"Okay, okay. You don't need my confirmation~"
Zhang Lei casually waved his hand, signaling for him to stop talking, then slowly turned around.
"There must be far more important things for you to do than playing bodyguard for me, right?"
His smile was gentle, but the look he gave Slakka and Coventoba held a subtle, deeper meaning.
"You two—just do as you please~"
Slakka was momentarily stunned by how easily Zhang Lei let him go. Then, he quickly thanked him and followed Kurapika, who had already stepped out with the two guards Zhang Lei had assigned.
But after only a few steps, Slakka froze in place. His expression shifted into something twisted and conflicted.
"...We've been completely played by the Third Prince."
...
In Room 1014, Ronnel lounged on the sofa, shaking his head with a knowing smile.
Zhang Lei had summoned Kurapika to explain the concept of Nen—but in truth, the prince had already crafted his strategy. By drawing attention to Nen, he successfully piqued the interest of the First and Second Queens—especially the First.
After Kurapika's briefing, the First Queen expressed concern for the Fourteenth Prince's safety due to the lack of guards. With a show of noble generosity, she offered to send some of her own to assist him.
Kurapika couldn't refuse. Doing so would offend the First Queen, strain their alliance, and possibly give her an excuse to retaliate later. Worse, it could raise suspicion.
Even if Ronnel and Nen users capable of mind control weren't part of the equation, Kurapika would have had no choice but to accept the offer.
And once he accepted—he'd walked right into Zhang Lei's trap.
Rather than dispatch Coventoba and Slakka, who weren't his loyalists, Zhang Lei sent two of his personal confidants. He understood full well that the First Queen would never let go of any lead about Nen—not even the slimmest possibility.
So, to ensure she got something out of the deal, she sent Slakka to keep tabs on things. But that ended up working in Zhang Lei's favor.
Her supposed surveillance effort had the unintended effect of granting Zhang Lei even more favor with the Fourteenth Prince. It looked like he was sending guards sincerely, not spies. And since those guards weren't cleared by the Fourteenth Prince, they weren't allowed near him—automatically reducing the number of spies lurking nearby.
Now, the Fourteenth Prince would feel indebted to Zhang Lei, cautious of the First Queen's operatives, and open to Zhang Lei's influence. Meanwhile, Zhang Lei's trusted men could observe the situation and report back discreetly.
Just by offering some guards, Zhang Lei earned favor, eliminated rivals' surveillance, gained information about Nen, and embedded informants close to the Fourteenth Prince.
It was a masterstroke—nothing short of brilliant.
Beneath that gleaming forehead, the Third Prince was hiding an exceptional mind.
No wonder Benjamin and the others saw him as a serious threat and a major contender for the throne.
Ronnel could clearly see the full picture from an outsider's vantage. As for Slakka, he'd only just begun to realize the truth after stepping out of Zhang Lei's room—his expression twisting in frustration.
So when he caught up with the two guards Zhang Lei had sent, his voice was sharp and unwelcoming:
"Hey, I'm going with you. If you hear anything useful, you'd better share it with me~"
"If this mission fails, I lose my job. And if I snap from unemployment... who knows what I might do!!"
Sakata, Hashito: "..."
They exchanged a glance at the fuming Slakka. The look in their eyes was hard to read—somewhere between amusement and disinterest.
Still, even though Slakka's tone was aggressive, Sakata and Hashito knew better than to bother with him. He was a royal guard under the Second Queen, after all. They simply walked ahead without engaging.
...
At that moment, Slakka's mistress—the Second Queen—was dining in Room 1002 with the Second Prince Camilla and her daughter.
"I want to buy the entire winter line from Miaozan and Kuchiba. As for the Luminous Bug series from Harry Webb—I'll decide after I see them."
Camilla, slicing into a steak, spoke imperiously to the Second Queen seated across the table.
"And don't forget those limited-time collabs like last time... Mom, are you even listening?!"
"Yes, I'm listening~"
Duazul nodded mildly, responding to her daughter's spoiled demands with calm indifference. She seemed completely unbothered by the girl's arrogance and sense of entitlement—almost as if it was only natural for her daughter to ask such things.
Duazul wore a simple outfit, light makeup, and no flashy accessories. But her mature elegance couldn't be hidden.
She was like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley—quiet, pure, and detached from worldly affairs.
Even Ronnel's particle clone, observing nearby, was impressed.
It was strange... how could such a gentle, refined woman raise a daughter so headstrong and demanding?
...
Suddenly, Camilla spoke in a more casual tone.
"By the way..."
She looked up at her mother, eyes sharp.
"Kill the First Prince first. Then the Ninth. Got any leads?"
"..."
Duazul's gaze dimmed, her eyes gradually turning lifeless.
"These aren't matters for me to confirm. Those decisions are made between you princes."
She sounded distant—resigned.
Camilla's eyes narrowed. Her tone sharpened.
"Mom... don't get the wrong idea."
Her hair began to sway unnaturally, as if reacting to her rising aura.
"This isn't confirmation—it's an order."
Her voice dropped into a deadly rhythm.
"Mom. You can get close to the Ninth Prince easily, can't you?"
"Then kill him."
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)