In the narrow passage, pure light suddenly bloomed.

Raising two wings of light high and shining all over his body, Annan stabbed into the gray realm like a meteor.

"Sure enough, it's you, Vladimir."

Holding a tricolored scepter, a glowing winged humanoid hovers in the air, emitting an overlapping echo.

Vladimir simply narrowed the sphere of influence of the sublime prosthetic and protected him by his side.

"Oh?"

He uttered a low, chilling voice: "When did you find me...... Your Majesty? ”

"—naturally, at first."

Annan replied, "I saw you when you came here." ”

Shortly after Celicia was sent down to the dungeon by him.

Annan's curse, [Angel's Left Eye] suddenly felt a faint burning pain.

He could clearly see that a very shiny red figure suddenly lit up underground.

This is proof that [the betrayer] is at his side—and that is exactly when Vladimir appears.

While perceiving the other party, Annan immediately felt a huge sense of threat.

Plus Celicia has just been sent down......

No reasoning is required at all.

Annan could directly guess that Vladimir most likely used some special way to appear directly under the Grand Duke's Palace.

Vladimir is a transcendent of the Golden Rank, and he is also the strongest type in the Golden Rank.

Originally, Zoya and they couldn't beat Vladimir, even more so after he advanced. In addition, the red light shining on Vladimir's body has already proven his position.

So Annan directly stopped Zhuoya and others from going down to check, so as not to cause unnecessary losses. He sent the most powerful Victor directly to meet the attack, delaying time...... He began to gather the players and have them assemble in the Grand Duke's Mansion, while he took off his clothes and used "Ritual Spell: Traces of the Skychariot" again.

He had only recently returned from the Black Rock Spell Cellar.

A new dawn had not yet arrived, so he had little remaining order mana...... There isn't much time left to fight.

— but he had to fight.

The player is not a soldier, and it is impossible for them to ban it. Even if Annan had initiated an emergency call, they would not have reacted immediately...... This is determined by their own characteristics.

Since Annan wanted to maintain his "interest" simply with their enthusiasm for the world, it was impossible for him to impose discipline on them.

And even if the players are gathered by Annan, with their current level, they will directly confront Vladimir...... The odds are still in doubt.

But Annan couldn't escape, and he didn't want to run either.

The Grand Duke's Mansion cannot afford to fail, and this is closely related to the stability of the Duchy of Winter. The Dungeon and Frostbeast must not be destroyed - that will only cause a second civil unrest.

And in the spare time waiting for support, Annan himself took over.

He doesn't need to defeat the enemy...... It just takes time to stall.

Turn on the "Traces of the Skytrain" just to prevent yourself from being suddenly killed.

“…… From the very beginning. ”

I don't know why.

After hearing Annan's words, Vladimir was silent for a moment.

He narrowed his eyes slightly: "I see...... I understand. ”

Wait a minute.

…… What do you understand?

Seeing Vladimir's reaction, Annan was a little dazed.

But in short, the players are still assembling - and they can drag it out.

Naturally, Annan will not ask Vladimir rhetorically and puncture what he misunderstood. On the contrary, he followed Vladimir's words and continued:

Today, the truth speaks for itself. What you thought and planned when you left me, I already know without asking Celicia. It is only when little is known about things that the inquiry itself is meaningful...... Just as the act of destroying evidence itself can be used as evidence.

"When you saw Victor, you decided not to hide it anymore - presumably you realized that after his arrival was discovered, Annan was able to deduce all the remaining truths.

"Vladimir. What else would you like to say? ”

- In fact, these are words that don't make any sense.

Probably after the other party said a bunch of things, Annan nodded slowly, "That's right, what you said is exactly what I thought."

But the wonderful thing is that Vladimir really eats this set.

The old man with scars on his face was silent for a long time, and said with emotion:

“…… I did wonder if His Highness Annan had known everything before letting me go.

"Now, it seems, it was. This is exactly the technique of 'fishing' that His Majesty is good at. It's just the fish that are caught, not just those who compete for power, those short-sighted and ignorant aristocrats...... And myself. ”

…… And so it was.

Vladimir has been a believer in worms since the very beginning. At that time, he chose to let Vladimir carry out this mission, on the one hand, to seduce the resentful Winter Hand and the local nobles, and on the other hand, to "exile" Vladimir, an unstable element, to a distant place.

So as not to be misled or deceived by it when you enter the second week.

- Worthy of me.

Vladimir's rebellion turned out to be what I expected...... Inferences are made even in the complete absence of evidence.

How did I do it?

Vladimir just leaned on his cane and glanced back at Celicia.

He said in a deep voice: "Although this operation failed, it also exposed my weaknesses.

"Thirty years ago, before I saw me, Thoronik would have killed him and left, and you wouldn't have caught me or seen me.

"Before you start...... I thought maybe I should give him a chance to say goodbye. He should be let know why he died, so as to fulfill his little wish to die for me.

"I know that people change, but I'm still imagining what the puppy used to look like. I've heard people say that when people get old, they tend to become indecisive, and it seems that I'm really old. ”

…… Wait, are you really not fighting?

If you talk for a while, my transformation time is almost up?

Annan hesitated.

Knowing that he would be able to talk to Vladimir for so long, he rushed down after not moving...... Just chatting to stall for time will already serve the purpose.

And now while chatting, the holy light covering his body suddenly disappeared.

Yes、Isn't it going to be a bad ......?

But Vladimir, after some sighs, still did not attack Annan.

Instead, he put away his lofty pretense, took half a step back, and glanced at Annan deeply: "Fortunately, this mistake came early enough, so it was not enough to cause ......."

Vladimir's words are not finished.

Without giving Annan and Victor a chance to react at all, the whole person suddenly vanished without warning - like a burned photograph, his body shattered into ashes.

Only one phalanx was left in place.

“…… Fled? ”

Annan was stunned for a moment: "But...... Why? ”

Why did he run?

It's clear that he's the one who has the advantage......

"It's a dream stealth, Your Majesty."

Victor recognized Vladimir's means at a glance: "It wasn't his own body, it was just a projection of dreams." Or...... He may also have abandoned his body in this world and transformed himself into a dream creature. ”

“…… Dream creatures. ”

Annan squinted his eyes and lifted the effect of his transformation: "It's not a stranger. ”

Not long ago, he used the secret of the creation of "Winter" to kill a big spider directly in the dream world.

And the bodies used by the players are also a kind of dream projection.

I don't know if it's an illusion.

Annan always felt ...... Vladimir seems to be afraid of himself.

But why?

He was already able to sneak into the dream realm as he pleased, so he shouldn't be afraid of the old grandmother's deterrent. What's more, the old grandmother has not woken up yet...... And Annan, as a silver rank, does not have the Philosopher's Stone in hand, and it is impossible for him to defeat Vladimir no matter what.

On the contrary, Vladimir had many ways to cause trouble for Annan.

But not only did he not attack Annan, but after Annan appeared, he never attacked again. Annan showed a slight sign of strength, and he immediately chose to retreat.

That's definitely not respect.

The sign of the betrayer is as bright as fire.

He's jealous...... Or rather, in fear of Annan.

But here's the problem.

“…… What exactly is he afraid of? ”

Annan muttered.