Chapter 814: Huh? Kidnap the Princess?
Chapter 814: Huh? Kidnap the Princess?
Upon hearing Leon's promise, the Cat Witch's ears twitched, and she meowed in confusion.
Although the imposter pretending to be her was indeed hateful, she... or he was merely a character in the Sleepy Tale, and capturing her wouldn't serve any purpose.
'The significance of capturing her lies in gaining control over the story's progression.'
After assessing his current situation, Leon gently squeezed the Cat Witch's paw, stroking the soft fur, and replied thoughtfully, "Although we are also characters in the Sleepy Tale and can vaguely guess some parts of the story, we don't know the full picture. So, we can only follow along like puppets, moving with the story's flow."
"But now, even though I haven't completely freed myself from the restrictions, I've gained a bit of 'freedom.' Instead of waiting for the story's turning points to unfold, it's better to take the initiative and see if we can disrupt their plans."
It seemed to make some sense...
The Cat Witch nodded, still somewhat unsure, and was about to ask another question when footsteps in the corridor stopped outside the door. A cautious knocking sound followed.
"Knock, knock."
"Come in."
"Your Highness, I am the Captain of the Guard from the High Witch Court. You can call me..."
Opening the door, the guard captain entered and greeted Leon. Having just heard a load of conspiracy theories from the Leader of the Shaman Society, he couldn't help but give the 'Evil Lionheart Prince' a thorough once-over.
As the sun set on the horizon, a faint, dim glow shone through the window, illuminating Leon's back and partially outlining his face while casting the rest of his body into shadows.
The Lionheart Prince, leaning against the chair, was enveloped in this gloomy light, his silhouette stretching across the room, passing over the slightly worn furniture and dark carpet, and slowly advancing towards the door in a shadowy, imposing manner.
The black cat on his lap, sensing the movement at the door, poked its head out of his hand. Its bright, amber eyes, which should have belonged to a human, stared fixedly at the guard captain...
The captain shuddered at the unique 'aura' Leon exuded in the darkness. His smile froze, and under the intense gaze of the man and the cat, the explanations he had prepared were suddenly half-forgotten.
"Go on."
Leon, in his Nightmare King state with the activated 'Dread and Fear' badge, gently lifted the Cat Witch's thumb and caressed her furry chin with his knuckle. His body, mostly hidden in the shadows, exuded immense pressure. He spoke calmly yet with an air of authority, "What should I call you?"
"Uh... Gary! You can call me Gary!"
The guard captain, having snapped out of his daze, quickly introduced himself. He took a few deep breaths, steeling himself, and approached the man radiating an overwhelming aura of dread. He stopped beside the chair opposite Leon and stood at attention. "Your Highness, regarding your maid..."
"Wait."
Leon interrupted the guard captain and gestured for him to sit. "Sit and talk."
"Oh? Yes, Your Highness!"
The guard captain from the High Witch Court was momentarily taken aback by Leon's instruction but instinctively sat in the chair opposite him.
Strangely, even though they had transitioned from standing to sitting, seemingly engaging in an equal conversation, the guard captain felt not relaxation but increasing tension.
As the night outside grew darker, the man holding the cat seemed to relax, but the pressure emanating from him intensified, making it difficult for the guard captain to breathe.
The Guard Captain instinctively scooted forward slightly, perching on the edge of the chair, his head and back slightly hunched. He took a few deep breaths, and it seemed like he had gained some strange enlightenment.
When someone asks you to sit down for a chat, it doesn't necessarily mean the conversation will be an equal one; it could also mean they just don't like looking up at people...
"Your Highness, the Prince..."
The Guard Captain, stunned by the aura of the Nightmare King, tried to make himself smaller as he spoke in a low voice:
"We didn't actually capture your guard, only your maid. But she was found at the Catnip Ball Society's hideout, and she couldn't explain why she was there, so..."
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Huh?"
Lyon, stroking the back of the Cat Witch, which felt like satin, relaxed his upper body against the back of the chair, hidden in the shadows, spoke calmly:
"I'm asking, is there anything wrong with going there?"
"Well... The Catnip Ball Society is a very evil underground sect. They recently plotted an assassination attempt on His Majesty the Great Witch King, so..."
"It's fake."
"Huh?"
Amid the Guard Captain's bewildered expression, the evil Lionheart Prince lifted the Cat Witch in his arms and continued to explain calmly:
"The leader of the Catnip Ball Society is my ally. Our goal is to kidnap Princess Catherine and replace her with a fake, allowing her to directly inherit the position of the Great Witch King, not to assassinate him. So this wasn't done by the Catnip Ball Society; you've arrested the wrong person."
"Huh?"
For the fourth time, the Guard Captain couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah!" His eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at Lyon across from him.
I admit your explanation is quite convincing. After all, the failed assassination attempt on the Great Witch King might not have been as harmful as your plan... But you just revealed it so directly?
...
Hmm... Since you can talk about your "plan," it proves that the Tale of Illusions' control over the Bedtime Story isn't absolute and only affects the critical nodes of the story.
As the Guard Captain sat there in a daze, unsure of what to say, Lyon, who had just tested the "freedom" of the situation, continued to analyze the intelligence of the Bedtime Story in his mind.
Based on the current situation, the Tale of Illusions' Bedtime Story seems to be just a rough outline. Just as Snow White must eat the poisoned apple, and Sleeping Beauty must be pricked by the spindle, even with his Materialism, he couldn't defy the story he had set in motion.
However, the Tale of Illusions' control likely only extends this far.
He can dictate that Snow White eats the poisoned apple, but he can't control the color of the apple, whether it's waxed, or the taste—sweet or sour—in detail.
To summarize, the closer the plot is to the outline and the main storyline, the stronger the binding effect of the Bedtime Story. Elements far from the main storyline are almost unaffected by the Bedtime Story, and there seems to be room for maneuver here...
[Through detailed testing and summarization, you have gained a wealth of intelligence about the 'Bedtime Story'... Your resistance to this anomaly has significantly increased, and you can now block its deeper influences.]
You guessed right! Hearing the voice in his ear and feeling the loosening of the bindings once more, Lyon couldn't help but smirk. He then looked at the hesitant Guard Captain across from him and smiled, sending a game invitation.
"Gari, I think you're a talented individual. How about joining my plan to kidnap the Princess?"
"Ah?!?!?!"
(End of Chapter)
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