CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 126: THE COACHMAN (PART 2)

At dawn every day, during the brief handover with Klaao, they would stop for a short rest, perhaps by the bank of some unknown river, or under a tree with dense foliage.

"Why don’t you stay by his side? I mean Antony. Rome City should now be under his leadership," Zero watched the no longer young Klaao, who was probably in her thirties. Thanks to her good self-care and her honey-colored skin, she appeared capable of rivaling any young woman.

"Does even the common folk know about this? Antony is dead. A month and a half ago, he was executed personally by the captain of Octavian’s guard," Klaao said tiredly after a night’s journey. Her flexible body, leaning on the carriage shaft, closed her eyes to recuperate. Her proud chest rose and fell slightly.

Her tightly closed eyelashes trembled violently, betraying her emotions. A person who is good at detecting others’ feelings and psyche is often an excellent deceiver.

Not easy, Zero sighed.

(Zero, I must remind you that history records that shortly after Antony’s death, Cleopatra was executed by Octavian. Her mission this time is very dangerous.) Little Eight sensed an extreme danger.

So far on their journey, there hadn’t been many people searching for Cleopatra, but as they approached Rome City, Klaao’s presence would undoubtedly lead to a city-wide Pounce Kill. How was Zero alone supposed to safely escort her out of the city?

In ancient times, the waterways were not well-developed, and among the ports of all roads, only the seaport of Rome had ships heading to Egypt. Compared to land, sea was safer.

"Do you regret it?" Klaao asked mockingly. Zero was one of the few living people who knew her true identity, and the Red Refining Snake in her hand subtly stood up.

"In fact, yes. I’m trying to calculate what kind of reward I can offer that will match the one offered by Octavian," Zero replied.

A streak of green and a streak of red shot towards Zero; the red, naturally, came from the Red Refining Snake, and the green was from a Green Snake lurking under Klaao.

Faster than the snakes, Zero’s Ghost Needle Gun nailed both snakes to the ground. Using the Ghost Gun to shoot snakes was indeed a good choice.

The Green Snake was even more ferocious than the Red Refining Snake, its body still struggling fiercely, baring its sharp fangs even after being pinned by the needle.

Seeing that both her preparations had failed, Klaao looked shocked. After hearing of Antony’s death, she rushed to Rome and was prepared for life or death. Yet at this moment, she felt like a lamb under the knife.

"Klaao, it hurts when you act this way towards one of the few friends you have with no ill intent. I’m not a woman who likes to spend men’s money. I’d rather have a small independent courtyard on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt where I can see lotuses, than earn Octavian’s money. Can the Queen grant me this small request?" Zero’s interest lingered on the Green Snake’s head which was gradually ceasing to move.

The abrupt change of events pleasantly surprised Klaao. This stranger, who was as moody as herself, seemed to bear her no malice.

"Cleopatra’s trust +10," the task manual unsurprisingly added an entry.

(You sly person, are you deliberately trying to please Cleopatra to obtain her Queen’s Special Skill based on your past experience?) Little Eight didn’t believe Zero’s reasoning was as noble as the excuses she made. Knowing the vengeful and petty nature of Zero, it was purely for show.

Think what you will. Zero was noncommittal, her Leech Needles contesting with the two small snakes.

"Now that neither of us intends to harm the other, you should remove those two dark needles from Qing Hong’s back," Klaao thought she was seeing things, as the two black needles previously sticking in the snakes had disappeared. Instead, there was a suspicious moving lump on the smooth skins of her two snakes, which looked like red agate and jade.

The two small snakes were used to enjoying the Queen’s smooth, warm skin, never having suffered such treatment. The Green Snake, older and more poisonous than the Red Refining Snake, served as Klaao’s last resort for defense and had secretly eliminated several players who intended her harm.

"Remember, don’t attack me again, or my Leech Needles will not be merciful," Zero hadn’t noticed the presence of the Green Snake, only noticing that the Red Refining Snake had not attacked immediately after rising. Instead, it looked towards Klaao’s robe, at her leg position.

This was a tip Klaao had given to Zero, "Animals are simpler than humans." So the first needle fired from her Ghost Needle Gun was actually aimed at Klaao’s robe, which hid an even more poisonous bamboo viper secreted below.

In the end, Zero removed the two Leech Needles, but before doing so, she forced the two snakes to expel some venom with the needles, despite Klaao’s objections.

Finally, she had obtained a potentially lethal poison. Zero was satisfied and planned to find Ziyu once they reached Rome City. No matter what, she insisted on extracting a deadly poison that worked with a single needle.

"There’s an inn ahead. You must stay there for about 5 days." Zero saw the outline of a building emerging from the trees before even reining in her horse, as a dozen horses ridden by soldiers darted out from the shade. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)