(I know? Heh heh... What do I know? Hahaha... What could a pitiful little demon, sealed for thousands of years, possibly know? Hahaha... You humans are truly amusing... Oh, wait, are you suggesting? Heh heh... Their true intention is to have you kidnap that beautiful songstress?)
"Indeed, that is their objective," Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly.
(Heh heh... If that's the case, I find it utterly perplexing. Although the little songstress is renowned, she lacks even a capable bodyguard. A mere lackey from those fellows could easily capture her without expending such effort to set a trap, right?)
"No capable bodyguard? Have you forgotten the assassin I dispatched outside the inn that day?" Xiao Mu Yu asked frostily.
(Um? Are you referring to the seventh-tier martial artist you encountered while scouting the inn where the little songstress resides, just after leaving the casino? Hmm... How can you be certain that unfortunate soul was her bodyguard?)
"..."
(Alright, alright, even if what you say is true, and that unfortunate soul was indeed the charming little songstress's bodyguard, there was an eighth-tier assassin among those at the casino. Clearly, that unfortunate soul pales in comparison to that cold, handsome man, right? That cold, handsome man could accomplish the task himself; why would it require your intervention?)
"Ah, indeed, if they were to personally send someone to capture the songstress, it would undoubtedly be an effortless endeavor. However, they cannot guarantee that their actions would leave no traces; should their identities be revealed, they would invite considerable trouble."
Xiao Mu Yu stated coldly, "That songstress, Freya, has traveled across the continent for many years, and countless nobles have coveted her beauty, yet no one has dared to lay a hand on her. The reason is simple: her mentor is the Saint Guardian, Sona, of De Bang. I cannot believe anyone would dare offend a powerful Saint-level expert for the sake of a woman."
"Moreover, while the casino's faction is indeed powerful—after all, they have managed to control an entire city without a sound—it is certain that their influence is not strong enough to disregard the wrath of the Saint behind Freya."
"If they were to act themselves, they could easily capture the songstress to achieve their goals, but if they leave any trace behind, they would provoke the fury of a Saint, which is a risk not worth taking," Xiao Mu Yu remarked indifferently.
(Oh, I see... So, human, I have gained some insight. Heh heh... However, even if they employ your hands to kidnap the songstress, it cannot guarantee everything will go off without a hitch, right? If the matter comes to light, wouldn't they still face the wrath of the Saint? What difference would it make from acting themselves?)
"Different, entirely different," Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly, his gaze as frigid as ice.
"If Freya is kidnapped through my hands, once the truth comes out, they can easily pin everything on me. By that time, as long as my strength surpasses the seventh tier, I will have enough weight to attract the attention of the Saint. When the truth is revealed, they can firmly assert that the idea of using Freya to exchange for that woman named Yaya was my suggestion, and I will have no way to refute it."
"Because no matter how many reasons or excuses I have, they cannot change the fact that I personally captured Freya and brought her into the casino. At that point, it will be I who bears the wrath of the Saint, while they merely need to ensure that the unparalleled songstress remains unharmed during this time. Even if the Saint becomes furious and realizes that this was all their scheme, they would have no justification to act against them," Xiao Mu Yu stated coldly.
(And you, a vagrant without any background, will be obliterated by the wrath of the Saint, ahahaha... What a splendid scheme! Hahaha... You humans are indeed the greatest creations of nature! Hahaha... So charming—so wicked—so cold and cruel, ahahaha...)
The demon's maniacal laughter echoed relentlessly in the realm of consciousness.
Finally realizing that it had inadvertently caused trouble, the little fox timidly raised its head, gazing nervously at the cold visage before it, softly calling out, "Wuu... Wujii... Wujii..."
(Oh? Heh heh... Human, the little one is apologizing to you! Hahaha... Do you have anything to say? Should we continue your class in wickedness? Heh heh...)
"..." Lowering his gaze to meet the little creature's, Xiao Mu Yu stated icily, "You need not apologize to me; you only need to remember what I have told you before."
Upon hearing Xiao Mu Yu's words, the little creature drooped its adorable head in disappointment, clearly unable to accept the man's cold and cruel discourse.
(Hahaha... Human, it appears you have a long way to go before transforming the little fox into a being as wicked, selfish, cold, cruel, and heartless as yourself, ahahaha...)
Ignoring the demon's laughter, Xiao Mu Yu halted abruptly, his icy gaze fixed on the golden-haired youth blocking his path. "Do you need something?"
Fuming at the sight of the man, whose cold demeanor resembled the eternal ice of Frejlord, Ezreal was filled with regret.
After their initial encounter, he had sensed something was amiss, yet he could not pinpoint what it was until the concert. When Freya's scheduled appearance time had long passed without her showing up, he suddenly understood.
That man's tattered cloak, though worn, was far too thin for someone to wear in such frigid winter weather!
Realizing this, the youth rushed back to the temporary lounge, only to find it deserted, and the beloved sister he adored had vanished without a trace.
Understanding that the man was the instigator, Ezreal wasted no time in charging out, and after less than an hour of searching the city, he finally found the perpetrator. Coldly, he inquired, "Where is Sister Freya? Where have you taken her?"
"Ah, you mean that woman?" In a detached tone, Xiao Mu Yu's gaze remained unwavering, as if he were not the one being targeted by the aura of a ninth-tier expert.
Xiao Mu Yu continued, his voice as frigid as before, "She has already been sold to the Night Star Casino; it seems the owner has taken quite a liking to her. Ah, if you delay any longer, you might witness a live performance of the spring palace."