Illusion Report

Both of them jumped, but Brianna reacted first—it was the safe room’s external communication system.

The communication alarm system was nothing like a regular apartment doorbell; it sounded incredibly aggressive. After all, in a critical situation, any missed communication between those inside and outside could lead to irreversible consequences.

When the communication system went off, it was as if an ambulance had driven right into the room. The sirens blared one after another, sharp and rapid, drilling straight into the skull, as if vowing not to leave a single moment to catch one’s breath.

’The person calling from outside right now must be the bodyguards Westley left behind... Wait a minute—’

Brianna suddenly understood why she had been allowed to live tonight.

Her focus was diverted for just a fraction of a second. When she turned back, Fu Tailan was already on his feet and seemed to have even taken a stealthy step forward.

’Is this guy a ghost? Even residents or cats aren’t this light and quiet.’

The muzzle of the Compression Gun, held in both of Fu Tailan’s hands, was once again aimed at Brianna’s face.

Although she wasn’t yet in his attack range, she couldn’t help but take two steps back, bumping against the desk at the other end of the room.

Desk.

A row of books—*Lord of the Flies*, *Watership Down*—couldn’t see more, no time—

"I know,"

She pulled back her sweeping gaze as a thought flashed through her subconscious. In the gaps between the shrill blares of the communication alert, she raised her voice and said, "I know why you have to let me live!"

Fu Tailan blinked but didn’t say a word.

After ringing more than a dozen times, the communication alarm finally fell silent, leaving the air in the room feeling like it was still humming, the silence dizzying and alive.

"And what reason is that?"

Brianna gestured toward the main hall outside the door. "The person who was just ringing must be the bodyguard my father left outside. Only security personnel with a certain level of clearance can call the safe room."

"So?" Fu Tailan raised an eyebrow.

"You must have figured it out, too," Brianna said. "A man like Westley, who hesitated and took every precaution just to enter a safe room with his own daughter and ’Vulture’—how could he possibly not have told his bodyguards to stay outside and wait on standby?"

"You’re not going to tell me that if I kill you, I’ll run into a mob of bodyguards when I go out, are you?"

Brianna smiled. "I’m not that stupid."

After killing her, Fu Tailan could easily use that identity-swapping Illusion to disguise himself as Westley and stroll right past the bodyguards.

’As for why three people went in and only one came out—would Fu Tailan have any trouble coming up with a lie?’

"I imagine your original plan was to use Westley’s identity to leave the safe room, and maybe even the estate, right?"

Fu Tailan didn’t speak, which was a tacit admission.

"But there’s one piece of information that I know and you don’t," Brianna said, her voice almost gentle. "And it’s this very piece of information that makes your original plan unworkable. To leave the estate tonight, you’ll need my help."

"Oh?" Fu Tailan tilted his head. "And what information is that?"

"My father brought me down to see the safe room once before."

’His motive at the time had been so narrow and dark that Brianna didn’t even want to voice it. After all, Dad had repented and apologized, hadn’t he? It was better to just hold on to the memory of his apology.’

"He told me that whenever he himself is inside the safe room, it enters a sealed state and no longer accepts external verification to open."

"So what? That just means people from the outside can’t get in. People inside can still get out—"

Fu Tailan was only halfway through his sentence when his expression suddenly changed, and he cut himself off.

Brianna gave a slight smile.

"You’ve figured it out?" she said in a low voice. "If you kill me, leave my father’s body and mine here, and you leave by yourself... then no one will ever be able to open the safe room door to get in."

Fu Tailan lowered his head and let out a long breath.

The Compression Gun slowly lowered a few inches, as if still reluctant, not yet willing to be pointed completely down.

"If no one can open the door, no one can find his body," the young man said softly. "And if the body isn’t found... history will be changed."

"So you understand," Brianna said with a smile.

Fu Tailan couldn’t just open the door again after leaving, propping it wide open for people to find the body—the safe room’s protocols wouldn’t allow it. Besides, he couldn’t pass the security verification anyway.

"Sending you back from the 26th but not allowing you to change history... that kind of irony is the Nest’s signature style, isn’t it?" Brianna, gradually regaining control of the situation, felt her confidence growing. "My guess is, if you try to change history, not only will it not change, but you’ll probably suffer severe punishment, right?"

Fu Tailan ran his hands roughly through his hair, a look of irritation on his face.

’It was strange. He hadn’t even asked her for proof; he just believed her. Could it be that those skilled in lying are also very good at recognizing the truth?’

"So, what now?"

He was still just a kid, after all. His patience was visibly wearing thin. "Just tell me. What’s your plan?"

"When was Westley’s death discovered?"

"I wasn’t paying close attention to the news at the time, so I’m not clear on a lot of the details. But the body was found early on the morning of the 16th. We’re almost at the time he’s supposed to be discovered," Fu Tailan said, his face grim.

Brianna smiled.

"Then you have even fewer options. You have to cooperate with me. We move his body out now. Where was he found?"

"...The study." Fu Tailan seemed a little distracted.