ThecapitalcityofLianwasabustlinghubofactivity，filledwithmerts，nobles，andonersallgoingabouttheirdailylives.Theairwasthickwiththestofexoticspidthesoundoflivelychatter.Sukie，HanFengling，andMeimadetheirwaythroughthecrowdedstreets，theirheartsheavywiththeweightoftheirmission.TheyhadsuccessfullygatheredintelligenceabouttheDarkLord’spnsandnowofindawaytostophim.

Sukie’smindwasragwithpossibilities.TheyhadlearhattheDarkLord’sneonwasbeingstoredintheheavilyguardedpace.Gettingcloseenoughtodestroyitwouldrequireacleverpnandfwlessexecution.Astheywalked，Sukie’seyesweredrawntoagrandbuildingadorhsilkbannersandintricatecarvings.Itwasthemostfamousbrotheliy，knownforitsbeautifulcourtesansaravagantperformances.

ApoforminSukie’smind.SheturoHanFengling，hereyesfilledwithdeterminatiointothepadIthinkIknowhow.IfIgairytothebrothelandbeeoheircourtesans，Imightbeabletogetclosetosomeohaccesstothepace.”

HanFengling’seyeswidenedin.“Sukie，that’sincrediblydangerous.Thebrothelisfullofspiesandinformants.Ifyou’rediscovered…”

Sukiepcedareassuringhandonhisarm.“Iknowit’srisky，butit’sourbestce.Wedon’thavetimetoeupwithanotherpn.Trustme，Idothis.”

HanFenglinglookedintohereyes，seeierminationandstrengthwithinthem.Henoddedslowly，hisvoicefilledwithresolve.“Alright，we’lldoit.Butwe’llstayclose，andifanythingg，we’llgetyououtofthere.”

Sukiesmiled，gratefulforhissupport.“Thankyou.IpromiseI’llbecareful.”

Theymadetheirwaytothebrothel，andSukieapproachedtheentrahfidehedoorman，aburlymanwithascarrunningdownhischeek，eyedhersuspiciously.

“Whatdoyouwant?”hegrowled.

Sukiestraightenedherposture，exudinganairoffidendgrace.“Iseekemploymentasacourtesan.I’veheardthisisthefiestablishmentiy.”

Thedoormanraisedaneyebrow，clearlyintrigued.“Wedon’ttakejustanyone.You’llhavetoproveyourself.”

Sukienodded，hervoicesteady.“Iuand.I’mready.”

He