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"Her Majesty the Queen is in that palace."
Leading the three to the vicinity of the palace, the guide pointed, then hugged the bread tightly in her arms, lowered her head, and hurried away, her figure quickly disappearing into the wind and snow.
"There are so many guards at the entrance."
Fujiwara Chika stood on tiptoe and looked.
At the palace entrance, there were seven or eight armed guards.
"Understandable," Shinomiya Kaguya said softly, "The mushroom people are very dangerous. Perhaps someone once tried to rush into the palace."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"What about climbing over the wall to sneak in?"
Shinomiya Kaguya said:
"There are too many guards; it feels very dangerous."
"Hey, I thought of a way," Fujiwara Chika extended a finger and suddenly said, "What if we approach the Queen using diplomatic means?"
Amamiya Natsuki said with interest:
"Be more specific."
"Mmm-hmm~" Fujiwara Chika put her hands on her hips, slightly tilting her pretty chin, "My mother is a diplomat, so I also know some diplomatic techniques."
"Auntie is so amazing," Amamiya Natsuki looked sideways, feigning shock, "No wonder people say you know eighteen foreign languages."
"I only know five languages; eighteen is too exaggerated," Fujiwara Chika glared over, "Listen to me first."
"Chika-sama, please continue."
"…"
Fujiwara Chika tilted her chin and continued:
"Diplomacy represents the dignity of two countries. If we, as diplomats, pay a visit to the Queen, we certainly won't be refused, right?"
"For example, we are strangers who have traveled from the ends of the sea. This time, we have come to present gifts to Her Majesty the Queen and establish friendly diplomatic relations."
"Understood," Amamiya Natsuki rubbed his chin and said, "We'll first prepare a scroll map and present it to Her Majesty the Queen. When the Queen unfolds the map and lowers her guard, we'll grab the dagger hidden inside the map and capture the Queen."
"Wait a minute, why does that sound super familiar?"
Fujiwara Chika looked over speechlessly.
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Because this is a classic case from thousands of years ago."
"Let's get to the point," Shinomiya Kaguya gently held her forehead, helplessly saying, "Meeting the Queen as diplomats, not to mention whether it's feasible… Shinomiya and Natsuki-kun can't even get in."
"Huh? Why?"
Fujiwara Chika asked, puzzled.
Amamiya Natsuki reminded her: "We still have mushrooms on our heads."
Except for Fujiwara Chika, Amamiya Natsuki and the Sheltered Ojou-sama couldn't even approach the castle gate—mushroom people were quite dangerous. Once they got close, they would definitely be asked to remove their hats for inspection, and then they would be arrested.
"I forgot about the mushrooms," Fujiwara Chika was greatly disappointed. "It seems we can only think of other ways."
"We can think of a few more methods and then compare them to choose the best one," Amamiya Natsuki whispered, "Let's first circle the ancient castle and see if there are any suitable places to sneak in."
"…"
The three did not approach the main gate but circled the castle, stepping on thick snow, and quickly found that sneaking in was quite difficult.
The castle was built on the mountainside, with cliffs on the back and sides. It was also an icy, snowy, and howlingly cold environment; even rock climbing enthusiasts would shake their heads.
Although the players' physical fitness surpassed ordinary people, they were not yet at the level of superheroes. Trying to climb over the wall to get in was fraught with danger.
"We still don't know the environment inside," Amamiya Natsuki shook his head and said, "Even if we successfully sneak in, we can't guarantee safety, for example, by coincidentally being bumped into by a patrolling guard."
"That's right," Shinomiya Kaguya nodded gently, "Crude infiltration is too dangerous… it's better to go in as diplomats."
After a brief discussion, Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Let's discuss this slowly. We'll complete the Red Shoes quest first."
The three turned and left, their figures quickly disappearing into the wind and snow.
A moment later.
Following the simple snowmen piled up along the way, the three quickly found the Spy Maid and her group.
Seeing Amamiya Natsuki and the other two return, everyone came forward to greet them.
"Hanamori-chan, we're back!" Fujiwara Chika waved happily. "How's your mission going?"
Hayasaka Ai, wearing a scarf, subtly placed her right hand on her throat, secretly altering her voice:
"We've identified three suspected targets and are preparing to verify them."
Finding people is actually very simple.
In this icy world, food is hard currency. If you offer food as a bargaining chip, someone will naturally be willing to help.
As for safety… seven dwarves carrying axes and with full beards standing together, radiating killing intent, most people wouldn't dare to harbor malicious thoughts.
Tsubame-senpai, holding Little Red Riding Hood's hand, looked up at Amamiya Natsuki and asked:
"How were your investigation results?"
