The fairy maid cheers for her deceased master today.

The parchment has a rough and cold feel, as if it still retains the writer's malice.

X took a deep breath.

"Next location: beneath the white fortress built by the conquerors, search for the key forgotten by time." Ax muttered the riddle, his brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"

Clearly, this is a small puzzle.

However, as an "outsider," X couldn't react immediately, but Irene could.

Irene leaned closer, and her emerald eyes immediately gleamed with intelligence under the kerosene lamplight.

"It's simple, 'the white fortress built by the conquerors'...it must refer to the Tower of London! The white tower built by William I!"

Her voice carried a hint of excitement, as if she had already grasped the tail of the clue.

"The Tower of London?" Angel tilted her head, her blue eyes filled with confusion. "Does the Tower of London have anything to do with this phrase?"

X also began to recall some historical tidbits he had come across. But he mainly remembered them by relying on fragments of the original owner's memories.

For example, the Tower of London is not a conventional tower, but rather a classic castle.

"Elena is right. William the Conqueror built the White Tower in 1078, and the White Tower is the core of the Tower of London. And the 'key forgotten by time'..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Elena and Angel, and asked, "In London, what's the most famous legend about the Tower of London and 'time'?"

Irene's eyes lit up instantly: "It's the legend of the 'Prince of the Tower'!"

Edward V and his brother Richard disappeared in the Tower, and their whereabouts remain one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in British history! Some say their spirits still linger in the Tower, searching for the truth.

Ex couldn't help but recall the fragments of memory once again.

In 1483, after the death of King Edward IV, his two sons—12-year-old Edward V and 9-year-old Richard, Duke of York—were sent to the Tower of London to "await their succession," but they mysteriously disappeared from then on.

It wasn't until 1674 that workers discovered the remains of two children in the brickwork of the tower's steps. These remains were identified as those of two princes, confirming the tragedy of their deaths in the tower.

More than 200 years have passed between his disappearance and the discovery of his remains, making it one of the longest-running unsolved mysteries in British history.

"Furthermore, Tower of London guards and tourists have repeatedly witnessed the ghosts of two children holding hands wandering near the Blood Tower, their figures in pajamas as if time had frozen in the year they disappeared," Elena added.

There are also urban legends.

But in this world... urban legends might be true. Maybe it really is some kind of alien species roaming around.

In short, whether it's a legend or a centuries-old mystery, it certainly fits the description of being "forgotten by time." After all, this is currently the most popular legend about the Tower of London.

Ax nodded in agreement with the idea.

Angel suddenly realized: "So the 'key forgotten by time' refers to the story of the prince in the tower? Then where exactly in the Tower of London do we need to go?"

A cold smile crept onto X's lips.

"The most likely location—the Blood Tower. Legend has it that the two princes were imprisoned there and mysteriously disappeared. It is also one of the most infamous locations in the Tower of London."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Elena clenched her fist. "Sister Catherine is still in their hands!"

Ax put away the parchment and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

"Let's go to the Tower of London. Time waits for no one."

■

They walked a long way before finally finding the carriage.

As usual, the three of them returned to the city by carriage, walking through the streets of London in the drizzle.

At this moment, X leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest, but his brain was working at a rapid pace.

The Tower of London, a white fortress built by William the Conqueror, has witnessed nearly a thousand years of British history. It has been a palace, a prison, an execution ground, a mint, and the burial place of countless secrets and tragedies.

The legend of the "Prince in the Tower" adds a touch of fright and danger to it.

In fact, X has only seen swamp aliens and humanoid aliens that swamp aliens have transformed into so far.

X speculated that they were all swamp mutants, since they were all afraid of light.

So, the appearance of Xenomorphs is geographically specific? London is basically only inhabited by Swamp Xenomorphs? If that's the case... if I encounter an Xenomorph in the Tower of London, it should also be a Swamp Xenomorph.

As I pondered this, the carriage stopped outside the Tower of London.

Axe got off the bus first and looked up. The towering white tower looked particularly desolate under the gloomy sky.

The moat outside the tower flows turbulently, faintly revealing its former majesty.

"Buy tickets," Ax said to the guard, handing him a few silver coins.

The Tower of London is now a tourist attraction.

The guard sized up the three of them, especially the two beautiful fairy girls, Elena and Angel. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he still accepted the silver coins and handed them three tickets.

"Welcome to the Tower of London, ladies and gentlemen," the guard said. "Please be careful, some areas are not open to the public. Please follow the signs."

Ax nodded and led Elena and Angel into the Tower of London.

The atmosphere inside the tower was even more sinister than outside. The thick stone walls, narrow passages, and dim lighting all contributed to an invisible sense of oppression.

There aren't many tourists here; most are curious gentlemen and ladies, and a few artists with sketchbooks.

"Let's go to the Blood Tower first," Ex said in a low voice, leading the two through the crowd.

The Blood Tower is located in the inner courtyard of the Tower of London and is a small but sturdy tower.

Its walls are covered with mottled marks, as if they still bear the bloodstains of history.

X, Elena, and Angel continued walking inside, entering the Blood Tower.

The light was dim, and X squinted to get used to it.

Only a few gas lamps provided dim light. Portraits and explanatory plaques hung on the walls, telling the history of the Blood Tower and the legend of the prince within.

As expected of a tourist attraction, it has all the necessary information.

Now, we must continue searching for any clues left behind by the other party.

"We split up to search; the clues might still be hidden in the box."

"Ex reminded me."

"Pay attention to anything suspicious, such as loose bricks, strange markings, or... hidden mechanisms."

"Yes, Master!"

"Understood, Sir!"

The three began a thorough search of the Blood Tower. Ex examined the walls and floors, while Elena checked the portraits and information plaques.

Angel was responsible for keeping an eye on the surrounding tourists and guards. After all, their group's actions were too suspicious, so it was best to avoid attracting attention.

Time ticked by, but nothing was gained. Inside the Blood Tower, there was nothing but traces of history.

"Could we be mistaken?" Elena's voice carried a hint of frustration. "Perhaps the 'key forgotten by time' doesn't refer to the prince in the tower, but something else entirely."

Ax frowned.

Kidnappers don't set up an unsolvable puzzle; there must be something they overlooked.

Prince... Prince... Prince...

"Hey? Master, look!" Angel suddenly said, pointing to a portrait on the wall, "This portrait... seems a little off."

X and Elena immediately looked in the direction she was looking.

It was a painting depicting the life of the princes in the Blood Tower. The two young princes in the painting were dressed in gorgeous clothes and had innocent faces, but their eyes revealed a hint of fear.

You wouldn't believe this painting could move... it's kind of scary, X thought to himself.

"Something's not right?" Ex asked anyway.

"Master, look at the prince's feet," Angel said. "There seems to be something there."

Upon closer inspection, Axe noticed a small protrusion at the feet of the prince in the painting, almost blending into the background.

"It's a trap!" Ex and Elena exchanged a glance, a hint of joy flashing in their eyes.

He reached out and carefully pressed down on the protrusion.

With a soft "click," the wall next to the portrait suddenly caved inward, forming a hidden compartment.

"Found it!" Elena exclaimed excitedly.

Ax reached into the hidden compartment and took out a small copper box. The box was exquisite, with intricate patterns engraved on it.

"This is..." Ex opened the box, inside was a yellowed parchment with another riddle written on it in elegant handwriting:

"Next location: beneath the ancient crown guarded by crows, search for the truth hidden by lies. Only the crown and the end of time can reveal everything."