Mission in another world with my transformed best friend

So far, everything seemed to be going according to plan, just as the maid, who was actually an assassin, had predicted. She seemed a little smug, pulled out the bayonet stuck in the bed, released her hold on Zhang Lan, jumped off the bed, and straightened her slightly wrinkled maid uniform.

Zhang Lan took a few breaths and slowly propped herself up. Although she felt somewhat desperate after becoming "mute," there was nothing she could do about the situation.

Not only could I not chant any magic spells, but I couldn't even channel the magic power of the "sensing ring." My plan to use that method to call for help seemed to have failed...

Touching her neck, which had lost all feeling, Zhang Lan calmed down. She sat up on the bed, her eyes regaining their previous calm as she stared intently at the other person.

The maid made no other move, but gestured for them to proceed and said...

"Next, please lead the way, 'Holy Maiden.' After all, it was your stubborn and insistent attitude that led to the rule that no one but you is allowed to enter the underground storage room. That old man Hani also takes the contract very seriously, and his inflexible and rigid attitude has resulted in him deploying a large number of soldiers to guard the storage room door day and night. As a result, I haven't been able to find any opportunity for more than a month, and I can only risk coming to 'bother' you at this crucial moment..."

Despite the other person's smug self-talk, Zhang Lan remained coldly indifferent.

Feeling increasingly displeased under that gaze, the maid bent down slightly, tossing the bayonet in her hand up and down a few times, even waving it in front of Zhang Lan, but the blonde girl didn't even flinch...

"Oh, still not accepting your fate? Still have that arrogance in your bones? You think if you stall for a bit, someone will find out you've been kidnapped? You and that girl named Martha are the only ones living on the entire fifth floor, and the 'Lafite Girls' on the fourth floor went to bed early... Perhaps you're still thinking about that boy named Kyle who came back yesterday? Don't worry, don't worry at all!"

As she spoke, the maid paused deliberately, her face displaying the mischievous expression of someone who had just teased another and was about to enjoy the other person's amusing reaction, and she lowered her voice...

"Let me tell you a secret, right now he's probably... in the bathhouse with that orc girl who should be next door, having a sweet and passionate time together... You know, orc girls in heat are the easiest to control. With a little guidance, she'll go find a man she likes... Oh right, that's also your man. Doesn't that make you feel a little indignant?"

At this point, a hint of surprise flashed in Zhang Lan's eyes, an expression that seemed to indicate she understood something, mixed with a touch of resentment...

Seeing that the other party had a reaction, the maid came over, bent down, put on a fake smile, and gently stroked Zhang Lan's face.

Zhang Lan initially dodged a few times reflexively, but then stopped resisting.

"Seeing your pitiful, unwilling look, I feel sorry for you too. It's such a waste of such a pretty face. Not only did you not get to keep the man you love, but he was even taken away by that demi-human girl you call 'sister' every day... I understand how that feels. Alright, now is not the time to be sad. Get up and lead the way!"

The urging words were met with an even colder look from Zhang Lan...

"You're refusing a toast only to suffer the consequences, right...? Okay, your expression seems to say that since the man you care about was stolen by your best friend, you probably feel there's no point in keeping this pretty face, so what..."

Before she finished speaking, the maid slowly extended the bayonet, bringing it closer to Zhang Lan's face...

"A couple more scars on this 'useless' face shouldn't matter too much, right? How about I do you a small favor and let that heartless man see this, a little revenge..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan's eyes widened. She pushed away the maid's hand, cupped her face in her hands, and shook her head repeatedly. She gripped her face so hard that her nails dug into her flesh, her eyes filled with terror.

"Hmph, that's a normal and cute reaction. After all, a woman's face is called her second life... Once her beauty is gone, forget about her status as a 'saintly maiden,' even unfaithful men will leave her forever, and she'll even lose the courage to live... If you're scared, just be a good girl."

Zhang Lan still covered her face with her hands, staring at the bayonet in the maid's hand. She nodded and slowly climbed off the bed.

"I already said, as long as you behave, I don't want to cut your cute little face. You can put your hands down now, and try to look natural. I don't want anyone to notice anything amiss... Tsk tsk tsk, what a pity you were really scared, weren't you? Your little face is all scratched up from all that grabbing..."

The moment she reached the door, the maid reverted to her previous cold and calm demeanor, a hint of murderous intent lurking beneath her composure as she spoke.

