What malicious intent could NPCs possibly have? C24.1

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Chp24. part1

Big Boss Pei was acting strangely today.

Ning Ge sighed silently and turned to the Wooden Puppets. “I’m hungry, and I want something else to eat.”

They understood this. One of the Wooden Puppets immediately bowed and left, as if to fetch someone.

Before long, the golden-haired, stunning young man Ning Ge had seen upon entering the Dungeon reappeared.

He bowed gracefully. “Did my lady summon me?”

His gaze flickered to Pei Han, who was still eating dessert. He hesitated, then gathered his courage. “Àiruìsī believes the Viscountess’s dance partner shouldn’t eat so much. The Ball is about to begin, and a full stomach will make the gown look unflattering, which would embarrass the Viscountess.”

He added, “Besides, eating too many sweets will ruin your figure.”

Pei Han froze, his spoon clutched in his hand.

Not wanting to work just means finding a different way to work.

Nothing in this world comes for free. Living off someone else’s fortune isn’t that easy.

Ning Ge couldn’t help but curve her lips. She beckoned to the beautiful young man who called himself Àiruìsī. “Come here.”

Àiruìsī was remarkably obedient, stepping forward a few paces to stand before Ning Ge.

“Unbutton your shirt,” Ning Ge said.

At her words, Àiruìsī’s long, thick lashes drooped slightly, revealing a hint of shyness. Nevertheless, he obediently began unfastening the shell buttons of his shirt.

Ning Ge reached out and parted the front of his shirt.

Indeed, a small purple iris was blooming on his left chest.

The bracelet vibrated, and the countdown stopped.

Àiruìsī glanced at Ning Ge’s hand, then looked up at her. His eyes were strikingly different from the rough, black lacquer orbs of other Wooden Puppets; they were moist and sapphire-blue, like gemstones, reflecting two tiny images of Ning Ge within their depths.

This was the true meaning of “its eyes hold the Viscountess.”

From a distance, this Wooden Puppet looked indistinguishable from a living person, but up close, something felt wrong.

The problem was its perfection.

His skin was flawless, his golden hair arranged with excessive precision, his lashes long and brush-like, his features in flawless proportion, as if meticulously crafted.

This perfection made him seem unnatural, suggesting he wasn’t human but an upgraded version of other Wooden Puppets.

Exquisite, beautiful, and capable of speech—this must be the Viscountess’s most beloved Wooden Puppet Servant.

Ning Ge had been suspicious from the start. The palace’s rules seemed to restrict men’s freedom of movement; indeed, all the figures coming and going were Wooden Puppets. His ability to move freely likely meant he wasn’t human either.

When he introduced himself as Àiruìsī, Ning Ge was completely certain—Iris was the English name for (艾瑞斯 / Àiruìsī).

Pei Han had been right. This was an SSS-level living experience, with luxurious food and clothing, even the personal attendants were SSS-grade.

The tiny Iris flower bloomed elegantly on the Wooden Puppet Servant’s perfectly sculpted chest.

Ning Ge couldn’t resist reaching out and gently poking it.

His surface felt like soft skin, but it was unusually hard beneath.

According to the mission description, Iris was a “Wooden Puppet Servant,” so he must be made of wood.

Ning Ge raised her bracelet, aimed at the puppet, and tapped to scan.

Ding!

It wasn’t the bracelet, Pei Han had set down the silver spoon, which clinked against the snow-white porcelain plate with gold trim.

He had probably finally decided to take responsibility for his little stomach.

“He’s not the Anchor Point,” Pei Han said, narrowing his eyes as he looked over. “Based on my experience, the Anchor Point is unlikely to be the target NPC of a Sub-Mission.”

“I know,” Ning Ge replied casually, looking down at the screen on her bracelet. “I just wanted to take a photo.”

Pei Han: “……”

A new mission notification appeared:

[Even without the red dancing shoes, dance until your feet are white and your body is cold.]

[Mission: Dance.]

[Description: Attend the Queen’s Ball and dance until it ends. Try to stay alive throughout the ball, though I won’t object if you choose to die.]

[Failure Penalty: One death eliminates both dance partners.]

This time, their lives were inextricably linked—if one died, both would perish.

After reading the mission, Ning Ge looked up at Iris. “Are all the men here restricted from freely roaming the palace?”

“Yes,” Iris replied. “After two men attempted to assassinate the Queen last month, this rule was implemented.”

“My lady,” the beautiful wooden puppet suggested softly, its eyelashes fluttering, “the ball is about to begin. Your dance partner should change into their formal attire.”

