?Chapter 1069:


    The guards posted at the office door snapped to attention, their once-casual demeanor reced by sharp vignce at the sound.


    “Who is there?” a burly guard with bushy brows bellowed, raising his torch and marching toward Pa’s direction.


    The other guard crouched low, weapon in hand, eyes darting across the surroundings with hawk-like precision.


    Seeing the guards’ focus wholly captured by Pa, a spark of triumph red within me.


    My moment had arrived!


    I crouched and slunk swiftly behind them, moving like a whisper toward the guard captain’s office.


    Reaching the door, I extended a cautious hand and gave it a gentle push.


    To my astonishment, it yielded easily, swinging open just enough for me to slip through.


    I glided inside, silent as a shadow, mindful not to betray my presence.


    The room reeked of stale liquor, the pungent odor stinging my senses.


    In the faint glow, I saw chaos—papers strewn about, bottles littering every surface.


    By the desk, a many sprawled, his snores rumbling through the air.


    Squinting, I spotted a ring of keys dangling from his belt.


    My heart soared with hope.


    Those had to be the keys to the cages we sought.


    I crept closer, my movements feather-light, and deftly unhooked the keys. But just as I secured them, the captain stirred.


    Why now?


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    My pulse raced, and I froze, barely breathing, as I ducked into the shadows behind the desk, pressing myself against the wall, silent as a ghost.


    The guard captain, bleary-eyed and reeking of alcohol, hauled himself upright, his face clouded with groggy suspicion.


    His unfocused gaze swept the room, as though he sensed a disturbance.


    I silently prayed that he wouldn’t see me, but my heart sank as I saw the captain’s brow furrow. He scanned the room with cautious eyes, taking a few faltering steps as if hunting for something amiss.


    My heart thundered so fiercely it seemed it might falter, my fingers gripping the keys in a vise, dreading the slightest sound.


    The captain drew perilously close to my hiding ce, and just as I braced myself for being discovered, a sudden mor erupted outside.


    He froze, his brows knitting in frustration. “What in the zes is going on? Can’t I have a moment’s peace?”


    With that, he turned and lurched toward the door, his unsteady steps carrying him out of the room.


    I exhaled a trembling sigh of relief, waiting until the echo of his footsteps faded before rising swiftly and slipping out the door.


    Pa and I had agreed to regroup at our hiding spot once the n bore fruit.


    Wasting no time, I hastened back.


    True to her word, Pa was there, propped against the wall, her breathing in short gasps.


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