"Yes," Karvin said, nodding his head, but realizing what Lionel said, he uttered, "Huh?"
"Why do you think so?"
"I don't think so; I know so. This plan is flawed," Lionel said firmly.
"How, Your Highness? We both crafted this plan after countless hours of deliberation," Karvin said, visibly perplexed.
"Guess that means the prince wasn't very bright," Lionel shot back with a wry smirk. "This plan has so many holes, I could sink a ship through it. Let me break it down for you."
He raised a finger. "First, I have no cultivation. That means no way to defend myself. Sure, you taught me swordsmanship, but that's not going to cut it. If I wait until the palace entourage from the Elfien king arrives to escort me, I might never get a chance to escape. What if the king drugs me to keep me docile? By the time I wake up, I'll be in the Elfien kingdom—held hostage, never to leave again."
Karvin's brow furrowed as Lionel continued, "Don't you think the king has already considered countermeasures? He knows what I'd try to pull. His moves will always be two steps ahead of ours."
"That's…" Karvin hesitated, his face tightening as realization dawned.
"Exactly," Lionel said with an air of finality. "The plan won't work. It'll only cause more problems than we can handle. The king is watching my every move, and if I end up in the Elfien kingdom, there'll be so many eyes on me that escape won't even be an option."
"I… I… never thought of it that way," Karvin said, his words trailing off as he realized the situation. "Surely, the king must've been aware of this plan."
Placing a hand on his head as he scratched his hair, he said, "So, if this plan doesn't work, do you have another in mind?"
"Yes," Lionel said with a sly smile plastered on his face.
"What is that?"
"Come closer; the walls have ears."
The two huddled together, whispering intently until Karvin eventually bowed and left the room.
Lionel stretched his arms, his hands still clutching the map. His eyes scanned the markings, focusing on routes to the portal. The new plan still hinged on Karvin's map, so preparation was vital—this would be the ultimate obstacle.
As he brooded over the situation, entirely absorbed in thought, he didn't notice the silent figure materializing beside him.
"I never knew you were this clever," Allison's voice broke the silence, startling him.
"What the fuck!" Lionel exclaimed, jumping up. The map slipped from his fingers as he instinctively backed away from the bed.
Allison stood there, her flowing black gown accentuating her calm yet unnerving demeanor. Her vampiric features were eerily serene as she watched him.
"Wow. This reaction of yours? It doesn't exactly scream 'master planner who kills without mercy,'" she quipped, her eyes narrowing in amusement.
"Huh?" Lionel muttered, his brows furrowing as he looked at her. "What the hell are you saying? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Coming up to me from behind…"
"Wait… how did you get inside? How did you get behind me?" he asked, his breath labored.
"I told you that I've got many skills. It took me nothing to teleport here and stand behind you unseen."
"Well… that's impressive," Lionel muttered as he looked at her.
"You could say the same about me," Lionel said, coming up with a boastful look. "I'm also strong; it's just that this world is an obstacle to my skill. Give me guns and free me of this cultivation shit, and within a minute, all my enemies will be dead."
"This world? What do you mean?" Allison looked at him, confused.
'Oh shit!' Lionel exclaimed in his mind, his finger placed on his lips as he realized that he had spoken out of turn.
Seeing how he was reacting to her question further fueled her confusion and suspicion, so she moved closer to him, her eyes staying glued to him.
"Who are you?"
"What do you mean, who am I?!" Lionel took up a defensive stance as he shouted at her. "Aren't I the prince, the blood slave to the king, or what else are you thinking of me as?"
"I doubt you're the prince. Yes, I would admit that the prince is smart, but not this smart. All those conspiracies you had with your guard just now didn't sound like the frail prince. How could you form such a plan with your guard without being scared for a bit?"
"Oh… you think I'm not me. Well, when one experiences a life-or-death situation, where one was buried alive, perhaps one gets smart. Also, who told you I wasn't scared?" Lionel said, eyeing her with a sarcastic look.
"You were? Ah… shit, this is maddening," Allison muttered, rubbing her temples as she reprimanded herself. "Why did I even bother helping him?"
Lionel frowned. "Are you okay? What are you talking about?"
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have lost so much of my power," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "Now, I'm stuck with all these restrictions."
"What do you mean?" Lionel asked, dumbfounded.
"Wait… powers?" Lionel's mind raced, and realization hit him like a brick. "You did something to me, didn't you?"
"Shut your mouth." Allison ordered, closing the gap between them in an instant. Her hand covered his mouth, and her other finger pressed against her lips in warning.
Lionel's muffled protest was cut short as her eyes bore into his. "Promise not to shout, and I'll explain everything," she whispered, her tone a blend of urgency and authority.
After a tense pause, Lionel gave a reluctant nod. Allison released his mouth but held his gaze.
"You don't understand what you're dealing with. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to shout recklessly? Walls have ears," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I—" Lionel was about to talk, but a knock sounded on the door, and before he could even think, the door opened, revealing a lady.