The Viscountess’s room was nearby. Even in broad daylight, they were shrouded in heavy curtains and illuminated by crystal lamps. Iris brought in a complete set of clothing.

It was a white silk gown with gold buttons.

Iris explained, “Her Majesty the Queen previously commissioned a lily-patterned gown for Mosh. When my Lady saw it, she liked it and ordered a rose-patterned one. I wonder if you remember, my lady. They took their time with the order, and it only just arrived today.”

Ning Ge looked at the gown. Small, exquisite rose motifs adorned its borders and buttons.

Iris handed the gown to Pei Han, bowed respectfully, and withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Pei Han tossed the gown onto the bed and immediately began unbuttoning his rough linen shirt.

Ning Ge: “……”

After undoing two buttons, Pei Han turned and noticed her expression. He asked casually, “What’s wrong? Are you shy? You’ve undressed everyone so many times already—haven’t you gotten used to it?”

Ning Ge remained silent, watching him.

The word “shy” didn’t exist in the Viscountess’s vocabulary, especially when she was trying to provoke someone.

Ning Ge calmly turned, found an armchair, and sat down, as if planning to observe his changing.

Pei Han hadn’t expected her to sit down. His hand paused, but he persisted in undoing the remaining buttons. With a slight turn, he swiftly pulled off the shirt.

The dazzling crystal chandelier cast mottled light and shadow across his body. With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, the deep curve of his back disappeared into his trousers, creating a perfect “back shot” that rivaled the beauty of a carved wooden puppet.

“Want to take a picture?” he asked without turning around.

“No rush,” Ning Ge replied. “I’ll take it when you’re fully undressed.”

Though his back was to her, Ning Ge could clearly see the tips of his ears had turned completely red.

He snatched his trousers from the bed, his hand hovering in the air, frozen.

Ning Ge remained seated, motionless.

Pei Han clutched the trousers for two seconds before finally giving in, his panting audible. He retreated into the inner chamber.

He insisted on undressing himself, yet he’s the one blushing first—how contradictory, Ning Ge thought.

He emerged shortly after, dressed in new clothes. Tall and upright, just as the bracelet had described, his beauty was unparalleled. His expression now appeared much more composed.

A knock sounded at the door.

This time it wasn’t Iris, but a wooden puppet wearing a jester’s pointed hat and a clown-like face painted on its features.

It stood only half a person’s height, its lower body a single wooden wheel that clattered across the floor.

Its high-pitched voice squeaked, “Her Majesty the Queen requests the presence of Viscountess Nona at the ball.”

The ball wasn’t being held in the palace after all, but in the square outside.

Wooden Clown, wobbling precariously on his unicycle, carefully balanced Ning Ge and Pei Han as they descended the wide steps in front of the royal palace and passed through the golden iron gate.

Night had fallen, but the square blazed with light.

The vast plaza teemed with a dense, black mass of human heads—tens of thousands of men, women, and children—all held back by Wooden Puppets behind a white line.

Beyond the line lay the dance floor.

The dance floor was peculiar: its floor was inlaid with alternating black and white stones, forming a grid that resembled a colossal chessboard.

Ning Ge counted the squares: twenty by twenty, each one a step square.

At the edge of the chessboard, far from the crowd, sat a golden throne occupied by the woman who had previously directed Ning Ge.

Now, a jewel-encrusted golden crown adorned her head.

It was clear she was the Queen herself.

Around her sat numerous other seats, occupied by women of all ages accompanied by their male companions, dressed in dazzling, competitive finery.

The men were all handsome, each more strikingly beautiful than the last, yet their expressions were uniformly solemn.

Some stood silently, others fidgeted nervously, glancing around as if they were condemned criminals awaiting execution.

Ning Ge, following the example of others, walked over and offered a formal bow to the Queen.

“Xiya, you’ve finally arrived. Not a moment too late,” the Queen said with a smile, glancing at Ning Ge and then at Pei Han beside her. “How could you bear to part with such a precious treasure?”

The thought of Pei Han being used as firewood to be burned made her stomach churn.

Just then, wooden puppets holding horns emerged from the corner towers on either side of the palace and blew the horns.

“Wuuu— wuuu—”

The clown-like Wooden Puppet slid to the edge of the chessboard and announced in a booming voice, “The Sacrifice Ball now begins! Everyone, enter the dance floor.”

The crowd that had been surrounding the Queen parted and moved toward the chessboard.

Two lines were drawn on either side of the board.