Yuri knew very well that since she lacked both identity and background, her only sources of information were the rumors she could pick up.
If she could find anything out that way, it was fine, but if not, there was nothing she could do.
As for sneaking around to steal information, although Yuri had some combat power now, she only specialized in close-quarters combat. When it came to stealth, she was completely clueless. Instead of expecting her to slip into the Lord’s Mansion to gather intel, it would be more realistic to hope she could just fight her way through the front gate.
Moreover, stealth required a general understanding of the layout inside the mansion to plan a route in advance.
For Yuri, who had not been in Anvil City for very long, her knowledge of the Lord’s Mansion was limited to knowing its general direction.
Regarding the internal layout, the personnel, or where Bartol usually stayed, she knew absolutely nothing.
So, when it came to gathering information from the mansion, she certainly wasn’t the right person for the job.
She wasn’t, but someone else was perfectly suited for it.
Aside from the blonde woman she had encountered today, no third person had appeared who could see Iris. Since others couldn’t even see her, was there any candidate more suitable for infiltration?
No.
Iris was the most appropriate choice. Even if a third person who could see her unexpectedly appeared, there was no need to worry.
The current Iris was merely a projection. She couldn’t be touched or felt, and they couldn’t do anything to her at all. They could only watch her in frustration.
The only problem was how to get Iris to help her.
“Iris, do me a favor.”
“Let me say this first — it depends on my mood. If I’m in a good mood, I might help you. If I’m in a bad mood, then forget it.”
Judging by her expression, it was impossible to tell whether she was in a good or bad mood for the time being.
However, once she heard the specific details, her face would likely change.
“I want to know what Bartol and Pegum are up to and what they’re doing behind the scenes. So, I need you to help me scout for information in the Lord’s Mansion.”
After the words fell, Iris did not immediately respond.
She didn’t refuse right away. Was there a chance?
“Yuri dear…” The expression on Iris’s face gradually changed, though she seemed a bit huffy.
“Do you take me for manual labor? Yuri dear, did you break your brain fighting the Abyss today?”
Well… it seemed she was in a very bad mood.
“Or did you think I was easy to talk to?”
“But it really is important to understand what they are doing behind the scenes right now.”
“That’s your business, not mine. If you want to know, go investigate it yourself.”
Aha… she was rejected cleanly and decisively.
Furthermore, Iris didn’t even make a demand. Usually, she would take the opportunity to ask for something.
For example, she might ask to borrow Yuri’s body in exchange for her help.
But this time, Iris made no demands and simply refused her.
It seemed she truly didn’t want to help, or perhaps there was some hidden reason that prevented her from speaking openly, forcing her to choose refusal.
“Iris, do you know something?”
“Huh? Yuri dear, is your brain really broken? I’m an Evil God, not a prophet. How many days have I even been in this dumpy city, and I’ve been with you the whole time. Do you really think I could know what those two are fussing with behind the scenes?”
She was being scolded.
Was she so tired that her mind wasn’t clear? Her previous self wouldn’t have suggested such a possibility.
“Besides, Yuri dear, I still mean what I said before. It’s best to listen to me. This isn’t something you can handle. Leave as soon as possible and don’t get involved in this mess.”
It seemed she had completely given up on getting Iris to help.
However, Yuri had her own persistence.
She would have to find a way to gather information herself. As for Clayton’s side, she could only wait for him to return tomorrow to see if he had any new discoveries. It would be great if she could find out what Pegum was up to in the shadows.
A clear *grumble* interrupted Yuri’s thoughts. Only then did she realize that she hadn’t eaten much today.
After that, she had been chased by knights and then helped defend the city gate, keeping her nerves highly strung the entire time. Now that she had left the Adventurers’ Guild and relaxed a little, the exhaustion accumulated throughout the day instantly flooded over her. It seemed she needed to take a good rest first.
Besides, she was starving.
She had only eaten a few bites of stew today. She was enjoying it until that blonde woman suddenly approached her and started speaking in riddles. If that wasn’t enough, she had later led the knights right to her.
Her poor stew — she hadn’t even finished a few mouthfuls before she was forced to jump out of a window and flee.
After that, she was chased by knights, led Alyosha and the others to find a new place to stay, encountered humans infected by the aura of the Abyss, and then helped the knights defend the city.
After experiencing such a high-intensity day, she was actually still alive and kicking, only feeling a bit hungry.
Looking at it this way, had her physical strength increased again?
She had noticed it while fighting the Abyssal monsters earlier; not only had her physical strength improved, but her body’s recovery speed also seemed to have increased.
She instinctively rubbed her left arm. Previously, after overusing it, her left arm would ache for an entire day, but now it was only slightly numb.
It had only been a few days since she had turned into a girl, yet her body’s strength seemed to have risen again.
Wait, Yuri seemed to understand what was going on.
She had made a deal with Iris before. Could it be that besides obtaining a portion of Iris’s abilities, her physical strength had also been enhanced?
If it were her old self, after experiencing everything she had today, she would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago. She wouldn’t just be feeling a little hungry like she was now.
That girl… She instinctively glanced at Iris, who was floating nearby.
She clearly said she wouldn’t help me, but could this be considered a subtle way of doing so?
Although she really wanted to tease Iris about it, the girl would probably just flatly deny it.
Whatever, she would just keep it to herself.
For now, she needed to find a place to fill her stomach and then consider where to stay tonight.
After thinking it over, Yuri decided to return to the inn where she had stayed last night.
Although the inn was a bit expensive, the environment was indeed excellent, and it had a private bathroom. For Yuri, who didn’t want to go to a public bathhouse, it was the best choice.
More importantly, they provided meals there. For the currently starving Yuri, she didn’t want to run to another location.
She would go there now, book a room, fill her stomach in the first-floor dining hall, then head upstairs to her room to take a bath and have a good rest.
She had to recover her spirit so that she would have the energy to investigate the secrets of Anvil City tomorrow.
Compared to usual, the streets of Anvil City were much emptier now. Hardly a soul could be seen. Occasionally, she saw a few scattered pedestrians, but they were all hurrying along with terrified expressions on their faces.
The news of the city gate being breached today had probably already spread throughout the entire city.
Panic-stricken residents were flocking toward the center of the city. To them, staying near the Lord’s Mansion might offer some protection.
This was the mentality of most ordinary citizens, but if Anvil City really fell, there would be no safe place left.
She didn’t know if that inn still had any vacant rooms. If not, she would have to find another place to spend the night.
She didn’t want to spend the night gnawing on dry rations under a drafty bridge after a long, exhausting day.
Just as Yuri was two streets away from the inn, a squad of knights appeared ahead of her, questioning the passersby nearby.
Tsk… Were they looking for her?