As Chu Yan and Xianoya descended the stairs, they encountered the designated "arrest" time for the tabooists.
The solemnly uniformed, brooding female officer stood at the castle's entrance, her unfocused gaze fixated on the hands of her watch, evidently awaiting the return of tardy individuals.
Through their recent engagements, Chu Yan observed that the "prisoners" within the lord's castle exhibited an impressive level of self-discipline.
Regardless of their past transgressions, they now resembled residents of a retirement home, occasionally emerging for brief strolls before retreating to their chambers.
Some had not even ventured out of their rooms; the ones he had seen most frequently were Janet and this formidable officer.
Even though he was already acquainted with the officer on several occasions, Chu Yan did not even know her name.
"Hey, hey~ Why is the little lord just standing there daydreaming alongside Xianoya?"
Janet, fashionably late, entered the doorway, seemingly eager to avoid the officer's admonitions, and greeted Chu Yan with enthusiasm.
Her vivacious personality was a rare find in such a place, exuding a lively and somewhat frivolous charm, akin to an exuberant older sister.
After a quick wave, she approached and casually draped an arm around Chu Yan's shoulders.
The officer barely acknowledged Janet's presence, mechanically reciting, "Janet, you are late again by XX minutes..." before turning to return to her room.
Chu Yan smiled, responding to Janet's greeting, and then whispered, "Janet, are you not concerned about ignoring that officer?"
Janet's smile was both cunning and bright, resembling a beguiling fox, as she cheerfully reassured him:
"Not at all. If needed, Xianoya can also report to her. In the future, when the time comes, she'll come bother you with reminders about your tardiness."
So she sees her as a mere alarm clock...
Chu Yan glanced towards the officer's room, hearing no sounds from within; many similar rooms remained silent.
Discussing others behind their backs always felt improper, prompting Chu Yan to lower his voice unconsciously:
"I don't even know her name; I have no idea how to initiate a conversation!"
Hearing Chu Yan's words, Xianoya recalled their first meeting and couldn't help but scoff:
"How dare you speak of your lack of social skills when you practically burrowed into my bed upon seeing me, spouting all sorts of nonsensical remarks."
Especially that line about 'your posterior confiding its grievances to me'—it was utterly absurd, even if Xianoya found it unexpectedly hard to refute.
Janet appeared taken aback, narrowing her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows over her bright gaze, adding an air of mysterious allure to her scrutiny.
"Who would have thought, the little lord is so bold. Care to visit my room next time~?"
"Are you going to say you have something enticing and fun in your room too...?"
"If you wish for such things, I suppose it can be arranged."
Joking aside, Janet eventually addressed Chu Yan's earlier inquiry:
"The officer's name is Omiya. For more information, you'll have to inquire directly with her, as I'd rather not say too much and risk causing offense."
Chu Yan immediately adopted a serious demeanor, radiating an air of virtue as he declared:
"Speak quietly; she mustn't know it was you, Janet, who divulged this information!"
"Who else could tell you besides me?"
"...That seems true enough."
Since his arrival, the only individuals he could converse with were Xianoya and Janet, and Xianoya was also a "newcomer," possessing only a vague understanding of the local situation.
With Janet's statement, Chu Yan found it difficult to press her further.
If he sought to establish friendly contact, he would indeed have to engage Omiya directly; incessantly prying into matters would only make him a nuisance.
No longer dwelling on the topic, he turned to Janet, who appeared ready to retreat to her room, and curiously asked:
"By the way, now that free time is coming to a close, can Xianoya and I go out? Should she be confined as well?"
It must be admitted that the newly appointed lord, Chu Yan, was quite in the dark about such matters.
He worried that this might be a mandatory regulation, but if it were truly enforced, Janet would not have been so frequently late.
"Since she has been resting here with you for so long, she is free to move about once she's had enough rest in the castle. Besides, you, the little lord, are 'watching' over her, so there shouldn't be any issues."
The reason for their confinement within the castle was neither contractual obligations nor the unseen checks and balances but merely the need for rest?
Chu Yan shrugged:
"Alright then, I won't interrupt your rest any longer. I shall come find you to chat another time!"
The tabooists within the lord's castle were individuals he needed to engage with.
Even though these dangerous beings were "imprisoned" here, their movements suggested that they held influence in the Dead Sea border.
Baron Pig controlled the local upper echelons of nobility and officials.
Meanwhile, these tabooists seemed to be leaders of certain factions, their presence scattered throughout the Dead Sea border.
The noble's approach would not suffice; gaining deeper insights into these intriguing ladies became Chu Yan's sole path to completing his trial.
As Chu Yan strolled through the town, he initially worried that only his area remained clean, but he was relieved to find that hygiene was well maintained throughout.
It seemed Baron Pig had decided against tampering with cleanliness.
Xianoya remarked:
"Without those heaps of garbage for reference, I'm a bit lost on my bearings."
"...Your method of navigation is rather peculiar; how can you use garbage heaps as landmarks?"
"Speaking of which, where are we exactly? All I see are noble estates that look remarkably similar."
Alright, Chu Yan found himself lost too.
But all roads lead to Rome, and he and Xianoya found themselves on the rooftops of others, making their way directly to the square.
Thus, having finished surveying the affluent district, they noted the commendable state of hygiene.
However, Xianoya broached a serious topic:
"Earlier, you asked me about future plans. What about you, Chu Yan? I cannot believe Baron Pig will remain passive.
They are surely plotting to regain their standing, which could be detrimental to you."
Chu Yan had certainly considered this:
"I share your concerns; I heard there is a tabooist among the nobility?"
...
In Baron Pig's estate, several nobles, representing their respective families, gathered in response to his invitation.
This private meeting focused solely on discussions concerning the new lord, Chu Yan.
"Ladies and gentlemen, under the aegis of my family for three generations—from my grandfather to my father, and now myself—we have peacefully governed the Dead Sea border as its rightful masters, enjoying a life more splendid than in the kingdoms beyond. Unfortunately, this peace has begun to fray, as you are undoubtedly aware."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Chu Yan had released the slime creature within Baron Pig's estate, subsequently disrupting his trade and even costing him two crates of treasures.
Such incidents were hard to overlook.
One person, having deciphered Baron Pig's intentions, felt compelled to clarify:
"You know Sward's temperament; she has not ventured out in ages, engrossed in her swordsmanship training, and likely will not concern herself with external matters for some time."
Sward was one of the tabooists among the Dead Sea nobility. While others were exiled for their forbidden interactions, she sought out taboo knowledge to expand her mastery of sword techniques.
Of course, the Dead Sea nobility had persistently concealed Sward's situation; otherwise, her family would face expulsion from the ranks of the nobility by the Dragonflame family.
Baron Pig, hearing this news, remained composed, as though he had anticipated it:
"I understand, but Sward will inevitably emerge. When she does, she can be tasked with handling the knight whom the lord has recruited. After all, Xianoya, as a tabooist, also possesses sword skills that would pique Sward's interest!"
A duel of swordsmanship between tabooists would indeed capture Sward's attention.
"However, what about Janet? She seems to have developed some closeness to the lord."
"Indeed, this is the dilemma I wish for you all to ponder."
Baron Pig expressed his frustrations.
Despite Janet's charm and approachability, it only indicated her cunning nature, making her difficult to read.
Someone pondered aloud:
"The dirty children from the slums and the skills Janet teaches them cannot possibly be allowed to surface before the executioner, right?"