Why am I, a cook, always involved in cases?

The strange smell that wafts from here from time to time comes from that disgusting place.

Looking from a distance, one could see piles of food waste piled up like mountains, a black mass that looked like endless darkness.

(Could it be rotten food?)

No, the amount of rotten things cannot be so huge.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be animal excrement the size of a mouse.

It is said that these excrement contain some substance that can be used to make raw materials for gunpowder.

I guess they use these as raw materials.

The temperature underground was unusually high, perhaps intentionally heated to dry the gunpowder.

However, this is exactly where the danger lies.

Although the stove was placed away from gunpowder and surrounded by curtains to prevent sparks from flying, the consequences would be unimaginable if it really caught fire.

They work here without knowing the danger?

What's more, if you stay in such a polluted environment for a long time, you will sooner or later be poisoned by inhaling too much foul air.

The environment here is extremely bad.

The prepared gunpowder will be shipped out in batches from another exit.

As I was watching, footsteps suddenly sounded behind me.

Lin Zhiruo quickly hid behind the cabinet next to her, her heart beating like a drum.

She was afraid that someone would hear her heartbeat and discover her, but she couldn't help but sneak a peek at whoever was coming.

"..."

Lin Zhiruo opened her eyes wide in shock and stared blankly at the people passing by.

Shuwan's face was solemn and her steps were hurried.

No, she was wearing the same luxurious clothes as her mother, so perhaps it would be more appropriate to call her "Shuwan".

She looked out of place in this stinking, dark place.

“Shu…”

Lin Zhiruo wanted to call her.

But she didn't hear it and walked towards the underground center with her eyes focused.

The men working around became agitated when they saw Shuwan.

A man came forward timidly, he seemed to be the leader here.

"Miss......"

“You all get out of here.”

Her voice was cold and echoed in the underground space.

The men were all confused and looked at each other.

"This fortress is about to be breached. Run away quickly."

After saying that, Shuwan took out a large purse from her bosom and threw it on the ground, with silver and money scattered all over the floor.

The men were blinded by the money and scrambled to grab it.

When almost everyone had gotten theirs, Shuwan raised the torch high in her hand and threw it out.

(Is she crazy?)

The torch drew an arc and landed on the drying gunpowder.

“Run.”

Shuwan showed her usual innocent smile.

Lin Zhiruo quickly covered her ears and curled up into a ball.

The deafening sound was so deafening that even through the palm of your hand you could feel it.

The men who were fleeing kicked and stepped on Lin Zhiruo many times.

The explosion expanded, and the fire spread to the charcoal and excrement.

(You must flee immediately.)

At this moment, someone nearby stumbled and fell.

The gorgeous dress was trampled on many times and became dirty.

Lin Zhiruo pulled up the person who had fallen and helped her to her feet.

"Eh? Lin Zhiruo, why are you here? What happened to the poisonous food cage?"

Shuwan, with disheveled hair, had a surprised expression on her face.

No, this person doesn't seem to be Shuwan, but more like her as a child.

Her innocent look gives people this feeling.

“That’s what I was going to ask you.”

Lin Zhiruo answered in surprise. Shuwan stroked Lin Zhiruo's face, her hand stopping beside her right ear.

“Are you hurt?”

"The guards saved me. I roasted and ate the poisonous creatures."

Lin Zhiruo had long understood Shuwan's intention in choosing the poisonous food cage. She really had good intentions.

I haven't eaten such delicious food for a long time. It tastes really wonderful.

“Uh, I don’t know what you’re talking about. No, I know you can handle this stuff.”

Lin Zhiruo felt that people who liked to eat insects had no right to criticize her.

But now is not the time to talk about this, we must leave quickly.

“…Let’s go.”

Lin Zhiruo covered Shuwan's mouth and nose with her sleeves and crawled out from underground with difficulty.

She pulled Shuwan and wanted to escape from the city quickly.

However, Shuwan walked up the stairs.

“The fire is coming.”

“It’s okay, I have to go up.”

Shuwan climbed the stairs step by step, dragging her torn skirt.

The smoke was so thick that it was almost suffocating, and the stench was unbearable.

Even if the fire hadn't spread here, you would still be choked to death by the smoke.

"Will you come with me?"

Lin Zhiruo felt that she was stupid.

"certainly."

In this situation, it would be very easy for Lin Zhiruo to escape.

The men who had just escaped were all scrambling to run towards the exit of the city.