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Yunuen and Little Fairy stood anxiously outside Layna’s Item Shop. The door was wide open, revealing a disheveled interior; Layna, the owner, was nowhere to be found. She had been abducted. When Yunuen and Little Fairy had returned from grocery shopping, they were greeted by this disturbing news, which was already the talk of the town. Yunuen immediately messaged Yaeger, while Little Fairy gathered more details.

Yunuen nervously watched the message box, hoping for a response. “Princess, please hurry…” But even after a tense minute, there was no reply. She reasoned that the game wouldn’t fail in delivering messages, so Yaeger likely hadn’t seen it yet.

‘Read it soon, [Princess]. It’s urgent!’ Yunuen paced restlessly, her anxiety rising like an ant on a hot griddle. She cared deeply for Layna and was desperate to ensure her safety, yet the details of the kidnapping and the identity of the culprits remained elusive.

Helplessness enveloped Yunuen. Despite her newfound strength, she felt as ineffective as ever, particularly in a city as vast and complex as Jade City. Her only hope was that [Princess] would intervene. Tears welled up in her eyes as she berated herself for her inadequacies.

Suddenly, distinct footsteps cut through the noise of the street. The sound was clear and steady, but carried a weighty aura. Yunuen noticed the unusual silence around her; the once-bustling street had fallen deathly quiet. The approach of those footsteps seemed to bring with it a palpable chill.

As she looked up, Yunuen understood why the street had turned so silent. Everyone was frozen, not daring to speak or move. It was because of her return – [Princess] was back, cloaked in an aura of formidable killing intent, like a stunning demoness emerging from the depths of hell.

“Princess!” Overwhelmed with relief and fear, Yunuen burst into tears and poured out her anxieties to the arriving figure. She realized how much she had come to rely on this formidable woman.

“Everything is fine now. I’m here,” Yaeger assured her, appearing instantaneously before Yunuen. She gently wiped away Yunuen’s tears with her slender arm, soothing her worries and fears with her presence.

“Princess,” Yunuen whispered, finding solace in her reliability. No matter the peril or desperation, [Princess] was always there to resolve any crisis.

“That’s enough. You’re starting to look ugly,” Yaeger remarked lightly, her hand caressing Yunuen’s head. She surveyed the area with a stern gaze. Anyone who met her eyes trembled in fear and quickly averted their gaze, recognizing the dire mood of the Black-hearted Princess. They marveled at the audacity of those who had dared to capture her friend, surely signing their own death warrant.

“Princess,” Little Fairy interjected, returning from her information gathering. “Layna was abducted by black-armored soldiers.”

Yaeger’s eyes narrowed at this news. “Do you know why they took her?”

“It seems to be related to the succubus. Layna has likely been taken to the grand prison in the fortress,” Little Fairy informed.

Yaeger pieced the information together, realizing the implications. The soldiers were targeting her, and only players would know of her connection to Alicia. It seemed someone had betrayed her, leading to the soldiers’ actions. Yunuen and Little Fairy were spared only because they were out at the time.

Understanding the situation, Yaeger turned to Yunuen. “Layna will be safe for now. Go to the Pharmacist’s Association and ask the Guild Master to exert pressure on the prison. Little Fairy, log out and stay hidden until this settles. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to return. Yunuen, after you’ve spoken to the Guild Master, you should log out as well.”

They exchanged a knowing look, acknowledging their current limitations. “We can’t help in this,” they silently agreed, recognizing that their involvement might hinder more than help. Yunuen, feeling a pang of frustration at her own powerlessness, nonetheless set off determinedly towards the Pharmacist’s Association to seek aid.

“Princess, please be cautious,” Little Fairy urged with a deep, concerned gaze before she logged out of the game.

Once alone, Yaeger’s face hardened, her voice a low whisper of fury, “To harm my people… you don’t understand the consequences of your actions.” A chilling aura enveloped her, sending shivers down the spines of the onlookers. Many yearned to flee, to escape the palpable dread she exuded.

Ignoring the fearful crowd, Yaeger strode into the shop, immediately noting signs of a struggle. Layna had fought back, but in the end, she had been overpowered and taken. Yaeger quietly shut the door behind her and took a seat on a nearby bench, not rushing into action. She understood the importance of timing.

“The Pharmacist’s Association wields significant influence here. They won’t harm Layna for now, especially with the Association’s pressure. I have time,” she reasoned, speaking more to herself than anyone else.

Opening her item box, Yaeger contemplated her weapon choice. [Sunscorch], her usual Epic sword, was heavily damaged and unusable. “I suppose an Uncommon weapon will have to suffice.” She dismissed the idea of using the [Sword of Eternity] replica and sifted through her extensive collection of equipment, quickly selecting a decent Uncommon weapon. Equipping it, she felt her resolve harden, her aura intensifying, unnerving even those spectators who lingered nearby.

“Those who took Layna must expect me to come for her. I wouldn’t be surprised if the grand prison is now a veritable trap waiting for my arrival,” she mused, her eyebrow arching slightly.

Despite the potential danger, Yaeger was resolute in her mission. The grand prison, a vast and formidable facility beneath the fortress, was notorious for its harsh conditions, especially in the lower levels. “Layna is unlikely to be held in the deeper sections,” Yaeger speculated. Nonetheless, she prepared for the worst, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in her quest to rescue Layna.