What malicious intent could NPCs possibly have? C33.1

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Chp33. part1

The Queen approached, showing no surprise at seeing Ning Ge, and greeted her.

“Xiya, you’re here?”

Ning Ge had no choice but to reply, “I came up to find a book.”

The Queen smiled. “Sneaking back to flip through my puppet-making books again, aren’t you? The Puppet-Making Competition starts tomorrow, so working harder now is pointless. Who are you planning to enter this year?”

The Queen glanced at Iris, who stood behind Ning Ge.

“Still him? Even though he won the Gold Medal last time, he might not win this year. I’ve heard rumors that Celine and the others have found new puppet-making materials, built the best workshops, and are creating puppets that surpass your Iris—more beautiful and more intelligent.”

Celine was the name of the character Teacher Su was playing.

The more I say, the more I’ll slip up, Ning Ge thought, playing along. “Really?”

“Of course. You don’t trust the Queen’s information? I have a vast intelligence network that constantly feeds me all sorts of gossip.”

The Queen winked at Ning Ge.

“Speaking of which, I also heard that you and Celine took your new male companions to the Hidden House today?”

The Queen’s information was indeed remarkably up-to-date.

Ning Ge had no choice but to admit, “Yes, they say that place is haunted, and we wanted to investigate.”

“Ghosts don’t exist,” the Queen said dismissively. “It’s all just a charade. Most likely, it’s the remnants of the Old Minister of Internal Affairs’ faction spreading rumors.”

She removed her crown and smoothed her hair.

“When my father was alive, he granted each of my brothers and me a fief, saying whoever managed it best would inherit the throne. My brother received the most fertile lands in the south, while my fief was barren—nothing but rabbits burrowing in the earth.”

The Queen paused, gazing out the window as if lost in memory.

Ning Ge didn’t have time for idle chatter. She glanced at the countdown on her wristband, planning to interrupt her and find an excuse to go outside and retrieve the medal.

But after setting the crown aside, the Queen began undoing the high-necked buttons of her collar as she walked toward the bedroom. She seemed to be changing clothes.

The Queen continued her story.

“Later, I developed irrigation and trade. Even with the interference of the Minister of Internal Affairs’ faction, I transformed that desolate land into the North’s largest trading hub. Yet my father still passed the throne to my brother.”

A faint smile touched her lips, her tone light. “Never mind all that. They’re all dead now anyway.”

She walked to the bed and reached for the velvet curtain. “Those goons under the Minister of Internal Affairs have some Imperial Brotherhood now. One day, I’ll wipe them all out in one fell swoop.”

She turned to Ning Ge. “You find the books while I change. I’ll be right back.”

The moment the curtain was drawn, Ning Ge swiftly returned to the window and climbed out through the open frame.

The building was several stories high, and Ning Ge wasn’t Little Husky; if she fell, there would be no putting her back together.

Iris was terrified. He whispered anxiously, “my Lady, you stay here—I’ll go.”

“It’s fine,” Ning Ge said. She carefully stepped onto the narrow ledge, just a foot wide, and gripped the window frame. Bending down, she pried out a small, golden object from the gap.

It had a puppet on it—Little Husky’s Gold Medal, just as she’d suspected.

It must have fallen here when he was forced to jump last time.

Ning Ge climbed back into the room and pressed the medal into Iris’s hand. “Little Husky and the others are waiting outside. Take this to them, quickly!”

Iris took the medal and hurried out the door.

Ning Ge returned to the bookshelf, casually pulled out a book, opened it to a random page, and waited quietly. Inside, however, she felt a deep sense of unease.

Finally, the bracelet vibrated.

[You found the Gold Medal? Little Husky’s three medals are finally back.]

[Reward: Sprint Time draw.]

Ning Ge felt relieved when Iris found them to submit the task.

The Queen, already changed into casual clothes, emerged from the back room, grumbling. “Mosh has disappeared somewhere. With him here, I wouldn’t have to let those clumsy wooden puppets help me dress anymore.”

With the task submitted and the countdown stopped, Ning Ge felt free to mind other people’s business. She decided to tell the Queen about Mosh’s earlier scheme.

“Your Majesty, I saw Mosh just now,” Ning Ge said. “Right in this room.”

The Queen raised an eyebrow and walked over to the table. She casually lifted the lid of the crystal jar, picked out a red fruit coated in white frost, and was about to pop it into her mouth.

Ning Ge instinctively stepped forward and slapped the fruit from her hand.

The Queen froze.

Realizing her action was too abrupt, Ning Ge felt awkward. “You… don’t eat it. It’s poisoned. I was about to tell you.”

She then recounted everything she had witnessed from behind the curtains earlier, leaving nothing out.

The Queen smiled faintly after listening to Ning Ge’s account.

