Second Lead Syndrome (1-187) | ✓

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Author's Note: A long chapter at 3.6k words, enjoy!

Cecil clutched at her neck, glancing down to the dart in her hand. She looked up at the figure whose face was covered by a black mask except his eyes, knowing that he was blocking the only way out of here. 

“AI500, this is...another sleeping drug again, isn't it?”

[ You are correct, Cecil Lan. ]

[ You were struck with the full dosage. ]

[ It will take effect quickly~ ]

Cecil cursed softly to herself. 

“...”

“Shouldn't you sound the least bit concerned about me?”

[ … ]

[ You are in great danger, Cecil Lan! ]

[ Oh no! ]

“...”

Cecil swore not to expect anything out from AI500 anymore, be it concern or anything else. 

Shin furrowed his eyebrows, disconcerted. He looked at Cecil, and the raven-haired woman only moved forward and pushed Shin behind her to shield him. 

Cecil glanced out the balcony, gauging the distance between the balcony and the ground level. If she jumped off with Shin and landed properly, they would be able to avoid the dangerous situation completely. 

“Cecil--” 

“Stay behind me,” Cecil lowered her voice, whipping out her daggers. “I’ll protect you.” 

The man cladded in black had an impish glint in his eyes, and he simply lowered his sword. It was as if the man had guaranteed his own victory without doing anything. 

Cecil frowned, touching her neck once again where the dart landed and all of a sudden, she stumbled from the loss of balance. 

“It’s no use,” the man stated, a smile evident in his voice. “The dart was laced with a paralyzing drug, and you’ll be asleep within moments.” 

Cecil felt her grip on her daggers loosening, her hands starting to tremble. 

The man raised his sword towards her throat, causing Shin hiding behind Cecil to panic, his eyes growing wide. 

“You are lucky that the master demanded no casualties,” the man added on darkly, tipping her chin upwards with his sword. “You’ll be spared.” 

Cecil narrowed her eyes, smacking his sword away with her dagger and she threw the dart in her hand right into the man’s face.

The man avoided the dart, and Cecil took that window of opportunity to turn around and embraced Shin close to her. 

“Stay close to me!” 

She threw them both off the balcony with clumsy movements. 

Since it was in the wee hours of the night, there was no one around the area. Everyone else was either inside the inn, or had gone off on a walk of their own. 

The man clearly waited until the most opportune moment, preparing to seize and steal Shin away. 

"Ugh!"

Cecil managed to land properly despite the drug starting to take effect, she stumbled, her vision growing blurry for a moment. 

She shielded Shin from the impact.