--- Chapter 9 ---
Huo Yuhao jumped from tree to tree and arrived at the deep forest entrance with no one guarding it. Being outcasted from the White Tiger Mansion is a good thing because only a few people or none watch over them.
"They would have never thought of A child causing chaos in the mansion." A cold smirk appeared on Huo Yuhao's face. He tested the limit with his mother, and the treatment got worse than he expected.
He disappeared from the tree and landed on the tile, watching the busy night scenery of the White Tiger Mansion. Everything seemed cheerful and full of joy here, completely different from the cold cottage where Huo Yun'er and he had to live.
Huo Yun'er jumped to the roof and used Kenbunshoku Haki to sense everything within fifteen meters radius. His mind quickly filled with information, but it wasn't enough to make him feel a headache.
"Not here. This place isn't the maid quarter where White Tiger Mansion's maids lived. What an annoyingly vast mansion." He commented while kicking the tile and jumping to another roof.
Huo Yuhao stopped at some places and discovered the maid quarter a few minutes later. The rain hadn't stopped yet, so his entire body literally was soaked because of it. However, his blue eyes still shone indifferently.
Unlike others, Huo Yuuhao didn't mind the coldness of the heavy rain. It's comfortable instead and makes his mind at ease than usual.
"Where are you guys?" Huo Yuhao's eyes scanned through the entire maid quarter, pushing his Kenbunshoku Haki to the extreme limit.
"Did you look at Huo Yun'er expression this noon? It's so funny~!"
"She was embarrassed by the head maid afterward, getting beaten up by a stick like a wild dog."
"Pfft-, I hope Huo Yun'er doesn't bark at us later, knowing we are the ones who burned the clothes in the basket."
Huo Yuhao's smirk turned into a full-blown grin when hearing these voices. "Found you guys..." He whispered while dropping into a bush.
He leaned on the wall and continued to hear nonsense from the maids. They wore Chinese Maid outfits, having different colored sash based on the court they were assigned to by the head maid.
According to Huo Yuhao's memories, the white sash is for the maid in the kitchen. The red and blue were appointed to do the laundry and clean the bedrooms. These maids aren't too old, around their twenties.
"Well, the head maid is calling me." The white-sashed maid said with a yawn. "I'll be back in fifteen or twenty minutes, don't use all the hot water, okay? I want to take a warm bath too."
"Sure, sure. Give us a snack when you return." The red-sashed maid commented while sitting on the bed.
The blue-sashed maid's face brightened and continued, "I want some red bean cookies!"
"What a glutton." The white-sashed maid sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'll take some snacks from the kitchen."
As she left the living room, the red-sashed maid went to the bathroom and had a hot bath, leaving the blue-sashed maid alone in the bedroom. Huo Yuhao took this chance and picked some fabrics from his inventory.
"Eh?" The blue-sashed maid tilted her head in confusion because the window opened for some reason. The wild wind forced some rainwater into the room. "Oh no, who the hell opened the window!"
A blue blur flashed within her peripheral vision, and before the red-sashed maid could react, a leg smacked her neck from behind.
She was launched to the bed and gasped for air, feeling a thick cloth wrapped around her mouth. "Sshhh, I don't want to kill you too early." A childish yet cold voice entered her ears.
The blue-sashed maid struggled even more, and Huo Yuhao stabbed her thigh with the rusty kitchen knife. It was shallow but enough to make her groan painfully.
"I said shut up, woman." Huo Yuhao clicked his tongue in annoyance. His old personality came out a little.
"Be a good girl, or I'll stab you again."
Specter is a cold-hearted mercenary who doesn't care about his target's gender. He killed too many people and never gave a shit about their looks.
Huo Yuhao quickly tied the blue-sashed maid onto the bed and walked to the bathroom carefully, sensing the other maid with his Kenbunshoku Haki. She was busy treating her hair and unaware an unknown guy had entered the room.
"Who's there? Ling, I'm still in the bath!" The red-sashed maid shouted. "Wait for your turn, geez."
"Kyaa!" She was about to yell some more, but a pair of small hands suddenly pulled her onto the floor.
Huo Yuhao utilized Busoshoku Haki and used a dirty cloth to cover her mouth, forcing the maid to gag profusely. She couldn't grasp the reality around her and felt someone slowly dragging her into the living room.
The blue-sashed maid's eyes widened when seeing her friend getting dragged like an animal by Huo Yuhao. He threw her onto the floor beside the bed and crossed his arm, giving off a killer vibe.
"Well, let's start the interrogation. From now on, I'll do a yes and no session with you two, nod your head for yes and shake your head for no. Answer me honestly, or this rusty knife will cut open your skin." Huo Yuhao took a chair and sat casually.
...
...
"Do you know who I am?" Huo Yuhao asked while playing with the rusty kitchen knife. They shook their heads violently and stared at the rusty kitchen knife with horror in their eyes.