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"The Queen's palace has been located. For now, we'll abandon direct infiltration."
Next was Fujiwara Chika, the source of chaos, chirping and recounting what had happened.
"Eh, eh, infiltrating disguised as diplomats?"
Passerby player Yamashita Kaoru widened her eyes, couldn't help but stick out the tip of her tongue, and casually said, "Sounds amazing… Too bad Snow White ran away, otherwise, maybe she could have led us in grandly."
"…"
Hearing this, Koyasu Tsubame couldn't help but bite her lower lip.
That's right.
If she hadn't been careless and let Snow White escape, they really could have easily entered the palace. She had already asked before; Snow White wasn't ordered to be killed by the Queen, but rather, she was too bored alone and felt the palace was too stifling, so she secretly ran away. She could have returned to the palace openly.
Thinking of this, Koyasu Tsubame felt even more self-reproach.
It was all her fault.
"When I came out this morning, I already asked. The area closest to the palace is the noble district, usually inhabited by nobles or wealthy merchants," Hayasaka Ai said as she walked. "Miss Karen is a commoner, so she should live in the commoner district."
Amamiya Natsuki sighed:
"Such a wicked class society, oppression is indeed everywhere."
Fujiwara Chika tilted her head and said, "No choice, even in modern society, it's impossible to achieve equality for everyone."
"The dragon slayer eventually becomes a dragon." Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest. "This is an inevitable flaw in human nature."
Koyasu Tsubame: "…This topic is too serious!"
"We've arrived." Hayasaka Ai stopped, pointed, and said, "She's in there."
After arriving in the commoner district, there were still few pedestrians on the road, but there were many messy footprints on the ground. Occasionally, they saw natives, mostly sitting together listlessly.
Bang, bang, bang.
Hayasaka Ai stepped forward, raised her hand to knock on the door, and called out:
"Is Miss Karen in?"
"…"
There was no sound from inside the door.
"Could she not be home?" a Roadside player whispered.
"You underestimate the vigilance of the natives in this world, and the footprints at the door are still there." Amamiya Natsuki took half a step forward, transforming into a wicked ruffian. "Listen up, inside! You don't want your door broken, do you?"
Roadside player: "…"
The threat was quite effective.
A cautious female voice soon came from inside the house: "What do you want with me?"
Amamiya Natsuki said neither humbly nor arrogantly:
"We are Grandma's long-lost relatives. We heard Cousin Karen moved to the city, so we specially came to visit."
"…"
The door soon opened a crack, and a woman cautiously peeked out from behind it.
The light was dim, making it impossible to see the woman's face clearly, but it was clear that she was a young woman with some red hair. Her figure was unclear.
Amamiya Natsuki took out a fruit cake: "Are you Cousin Karen? This is a gift we prepared."
Seeing the cake, the woman's eyes suddenly brightened, and she quickly opened the door, saying:
"Yes, that's me."
"Little Red Riding Hood?"
Koyasu Tsubame looked down at the guide loli she was holding.
Little Red Riding Hood widened her eyes and looked, then quickly shook her head: "She's not Sister Karen."
"Looks like we got the wrong person."
Amamiya Natsuki sighed and put the cake away.
The woman immediately became anxious and quickly grabbed Amamiya Natsuki's arm, "I am indeed Karen… If you give me the food, I can sleep with you."
"Please have some self-respect, Miss." Amamiya Natsuki's expression was serious as he pushed the woman's hand away. "I am a decent person."
"Pfft~"
Secretary couldn't help but lightly spit, crossing her arms over her chest, her pretty face slightly flushed.
A decent person wouldn't put their hand inside someone else's clothes!
"Senpai is indeed very decent."
Hayasaka Ai smiled and looked over, her gaze full of disdain.
"Natsuki-kun…"
Koyasu Tsubame's expression was speechless.
There might be gentlemen in the world, but it's definitely not you.
Only the Sheltered Ojou-sama's lips curled slightly upwards, not yet aware of Amamiya Natsuki's shameless actions.
After confirming it wasn't the target they were looking for, Amamiya Natsuki resolutely shook off the woman's entanglement and continued to the next target.
Using the same tactics of coercion and inducement to get the door open, a short red-haired girl nervously opened the door, her gaze wary.
The guide loli widened her eyes, and after carefully identifying, happily shouted:
"It's Sister Karen!"
"You are…?"
The red-haired girl's expression was bewildered, clearly not recognizing her.
"Very good." Amamiya Natsuki took out the Red Shoes from his game backpack. "I found you."
