Chapter 115: The Bystander

From the queenside edge where it was originally located, he picked it up gently, crossed the thousands of troops fighting on the chessboard, and placed it steadily beside the black King chess piece.

A position that was relatively safe, yet completely removed from the path of attack and the key points of defense.

This position was very subtle.

The queen here could neither form an effective threat to the white side nor could it be said to be strictly protecting the king; it was more like a... clean bystander, deliberately isolated.

Bystander.

Light waves swirled in Su Mian's eyes.

"My queen... is very beautiful."

He giggled, implying something.

"But the place where she stands... tsk, it's a bit far from the center of the bloodshed. A queen too far from the slaughter... how could she possibly be the murderer holding the knife?"

"It's your turn, Your Highness. Your king... doesn't seem to have escaped danger yet."

Su Mian stood up and thanked him.

"Thank you, I know how to move the rest, so I won't waste your time."

The Black Pig Prince snorted twice, revealing eight large front teeth.

"My pleasure."

"You must know something! Tell me quickly!"

Pip shook the dwarf's shoulders, almost pulling the person up by the roots.

The dwarf wearing a green pointed hat cried "woo woo woo" without saying a word, looking very aggrieved.

Pip had no choice but to squat down and reach out to touch him, but the dwarf wouldn't let him, retreating in fear.

A group of dwarves wearing hats of different colors surrounded them, staring at him angrily.

"No... I just wanted to ask—"

Before Pip could finish speaking, he was pulled away by Luna. "Use your brain, kid!"

Luna looked as if she were hating iron for not becoming steel, shook her head, and analyzed.

"These NPCs must have their own storylines, just like Applejack and the Black Pig Prince. You have to move them. Look at Princess Elizabeth; she went to play chess with that Black Pig Prince and got the information out."

"Haven't you played escape rooms? Which plot NPC doesn't tell you the clues only after you finish the plot?"

Pip's eyes lit up. "Oh, right. Aunt Luna, you're really avant-garde, actually playing escape rooms."

Luna rolled her eyes at him. "I'm only in my forties, stop calling me Aunt!"

Willow: "As far as I know, this group of dwarves are famous shoemakers in the city."

Willow appeared from nowhere. "Which one of you pretends your shoes are broken and lets them help fix them?"

Both looked at Pip. Pip blinked, sighed helplessly, "Fine, fine, I'll do it."

He took off his shoes, squatted down, handed them to a dwarf wearing a suit, his tone gentle.

"Um... sir, can you help me fix my shoes?"

The dwarf was admiring the old currency he had just obtained. His movements paused, and he slowly raised his head.

Those abnormally large eyes, the amber pupils contracting slightly at this moment, his gaze landing on the shoes Pip handed over. He stared silently for a few seconds, then moved to Pip's face.

Then, the corners of his mouth began to curl upward.

Pip thought he had succeeded and was somewhat happy, still wondering why he didn't take the shoes, but he had completely misunderstood.

That didn't seem to be a smile.

At first, it was just an arc, then the dwarf's lip corners stretched wider and wider until they reached his ear roots.

The lips rolled backward, revealing shark-like pointed teeth surrounding the entire circle.

!!!

Pip's scream was stuck in his throat. He fell backward abruptly. The moment the shoes were flung away, the dwarf pounced on him.

"Ahhhhhhh—!!!"

The short, sturdy body erupted with astonishing speed, like a cannonball, charging straight toward the three of them.

"Run!" Luna reacted first, pulling Pip.

The huge sound instantly attracted the crowd. Many people turned their heads, then erupted into even more astonishing screams.

"The Victor family is angry!!!"

"Run! Run!"

The crowd pushed and ran; tables and chairs were knocked over, and the sound of breaking cups and plates was endless.

The gorgeous masquerade ball instantly turned into a terrified escape scene.

"Help! Don't come over!" Pip was scared out of his wits, dodging to the side in his desperation.

The dwarf missed his pounce, hitting the Black Pig Prince behind Pip. The teeth closed instantly. The Black Pig Prince screamed and transformed into his original form.

His body twisted, expanded, and deformed in full view of everyone, his formal wear bursting open.

Smooth skin was covered by rough, hard black hair, his nose arched forward, and his ears grew larger and stood up.

His eyes were blood-red, his fangs turned outward, and he kicked the chess table beside him away.

Pip was so scared his legs went weak; he crawled and scrambled, pouncing on Su Mian's skirt hem.

"Eli-Eli-Eli-Elizabeth Your Highness, save-save-save-save-save-save-save me!!!"

Su Mian hadn't reacted to what had happened yet, still holding the wine glass she had used for negotiation, and it spilled onto her skirt the moment she was pounced on.

She looked at the dwarf pouncing fiercely, took a step back, and reached out to grab the dwarf's hat.

The dwarf immediately braked as if his handle had been grabbed, his face panicked and angry.

Just as he was about to open his mouth wide, he saw that slender hand smooth the feather on the hat brim to the other side.

"Your hat is crooked, Mr. Victor."

The fierce and terrifying dwarf braked his steps abruptly. The ferocious expression on his face faded like the tide, replaced by panic and embarrassment.

He stood up straight quickly, raised his hand to carefully tidy his hat and bow tie, and smoothed his temples.

"Oh! I am so sorry, excuse me, my beautiful and moving Princess Elizabeth."

His voice became terrified and humble. "I have startled you; this is truly inexcusable."

Pip: "..."

"No..." Pip poked half his head out from behind Su Mian, his voice dry. "Is... is this right?" Even a Sichuan opera face-changing performance wouldn't be this fast.

He caught his breath, suddenly feeling a gaze looking at him. Pip raised his head abruptly, looking from bottom to top, and bumped into those slightly impatient eyes.

"Sorry, sorry!"

Pip immediately moved two steps away, not knowing if it was to save his life or something else, his face turning abnormally red.

Elizabeth's skirt hem was green apple-flavored, sweet, and it was such a huge contrast to that cold face...

"Hahahahahahahaha..."

A hearty laugh pulled everyone back. On the second-floor stairs, Felix had been watching a good show for a long time and was almost out of breath from laughing at Pip's posture.

"You guys insisted on going up to talk about work during someone's precious vacation, and it was a tedious chore like fixing shoes. If it were me, I'd also be unhappy and want to bite people."

As he spoke, he put his hand to his mouth, made a biting expression, and winked while opening his mouth. Su Mian frowned at his oiliness.

Pip froze for a moment, then suddenly realized.

He looked at Willow angrily. Willow touched his nose awkwardly, indicating that he hadn't expected it either. ===== CHAPTER 116 =====