“This fruit was a gift from Mosh, a specialty from his hometown,” she said. “It’s coated in frosting. I’ve already eaten a few jars. Last time, I complained it was a bit sour and not sweet enough, but I didn’t want to add too much sugar. He’s so thoughtful, sneaking over to secretly add more frosting for me.”

Her expression was full of doting affection.

“He’s curious and rummaging through my things on the desk is nothing. I’ll just tell him not to do it again next time.”

Ning Ge stared at her, speechless.

Mosh is just a bit more handsome than others, how can he be so charming that he’s making the Queen lose her head over his looks?

Ning Ge asked, “Then why did he throw Iris down the stairs? And how can he control puppets?”

“I taught him to control puppets myself, of course. I also told him about the secret passage. The Royal Palace is full of Wooden Puppet Guards, and as a man, he can’t openly control puppets. Using the secret passage makes it easier for him to visit when he wants.”

The Queen’s tone was cheerful, as if the matter held no significance.

“He was afraid someone might see him rummaging through my things. Besides, men don’t like puppets. It’s not strange that he’d want to secretly throw them down the stairs when no one was around. It’s only human nature.”

Fine.

“Remember when we bet on whether I could break your new shield? You said I couldn’t, but I stayed up all night and finally managed it. Since no one else was around at the time, I blurted it out to Mosh.”

Ning Ge remained silent. She pulled a gold button engraved with lilies from her pocket and held it out to the Queen.

“I found this in the Hidden House today.”

The Queen paused, then smiled. “This button looks unique, but that doesn’t mean only Mosh has one. Many people could have obtained it, from the artisans who cast it to the tailors who used it.”

As she spoke, the Queen reached for a fruit in the Crystal Jar, but glanced at Ning Ge and curved her hand away, closing the lid.

Ning Ge said nothing, looking from the Queen to the Crystal Jar on the table.

The Queen tilted her head, playfully observing Ning Ge’s exasperated expression. She relented. “Alright, alright. Since you’re so worried, I’ll have someone investigate.”

She picked up the Crystal Jar and summoned a Wooden Puppet. “Take this for testing. Check for poison.”

The Wooden Puppet took the jar.

The Queen rubbed her shoulders and casually ordered, “Also, send someone to call Mosh over. I need him to give me a shoulder massage.”

The Queen seemed completely unfazed.

Despite her shrewd and rational demeanor, she inexplicably fell for Mosh’s schemes.

Ning Ge said all she needed to say. Whether the Queen listened or not was beyond her control. She bid her farewell. “Your Majesty, please rest. I’ll take my leave.”

The Queen nodded and let her go. “Go ahead.”

Just as Ning Ge reached the door, the Queen called her back. “Xiya, I can’t personally attend the Puppet-Making Competition tomorrow. You must win first place.”

Ning Ge agreed. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw a Wooden Puppet Guard escorting Mosh from a room next door, hurrying toward her.

So he lived on the top floor too. His room was not far from the Queen’s.

As Mosh passed Ning Ge, he bowed gracefully, his posture elegant and dashing.

Unaware that Ning Ge had been hiding behind the curtains, witnessing his instigation of Iris’s suicide attempt, he offered her a practiced smile and a wink—a clear attempt at flirtation.

Ning Ge walked past him without a glance.

Pei Han and the others were waiting for her at the stairwell landing.

Pei Han’s gaze swept over her, and seeing that she was safe, his expression relaxed considerably.

“Come on, Ning Ge, draw a lot,” Owen said.

The Sprint Time reward for finding the Gold Medal hadn’t been drawn yet.

Ning Ge didn’t know if she had good luck. “You guys go ahead?”

Social Bro suggested, “Why doesn’t Brother Pei draw it?”

Everyone agreed, and Ning Ge readily agreed too. Maybe an Alpha’s luck would be particularly good.

Pei Han clearly thought the same. He raised his wrist and tapped it.

All their bracelets vibrated.

[Sprint Time Acquired: 1 minute.]

Everyone: “……”

Owen burst out laughing. “One minute? One minute?!”

Pei Han retorted, “Are your six minutes so great?”

Owen drawled, “At least it’s better than your one minute.”

They now had a total of 26 minutes of Sprint Time.

The Cross-dressing guy pondered, “What exactly is this ‘Sprint Time’ for?”

Ning Ge had a terrible premonition.

“Has anyone noticed,” she said, “that this isn’t a timed Dungeon? There’s no deadline like ‘find the Anchor Point within eight hours,’ and no natural mechanism forcing us to leave, like rapid aging or death. So how is it pushing us to find the Anchor Point?”

The Cross-dressing guy shivered. “Are you saying the Sprint Time is related to finding the Anchor Point?”

Ning Ge nodded.

Pei Han spoke up, “I think Ning Ge is absolutely right.”