Stas chuckled, surveying his surroundings. The northern part of the palace, where they had agreed to meet, evoked some unsettling thoughts.

'I seem to be spending too much time in dark old corridors lately. What a stark contrast to the clean and polished halls elsewhere.'

Since the palace complex was very large, some of its parts were almost uninhabited.

Did this mean that this place used to be much more popular? Or that the Kato family was gradually weakening?

Ordyntsev shook his head - it wasn't particularly interesting to him anyway. After his escape, he planned to put maximum effort into extracting as much knowledge as possible from Sumada about prana and its management.

More interesting, as it turned out, was trying not to be spotted by the guards on the way here. The palace's security system left mixed feelings.

The best part of it was concentrated, logically, around the section of the palace where the daimyo's son himself lived. Stas didn't even risk venturing there, as patrols and posts were almost at every step and next to every window.

Obviously, any intruder would have to try very hard to infiltrate unnoticed. Considering that ninjas apparently existed in this world, it was a justified decision.

However, the farther one moved from the central part of the palace, approaching the guest quarters, the worse the organization was.

And if the halls with nobles and accounting rooms were still guarded, the far parts of the palace were left almost to fate.

The guards stationed there were clearly bored at their posts, waiting for a transfer. Their leadership also rarely visited these places.

The thing was, Stas was already inside this territory, so within the guest rooms, kitchens, and uninhabited parts of the palace, his movements were not particularly restricted.

But if he had tried, for example, to leave the palace or, conversely, to enter the more protected parts, then he would have felt all the displeasure of the guards.

Suddenly, a quiet clack of wooden shoes echoed down the corridor. Ordyntsev tensed, expecting Roku's arrival. Nevertheless, no matter how hard he peered into the gathering darkness, he saw no one.

Unpleasant suspicions began to form in Ordyntsev's mind...

"Excuse me for interrupting you," a quiet female voice made Stas almost leap out of his skin.

He turned around very slowly and stared at the girl who had approached unnoticed, her face hidden by a thick scarf. Only her dark eyes were visible, looking curiously at the earthling. Her hair was braided into plaits that were twisted into an elaborate hairstyle.

Even the visible part of her face was enough to understand that she was quite beautiful.

Ordyntsev involuntarily glanced over her clothing and felt a chill. They were too rich to not pose a problem.

"What has made you stand so thoughtfully in these empty and dark corridors?" her voice was quiet but surprisingly clear. "Few venture to this place. They say that people disappear here. Aren't you afraid?"

"Please forgive me," Stas quickly bowed. "I did not notice you approaching."

A quiet laugh followed in response.

"Others often tell me that. And yet, once upon a time, many were noticing me," the stranger mused, toying with her red scarf.

Stas remained silent, not knowing what to say and fervently wishing that this mysterious lady would go back to where she came from.

"I suppose I distracted you from your thoughts for no reason," the stranger finally said, seeing that Stas was not inclined to speak further. "However, before I leave you, please answer one question for me. Just one, alright? Am I beautiful? Can you call me beautiful?" Her eyes bore into Stas with a demanding look.

Ordyntsev almost said that with that scarf, he couldn't tell, but he stopped himself in time.

Who knew how this noblewoman would interpret his words? What if he breached some local taboos?

He urgently needed to find a way out of this strange situation.

The fabric of the scarf twitched as if something had slid inside, though Stas took it for a deep sigh.

"Lady, may I be candid?" Stas spoke firmly.

"Yes, you may," the stranger moved a step closer imperceptibly, nearly breaching the local boundaries of propriety.

"I believe that while physical beauty is an important part of our lives, what's far more important is inner beauty," Stas began, inspired. "Sadly, people are not long-lived. We grow, age, and die. In old age, beauty often fades, but inner qualities, strength of spirit, and loyalty pass the test of time, staying with us for life."

With each word, the woman's eyes widened, and she took a step back, restoring the previous distance.

"...Therefore, I believe that the most important beauty is inner beauty," Stas concluded his impromptu lecture and mentally wiped away non-existent sweat.

"You really think so," the girl pondered, causing Stas, for some reason, to feel an eerie chill and wonder, 'Who is this girl?'

She amusingly tilted her head to the side.

"You were honest with me, stranger, and I enjoyed talking to you. It's been a long time since I've done this. However, I see you still haven't figured out who stands before you, have you?"

"I apologize, lady, but no," Stas bowed again.

"Does the term 'Kuchisake-onna' mean anything to you?" she asked with an odd intonation.