Seeing the Red Shoes in Amamiya Natsuki's hand, the red-haired girl's eyes instantly widened, and her body trembled slightly.
Clatter.
The Red Shoes trembled, leaped from Amamiya Natsuki's hand, and landed on the ground.
At the same time.
All players participating in the quest heard a game prompt.
[You successfully found Karen within the time limit, side quest completed]
[Your overall evaluation has improved]
[Side quest rewards will be issued after the dungeon is cleared, please continue to work hard]
Side quests can be shared, but the more participants there are, the less reward each person receives. In addition, the more side quests completed, the higher the overall evaluation, and the more basic rewards accordingly.
In short, the more quests, the better.
Under the gaze of the group, the Red Shoes did not seek revenge, making the girl Karen dance to her death, but rather stopped in front of Karen.
Looking at the Red Shoes she once loved the most, Karen covered her face, tears streaming down.
It's unknown if the Red Shoes communicated telepathically with Karen, but Karen quickly wiped away her tears, thanked Amamiya Natsuki and the others, then washed herself clean, voluntarily put on the Red Shoes, and began to dance.
Amamiya Natsuki stood in the corner, watching the Red Shoes dance, and quietly said to Koyasu Tsubame:
"To be honest, Senpai's dancing is still better."
Koyasu Tsubame whispered:
"I haven't danced in front of you… That was gymnastics."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Anyway, Senpai is still better looking."
"…"
No sooner had he spoken than Amamiya Natsuki felt a chilling gaze fall upon him.
He turned his head and saw the Sheltered Ojou-sama, arms crossed over her chest, tilting her head and looking over.
"However, there's always someone better," Amamiya Natsuki changed the subject and said seriously, "Kaguya-san's dancing is actually even better."
Shinomiya Kaguya was expressionless: "I don't dance. Say that to Senpai."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Then Kaguya-san is still better looking."
Koyasu Tsubame: "…"
Pah!
Shameless!
The dance soon ended, and the Red Shoes automatically slipped off Karen's feet, taking steps, pattering to Amamiya Natsuki's front.
Amamiya Natsuki bent down and picked up the Red Shoes, and a game appraisal quickly appeared before his eyes.
[Item: Red Shoes]
[Quest completed, can be carried out of the current dungeon]
[Ability One: Witch's Dance, after wearing the Red Shoes, your Agility and Charm attributes will be additionally boosted. You can actively activate this ability, and the Red Shoes will control your body for a short period, dodging incoming attacks.]
[Ability Two: Do you also want to dance? You can designate a target and have the Red Shoes forcibly worn on another person, who will be forced to dance.]
[Note One: Please do not expect a pair of dancing shoes to dodge bullets.]
[Note Two: The Red Shoes are a germaphobe, limited to female wearers, and refuse to be worn by those with athlete's foot.]
After reading the item description, Amamiya Natsuki found that these Red Shoes were quite good; they could both enhance oneself and harm others.
Unfortunately, this item was a germaphobe and also gender-discriminatory. Men could neither use nor be harmed by it, greatly reducing its practicality.
"Let's go."
Amamiya Natsuki quickly put away the Red Shoes; the allocation could be discussed later.
Before leaving, Amamiya Natsuki left the cake he used for coercion and inducement for Karen, fulfilling his promise.
Next, the group returned to the Cursed Old Castle. The Mermaid Princess's ghost had dissipated, making it an excellent base. When they returned, the fire in the fireplace had not yet gone out.
The other few players had already returned and came forward to greet Amamiya Natsuki and his group.
"The map has been drawn," a Roadside player took out a hand-drawn map, introducing himself as a cartoonist in reality, with excellent drawing skills. The map was exceptionally clear. "According to the descriptions, we've identified several locations where the glass slippers were lost."
Cinderella always rode a pumpkin carriage when she went out at midnight, so she didn't know the way, only remembered some specific series, requiring effort to slowly search.
Another Roadside player said:
"Sorry, Amamiya-dono, we didn't encounter any other players."
"It's even better if we didn't encounter them," Amamiya Natsuki comforted. "Perhaps there are no other players left in the dungeon."
Of course, there were many possibilities, such as not being in the royal city, just missing each other, or… already being eliminated.
The death rate of the dungeon was not low. Not seeing them didn't mean no unlucky players had met with misfortune.
It was just that everyone had a tacit understanding, and no one mentioned it.
After a simple rest at noon and a detailed discussion, they finally decided to execute Fujiwara Chika's diplomatic operation.
"Deceive open the grand gate, fool the Queen, steal the Magic Mirror… Yes, we are despicable outsiders!"
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