Chapter 006: Before the Show Begins

Count Christopher’s expression was extremely strange. After a moment, he finally sighed and said, “Even if I’m reluctant, what can I do?”
Du Fan smiled and replied, “It’s not that there’s no way. Uncle Christopher, Garfield and Randy are not easy to deal with. Do you really think I am?” “I can’t guarantee anything else, but I can assure you that both of us can get away unharmed.”
With that, Du Fan stood up, walked around the room a few times, then continued, “But there’s one problem… If I can’t figure it out, I won’t be able to sleep at night…”
Count Christopher remained silent for a while before asking, “What problem?”
Du Fan touched his nose and after a moment, wore a peculiar expression as he said calmly, “Uncle Christopher, I have a question for you… Please don’t hide anything from me, as this concerns our lives in the future… I ask you, when you came to the South, who ordered Randy to follow you? Was it Duke Wade who suggested it, or…”
Count Christopher was slightly stunned and said, “I… I really don’t know. I only found out when it was time to leave that the leader of the guards was none other than young Master Randy… Du Fan, could it be that you…”
At this point, Count Christopher’s expression changed abruptly.
Du Fan suddenly wore a teasing smile. He waved his hand and said lightly, “If it was Duke Wade’s arrangement, then it’s still okay… But if it was Prince Fisher’s arrangement… then…”
Here, Du Fan simply gave Count Christopher a deep look. What came next couldn’t be spoken—any further words would be too harsh!
Count Christopher’s expression kept changing, and he finally couldn’t hold back and said, “Du Fan, do you mean… the prince… he…”
Du Fan gave a half-smile and simply said, “Uncle Christopher, do you really not understand, or are you pretending not to?”
Count Christopher’s face turned pale. “Could it be… could it be that the prince actually wants to harm you! But even if he does, why would he choose this time? And… and…”

“You’re wrong,” Du Fan sighed. “Given Prince Fischer’s character, if he really wanted to take action against me, now would be the perfect time—after all, I’ve just achieved a great victory and come to the enemy country for peace talks. Everyone in the empire knows that I’m absolutely essential to him at this moment… So if something happened to me now, it’s unlikely anyone would suspect him…”
“But…”
“There is no ‘but,’” Du Fan sneered. “If the prince really does want to harm me, then Uncle Christopher, you’re likely to be spared no luck either. After all, we’re both peace envoys. If only one of us dies, wouldn’t that be a huge flaw? So, if Randi’s appearance wasn’t arranged by the prince, that’s fine. But if it was… heh heh…”
Hearing this, Christopher finally showed a look of panic. He had served under Prince Fischer for many years and understood the prince’s style of doing things. If this wasn’t his decision, it would be fine. But if it was his decision, neither he nor Du Fan would be safe even with ten lives. After all, the prince never did anything without being sure of success!
Seeing Christopher’s expression, Du Fan smiled slightly and said, “Alright, Uncle Christopher, don’t worry too much… If this really is the prince’s plan, worrying won’t help! If it’s not his plan, then what’s there to fear? You’re tired today too—rest well. Tomorrow, we need to be sharp to deal with that Garfield. Anyway… we can’t die, and we must secure this great achievement!”
Christopher’s expression still hadn’t improved, but since Du Fan had already sent him away, he couldn’t stay any longer. He simply nodded lightly and then took his leave.
Du Fan personally saw him out and arranged for a few bodyguards to take care of him before returning to the hall. After a moment, he sighed slightly and suddenly reached out, tapping twice gently.
Suddenly, ripples seemed to appear in the space of the hall. These ripples slowly spread out, eventually forming a doorway filled with light. Then, a graceful figure slowly stepped out from within.
Yet this figure seemed extremely afraid of Du Fan, standing at a distance before bowing slightly and saying, “Warden, Edeline pays her respects!”

Du Fan smiled lightly upon seeing her appear and said, “Adeline… are you still so afraid of me?”
Adeline didn’t dare refuse to answer and only whispered, “The warden is formidable; Adeline dares not offend you.”
Du Fan indifferently pointed to a chair beside him and said calmly, “Enough of the nonsense. Sit down… How has the task I assigned you progressed?”
Although Du Fan told her to sit, Adeline didn’t dare move. She cautiously said, “News has arrived from the capital—no one can figure out who sent this Lord Randy… Warden, though the Divine Might Prison has spies everywhere, as per your orders, we allocated half of them to other tasks. Naturally, the investigation is slower than before… I’m incompetent. Please punish me, Warden.”
“Punish you?” Du Fan looked at Adeline with a half-smile before saying calmly after a moment, “Well then, this will do. I won’t hit you or scold you… It’s a long night, and I have no desire to sleep. Why don’t you keep me company…”
Adeline’s expression changed drastically. Though Du Fan’s words were casual, she could easily understand the implication. Without hesitation, she knelt down and said, “Please spare me, Warden…”
Seeing Adeline’s terrified demeanor, Du Fan felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. It wasn’t that he enjoyed acting this way, but in the Divine Might Prison, only the strong spoke. If he showed weakness, his position as warden might become unstable by tomorrow.
Du Fan had no intention of giving up the power he had seized.
After thinking for a while, Du Fan waved his hand and said, “Alright, get up… Since you’re not blaming me, please pass a message to Lord Anthony for me. Don’t say much—just tell him I’ve been facing many troubles lately and ask him to send a few experts to help. Otherwise, I might be in trouble.”
Adeline’s expression was strange, but she still agreed.

Du Fan pondered for a moment before taking out a scroll from his storage ring. He wrote a few words on it, added some magic seals, and then handed it to Adeline, saying calmly, “Have the elder of the Divine Might Prison deliver this letter personally to the Northlands. It must reach my father’s hands… Remember, send the most powerful elder among those around me. Tell him… if anything goes wrong with this letter, I’ll personally skin him.”

Adeline didn’t dare ask further. As for Du Fan’s constant use of the Divine Might Prison for personal matters, even if she wanted to intervene, she couldn’t.

Although Adeline had already brought all the power of the Divine Might Prison under her control in just a few months, she knew well that without Du Fan granting her authority, those in the prison would never obey her. Du Fan needed a deputy who was completely loyal to him, not someone who doubted his decisions.

After finishing all this, Du Fan seemed to let out a sigh of relief. After thinking for a while, he asked calmly, “Is there anything unusual in the Siluo Province?”

Adeline shook her head. “Everything is under control.”

“Then have you found the Flying Wolf?”

“I’m incompetent,” Adeline said, lowering her head. “We’ve located the Flying Wolf’s lair and taken the people inside. A few interrogation experts from the capital have arrived, but even after interrogating them, we still don’t know anything about the Flying Wolf… Please grant me a few more days, sir. I’ll do my best!”

Du Fan shook his head. “If you can’t handle this, I won’t blame you… If the Flying Wolf has left, let him go. It’s not a big deal… Focus on matters here first. Keep an eye on both Randy and Christopher. I want to know exactly how many pairs of underwear they wear each day… And if they notice you’re watching them… then there’s no need for you to come back.”

Adeline nodded in response. After waiting a while, when she saw that Du Fan had no further orders, her figure gradually faded into the air.

In the hall, only Du Fan remained. He rubbed his forehead and suddenly sneered, muttering to himself, “When will this drama finally begin? Randy, please don’t make me wait too long!”