"How did you—" Nawa started, shock spreading across her face as she caught sight of the score card in Milady's hand.
At this moment of truth, all her anxiety and tension receded like the tide, leaving Milady in a state of perfect clarity. The world seemed to transform into a chessboard. She was a piece on a certain square, and from that position, she instinctively knew her opponent's next move.
'Xi Yadu must have intervened again.'
'Only the Executioner family could persuade the Mengsheng Clan Leader, who genuinely loathed Luo Geng, to take part in this. The Mengsheng Clan Leader had lured her into a trap, which meant Luo Geng and his people had to be nearby.'
"Shh," Milady said softly to Nawa. "Don't shout."
As she spoke, she tapped the ring on her finger. The ribbon mechanism went limp, slithering off the staff like a dead snake. Startled, Nawa reacted just as predicted, lunging to retrieve the mechanism.
In that instant, Milady lunged.
