1517 So That's It!

Run!

Those were the only words resounding in Cletus' mind as he followed the masked T.O.E.P man across the building's many hallways.

Though the outdoors was chaotic, it was indeed the only way out, or so he thought.

Cletus frowned. "Hey! Aren't we going the wrong way? Why are we heading upwards instead of finding a safe way out?"

"Stupid..."

The masked T.O.E.P killer calmly retorted, not bothering to waste his breath on the fool following him.

If not that the Society had a use for the moron, do you think he would spend time helping the fool escape?

The idiot claims to be a royal who grew up in the palace until his brother took over as Monarch.

Yet, he didn't know this building, as well as 3 others, had connecting underground passages to take the ruling monarch out if there were destination attempts or enemies around when important speeches or events were held?

Truth be told, the secret could only be shared and passed down to the ruling Monarch or crown Prince and a select few.

So of course, Cletus was left in the dark all his life, even till now.

Yet, what he couldn't know under his nostrils, Morgany far away knew very well, with detailed maps on most features this palace held.

When Cletus heard the man say there was an escape way out from within, he felt very complicated.

'Are you the Titarian Royal, or am I the royal here.'

Why did it seem their positions were switched?

Now he couldn't help wondering what else he didn't know about the palace.

Idiot.

The T.O.E.P killer dashed through the scene while avoiding any incoming passerbys, be they friends or foe.

Ting. Ting. Ting~

... With the chaos outdoors, many dragged their outdoor battles indoors.

And now, they were turning the entire place upside down.

Jump, duck, slide, twist in the air, the killer dodged all abrupt attacks, unintentionally heading his way while clearing a path for Cletus.

It was quite annoying, but since the Society had marked him as Titarian's ruler for the time being, he bloody well had to stay alive.

Everyone could die but him.

"Keep close."

Up the massive stairways they went, making a sharp pass to one of the many hallways on the floor.

The building's design was similar to how many were built in this world-- Complex and challenging.

Each floor had a grand hall with a railed stairway leading to a small indoor balcony overseeing the open hall.

From there, one would have to pick any of the many maze-like hallways that could confuse one silly. To get to a higher floor, one had to locate the stairway on the opposite side of the current floor.

Back and forth, forth and back, one would move in that manner until they got to their destination.

And in the duo's case, they were headed for the 5th and topmost floor!

Thup!

The killer shot daggers at the Royal guards heading towards them defensively.

Though not as impressive as the mysterious guard's moves, Cletus still had cold sweats watching the killer move with water, stabbing those who approached in a few breaths.

He saw the killer twirl like a tornado, fitting inside between 2 royal guards.

Pitchuu!

The blades sliced the bellies of these men. But the protagonist of the show wasn't done yet.

He twisted his body, kicked the chin of one, and somehow used the guy as a human shield.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Blood spilled everywhere.

It was such a beautiful yet cruel dance that once again proved Morgany's might.

"Keep up."

"Right."

Cletus thinned his lips and tightened his grip on his sword.

Why did he feel he wouldn't be using it any time soon?

Din. Din. Din. Din. Din~

The duo advanced as fast as they could.

And soon, they not only reached the 5th floor but were well on their way onto one of the wings.

'It should be here,' the killer inwardly commented, recalling all information he had about the building.

This West wing was a medieval office-style compartment area with many rooms for the monarch's private use.

The wing should also have a large hall with blue floors.

One might think the secret tunnel would be in any of the rooms or office spaces... But, have you ever thought of the words: hiding in plain sight?

The duo ran across the Wing's long winding hallway leading, with Cletus still curls about it all.

You have to know that since he was born, he had never gone into this wing.

Their father forbade it. Again, when he was young, he did have a strong sense of curiosity about the place.

But he felt there shouldn't be anything too particular about the wing since his father practically forbade him and everyone else from entering many other wings and rooms not only in this building, but in several other palace structures too.

Back in, he had broken into many of these forbidden places, only to find nothing special about them.

That's why his interest in these forbidden places learned with time.

But thinking about it again, what if his father had just randomly assigned other places as forbidden just to give the mask the real places he didn't want others to go?

If he thinks about it more, he did find a few aspects of his children strange.

At this point, Cletus' face was distorted.

'Really! Just how much do I not know about this palace?'

A golden door as thick as a gate stood before them.

It had a heavy metal staff placed against it.

"Quickly! Assist me in opening it."

The duo worked hand in hand, struggling to carry the giant metal column away from the door.

If the room were in use, the door would always remain open, with uncountable guards stationed about.

Of course, the few guards that were supposed to be stationed here were taken out for the masked T.O.E.P killer.

1, 2, 3...

Up she goes!

The duo were already turning red from how heavy the column was.

So heavy!

If it falls on one's foot, they best believe their toes would get crushed in an instant.

No!... If fallen too fiercely, it would even mince the too up too.

With swift but careful moves, they placed the column down before pulling the doors open.

Following that, they once again carried the column into the hall and pulled the doors, before finally putting the iron column across the thick golden gate-like doors.

Yes! They were shutting it from the inside.

This way, even if someone noticed their actions and called many to chase after them, it would take one hell of a fighting force to break through the door.

~Bam!

The column rested nicely against the doors. But their actions never slowed down for a second.

"Hey? What are you doing? Shouldn't we be looking for the exit in one of the wing's rooms?"

Cletus ran for a bit across the blue-floored hall but couldn't help pausing when seeing the killer's actions.

If he had a secret passageway, he would put it in one of the rooms, specifically in the grand office he mostly used.

Isn't that just common sense?

(?^?)

"Shut up."

"..."

The killer was trying to focus, looking at the floor's strange patterns.

It was all a code.

And what happened next only shocked Cletus silly.

"You!~..."

Is this killer humming to a Titarian famous folklore song that everyone knows?

It's fine that you like the song. But is this the time for that?

Forget it... Why should he be anxious about their safety when his damn partner didn't even care?

Augh~

Cletus briefly watched his partner hop about the place before looking at the starry paintings on the ceilings.

'This guy wouldn't have lost his sense of reasoning, right?'

The killer didn't care.

He kept looking between the floor and the start painting above while humming the famous Titarian song.

"When in the dark, the night sky shines bright... Left turn on 1, right twirl on 2... Bow to the goddess~... "

Catchack!

The moment he did a bow, the pressure he applied on the spot he stepped on triggered an incredibly small piece of flooring, the size of one's tippy finger.

And Cletus abruptly stood erect.

"What was that?"

The killer didn't respond, continuing the dance.

And the more the killer moved, the more evident it was that the entire floor had several hidden mechanisms that could only trigger one after the other in some hidden 'order.'

So even if one stepped on the 9th trigger, but the 1st, 2nd to 8th can't get activated in the right pattern, the 9th wouldn't move.

"The song..." Cletus murmured, finally understanding it all.

How smart.

'Father, you really could hide a secret!'

Bam!

The killer stepped on the last trigger, and soon, he heard a faint sound coming from one of the rooms.

What? So he was right?

The trap door was in one of the rooms, as speculated?

"Let's go. We only have 50 breaths before it closes on its own.

The killer had a faint smile of accomplishment on his face.

50 breaths.

Time was ticking.