Inside a private room at the Hotel Debord.
York and Byrd, their faces plastered with false smiles, continuously urged Lin Yide to drink.
Their words were filled with flattery and compliments, as if Lin Yide were their closest friend.
However, their eyes betrayed a hint of subtle cunning and calculation.
Under their persuasion, Lin Yide drank one cup after another.
His eyes gradually became blurred, and his body began to sway.
Finally, at one moment, he could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the table, completely drunk.
Seeing this, York and Byrd exchanged a smile, the cunning in their eyes even more pronounced.
York gently nudged Lin Yide's body, confirming that he was completely drunk. The ingratiating expression on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a sneer and contempt.
"Hmph, this guy really thinks he's someone important?" York said with a cold laugh. "Letting him treat us to dinner and drinks before was giving him face. Now he's putting on airs of nobility in front of us, it's utterly ridiculous."
Byrd chimed in, "Exactly, he should take a look at his own background. Just got lucky, and now he thinks he can join the ranks of the nobility? Showing off in front of us! Serves him right for being schemed against."
York drained his glass in one gulp, then stuffed the dishes he had barely touched into his mouth. "Damn it, this table full of good wine and food, it's all our money, can't let it go to waste."
Seeing this, Byrd also hurriedly sped up his eating, the two of them vying for the food.
After eating and drinking their fill, the two exchanged a smile. Together, they carried the unconscious Lin Yide on their backs and left the hotel.
As night deepened, the number of pedestrians on the street dwindled. They carried Lin Yide through several alleys and arrived at an inconspicuous hotel.
The hotel owner was clearly familiar with them and didn't ask any questions.
York and Byrd settled Lin Yide in a room on the second floor, then closed the doors and windows and left the room.
The moment they left, Lin Yide, who should have been completely drunk, suddenly opened his eyes.
His eyes were clear and bright, without a trace of drunkenness.
He got up and walked to the window, looking down.
He saw York and Byrd talking to a richly dressed nobleman on the street corner.
Although the distance was a bit far, Lin Yide could still vaguely hear their conversation.
Their conversation was not going smoothly, and the nobleman's face was full of anger and resentment.
But in the end, he still took out a bulging money bag and handed it to York and Byrd.
After the transaction was completed, the three left separately.
Lin Yide jumped directly from the window, landing lightly on the ground.
He slowly blended his figure into the darkness and walked towards the Palais Mermonia.
…
Top floor of the Palais Mermonia.
Furina, dressed in a simple nightgown, the pure water-blue color contrasting with her exposed fair skin, resembled a delicate and refined flower.
At this moment, she was sitting at her desk, diligently preparing notes for her lessons with Lyney and Lynette.
Suddenly, a gentle knock broke the tranquility of the night.
Furina frowned slightly, put down her pen in confusion, and got up to walk towards the door.
When she opened the door, the person in front of her took her by surprise.
Lin Yide stood at the door, a strong smell of alcohol wafting from him, his face flushed, but his eyes were unusually clear.
His appearance surprised Furina and stirred up a strange emotion in her heart.
"What are you doing here so late? And you've had so much to drink," Furina couldn't help but ask, her tone tinged with concern and reproach.
Lin Yide didn't answer her question but walked straight into her room.
He looked around, then chose the sofa to sit down, sighing helplessly, "Someone is plotting against me, I came here to prove I have an alibi."
Hearing this, Furina felt a pang in her heart. He had been upholding justice, yet he was being treated like this, misunderstood by the people, and plotted against by the nobles.
Her face naturally revealed sympathy and pity.
Lin Yide keenly caught the subtle change in Furina's emotions.
He tilted his head slightly, a playful smile appearing on the corner of his mouth. "Hey, Furina, judging by your expression, you wouldn't be feeling sorry for me, would you?" His voice was somewhat teasing. "Aren't you going to feel sorry for yourself first? A lone man and woman in the same room, aren't you afraid I'll do something to you?"
Saying this, he paused deliberately, licked his lips, and put on a slightly lewd expression, like an evil pervert eyeing his prey.
Furina didn't care about his threat. Instead, she puffed out her chest. "You?"
Her words angered Lin Yide. He suddenly stood up and approached Furina step by step, his eyes flashing with a fiery and dangerous light.
As the distance closed, Furina's heart rate gradually accelerated, and she could even clearly hear the sound of her own heartbeat.
She felt her body temperature gradually rising, as if surrounded by an invisible flame.
When the two were almost touching, her mind was almost blank.
She couldn't think, couldn't move, and could only let Lin Yide's aura and the smell of alcohol surround her.
The air seemed to be filled with his scent, the unique masculine scent mixed with alcohol making her feel dizzy.
Furina took a step back unconsciously.
Her action made Lin Yide stop his approach. He chuckled, his tone tinged with playfulness. "Looks like you're still afraid."
Then, like a victorious general, he lay back on the sofa contentedly and closed his eyes.
Soon, the sound of heavy snoring filled the room, and he had clearly fallen into a deep sleep.
Furina felt annoyed, she had actually chickened out at the crucial moment.
However, this guy's death sentence must be +1.