Upper City District, amidst a nighttime banquet.
Where strings should be flowing and cups clinking in a harmonious gathering, tonight an odd atmosphere permeated the air.
Several noblewomen clustered together, hints of unease flickering in their eyes:
“Did you hear? Someone drank the Dawn Dew and vomited on the spot, it was a complete mess.”
“Yes, my husband’s friend mentioned it too—said the bottle he bought reeked, nothing like before.”
“Could it be… that batch of wine had a problem?”
Suspicion spread through the hall.
Yet someone still shook their head and argued back:
“Nonsense! I had a cup just yesterday—it tasted exactly the same as always.”
“But another marquis’s wife also said, after she opened her bottle, there was a sour smell…”
The uncertainty, like sparks caught by the wind, swiftly fanned out.
Even the nobles and wealthy merchants who were once the firmest supporters of “Dawn Dew” now furrowed their brows and whispered.
***
At the same time, in a tavern in the Lower City District, similar hushed talk could be heard.
A few drunkards shoved empty bottles, cursing under their breath:
“What the hell is this stuff? Supposed to be Dawn Brew, but it tastes totally different!”
“Boss, are you cheating us?”
The tavern owner’s face darkened, but he forced himself to reply:
“How could that be? The wine came from the guild warehouse next door! There’s no way there’s a problem!”
But inside the tavern, the atmosphere had already grown restless and uneasy.
And all of this had not escaped the notice of Julius and the others.
Hidden in the shadows, they watched the situation unfold, nobles’ suspicions and commoners’ complaints spreading like an undercurrent throughout the city.
When the news was brought back to the workshop, Helos was leaning over her workbench, still clutching that rough bottle in her hand.
After hearing Julius’s report, her fingertips paused for a moment, her gaze slowly darkening.
“By the way, is there any word from Baron Black’s side?”
Kyle, lounging nearby, turned to Julius and asked casually.
“There’s something new.”
Julius nodded, his expression somewhat grave. “But our people are still confirming if the information is true.”
“It seems there have been sightings of other Abyss cultists, but since they’re all cloaked in black robes, it’s hard to tell if they’re the same as before.”
“Oh? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Selina gave a soft snort and suddenly spoke up: “Take me to see them — I can recognize those guys.” The three pairs of eyes turned toward Helos.
The girl was silent for a moment, then finally nodded lightly, agreeing to their plan:
“Very well. With things as they are, we can’t just sit around waiting for the enemy to slip up.”
Her fingertips tapped lightly on the table, a chill flashing in her pale violet eyes, “It’s about time we tried taking the initiative, force them to show their own weakness.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Miss Selina.”
***
Baron Black’s Mansion sat on the outskirts of the Upper City District—not prominent, but not shabby either.
High walls encircled the grounds, the heavy iron gates dark and dull, with inlaid patterns now faded from years gone by.
The roof was shingled in dark tiles, a few windows glowing with dim lights, as if even the brightness was being stifled from within.
The mansion’s exterior lacked the grandeur of a duke’s estate, instead giving off a stifling, oppressive air.
A few generations ago, the Black Family had once been a highly respected noble house in the Upper City District.
The baron’s grandfather had even served in a key post in the Empire Army Department, and with both military merit and wealth, the Black Family’s estate had once been magnificent.
Though the title was only baron, their status was hardly low.
Back then, the halls rang nightly with music and feasts, and the wine cellar was piled with rare vintages from every region.
But the good times didn’t last. Since the last head of the family lost most of their fortune through poor management and other unspeakable reasons, the Black Family’s glory and status fell into decline.
By the time it reached the current Baron Black, though the mansion kept much of its old layout, the luxurious tapestries and crystal chandeliers had long been replaced with cheap substitutes, many rooms stood vacant for years, and even the servants were few.
Now, the mansion still looked imposing at a glance, but anyone looking closely could see traces of its faded glory and disrepair.
That contrast was just like Baron Black himself—maintaining a respectable façade on the surface, yet underneath, he was already restless and anxious, even going so far as to collude with Abyss cultists.
***
The night wind brushed past, and light footsteps sounded from the shadows at the corner of the street.
Kyle, Selina, and Julius approached at a steady pace, stopping at an inn not far from the mansion.
“We’re here.”
Julius spoke softly, his gaze quickly sweeping their surroundings.
A moment later, a soft sound came from a dark alley.
The three turned their heads and saw a spy, dressed as a guard, step from the shadows. He wore an ordinary cloak and watched them coldly.
After making sure no one was watching, the spy strode over to Julius and spoke in a low voice:
“You’re finally here. We’ve been watching this place for days now.”
He lifted his chin toward the direction of the mansion, his tone cautious:
“The baron’s mansion has been unusually busy lately—especially late at night, you can always see figures moving in the courtyard. And without exception, they’re all wearing black robes.”
Kyle raised an eyebrow and said quietly:
“Sounds fishy. Didn’t you try to get a closer look?”
The spy tensed up, shook his head, and added in a low voice:
“Of course we tried. But… those people aren’t right.”
Julius’s expression sharpened and he immediately pressed, “What’s wrong with them?”
The spy swallowed, hesitation flickering in his eyes, before slowly continuing:
“We could see their figures inside the mansion, but no matter how closely we watched, we couldn’t find out where they were coming in and out.”
“Only during the day do we sometimes see the baron go out.”
His voice was still hushed, but now tinged with doubt, “But aside from that, he hasn’t done anything worth noting.”
So in other words…
There might be a secret passage in the mansion.
Selina stroked her chin lightly, her gaze narrowing coldly.
The spy nodded in response and whispered:
“That’s what we suspect as well. That’s why we’ve been secretly searching for the entrance these past few days.”
Just as he finished, Selina lifted her eyes, a chill flashing through them.
“Wait here.”
She said softly, then turned and bounded up the inn’s stone steps, disappearing upstairs in moments.
The wind on the top floor of the inn was colder than on the street below.
The gray-haired girl landed lightly on the roof’s eaves, her black cloak snapping in the wind.
She focused her gaze on the direction of the Black Family’s mansion. In the night, the courtyard looked like a bottomless black well, its stillness enough to unsettle anyone.
Just then, her pupils contracted sharply.
Amidst the heavy shadows of the trees, a black-robed figure glided silently by—moving swiftly, with a poise slightly different from the person in her memories. His pace was quicker, his posture more assured.
Selina curled her lips into a cold smile:
“Hmph, as expected…There’s more than one rat scurrying in these shadows.”