“This is the reason I called you here.”
Dai Lina explained to her, her gaze fixed on the pink-haired girl tied up in front of her.
Luna still looked puzzled, clearly not fully understanding what was going on.
“What’s happening, Li Na? Isn’t she the girl who runs the fried chicken stand on the street?”
As if she heard a familiar voice, the girl began to struggle even more violently, the cloth stuffed in her mouth only allowing her to let out muffled “mmph mmph” sounds.
“She’s not just a girl who sells fried chicken.”
Dai Lina said seriously.
“You’ll understand once she speaks.”
As Dai Lina spoke, she walked toward the girl, removing the gag and blindfold from her mouth and eyes.
The blinding light made the girl squint for a moment. Once she adjusted, she finally saw the two people in front of her.
“Help…help me—!”
The girl, regaining her sight, immediately shouted. Luna, startled by the sudden scream, jumped, but Dai Lina remained calm.
“Be quiet!”
Dai Lina raised her gun and aimed it at the girl. Under the threat of the muzzle, the girl obediently closed her mouth.
“No matter how much you scream or cry, it’s useless. [Sound Isolation] has already been set up here. No one outside can hear a thing.”
“Uu…”
The girl sobbed softly, obviously terrified by the situation.
“So…what exactly is going on?”
Luna remained confused, unable to grasp what was happening before her.
“Hmph, you dare break in here but don’t have the courage to reveal your true identity? Tell her everything you know!”
Dai Lina pointed her gun at the girl, ordering her to speak the truth.
“I…I’m Xia Xia…I’m 18 years old…unmarried…”
The girl’s voice trembled, filled with fear.
“Who wants to hear this nonsense! Are you trying to stall for time!?”
Dai Lina shouted angrily, pressing the gun even closer to the girl.
“Eek—!”
The girl shuddered in fear.
“Quickly state your true identity! And how many Empire Secret Guards have infiltrated!”
Dai Lina continued to threaten her, a hint of impatience flashing in her eyes.
“Wh-what Empire Secret Guard! I don’t know anything! I’m just a Human!”
The girl hurriedly defended herself.
“If you’re a Human, you wouldn’t say you’re a Human!”
Dai Lina clearly didn’t believe her, her tone growing more impatient.
“Since you refuse to speak, I’ll reveal your true form to her myself!”
With that, Dai Lina grabbed the girl’s bound hand and forcefully removed the ring from her finger.
The moment the ring was taken off, the girl’s appearance underwent a shocking change—a pair of cat ears emerged from her head, and a long tail appeared behind her.
“Now you understand, right?”
Dai Lina displayed Xia Xia’s true form in front of Luna. Luna’s expression instantly turned to shock.
“She…she’s also a Demon!”
Luna cried out in surprise.
“That’s right. And she’s with those people.”
Dai Lina added. Luna was so shocked she couldn’t speak.
“Is she also an Empire Secret Guard?”
Luna finally managed to squeeze out a question. She couldn’t believe that the girl who sold fried chicken was part of the Empire Secret Guard.
“Why not ask her yourself?”
Dai Lina looked at Xia Xia again. At this moment, Xia Xia’s spirit had faded, looking completely defeated, as if any question would go unanswered.
And in Xia Xia’s heart, she regretted countless times why she ever stepped into this shop!
Her thoughts spun like a carousel, taking her back to that moment…
At that time, she had just walked into the shop and immediately sensed the presence of many Demons. These auras were present in every maid, sending a cold sweat down her spine!
Why are there so many of my kind here?!
Xia Xia was shocked, realizing she had come to a place she shouldn’t have and wanted to leave immediately out of fear.
However, just as she was about to escape, a staff member dressed in a luxurious maid outfit blocked her path.
“Please wait, customer.”
The staff member’s voice was gentle yet firm, stopping Xia Xia from slipping away.
“Eh!?”
Xia Xia was startled by the sudden appearance of the staff member, but she didn’t sense any malice from her.
The staff member who stopped her was Xiangling.
Xiangling smiled at her, her eyes narrowing to a line.
“I feel something special between us. Would you like to try our ‘Special Menu’?”
Xia Xia was terrified by her words. She realized from Xiangling’s tone that she had already been recognized as one of their kind.
She tried to refuse and slip away, but just as she opened her mouth, she was overwhelmed by the invisible pressure emanating from the maid.
“Please, you must come with me, customer. It’s rare for someone of our kind to visit here.”
The latter sentence was spoken in a lowered voice, with a tone that brooked no refusal, making her intentions clear.
Feeling Xiangling’s pressure, Xia Xia grew uneasy but didn’t realize the real danger. She simply thought she was being treated with suspicion as a “stranger” who barged in.
As long as I get through this, it’ll be fine!
With that thought, she followed Xiangling into the Kitchen.
However, the moment Xia Xia stepped into the Kitchen, a strong sense of unease spread within her.
She glanced around and suddenly realized something was off!
And her instincts were right.
As she turned around, two maids appeared behind her. One quickly covered her mouth, while the other began tying her up.
“Task complete as ordered, Master.”
Xiangling respectfully reported to Dai Lina, her tone showing satisfaction with the completed mission.
From the corner of her eye, Xia Xia saw someone who made her tremble with fear—Selina, the one who bought fried chicken in her shop that day and whom she had exposed!
Xiangling stood respectfully before Dai Lina, who then slowly approached Xia Xia and began to scrutinize her closely.
“Gag her mouth, blindfold her eyes. Move her to the Storeroom.”
Dai Lina ordered coldly.
And so, without any resistance, Xia Xia became Dai Lina’s captive, locked away in the Storeroom.
As for how Dai Lina discovered Xia Xia, the reason was actually quite simple.
The moment Xia Xia entered the shop, Xiao Meng, who was in charge of patrolling, noticed her presence.
Xiao Meng immediately reported the situation to Dai Lina, who ordered Xiangling to make sure Xia Xia was restrained.
Though Xiangling didn’t know why, she still tied her up as Dai Lina instructed.
Time returned to the present…
Xia Xia looked at Selina, who was pointing a gun at her, filled with regret and despair!
Why am I so unlucky…
Xia Xia sighed inwardly, never expecting that after vowing never to let the same thing happen again, she’d be taught such a quick lesson.
Not only had she found her target, Dai Lina, but she was also immediately captured. What a miserable failure.
“Hey! Say something! Otherwise, there’s no reason for me to keep you here.”
Dai Lina’s voice echoed in the Storeroom, laced with obvious impatience.
Xia Xia was silent for a moment. Feeling Dai Lina’s threat, she knew that if she didn’t speak, something even worse might happen.
So, just as Dai Lina began to count down, Xia Xia finally opened her mouth.