"Also, let me remind you that throughout the entire process of going to the basement, I will be following you at a very 'appropriate' distance. If I sense even the slightest attempt to escape, I will absolutely plunge the knife precisely into your heart from behind before anyone can react. Do you understand?"

Zhang Lan paused for a moment, her expression seemingly returning to calm, then nodded again and opened the door…

……

The path downstairs was eerily quiet, as both of them were walking with their feet down. Zhang Lan's pace was slightly slower than before, and the maid behind her didn't urge her on. Perhaps it was because she was very confident that she had the whole situation under control. Zhang Lan in front of her was like a little lamb in her palm, unable to escape her grasp no matter how much she resisted.

As Zhang Lan rounded a corner, a dark figure suddenly appeared in front of her. She instinctively stopped, her pupils dilating instantly…

"Oh, still taking a walk so late? Are you alone? Oh, is the maid here too?"

As if it were a very ordinary chance encounter, Wang Kai greeted him with a smile and walked over.

Aside from blinking and breathing, Zhang Lan dared not make any other "extra" reactions. After all, the "assassin" behind her had said that at such close range, it was impossible to miss.

Wang Kai walked up to Zhang Lan, glanced at her, a hint of doubt flashed across his face, and then he smiled.

"What's wrong with you? Normally, if we bump into each other, you should at least say 'hello,' but now you don't even say hello. Are you planning to try the 'quiet girl' route tonight...? Hehe."

The maid suddenly stepped forward, stood next to Zhang Lan, nodded, and said.

"Lord Kyle, the Holy Maiden practiced her speech in her bedroom all day today, and her throat is a little sore so she can't speak. So I'm sending my greetings on her behalf."

"Oh, I see. No wonder the skin on your neck is all red... Sigh, if your throat is sore, don't scratch it. It's best to drink some honey water and get some rest..."

Seeing that Wang Kai's gaze had been fixed on Zhang Lan for too long, the maid quickly changed the subject.

"Lord Kyle, please get some rest as well. If you'd like to take a bath, could you please let the servants know in advance if you require 'bathing service'?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Kai recalled the "self-righteous" maid he had encountered outside the bathhouse earlier—it turned out she was the older woman in front of him…

Having not remembered the voice from behind the bathroom door, this close "chance encounter" was a bit awkward. Wang Kai's eyes darted around, and he grinned foolishly as he took a few steps back and said...

"Um... I just finished showering, no need. I've been busy all day and I'm tired too. You guys should get some rest too, bye-bye..."

After saying that, Wang Kai stepped to the side to make way.

The maid breathed a slight sigh of relief and signaled Zhang Lan that she could continue forward. But at that very moment, a blur of silver light, accompanied by an incredibly strong gust of wind, flew toward her face at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye…

With a whoosh, the maid instinctively ducked to avoid the afterimage. Then, a swift gust of wind swept in from below. This time, she saw it was a foot and immediately leaped backward, performing a perfect backflip before landing steadily.

Wang Kai pointed the iron rod at the maid, took a step forward, and stood in front of Zhang Lan...

In that split second, Zhang Lan finally reacted. Her big eyes were filled with that familiar, reassuring figure. At that moment, she couldn't say anything. She could only reach out and take a step forward to gently grab Wang Kai's clothes.

After catching Zhang Lan's reaction out of the corner of his eye, Wang Kai nodded to indicate "I understand," then turned his head, his eyes blazing with unprecedented anger as he stared at the maid not far away.

The maid was also quite surprised. In the previous few sentences of conversation, there seemed to be nothing that had slipped up. Then, without any warning, the other party rescued the "hostage" with an extremely fast killing move. If she hadn't reacted in time, an ordinary person would have been kicked away by that stick and kick. Luckily, she dodged it... Wait a minute.

The maid felt a sudden loosening of her head as her long hair, which had been coiled up, cascaded down. She instinctively touched her head and found only a broken ribbon...

"Heh~ Hmph, interesting. Ever since I started my missions, even when I was ambushed, no one has been able to touch me, not even the hem of my clothes or a strand of my hair..."

"Is that so? Then I'll also announce something. If it weren't for the fact that Alice was standing there and I was afraid of hurting her, more than just that hair ribbon would have broken. I hope you won't forget the life-saving grace I gave you... Before that, I can give you a chance to explain, otherwise you won't even have a chance to defend yourself later."