"No," Ordyntsev shook his head, racking his brain, but his knowledge of the language didn't provide any new information.

"I see," the girl laughed cheerfully, holding the scarf so it wouldn't slide down. "You are a curious man, Shiro-san. I liked interacting with you. It's so... refreshing."

Stas, who had smiled politely at the stranger's laughter, suddenly removed his smile.

'How the hell does she know my name?'

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"You are like a snake that a foolish owner has let into the house and now reaps the fruits of his stupidity. I will continue to watch you, Shiro-san. Don't worry, I won't interfere with your affairs. After all, you've managed to pique my curiosity and impress me with your honesty. It's rare for people like you to talk to me. And even rarer for me to let them go."

"Thank you, lady," Stas bowed. "And..." he paused, looking at the empty space.

'Damn warmasters,' Stas cursed. 'What's with the habit of vanishing in the middle of a conversation like Batman? And what did she mean by watching me? She didn't seem like one of the Sansa or Kiatto. Does that mean she's a third party? Thank goodness she doesn't seem to want to interfere.'

When a nervous Roku peeked around the corner, Stas merely looked at him thoughtfully and then asked into the void.

"Roku-san, do you know what 'Kuchisake-onna' means?"

The reaction of the senior servant made Stas tense up again. It's not every day you see someone suddenly spin around a couple of times and then hurriedly draw repelling signs with his finger on his arm.

"Shiro-san! You shouldn't speak of evil spirits in such a place," Roku shook his head and scanned the abandoned corridor. "Kuchisake-onna is an evil spirit of a woman who died and was reborn as a demon. Rumor has it she has a monstrous half of a face that she always hides, and she..."

"Asks how beautiful she is?" Stas finished with a sense of dread.

"Yes, and if she dislikes the answer, she reveals her disfigured appearance and tears the unfortunate to pieces, then devours their remains. I haven't served the Kato family for long, but I've heard that strange disappearances of people have occurred in this place... And I don't understand, why you ask if you already know the answer? Come with me," Roku said irritably, shrugging his shoulder.

"But I didn't know," Stas muttered under his breath. For a moment, he thought he heard a girlish giggle somewhere in the distance. He didn't look back, perhaps because he really feared seeing someone behind him.

'Important note: take the locals' mentions of spirits, demons, and other paranormal stuff much more seriously. No! I urgently need to find out more about evil spirits. Top priority, warmaster level, no less.'

Another dimly lit room and two people frozen inside. Only this time, the man standing opposite Stas was not a victim.

On the contrary, he had enough power to bury all the earthling's plans.

"What do you want?" Roku didn't bother with pleasantries, looking at Ordyntsev demandingly. It was evident that he was very uncomfortable, but he held his ground. "We agreed that you wouldn't bother us until the war was over! What's changed?"

"The thing is," Stas hesitated, gathering his thoughts. "I'm not representing Deathbringers right now. Their mention was just an excuse to start a conversation with you and to be taken seriously. Please forgive me for this little lie."

"A little... lie..." Roku repeated slowly, clenching his fists until they cracked. "Now I'll show you what this little lie is!"

Ordyntsev was prepared for various reactions to his words. A senior servant lunging at him in a rage was not a surprise.

Apparently, such an emotional shock was too much for Roku.

A quick step back bought a few seconds. Ordyntsev was no martial arts master, but he had been in a few fights in his life.

Roku's punch was the most ordinary, without any frills. It wasn't, as they say, a wild country-style punch with a wide swing back, nor did it have the speed and precision of professional fighters.

Ordyntsev's left hand shot forward, deflecting the punch upward with a sharp ascending movement. This was made possible by the man's greater physical strength and height.

Roku, who stumbled forward after his punch, became an excellent target for Stas.

The servant's surprised eyes flashed before the earthling just as Stas's right hand struck sharply under Roku's breath.

The hit wasn't very accurate, but it was enough to make the opponent double over, gasping for air and losing focus.

Now, it was time to do what the earthling had only theorized about.

Ordyntsev's left hand grabbed the senior servant by the throat, while his lips whispered the magic words.

"Leviathan, go!" The wide sleeve of the earthling's kimono instantly came to life. It was as if the muscles in his limb had taken on their own, separate existence.

Roku had just recovered enough to grab the hand holding his throat when he saw a snarling snake's head emerge from the sleeve right in front of his face.

Any resistance from the servant evaporated instantly, and his hands went limp, turning into dangling noodles.

Leviathan, not content with just a show, smoothly slid forward, beginning to methodically wrap around the neck of the man who was afraid to even breathe.

