, she had recovered a portion of it.
At worst, she could hide in Chen Yu's wristband.
Only Hei Dou, lacking the inheritance of a divine general, remained a bronze-tier salted fish.
"Boss, what do you mean by that?" Hei Dou immediately protested. "How can I not go to such a big event as going to the City Lord's Mansion? Ever since the last time in the Tomb of the Undead, I vowed that wherever you go, I will go too. We share honor and disgrace, we share sweetness and bitterness, we share life and death!"
Hei Dou's eyes were filled with determination. Chen Yu looked at him for a moment.
"Hei Dou, you need to understand..."
"I understand everything," Hei Dou said earnestly. "No matter how dangerous the City Lord's Mansion is, can it compare to me, a cat? There are stray cats everywhere in this underground world. If a fight were to break out in the City Lord's Mansion, no one would notice me. Compared to you, my movements would be even smoother. Perhaps I could even make a fortune in the City Lord's Mansion."
"You brat, you still want to make a fortune entering the City Lord's Mansion?"
"Ah, what's wrong?"
Hei Dou immediately widened his eyes in response.
"What's wrong with the City Lord's Mansion? It's just another building. To me, they are all the same!"