https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-125-Lanchi-Was-Not-Afraid-in-the-Slightest/12584063/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-127-Fred-s-Heavyweight-Detective-Maneuver/12584065/
Chapter 126: Fred Seems to Want to Fast-Forward Again
Chapter 126: Fred Seems to Want to Fast-Forward Again
The ancient stone walls seemed to absorb the faint light from the mountaintop, casting the old castle with its many corners and shadows into an even more mysterious light. Behind every door lay secrets unknown. The cold stone walls and dim corridors, coupled with the palpable tension in the air, exuded an aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
The group maintained a cautious distance as they made their way through the castle's hallways. Through the windows, they could only make out the vague outlines of the mist-shrouded forest and valleys, adding to the overall enigmatic atmosphere.
Due to the nature of the traitors' abilities, which were dependent on the awakening of their vampire master, and the fact that vampires typically secluded themselves during the day and slept in secluded, lightless places, the traitors could only utilize their unknown and terrifying powers once a day, at night, when their master was active.
On the first day of the five-day killing game, with none of the challengers having been killed yet, the two traitors dared not initiate their attack while unable to use the vampire lord's powers. Instead, they wisely disguised themselves as regular challengers.
The natural strategy for the day, therefore, was to stick together and ensure that no one left the group's sight. This forced the traitors to move with the collective, preventing them from carrying out their deadly plans and hindering their ability to complete their own objectives. It also served to slow down their progress significantly.
Ascending the stone steps from the cathedral hall, they made their way through the winding corridors to the second floor, a balcony-style platform that offered a clear view of the grand hall below. Beyond this area were three locked massive bedrooms, several washrooms, storage rooms, and the most eye-catching feature—a two-story library that spanned from the second to the third floor.
The library was a masterpiece of dark redwood, with tall, intricately carved bookshelves reaching up to the ceiling. The shelves were filled with ancient tomes and precious maps from the Honing Empire. In the center stood a writing desk, upon which lay a quill made from an unknown bird's feather and an ink bottle. This was clearly the study and workspace of the castle's owner, Sir Caligula.
However, Fred did not suggest that they spend a significant amount of time in the library searching for clues among the ancient books. Instead, he led the group up the spiral staircase within the library to the castle's third floor.
From the third to the fifth floor, they passed by three enclosed bedrooms on each level, as well as the private bedroom of Sir Caligula, the castle's owner. They also encountered the conference room, iron casting room, armory, textile room, art studio, pharmacy, tower, and more.
There were plenty of places that seemed to hold potential clues as they made their way through the castle, but the detective seemed uninterested.
He moved with a singular purpose, as if he had seen through the distractions and was focused solely on the most efficient solution that he had already determined.
After a thorough three-hour exploration of the castle's interior, the challengers confirmed that the five-story structure was protected by sturdy magical spells that could withstand powerful attacks. The bedrooms, in particular, had additional reinforced barriers.
There were a total of twelve safe bedrooms, with three on each floor from the second to the fifth, and each challenger already possessed a magic key that would open the door and windows to their assigned room.
With this knowledge, the mechanics of this shadow world became clearer.
When night fell and the vampire lord awakened, granting the traitors access to their powers, it was highly likely that they could wipe out the entire group if they stayed together.
Therefore, the obvious strategy for the night was to split up and take refuge in the safe bedrooms.
Even if the vampire lord's powers included offensive or dispelling abilities that could break through the bedrooms' defenses, the restriction of only being able to use the powers once a day, coupled with the shadow world's consistent adherence to absolute reasonableness, meant that at most, one or two safe bedrooms could be breached in a single night.
With the challengers more concentrated in their living quarters, the likelihood of multiple challengers being killed in one night increased. The more dispersed they were, the fewer deaths there would be that night.
If the traitors were not uncovered soon, the five-day duration might be enough for the two traitors to wipe out the other challengers.
The occupants of each bedroom had been publicly assigned before the start of the shadow world, and those with important identities, especially the detective, were in greater danger.
The only way to avoid danger was to share a room with a trustworthy challenger.
And even if it meant sacrificing themselves, the challengers had to protect the detective and prevent the traitors from killing him on the first night.
The earlier the detective died, the more the shadow world would tilt towards the traitors' victory!
Conversely, if they could successfully mislead the traitors or engage in a perfect psychological battle, it might be possible to make the traitors' efforts futile for a whole night!
At that moment, having finished surveying the interior of the castle, the group followed Fred downstairs to the ground floor.
Fred went to the kitchen and pantry, finding some portable food which he placed in a leather bag he had found upstairs, and then headed to the wine cellar to grab a few bottles of sweet white wine.
It was now approaching 9 am.
In front of the double-sided door panels, light freely flowed through the window lattices, passing through the colorful glass of the dome and casting alternating shades of light and dark within the once dimly lit building.
Fred pushed open the massive doors, and the group followed him outside, stepping out of the ancient castle into the bright morning sun for the first time. The intense sunlight was a stark contrast to the gloomy interior they had just left.
They finally got a clear view of the castle in the clouds.
As they stepped out, they turned back to admire the ancient castle. The morning sunlight illuminated the intricate stone carvings on the outer walls, creating a clear contrast between the limestone walls and the lush green forest surrounding it. The suspended platform and spire tower, shrouded in mist, looked especially spectacular.
Fred's instructions to the group were to head to the cliff edge together to verify the information provided by the Geographer and the Lawyer.
If the information proved correct, the credibility of these two individuals would greatly increase.
The castle was surrounded by mountains and trees, with lush greenery all around, and the somber autumn atmosphere added to the gloom.
The twelve figures made their way through the forest, the tension palpable.
The trees in the mist loomed like eerie shadows, and the shallow stream seemed to be a mysterious passage disappearing into the fog.
They knew that the real purpose of this trip was to check the condition of the bridge.
It only took five minutes for the group to reach the cliff, thanks to the precise directions provided by the Geographer.
The sight before them was terrifying. Their path to the city-state was blocked by a massive cliff.
Even before their eyes reached the edge, the visual impact of the 800-meter-high and over-100-meter-wide cliff was overwhelming.
Just as Lanchi had predicted, the 100-meter-long bridge had indeed been destroyed.
It was as if someone had deliberately intended to trap everyone inside this ancient castle.
Undoubtedly, this must have been the work of the traitors, using their vampire powers before the start of the shadow world.
The 800-meter drop, the hundred-meter distance to the opposite side, and the air defense magic of the national defense barrier seemed to isolate them from the rest of the world, making them prisoners on this rocky island.
On this chilly morning,
everything was still shrouded in mysterious puzzles.
As the group's spirits sank under the weight of the broken bridge,
Fred, like a detective closing in on a solution, strode towards the cliff alone!
(End of Chapter)
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