After work, start to speedrun the other world-Chapter 59 - 35: Breaking into the Palace

"Difficult," Xi Mu said in a single word, meeting Letixia’s and Fifine’s gaze as he explained:

"Remember the dwarf girl wielding those twin hammers? She’s very strong," he said gravely, addressing Fifine.

"If we want to steal the divine sword from the temple, we need to ascertain the dwarf powers stationed there.

"All those dwarfs are gathered in the temple, around four to five hundred," Fifine said, sharing the information she knew.

"If their general strength is anywhere close to that of the twin-hammered dwarf, infiltrating the temple to steal the divine sword is no different from suicide."

The atmosphere became silent again.

Indeed, those with the advantage are not Princess Ashliya but them, provided they are willing to hide and await reinforcements from Sky City.

Victory would surely be theirs, but such an act would cost Princess Ashliya dearly; every so often she would kill a friend or relative of Letixia to coerce her until the Sky City reinforcements arrived, by which time most of Letixia’s friends and family might already be dead.

Moreover, Xi Mu did not want to wait for the reinforcements from Sky City. He was in the Iris Flower Kingdom to gain experience points and to unlock the Ashen Ending route.

He couldn’t really rely on the great army of Sky City to bulldoze through.

"I have a plan," Xi Mu said, "Tonight, I will storm into the Royal City myself to see if I can capture Princess Ashliya."

"Ah... Aren’t you supposed to go to Kardon Village outskirts tomorrow to confront them in a decisive battle?" Fifine covered her mouth just as Xi Mu shook his head.

He shrugged,

"Since it’s war, why should we play by the rules? Won’t it be more convenient for us to ambush Princess Ashliya when they head to the outskirts of Kardon Village?"

Fifine caught on, "You’re deceiving them?"

"It’s tactics, not deception," Xi Mu retorted unabashedly, while Fifine’s expression grew complex, realizing that the knight was not as straightforward as he seemed.

But at least for now the plan seemed somehow feasible.

"Tonight I’m going to raid the Royal City." Xi Mu clasped his hands together, his voice unnervingly calm, "while Letixia and Fifine, you take the opportunity to rescue the King."

He looked towards Letixia’s delicate face beside him.

"Whether I succeed in capturing Princess Ashliya or you manage to rescue the King, either outcome could turn the tide."

"That’s not impossible," Fifine nodded, yet her expression still held doubts, "Sir Ahtal, are you sure you can protect yourself during the siege?"

Xi Mu smiled, "I am very good at stealth."

In his last round, he had even achieved the perfect stealth achievement, eliminating everyone in the city and taking the quest item.

Since there were no living witnesses, naturally, no one knew who had taken the quest item, thereby earning him a special achievement.

Even though the game developers created the achievement for a joke.

But he indeed had a perfect stealth rating, regardless of whether he truly achieved it through stealth.

Regardless, he had earned that achievement.

"If you die, Letixia will be heartbroken for life," Fifine said seriously, "She’s a woman who takes things very seriously."

She understood Letixia very well and took relationships seriously. If Ahtal truly died because of Letixia, it would likely become an unhealable wound in her heart, perhaps leading her to a lonely life.

Thus, she did not wish any harm upon Ahtal.

"Now we don’t have much choice, do we?" Xi Mu said gently, smiling, "While I go to capture Princess Ashliya, you also take the opportunity to rescue the King. As long as one of us succeeds, we can turn the situation around."

He looked at Letixia, who opened her mouth to object, then gently caressed her face, his smile tender and sincere.

"Don’t worry, I will come back safe and sound."

"..."

Letixia looked at Xi Mu, his earnest and gentle gaze, finding herself unable to voice her objections, her hand’s warmth leaving her feeling weak, as though she had lost the strength to speak.

Initially, she wanted Ahtal to join her in rescuing her father rather than risking his life drawing attention.

Yet looking into Ahtal’s tender and earnest gaze, the words of refusal became impossible to utter.

Logically, it made no sense. Yet, she felt that Ahtal would indeed succeed.

Done for, Letixia was completely at his mercy.

Fifine, observing the deeply gazing couple, felt somewhat superfluous, wanting to loudly remind Letixia of her calmness as the eldest princess. But she felt that saying it aloud would only spoil the mood and not make much difference.

Love indeed can rob a calm woman of her judgment.

...

...

Nighttime.

Letixia and Fifine, cloaked, returned to the Royal City, turning to see the silver-clad knight leaning against the alley wall, waving goodbye to them.

They nodded at each other, then disappeared into the night.

"Okay, time to get chopping!" Xi Mu confirmed they had gone far, and started sprinting towards the Royal Palace, having planned the duel outside Kardon Village as a ruse. The princess and the dwarves wouldn’t believe it but would see it as a diversion.

He was seeking an opportunity for a sudden strike at the Royal City.

Before long,

Royal Palace.

"Hahaha, did you think we would fall for that?"

On the rooftop, a dwarf loli holding twin hammers casting a long shadow against the moonlight, stood in front of a silver-clad knight in the courtyard.