Chapter 110: The Ploy To Catch The Snake

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: The Ploy To Catch The Snake

"Where did you run off to? I heard there is a commotion going on within the cur. What is going on?"

Instead of answering his question, Keira stepped closer to the edge of the bed and looked down at him with a dead serious expression.

"Grandpa," she said firmly. "You need to immediately refuse the upcoming treatment advised by the Royal Alchemist."

General Chen frowned, his heavy eyebrows knitting together in total confusion.

"Refuse it?" the old general asked, bewildered. "Why on earth would I do that? That treatment is the only thing keeping my energy pathways from completely collapsing."

"Because it’s a trap," Keira explained, her tone laced with cold fury. "Derrick noticed that the alchemist’s prescribed pill array isn’t meant to heal you. He is intentionally plotting to worsen your internal condition under the guise of treatment."

General Chen stared at her, utterly baffled.

"Why would Master Feng Yuan do such a thing?" the old man muttered, shaking his head slightly. "He is a respected grandmaster. He has absolutely nothing to gain from my death."

He paused mid-sentence.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted, and a terrifying, cold light flashed in the old general’s eyes as the dark realization hit him.

"Unless..." General Chen growled softly, the heavy aura of a battle-hardened commander briefly flaring around him despite his frail state.

"Unless someone ordered him to do it," Derrick added smoothly, stepping up beside Keira. "Or paid him off enough to buy his loyalty."

General Chen leaned back against his pillows, his brow furrowed as he processed their words.

"If Alchemist Feng Yuan really turned against me, keeping him around is like holding onto a snake," the old general said, his voice quiet but sharp. "So what’s our move?"

Keira stepped closer to the bedside.

"Simple. Send him away," Keira said smoothly. "Tell him you’re feeling too weak to take his new batch of medicine today, and just refuse the treatment."

General Chen looked at her, listening intently.

"Then we watch how he reacts," Keira continued.

"If Feng Yuan actually cares about saving you, he’ll be worried about your health but eventually he will come to terms with your wishes.

"But if he’s working for someone else, he’ll lose his cool, because you just messed up their plans."

A faint, cold smirk touched the old man’s lips as he nodded.

"A simple test to drag the rat into the light," General Chen muttered, a dangerous glint returning to his tired eyes.

"Alright. Let’s see how cool our esteemed Alchemist Feng Yuan stays when I turn down his fix."

They spent the next few minutes dialing in the details of the plan.

Keira made sure her grandfather knew exactly how to act.

"You have to play like you have given up on fighting for life," Keira whispered. "Make it look like you wanted to visit grandma now and rest, not fight anymore."

When the old man hear those words, his lips twitched.

Aren’t you a bit too eager to send me off? Why do I have to me meet that old cow, can’t you leave her out of this?

errick shook his head and stepped in, rejecting her suggestion.

"That plan will fail," Derrick said plainly.

Keira turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

"Why?" Keira asked.

"Think about his motives," Derrick explained. "The alchemist wants him dead."

"If he sees the General acting weak and eager to give up on life, he’ll be thrilled."

"He’ll just sit back and wait for nature to take its course."

"It doesn’t force his hand at all."

Keira blinked, realizing her mistake.

"Then what should we do?" Keira asked.

"We have to show him that the General feels like he’s actually getting better," Derrick said.

"Tell him you feel stronger today and that you don’t think you need his pills anymore."

"If a dying man suddenly thinks he’s recovering on his own, the alchemist will lose his mind."

General Chen chuckled, a dangerous glint returning to his tired eyes.

"Now that is a good trap," the old man said with a smirk.

Keira nodded, convinced.

"Alright," Keira said. "We do it Derrick’s way. Should we give him the pill right away?"

"No. Instantly curing him will raise suspicions, we need to make him look better."

What pill? General Chen was confused but he just listened to them talk.

Derrick opened the system and bought a 60% Pure Grade 2 Evil Extermination Pill for 10,000 golden Social Credits.

"Here." He waved his hand and summoned the pill box in his hand. "This is a 60% Pure Grade 2 Evil Extermination Pill."

HISS!

General Chen drew in a sharp, cold breath.

His eyes locked onto the wooden box resting in Derrick’s palm.

"Where on earth did you get a pill like that?" the old general asked, genuinely stunned.

Derrick didn’t flinch.

He looked General Chen right in the eyes with total composure.

"We just went out to get this," Derrick said, lying with a completely straight face.

"Though it’s only a Grade 2 pill, it will help us create the illusion that you are getting better."

"The effect should easily last for a day or two."

Keira stood beside him, watching the entire exchange.

She already knew the truth about where the pill actually came from.

Yet as she stared at Derrick, she was inwardly amazed.

His posture was steady, his eyes were calm, and his pulse didn’t even flicker.

Even with her sharp, trained senses, she couldn’t detect a single sign that he was lying through his teeth.

He delivered the fake story with total, effortless confidence.

"All you have to do is take that pill."

"Leave the rest to me. I will be watching closely and see how he reacts." Derrick said. "Let’s see if he gives up his client or whoever is making him do this."

Before Derrick opened the small wooden box, Keira stepped forward.

She flicked her wrist, sending a wave of translucent energy rippling across the walls, floor, and ceiling.

An invisible spatial seal snapped into place, locking the entire room down.

No trace of aura or energy would be able to leak outside into the estate.

Derrick popped the latch and opened the lid...

Woosh!