Kai looked at the false bottom of the desk drawer.
There was still sothing hiding in the back corner.
He reached into the dark space and pulled out a second piece of parchnt.
It was a detailed map of the capital city.
Soone had drawn red lines all over the streets and sewer systems. Kai studied the small key at the bottom of the page.
These were dedicated vampire supply lines. The corrupt Duke was mapping out exactly how to smuggle magic and weapons straight into the inner ring.
He wanted to do it without alerting the royal guard patrols.
’They are building an underground network right under the king’s nose,’ Kai thought to himself.
He traced a finger along a red line running beneath the royal armoury.
’This wasn’t how it went in the ga.’
He stared at the complex web of tunnels and streets.
[Skill Unlocked: Cartographic mory (Passive)]
[Description: The user can perfectly morise and ntally overlay maps and spatial coordinates.]
Kai blinked his eyes.
The mont his vision focused on the parchnt again, the entire map burned itself into his mind.
It felt like a perfect picture was sitting right behind his eyes.
He could picture the narrow slum streets and the tall guard towers with perfect clarity.
’Well,’ Kai thought to himself, tapping his chin in amusent.
’I do not even need to steal this paper now. I already have the whole city locked in my head.’
He decided to take the parchnt anyway to build his pile of hard evidence.
Kai used a quick shadow step to bypass the guards leaning against the grand staircase.
He reappeared smoothly in the crowded ballroom.
The music played loudly, and the guests laughed over expensive wine.
Kai grabbed a fresh glass of amber liquor from a passing waiter.
He leaned against a white marble pillar to watch the crowd of oblivious aristocrats.
A tall man wearing a ridiculous feathered hat walked over to him.
He held a crystal glass and wore a smug expression behind his gold mask.
"I do not recognise your coat," the feathered man said.
He looked Kai up and down with clear judgnt.
"Are you a personal friend of the Duke? Or are you just one of those new rchants from the eastern coast trying to buy political favour?"
"Neither", Kai replied smoothly.
He took a slow sip of his drink, projecting the relaxed confidence of a wealthy lord.
"I recently inherited a large estate in the country. I am just enjoying the local hospitality tonight and want to see who is worth knowing before I settle into my new life here."
"Ah, new money," the man chuckled, swirling his drink.
"I am Lord Halton. You chose a very strange ti to move to the capital. The outer city is a total ss right now. Unwashed peasants are crowding the gates."
A woman in a yellow dress stepped up beside Lord Halton.
She fanned herself with a feathered prop and let out a dramatic sigh.
A shorter, older man with a bald head trailed closely behind her.
He looked bored and sweaty in his tight formal clothes.
"It is just terrible," the woman added.
She leaned closer to Kai as if sharing a secret.
"I am Lady Beatrice, and this is Lord Sterling. We were just talking about those filthy refugees ruining the view from our balconies. We agree that the city guard really needs to push them back into the woods where they belong."
"Indeed," Lord Sterling grunted.
He sipped his wine and shook his head.
"The price of imported silk is rising because the trade roads are blocked by starving farrs. It is a real tragedy for local business owners like us."
’Wow, these villains are designed with passion.’
A surge of disgust washed over him.
He had the Duke’s literal treason sitting in his pocket right now.
It proved their way of life was about to burn to the ground.
Yet, these fools were only complaining about the view and the rising price of fabric.
’These people are actually braindead,’ Kai thought to himself.
"But we do have a problem," Kai said, offering them a polite and fake smile.
"There is a vanguard of monsters out there. If you feed the refugees to the monsters, the monsters just get stronger. Then they co for your balconies next."
Lord Halton scoffed loudly.
He waved his free hand in the air to dismiss the idea.
"Nonsense. The king built high walls. We pay very high taxes to keep the ugly things outside."
"Taxes are very helpful against claws and teeth," Kai nodded in fake agreent.
He kept his tone flat so they would not realise he was mocking them.
"I am sure the vampires will ask to see your tax receipts. Then they will politely walk away when they realise you are up to date on your paynts."
Lady Beatrice let out a laugh.
She assud he was making a joke at the expense of the poor.
"Oh, you have a very dark sense of humour. I really like that. We need more entertaining guests at these parties. The Duke usually just talks about his boring grain shipnts all night long."
"Speaking of the Duke," Kai said.
He leaned forward slightly as if sharing a fun secret.
"Has anyone seen him tonight? For a man hosting such a grand party, he is very hard to find in this crowded room."
"He is likely in the VIP parlour," Lord Halton said.
He pointed his glass toward a set of doors.
Two n guarded the entrance.
"Only the inner circle gets to go in there. They are probably drinking the really good wine and ignoring the rest of us."
"How tragic for you," Kai smiled.
He stepped away from the marble pillar and gave them a slight bow.
"Thank you for the pleasant chat. I think I will go find my dancing partner now before she gets into any trouble."
"Do be careful out there," Lady Beatrice called out as Kai turned to leave.
"There are rumours of spies sneaking into the city. You really cannot trust anyone these days."
"I trust absolutely no one. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Lady Beatrice."
Kai walked away from the clueless nobles.
He had the vampire supply maps morised in his head and the letters.
All that’s left is to find Eevy and figure out how to get inside that guarded VIP parlour.
The real host of this party was waiting.
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