In the study of Sedona Castle, Lucas, who had just returned from the bun shop, was instructing Ayesha on some matters.
Lucas sat at the desk, one hand propping up his chin, his dark eyes fixed on Ayesha, who was sitting nearby, gnawing on a chicken leg as if trying to make up for all the meals she'd missed in the past few days.
Ayesha had now reverted to her carefree self. Last night, she didn't have nightmares; instead, she had a pleasant dream—a slightly naughty one. When the elf secretly checked on her last night, all she heard was the horned girl smacking her lips, as if kissing something. It was the best sleep Ayesha had had in three days—no, in her entire life.
"Ayesha, at noon, go to the big market and buy a bunch of lollipops, then head to the pizza shop and get a ton of pizzas. After that, you can come back," Lucas said with a slight smile.
"Huh?" Ayesha paused, swallowing the chicken in her mouth before quickly nodding. "Got it."
She was back to being the straightforward horned girl, following Lucas's orders to the letter, ready to act as long as she was needed. She was a bit like a general: the strategist gives the plan, the general charges into battle. This time, the horned girl's mission was to go shopping.
"Hehe…" Annie covered her mouth, snickering, and rolled her eyes. "This is the real Big Cow Ayesha, the ultimate glutton."
"I haven't eaten today, I'm eating meat, MEAT!" Ayesha put down the chicken bone and shouted, "Call me Big Meat Stick!"
"Pfft…" Lucas spat out the tea he'd just sipped. What kind of conversation was this?
"Master, are you okay?" Nicole quickly pulled out her handkerchief, wiping the tea from Lucas's mouth.
"It's nothing, just choked a bit," Lucas said, waving it off while giving Ayesha a strange look.
Burp.
Ayesha let out a loud belch. This meal of fried chicken legs was like a spiritual tonic, washing away the gloom of the past few days. If you're unhappy, just eat a big meal. If one isn't enough, have two.
"Ayesha, you need to act a bit sadder, more melancholic. The way you're acting now doesn't look like someone buying supplies to run away from home," Lucas said.
Annie couldn't help but chime in, "Also, maybe digest that bulging belly before heading out."
"Sad?" Ayesha patted her slightly protruding stomach and looked at Annie. "How do I act sad? Melancholic?"
"Uh…" The fox-eared girl was at a loss for words.
"Just frown a bit and don't smile when talking to people," Lucas said calmly. He was sending Ayesha shopping as bait to lure out their enemies, to attract attention.
"Got it." Ayesha furrowed her brow, instantly giving off a thoughtful, melancholic vibe.
"Wow, it really feels melancholic!" Annie said in surprise, her fox tail swishing.
Tap tap tap…
Footsteps came from outside the study. After getting permission to enter, Mina walked in quickly, glancing at Ayesha. Seeing the pile of chicken bones on the table, a hint of amusement flashed in her blue eyes.
"Mina, everything set?" Lucas asked calmly.
"Yes, I've sent out the people and arranged for surveillance," Mina said seriously. She had disguised the veteran soldiers and had them blend into the crowd.
"Tonight, have the elf sniper team and the War Wolf team work together. If there's resistance, kill them!" Lucas's dark eyes narrowed as he spoke coldly. "As for that Hank guy, keep him alive for me."
"Yes, master," Mina replied respectfully.
"Ayesha, go," Lucas turned to the horned girl, speaking earnestly. "If anything feels off, just run. There'll be people backing you up."
"Okay," Ayesha said, her face serious, her purple eyes shimmering with emotion. Today's entire operation was to ease her worries. "Ayesha, let's go," Mina said, heading out to personally handle some arrangements.
"Mhm." Ayesha glanced at Lucas's lips, blushed, and hurriedly ran off.
Lucas blinked, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. The horned girl's shy demeanor was quite different—cute in a contrasting way.
Tap tap tap…
Ayesha followed Mina, listening to her instructions. "Ayesha, once you leave the castle, don't look around. Just do what the Master told you. Ignore anyone who talks to you, buy the stuff, and come back to the castle. In the evening, take the things you bought and leave the city."
"Got it," Ayesha said seriously.
"Go on." Mina lightly patted Ayesha's back. She had to disguise herself and keep an eye on the people in the shadows.
"Mhm."
Ayesha nodded, frowning as she left the castle. She wandered around the big market, bought a bunch of pizzas at the pizza shop, and returned to the castle in the afternoon.
…
Around 5 p.m., at the inn where Hank was staying, he was listening to his subordinate's report.
"You're saying Ayesha left the castle and bought a lot of food?" Hank frowned.
"Yes, she went to the pizza shop and took away a dozen pizzas."
"Quick, have everyone keep a close watch on the castle's surroundings. Ayesha is most likely planning to leave," Hank ordered urgently.
"Yes, sir."
"Go now. The moment she leaves Sedona City, take her down," Hank said, a smirk forming. "Have the knights outside the city intercept her, but don't send too many to avoid alerting Sedona City's knights."
"Yes, sir." The subordinate immediately ran out.
"The leader's prediction was spot-on. Her grasp of human nature is terrifying," Hank muttered, pacing the room.
The leader had only received intelligence about Sedona City and devised this plan, starting with Ayesha, a former slave, to sow distrust among the beastkin toward the city lord.
Once suspicion took root, things would only spiral downward. He figured that capturing Ayesha would amplify the rumors, doubling their impact. After all, driving away Ayesha, a patrol captain, would be a vivid example.
"Tonight, Ayesha will definitely try to leave. Should I kill a few civilians tomorrow to frame someone?" Hank mused to himself.
He considered killing a few beastkin to escalate the conflict further but hesitated, thinking of the risk of being caught by the patrol.
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