CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 57: THE CITY’S UNDERLAYERS

Li Ang walked a distance and understood what was meant by "underlayer".

In the dark passage, there were some iron windows for ventilation, through which one could see the city’s sewers. But if you were inside the sewers, it would be difficult to find these iron windows, and even if you did, you couldn’t navigate the crooked gaps to enter this dark passage.

According to the system’s miniature map, he was now beneath Spark Port.

The city’s underlayer was just a large secret passage with many exits; the real emphasis was on the exits of these passages.

He reached another exit, climbed the stairs, opened the mechanism, and found it was a cellar.

All around were ice blocks, and the goods placed there were related to sugar, oil, and milk. By checking the labels and map location, he deduced this must be the cellar of the dessert shop he had eaten at before.

Does this shop know there’s a secret passage beneath their property?

Li Ang returned to the passage and discovered that some other exits led to building interiors.

This seemed like a passage built because of war.

Looking back at the history of the Ignis Sky Realm, it was a time of warfare, and the Empire’s legal system was established then.

Spark Port, near the Aerial Realm’s entrance, must have been a strategic location in the war, so it’s not surprising it has such passages.

Nowadays, since it’s labeled by the system as a "hidden location," most people must be unaware of its existence.

What "rewards" and "secrets" lie within?

The passage winds around and inevitably passes some exits, so Li Ang checked them all.

Some doors now led to storerooms, some to unoccupied homes, some to wellheads, and some possibly to the bedrooms of the wealthy. He heard strange noises through one door and decided not to open it.

Finally, he discovered a particular door.

On either side of the door were Magic Lamps, making it convenient for entrants to take the light. The lamp looked a bit aged yet ornate, likely expensive in its time.

The miniature map showed that above this location were large houses, clearly an area for nobles or the wealthy.

There might be wealth or secrets behind such a door.

He gently pushed open the door and found clothing lined up.

They were almost all long dresses, neatly hung on racks. The space wasn’t large, but the clothes were plenty.

Pulling the skirts aside slightly, Li Ang saw two swinging wooden doors.

Was the exit of this passage a wardrobe?

Through the gap in the wardrobe door, he saw it was a girl’s room, spacious with various kinds of flowers on the balcony. Inside were tea sets, bookshelves, a desk, and a vanity, all exquisitely decorated.

Dorothy was sitting at the tea table.

Li Ang was taken aback, not expecting this exit to connect to her home.

But given her noble background, it was no surprise she lived in a grand house.

Li Ang didn’t intend to invade privacy, planning to turn away when he saw Dorothy taking a sharp knife from a box on the table in front of her.

The blade flashed silver, and Dorothy, as if she’d done it countless times, skillfully spun the handle with her fingertips and sliced directly at her wrist.

Blood gushed forth. Her alluring face was initially expressionless but turned into a sorrowful smile after cutting her wrist.

She did not stop, cutting forcefully with each stroke, blood splattering everywhere.

Li Ang hadn’t anticipated this situation.

Dorothy lowered her wrists slowly, letting blood flow quickly to the floor, where a white porcelain basin had been placed beforehand. The crimson blood collected there, creating a startling visual contrast.

The lady leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, awaiting the end.

Watching life ebb away, Li Ang gritted his teeth but decided to intervene.

He believed he should advise someone he knew rather than meddle in others’ family affairs.

He pushed open the wardrobe door, stepped forward, and grabbed the lady’s wrist.

Dorothy opened her eyes, startled by the sudden appearance of a man, and screamed, but Li Ang quickly covered her mouth.

Seeing it was Li Ang, she calmed quickly, and he withdrew his hand.

"What’s going on?" The lady raised an eyebrow: "So you’re this kind of person? Stalking? When did you sneak in faster than me? Wow, pervert."

"You actually put effort in, specifically coming to find me. You really didn’t have to..." She spoke softer and then chuckled playfully: "So? Are you willing to take me on an adventure now?"

However, as she spoke, Dorothy seemed to recall something, and her cheeks flushed.

"Did you... just see that?"

"What are you talking about?"

Li Ang couldn’t comprehend why she was chatting casually despite having attempted suicide. He held her wrist, preparing to cast a Healing Spell.

She knew Healing Magic herself, but cutting so ferociously meant she wasn’t planning to heal. Besides, her magic level wasn’t enough to heal wounds that endangered life in time.

"Hmm?"

The wound was shallow and no longer bleeding.

Li Ang blinked. He clearly saw her cut her wrist; he couldn’t have imagined it.

Unable to understand, he cast a mage’s Healing Water Wave on the wound.

The clear stream washed over the girl’s wrist, cleansing away the wound with the scab, leaving the skin as flawless as before.

Dorothy paused, caressing her healed wrist gently.

"What’s the point of suicide?"

Li Ang guessed that from her probing and following actions in the afternoon, she wasn’t originally about to kill herself; something else must have triggered her.

"Maybe I’m meddling, but I think dying for someone as worthless as Wendes Feinat is too undeserving."

"Well said."

Dorothy nodded, not mentioning her suicide attempt.

"Also, I’m not a pervert."

"Hiding in my wardrobe isn’t perverted? You saw everything!" Dorothy was reminded and reverted back to her previous indifferent calm.

Li Ang didn’t know what she was thinking. He instinctively glanced around. When his gaze landed on her bed, Dorothy dashed over like mad and tugged at the sheets, attempting to cover something. Her face flushed entirely, radiant as peach blossoms, before she pounced back to claw at Li Ang’s clothes.

"You saw it all! You saw it all..."

She lowered her head, then softly asked, "Since you saw it, what do you think? Will you despise me for it? Or perhaps... it would be better if you did..."

"I didn’t see anything, really. I only just arrived."

Li Ang pulled aside her row of long dresses in the wardrobe, revealing the passage.

Dorothy lifted her head, jogged to the wardrobe door, and peered into the dark passage.

"What is this place? So my wardrobe led to this, and I had no idea. How did you know about this place?"

She turned back, her blush quickly receding, returning to her usual calm.

"Oh, so you didn’t see. And it wasn’t for me specifically."

Li Ang felt she seemed a bit disappointed again.

Not planning to delve into her issues further, he began, "This passage—"

"I won’t tell anyone."

Li Ang looked at her, pondering what to do.

The situation wasn’t as he expected.

He originally thought Dorothy would be unconscious, so he’d cast a Healing Spell and leave a note advising her that Wendes was about to be caught, perhaps reducing her despair.

But why was she so lively now, even concerned about other matters, as if she hadn’t been attempting suicide?

To avoid being considered a pervert and to keep the passage a secret, should he lock her away first?

"I understand you’re worried."

Dorothy’s lips curled slightly. In a playful manner, she put her hands together and raised them in front of Li Ang.

"You can arrest me and take me away, then you won’t have to worry, right?"