Chapter 286 The Villain Lady Arrives 114
Aidan tightly gripped the sword in his hand, and the tip of the sword gently scratched the ground, making a subtle and crisp sound. This was a habit he had developed over the years to calm his inner fluctuations.
"Liz, your intuition is always accurate, but we are guests in this land after all, so we have to act with caution."
His voice was low and firm, and his eyes revealed his concern for Alice and his alertness to unknown threats.
Alice sighed softly, the firelight reflected on her delicate face, adding a bit of determination to her. "I know, but I always feel that this matter is not as simple as it seems. Those rumors about me seem to be intentional, trying to put me in a disadvantageous position. Moreover, the news I have heard in the city recently seems to hint at some kind of conspiracy."
"Conspiracy?" Aidan frowned. He stood up and walked to Alice. They sat side by side by the campfire. His eyes passed through the flickering flames, as if he wanted to penetrate the fog of the night and see the truth behind it. "What exactly is it?"
Alice hesitated for a moment before she spoke slowly, "I've heard some rumors about the Dark Cult. They say their activities in Lanster have become more frequent recently, and they seem to be colluding with the court."
Aidan's face changed suddenly when he heard this, and he immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.
"If that's the case, then we can't stay here any longer. The conflict between the Church of Light and the Church of Darkness has a long history. As a saint, if you fall into their hands, the consequences will be disastrous."
Alice shook her head, her eyes gleaming with determination. "No, Aidan, I can't just run away like this. I must get to the bottom of this and clear my name for the sake of the peace of the Church of Light. We can't let the darkness continue to spread, and we can't let innocent people be harmed because of us."
Aidan looked at her determined expression. Although he felt very reluctant and worried, he also understood that her decision could not be changed. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Okay, since you have decided, I will stay with you until everything comes to light. But we must be more careful and make a careful plan."
As the night deepened, the two began to discuss in low voices, planning how to quietly investigate the truth of these rumors without attracting attention. Alice suggested starting from within the palace to look for possible clues, while Aidan was responsible for protecting her safety and monitoring possible threats around her.
The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the clouds and shone on Lanster City, Alice and Aidan had already changed into ordinary clothes, blended into the crowd, and began their investigation. They first went to the city's market, which was a place where information gathered and the best place to get information.
Alice skillfully used her charm and wisdom to talk to merchants and travelers, gathering clues about the Dark Cult and the inner court from their words, while Aidan followed her silently, vigilantly observing the movements around to make sure no one noticed their true identity.
As time goes by, the hustle and bustle in the market gradually heats up, people of all kinds shuttle back and forth, the sounds of hawking and bargaining rise and fall one after another, forming a vivid picture of the market.
Alice and Aidan shuttled through the bustle, their steps seemed casual, but in fact, every step contained caution and consideration. Alice had a gentle smile on her face, but her eyes were as sharp as a hawk, not missing any details that might reveal information.
"Have you heard? There has been unrest in the palace recently. It seems to be related to the new minister." A woman in simple clothes lowered her voice and said to her friend next to her.
Alice's heart moved when she heard this. She deliberately slowed down her pace, pretending to pick up goods and listening attentively. Aidan approached quietly, using his body as a cover to prevent anyone from noticing Alice's abnormality.
"A new minister? Is he Lord Harvey who is said to have connections with the Dark Cult?" another person asked curiously.
"Shh - keep your voice down, don't let anyone with ulterior motives overhear. I heard that he was performing some shady rituals in private, and even at night, strange lights were coming out of his mansion." The woman spoke mysteriously, with a mixture of excitement and fear flashing in her eyes.
Alice secretly noted this clue in her heart, but she still kept a calm smile on her face. She gently touched Aidan's arm, signaling him to continue moving forward. The two exchanged glances, and without saying anything, they both understood what to do next.
"I'm afraid these rumors can hardly be used as conclusive evidence." Aidan whispered, frowning, obviously dissatisfied with the current progress.
"Indeed, but every clue could be the key to solving the mystery." Alice answered firmly, her eyes penetrating the bustling crowd, as if she could see into the secrets deep in people's hearts.
They continued to go deeper into the market, and Alice tried to talk to more people, from merchants to travelers, from commoners to minor nobles, everyone could become a channel for them to obtain information. However, as time went on, they found that most people's answers were either hearsay or exaggerated rumors, and there were very few truly valuable clues.
"If this goes on, we'll probably return with nothing." Aidan seemed a little frustrated. He looked around, trying to find any unusual clues among the crowd.
Alice did not give up. She took a deep breath and adjusted her mentality. "Be patient, Aidan. The truth is often hidden in the most inconspicuous places. Besides, I always feel that someone is watching us in secret."
Hearing this, Aidan immediately became alert. He quickly scanned the area but found nothing unusual. However, Alice's keen intuition made him not dare to take it lightly.
"You mean, we're being followed?" Aidan asked in a low voice.
Alice nodded slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. "Yes, although I'm not sure how many people there are, but I can feel the feeling of being watched. We must be more careful."
The two men tacitly quickened their pace and began to consciously change their routes in an attempt to get rid of potential followers. However, no matter how hard they tried, the feeling of being monitored always followed them.
"This is not a solution. We must come up with a solution." Aidan said in a deep voice.
Alice pondered for a moment, and suddenly an idea came to her mind. "Why don't we take advantage of this and do the opposite? Deliberately expose some false clues and see how they react."
Aidan's eyes flashed with appreciation when he heard this. "It's a good idea, but we have to do it perfectly so they don't notice."
So, the two began to plan a strategy of "luring the enemy in." They deliberately stopped in a remote corner of the market, pretending to discuss a sensitive topic, and deliberately raised their voices so that people around them could hear.
"I heard that the secret passage in the palace leads directly to the altar of the Dark Cult. If we find it, we can expose all the conspiracies." Alice said in a deliberately exaggerated tone.