Chapter 9.2

Not to mention the Golden Lion Kingdom, the Northern Emerald, and all the races on the entire continent. They would trample on them all.

"But they are still cooperating with the Northern Emerald." Oswald said, "So there is something peculiar about it. Either their situation isn't as difficult to handle as it seems, or something is restraining them in the Northern Emerald or someone else."

Kevin continued fiddling with the anklet and agreed with an "En" after listening.

Speaking of hands...

Oswald suddenly looked up and said to Kevin, "Where is your right hand?!"

Kevin: "...Are you changing the subject all of a sudden?"

He discarded the anklet, raised his gaze, and looked at Oswald with confusion, "Alright, why are you suddenly asking about my right hand?"

"What nonsense—" Oswald saw him diverting the topic and his expression soured. Without a word, he leaned over and pinned Kevin's right arm behind him.

"Just ask carefully. What's the problem with you constantly opposing me?!" Kevin was helplessly dragged by him, and he extended his right hand, "So what's wrong with my right hand?"

The positions of the two of them changed as they pulled, and a faint sliver of moonlight seeped in from above, shining directly on Kevin's right hand.

His fingers were long and well-proportioned. He held a sword year-round without developing any calluses. The slightest movement would accentuate the muscles and bones on the back of his hand. Apart from being thinner and paler compared to Oswald's hand, there was no discernible difference.

"How is this even possible..." Oswald's expression became extremely complex in an instant, making it difficult to determine if he was more relieved or disbelieving. "I saw—"

"Saw what?" Kevin raised an eyebrow.

Oswald's mouth opened, yet the words remained caught in his throat. He furrowed his brow and hesitated. Had he truly seen what he thought he had in the tense situation just now? Or was it a mere trick of perspective?

Something still feels off...

However, if his right hand was truly buried in the sand as it appeared, it should have long since vanished, bearing wounds and all. Oswald pondered silently but couldn't recall what he had intended to say. He focused his gaze on his right hand for a moment before muttering in a dazed manner, "Why is your hand so cold?"

Kevin responded: "Are you worrying a little too much?"

Prompting Oswald to remark, with no trace of expression, "It appears you may need to return to the academy for some etiquette lessons, such as learning how to talk to the emperor to lengthen your life longer."

Kevin grinned slyly, saying, "It's unfortunate that His Majesty the Emperor deteriorates in prison alongside me. Hard to say to determine whether he will emerge alive or not."

Oswald's expression remained unchanged. After a brief moment of staring into Kevin's eyes, he abruptly released his grip on the man's right hand and withdrew a round bone pendant hanging near his neck. Pressing a specific corner of the pendant, a distinct "click" resounded, causing it to split into two halves. In the middle, a hollow groove appeared, which held three black "little beetles."

"Xinsha..." Kevin exclaimed in surprise.

Having lost or had their leather bags confiscated, they had never expected that this person would have retained some useful items.

Oswald emptied one of the beetles, crushing it without uttering a word. He then addressed Kevin slowly, "The chance of getting out alive and surviving is probably a little higher than you expected. Now, take some time to reconsider and review your manners."

Kevin retorted, "..."

Upon finishing his remark, Oswald focused on searching himself while thoroughly examining every reachable area of Kevin's attire. He eventually discovered a metal ring used as a button fastener on Kevin's waist. Raising his head, he remarked to a very speechless Kevin, "Use this to secure your pants."

Kevin rolled his eyes, saying, "...even without pulling on the ring, my trousers won't fall. Thank you for your concern."

Silently, Oswald yanked the thin metal ring, tearing it apart effortlessly with his bare hands. After straightening it, he inserted it into the keyhole of the anklet and began fiddling with it.

Kevin watched in contemplation as the keyhole emitted a "click" sound, indicating it had been successfully unlocked.

"You were a young master before you become an emperor. Tell me, where did you acquire such skills?" Kevin poked at his keyhole and sighed, "Thankfully, the guards in these dungeons don't appreciate wandering around."

"But they do guard the exit," Oswald stated.

Upon hearing a sudden gust of wind blowing in from the corridor, creating a faint "huh" sound, they both paused momentarily before swiftly leaning against the wall, tilting their heads, and feigning unconsciousness.