"Good, I'm Specter. Nice to meet you."
He smiled behind the goblin masked and continued, "Next. At noon, a few maids burned some waste clothes on the left-wing side of the mansion. It's you guys, right?"
The blue-sashed maid nodded, but the red-sashed maid shook her head this time. Huo Yuhao picked up the random pebbles he stored in the inventory and threw one at the liar's eyes.
"Mhhn-!!" A painful groan escaped the blue-sashed maid's mouth.
"I thought I warned you guys already? Answer me honestly, or I'll kill you with these pebbles." He juggled ten small pebbles casually.
After a few minutes of the session, the maids looked at Huo Yuhao like he was a monster. He questioned them about a bunch of things and threw them with pebbles when lying. Those pebbles hit their vital organs, making them feel incredible pain.
"Oh, well, I got nothing useful from those dirty mouths." He commented while glancing at the clock on the wall. "Your friend should return soon. I'll finish you guys now."
Huo Yuhao slashed their necks and waited for the white-sashed maid to return. And a minute later, she arrived at the room with a tray of snacks. Unfortunately for her, she didn't come with anyone.
"I'm back, Ling? Yan?" The white-sashed maid called for her roommate but weirdly was greeted with silence.
As she entered the bedroom, Huo Yuhao whistled and greeted her playfully, "Hey there, I'm here to talk about your extended life warranty. You've not paid the oxygen for a few months, ma'am."
"WHO-!" Before the white-sashed maid could even shout at Huo Yuhao. He flicked a pebble with Busoshoku Haki to her throat, stunning her for a moment.
Huo Yuhao used Busoshoku Haki on his leg and moved quickly toward the white-sashed maid, but a yellow spirit ring suddenly appeared out of thin air.
A brown snake with red eyes manifested and launched a vicious liquid at Huo Yuhao.
"Oh?" He dodged to the left and jumped to the ceiling, pushing himself once more to the maid.
BAM!
The white-sashed maid blinked and saw the ceiling with disbelief. Before she knew it, Huo Yuhao tackled her to the ground and planted a rusty kitchen knife on her shoulder.
"Uugh-!" She groaned painfully, and a little hand covered her mouth.
Huo Yuhao sat on her chest and asked, "So what are you talking about with the head maid? You must be proud for making someone else hurt, right?"
"Ah, my bad. I covered your filthy mouth. How can you answer me?" He sighed while lifting his middle finger. "Talk, Or I'll push this knife deeper into your shoulder."
"I-I... Aarrgh!" The white-sashed maid stuttered, and Huo Yuhao added a little force on the knife.
"The head maid is congratulating me for sabotaging Huo Yun'er task! She said a good job for making that dumb whore know her place!" She answered with fear in her voice.
"And?" Huo Yuhao tilted his head because there should be more.
She shivered and continued, "F-From now on, the duchess will cut off Huo Yun'er food rations and forbid her from getting any food from the kitchen. If we caught her red-handed, stealing food. W-We can punish her accordingly."
Huo Yuhao slapped her face and asked indifferently, "And..?"
"T-There is no more... Let me free, please." The white-sashed maid cried in fear.
"Oh, I will. Don't worry about it." He lifted his goblin mask and smiled at the maid, watching her expression turn into full-blown shock.
"I will free yourself from this world. That's it."
"Huo- Kuh!" The white-sashed maid watched the rusty knife move to her head.
[You have finished the Quest]
[You have rewarded 9 Iron Upgrading Tickets and 1x Random Knife(E)]
"Upgrade the Random Knife(E) with one Bronze Upgrading Ticket." He replied while pulling the rusty knife off the maid's head.
[Using one Bronze Upgrading Ticket on the reward Random Knife(E)]
[Upgrading...]
[...]
[You have acquired a guaranteed A Grade random knife]
[Do you want to take the reward?]
"Heh, A Grade? Sure." Huo Yuhao checked the whole place and discovered several gold coins and other items. After cleaning his marks on the crime scene, he carefully left and watched the system processing his reward.
[Processing...]
[You have received Baruka's Dagger(A)]
"Dagger??"
[Name: Baruka's Dagger]
[Type: Dagger]
[Grade: A]
[Description: This dagger actually was once used by the warlord "Baruka." and infused with magic that reduces the weight of its wielder, allowing for greater agility]
[Innate Effect: Speed +15%]
"Does the effect last forever?" Huo Yuhao frowned for a moment.
[The innate effect only last below level 50/Spirit King]
He sighed and commented, "Of course it is."
"Whatever, It's a good weapon, and I can upgrade it later anyway."
Huo Yuhao glanced at the mansion and chuckled, "Tomorrow, I wonder what kind of expression the head maid has."
"I've created some problems for her, hahaha."
The forest was filled with childish laughter, causing people who walked the area to feel dread. Huo Yuhao unknowingly created a rumor. After this, the lush woods behind the White Tiger mansion was called Laughing Ghost Forest.