Brian Carter hesitated and couldn't help but glance at David Sullivan, but his gaze inadvertently swept across Charles Thompson's face and saw that Charles Thompson was looking at Olivia Morgan, a hint of delight at the corner of his mouth.

Brian Carter couldn't help but look at Olivia Morgan again, seeing that Olivia Morgan still had his brows slightly furrowed, saying, "All forms are illusory... Emptiness has no form, yet contains all things."

Emily Harris suddenly walked toward the tower wall. Brian Carter caught sight of this and immediately came to a realization.

This was a setup, a trap laid by Olivia Morgan—a trap that Olivia Morgan had arranged at Charles Thompson's instruction.

Charles Thompson had clearly already seen through the situation, knowing that whether it was Emily Harris, Jacob Miller, or Olivia Morgan who gained the master's favor, their goals had already been achieved. Charles Thompson's aim was to defeat Brian Carter, and Olivia Morgan naturally understood this connection, so, following Charles Thompson's hint, he used words to disturb Brian Carter's mind, making Brian Carter hesitate. As for the painting, it was, of course, still within the tower wall.

Brian Carter understood this and smiled bitterly in his heart, knowing that he was now up against three opponents alone, feeling quite isolated. But his nature was to grow stronger through adversity, so he was neither discouraged nor depressed. He simply ignored Olivia Morgan and also approached the tower wall.

Olivia Morgan saw Brian Carter walking toward the tower wall and was momentarily surprised, glancing at Charles Thompson. The smile at the corner of Charles Thompson's mouth stiffened slightly, and he frowned inwardly, realizing that David Sullivan's subordinate was not simple.

The tower wall was empty and vast, several zhang wide. Although Brian Carter was certain there must be a mechanism within, figuring out how to find it was still a challenge.

David Sullivan and Charles Thompson watched Brian Carter and Emily Harris with slight tension, knowing that the heavy responsibility of finding the mechanism rested on these two.

Princess Taylor was even more nervous, holding her breath and glaring fiercely at Brian Carter's back, finding him inexplicably annoying and wishing she could kick Brian Carter down the tower.

Suddenly, Brian Carter's eyes flashed as he discovered something and was about to step toward Emily Harris's direction. Jacob Miller suddenly blocked Brian Carter's path, asking coldly, "Brother, may I have your name?"

Brian Carter had no choice but to stop, not expecting Jacob Miller to ask such a foolish question at this moment.

Earlier, David Sullivan had already introduced Brian Carter's name, and Brian Carter didn't believe Jacob Miller hadn't heard it. In a flash, Brian Carter understood that Jacob Miller's question was not foolish at all—on the contrary, it was very clever.

Jacob Miller's purpose in asking his name was not to know it, but to prevent Brian Carter from discovering the mechanism. Clearly, like Olivia Morgan, he was trying to create obstacles for Brian Carter to help Emily Harris find the mechanism first.

In that brief moment, Emily Harris's jade-like hand landed on a section of the wall, her slender fingers gently tapping the surface, as if pondering something.

Brian Carter could only sigh. Just now, by the light from the window, he had noticed that section of the wall was slightly glossy, a bit different from the rest. He knew that was surely because someone often touched it. Why would anyone touch a wall for no reason? It was obvious—there must be a mechanism there.

He had only been delayed for a moment, and Emily Harris had already noticed this. As the top-ranked constable chosen from the eleven prefectures of Dinghai, her reputation was well deserved.

Brian Carter sighed inwardly, but a smile appeared on his face as he looked at the iron-faced Jacob Miller and said, "My surname is Qiu, as in autumn, Brian Carter. Brother, you must remember it this time."

Jacob Miller looked at Brian Carter coldly and said, "I've remembered." He stepped back, as if nothing had happened, and no longer blocked Brian Carter.

In fact, even without being blocked, Brian Carter couldn't snatch it. Although everyone had determined the location of the mechanism, the tower wall was bare—how to activate the mechanism was still a problem.

Everyone stared at the wall, frowning in thought, when suddenly a flash of lightning appeared inside the tower, followed by a metallic clang as Emily Harris suddenly drew her sword.

Everyone was startled, only to see Emily Harris strike.

In the dim tower, starlight suddenly sparkled, and the Milky Way seemed to streak across. With a clang, the light abruptly faded, and Emily Harris sheathed her sword.

From drawing to sheathing her sword, Emily Harris acted in a single instant.

Everyone's expressions changed; they had never imagined that such a delicate and cold woman could wield such a lightning-fast sword. When David Sullivan saw Emily Harris draw her sword, he was also moved, a flash of ruthlessness suddenly appearing in his eyes.

That ruthlessness, too, vanished in a flash like lightning. David Sullivan's face returned to its usual cold and calm expression.

Everyone was watching Emily Harris, for a moment unsure of her purpose in drawing her sword. But Brian Carter lazily remarked from the side, "The Taiji pattern that Constable Ye drew is quite beautiful."

Everyone looked up and finally noticed that a Taiji pattern had suddenly appeared on the once bare wall, realizing that in the brief moment when Emily Harris drew her sword, she had already drawn a Taiji pattern on the wall.

Such a nimble and swift sword technique was beyond most people's imagination. Princess Taylor almost wanted to clap in admiration, but seeing Edward Cooper still sitting there expressionless, she finally suppressed the urge, muttering to herself: What exactly is this monk-priest looking for in his selection?

Others didn't understand why Emily Harris drew this pattern, but Brian Carter knew perfectly well. When Emily Harris had tapped the tower wall with her five fingers, it seemed like she was thinking, but she was actually searching for the mechanism. She had clearly noticed that the material of that section of wall was different, so she drew her sword to mark the spot where the mechanism was hidden.

For Emily Harris to discover the essence of the mechanism in such a short time, her swordsmanship was extraordinary, and her hearing even more so.