Each time Levi's hissing head slid past Roku's ear, Stas felt the senior servant shudder violently.

Finally, Leviathan settled on Roku's neck, forcing him to freeze completely motionless. He even breathed unevenly.

"Roku-san," Stas looked intently at the senior servant, releasing his neck. There was no need for it now. "Are you ready for a polite dialogue? I warn you right away, if you try to attack me again, I won't hit you, but I will go straight to Nobunoro-sama. I'm sure he'll be interested in your antics with Deathbringers."

"Yes," Roku rasped, glancing at Levi, who was curiously examining him. She extended her tongue, tickling the man's neck, which made him even shut his eyes. "Call off your monster!"

"Why would you say that?" Ordyntsev scolded him, reaching out and taking away Levi, who was glaring displeased at the servant. It appears she grasped what Roku had said, or at least figured it out from the tone. "She's a very smart and beautiful snake, you shouldn't insult her, or she might get offended. Leviathan, come back, you did a good job."

The snake obediently moved back onto the familiar hand.

"Curse it!" Roku rubbed his neck vigorously when Leviathan finally moved off his shoulder. "Damn warmasters. Whom are you from? Kiatto? They're the ones who control different..." he cast a quick glance at the earthling's sleeve. "...animals."

"No," Ordyntsev shook his head. "I represent a completely different side that has its interest in this place."

"I know what interest," Roku's eyes lit up with realization. "Prince Sumada. You want to help him escape. When the guard finds out, nothing will save you!" The senior servant involuntarily switched to a much more respectful tone. To support his interlocutor, Stas did the same.

"If, Roku-san, they find out. If," Stas repeated ironically. "You do realize that I won't keep quiet about your... interactions with such a dubious clan of warmasters? And yes, Roku-san, if you're thinking about how to make me vanish, rest assured that I'm not acting alone. In the event of my disappearance, the information will reach the right ears."

"I won't help you," the senior servant cut him off, looking askance at Stas. "There's a war going on. Traitors face terrible death. Moreover, the same fate will befall their entire family. I can't take that risk."

"I understand," Stas nodded. "But we are only interested in Jishin-sama's escape from the palace. Our people will take care of his pullout from the city and beyond. If you can organize the escape so that it's only discovered a couple of days later, that would be the best outcome. We actually benefit from everything being as quiet and unnoticed as possible."

It was clear that Roku was not yet fully convinced. Ordyntsev felt that force was definitely not the way to go here. Roku was cut from a completely different cloth than his brother.

"Roku-san, wars have a way of ending sooner or later. Yes, Rashta Country and its daimyo, Kirin Otomoto, for whom Sumada is fighting, may lose. Nevertheless, the Sumada will still be able to maintain their standing. What do you think, would an entire clan of warmasters be grateful for saving their prince? Most likely, their gratitude could also be expressed in gold," Stas hinted as blatantly as possible.

"What exactly do you want from me?" Roku finally grunted, visions of the riches with which the legendary Sumada clan could shower him flashing before his eyes.

"We want the gates to be unguarded at the right moment, and the corridors leading to those gates to be empty. Also, I personally need the ability to visit the city several times. Ideally, this would involve a guide you fully trust."

"I want half of your 'gratitude' in advance," Roku threw in quickly.

"Sorry, but discussions about that will only begin after the prince is saved. Not before."

"Oh, demons of heaven and earth, that's not how business is done!" Roku cursed.

"Nevertheless, that's the only way it will be. Don't forget, we have information against you."

"Oh, don't bother!" Roku exclaimed irritably. "Think you're the smartest? I've been watching you for a long time, how you go back and forth through the palace and end up in the servants' room remarkably on time to listen to their conversations. Obviously, you've been spying, and quite successfully at that. It's your luck that I didn't have time to report the right people about you. Maybe you'll tell me who exactly ratted me out? Was it Kouyo? Ryuushi? Or that slug, Yuchi? So don't think I can't bury you in return!"

"You should understand that I can't betray my informants," Ordyntsev's cunning smile didn't even waver at the name 'Yuchi.' "So, your decision?"

"You leave me no choice! I'll help you, but the Sumada clan will owe me a tidy sum. I have an idea how to deal with the guards, but it's a very risky move. Oh, kami, what was I thinking when I got involved with warmasters? I knew it wouldn't end well."

"Agreed," Stas nodded satisfactorily. "So, what is your plan?"

"For you to understand my plan, I need to understand what you know about Nobunoro-sama's family first. More specifically, about his sister, who also lives in this very palace."