There are still experts? !

Wasn’t she supposed to find this passage in a few days?!
Did I even play the same game?!

Black nearly spat blood.

But Jiaye—though she didn’t recognize the masked man as Black—was just as shocked.

Ever since her failed assassination attempt, Jiaye had been on edge.

Black’s existence had shattered her control over the novel’s The Girl Who Slayed Dragons Longs to Be Loved!

She’d had absolute narrative advantage—until he appeared and rewrote the script.

She hated this anomaly.
She’d been trying to kill him ever since.

But Black was always scrubbing decks—surrounded by Dragoncleaver Guards.
She couldn’t get close.

Finally, a golden chance tonight:

Black wasn’t on deck.
Krystin was distracted by nobles.
Lucy had been recalled by the empress.
If not now—when?

So Jiaye decided to follow Black—kill him in secret.

But Black walked like a madman—zigzagging, slipping through shadows.
She lost him.

Refusing to give up, she searched—and found the secret passage.

Curiosity took over.
What’s inside? Maybe a treasure?

Then—this.
She crawled out—and met a masked stranger.

Her surprise turned into terror.

Like exploring a dark, silent cave—then, around a corner—a bat-faced man stares back.

Anyone would scream.

Jiaye did—but before the sound escaped, Black lunged, hand clamping over her mouth—silencing her.

Dear heavens!

If you scream, I die too!

Black’s heart raced.
He didn’t understand why Jiaye was here—but no time to think.

He pointed at the room—warning her.

Jiaye peeked—saw the empress—and nearly stopped breathing.

The passage led to the empress’s chamber?!

She was a thief now.
A thief in the ruler’s private room.

And she wasn’t alone.
Another masked thief was right beside her.

Run. Now.
That was the smart choice.

But Jiaye’s eyes locked onto the chests in the corner.

They weren’t ordinary.
Golden, engraved with royal dragon motifs, studded with priceless rubies.

If the boxes were this valuable—what was inside?

Priceless treasures.

So this masked thief was after them.

Jiaye quickly pieced it together.
Now, two choices:

Flee immediately. Safest.
Wait—steal from the chests when the empress leaves.
Risky—but the bigger the wave, the bigger the fish.

As a transmigrator with a system, Jiaye trusted her luck.
She had backup plans.
Even if caught by the empress—she could escape.

If Black knew her thoughts, he’d sigh: This is what it means to be the protagonist.

So Jiaye chose to wait.

The two thieves sat in silent understanding—motionless, not a sound.

Meanwhile, Lucy finished combing Elizabeth’s hair.
But the empress was asleep.
Lucy didn’t dare wake her—knelt quietly beside her.

Seeing no sign of them leaving, Black grew anxious.

His position was dangerous.
The longer he stayed, the worse it got.

And now—another variable.

He glanced at Jiaye—understood her in three seconds.

Every protagonist would bet their life on rare treasures.
And they always won—because fate favored them.

Jiaye’s profile was cold, elegant.
Her red lips slightly pursed—calm, composed.
No sweat, no panic.
Much better than Black.

He silently applauded this beautiful girl.

But the next second—her calm shattered.
Her face turned stone.

Black frowned—then heard it.

The back panel moved again.

Now it was his turn to freeze.
Face like a statue.

Another intruder?! Who?!

He couldn’t believe it!
When did this secret passage become a public road?!

He was a player—he knew Jiaye was the main character, fate-guided.
But who else could possibly be here?!

The two turned—in sync—swallowed hard—staring at the rising panel.

Black suddenly smelled a sharp rose fragrance—strangely familiar.

A face flashed in his mind—Black’s lips twitched.

No… please… not her…

The panel rose—inch by inch—revealing the intruder.

The moment he saw her face, Black wanted to scream—This damn game is messing with me!

It was Loyre—her dark red hair flowing, her striking beauty sharp as a blade.

Jiaye recognized her instantly—her mind collapsing just as hard.

This is the pirate captain?!
According to the original novel, she should be in prison!