Chapter 9 Put Down the Gun, Let's Talk Nicely!

As he spoke, Lynn walked up to the masked woman.

He had no intention of treating her gently and blatantly pressed the gun muzzle against her forehead.

As he laid out his deductions, the previously interested masked woman was now completely silent.

She seemed unafraid of the dark muzzle of the gun, pondering Lynn's astonishing statement instead.

After a long while, she suddenly raised her hands and gently started clapping.

"You're right, that fool Rhein almost overlooked someone as talented as you... Just a bit clever? Ridiculous."

"Lynn Bartleion, I am becoming more and more interested in you," her clear, cold beautiful eyes now revealed a hint of excited hunter's thrill, "The more you act this way, the more I can't bear to let you go."

"Don't praise me like that, ma'am. I might fall in love with you."

Lynn seemed to be flirting with her.

Though his words were soft, the gun in his hand didn't deviate at all.

After all, the woman in front of him could make Rhein and the Augusta Family bow their heads in submission; even if her strength was unknown, she couldn't be underestimated.

Even if she was just an ordinary person, she definitely had one or two powerful Extraordinary Items to protect her life.

Moreover, her calm demeanor throughout made Lynn feel somewhat uneasy.

But no matter what, in order to escape this place, he no longer had a way back.

"In love with me?"

Hearing this, the masked woman chuckled, and remained silent.

Ignorant fool.

Would you still say such a thing if you saw what's beneath the mask?

She thought silently.

However, Lynn did not know what she was thinking and did not bother to guess.

He gently tapped the masked woman's forehead with the revolver. "Ma'am, let Rhein come in."

"No hurry, I still have some questions to ask you," the masked woman ignored his threat. "There is something I am very curious about."

"From your previous words, I can tell you must hate the nobles of the Imperial Capital extremely, and I don't have much affection for them either."

"Ultimately, our goals are aligned."

"Is it more important to indulge in momentary satisfaction, or to unite and focus our strengths outward—isn't it clear which matters more?"

"As for the claim that your men are a ragtag bunch, I won't deny that, but that's definitely not the real reason you refused."

Through the mask, Lynn's eyes met with those crimson ones.

"Digging too deep isn't something a lady should do."

Lynn tried to change the subject.

"Pointing a gun at a lady isn't gentlemanly either," the masked woman said with a light laugh.

Hearing this, Lynn sighed, "Alright, alright, since you really want to know the reason, I'll tell you."

"It's the eyes."

"The eyes?"

The masked woman frowned slightly, not quite understanding.

"To me, your gaze is no different from those nobles of the Imperial Capital," Lynn said with a smile, "Even though you are talking to me, your gaze never truly rested on me."

"Whether it's Morris, Rhein, or you."

"So, you and those nobles you despise are essentially the same."

"..."

The masked woman instinctively wanted to retort.

But when she tried to speak, she found herself speechless.

"Alright, it's about time."

Seeing her lost in thought, Lynn, not wanting to waste more time on this trivial matter, indicated again.

Hearing his words, the masked woman fell silent for a moment and then raised her voice, "Rhein, come in."

"Yes."

A responding voice faintly came from outside.

Then, a blond man entered the room.

He had thought that the Princess had finished negotiating with the other party and needed him to handle the subsequent matters.

He jerked his head up in that moment, but was suddenly stunned.

At this time, the Princess sat in her chair with her arms crossed, and the prisoner at her feet had somehow slipped out of the handcuffs and was now pointing a gun at her.

Seeing this scene, Rhein felt as if his brain would explode.

His eyes turned extremely dangerous, and he instinctively reached for his gun.

But after feeling the empty space at his waist, he was stunned anew.

"When did you..."

"Shush, don't make a sound," Lynn placed her right index finger on her lips. "If I catch any movement from you trying to send signals, I won't hesitate to fire six shots right here."

"Afterwards, well, I'm surely going to die, but to make you die with me for your negligence would be worth it."

Hearing this, Rhein's forehead broke out in cold sweat.

His eyes widened with fury, as if he wanted to kill him on the spot.

But the Princess was currently being held hostage in his hands.

Although he was well aware that with the Princess's capabilities, she would not suffer any harm,

just the mere fact of a thug pointing a gun at her, after this incident, he as a clerk would rather die ten thousand times to be rid of the blame!

"Put down the gun, let's talk."

Even the extremely arrogant Rhein had to face reality at that moment and spoke softly.

Looking at Lynn's calm gaze, Rhein just wished he could go back in time and smack himself several times.

Morris was right.

Such a dangerous person who could turn the tables with just a sliver of an opportunity—a madman—how could he possibly be evaluated with just "a bit clever"?

Seeing his eyes red with anger, a trace of mockery appeared in Lynn's eyes: "Are you finally willing to look at me properly?"

"As long as you don't do anything rash, I'll agree to any condition."

Rhein managed to hold back his anger as he spoke.

"Agree to any condition?"

A sinister smile spread across Lynn's face.

Rhein had an ominous premonition but still grimly said. "Of course, I swear on the honor of the Augusta Family."

"Fine, now take off all your clothes, then walk out naked, and shout 'I am gay' to everyone you see."

Hearing this condition, Rhein's expression twisted grotesquely.

Could he not hear that Lynn was deliberately humiliating him, revenge for the beating he had ordered earlier?

This guy...

Seeing his hesitant appearance, Lynn sarcastically said, "It seems the lady's safety and the honor of the Augusta Family mean little in your sight?"

"Do you know who she really is..."

Rhein intended to tell Lynn the truth, to let him know the noble existence he had offended.

But before he could speak, he was stopped by a cold glance from the Princess.

As if to say: shut up, do as he says.

Now Rhein was completely dumbfounded.

He didn't understand why the Princess tolerated this kid's holding her hostage, why she didn't kill him on the spot, but instead, played along with his kidnapper game.

Yet as a subordinate, even if he did not understand, he had no choice but to follow the orders of his superiors.

In the end, Rhein, like a man whose spine had been severed, despairingly bowed his head.

...

"You really have a twisted sense of humor."

When she opened her eyes again, the masked woman saw only a pile of clothes scattered on the floor; Rhein had disappeared from the room.

She certainly had no fetish for appreciating subordinates' nudity.

Moments later, cries and screams emanated from outside the jail.

Chaos ensued.

"Alright, beautiful lady, please close your eyes for a bit longer."

Lynn pointed the gun at her while he began to strip off his clothes, swapping them for Rhein's uniform.

At this moment, he looked just like her personal bodyguard.

After making all the preparations, Lynn tucked his gun-wielding hand into his pocket but continued to maintain his aim.

Then he gestured for the masked woman to stand up.

"Let's go."