I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 14.
In the silence that followed Robert’s words, I heard what remained unspoken. Jenis and I held our breath. The rough contours of his life laid bare before us.
The weight of everything he’d endured pressed down on my conscience.
‘It seems he’s never received kindness without strings attached.’
My heart felt impossibly heavy.
‘There are no real adults in this Kingdom.’
Each time I confronted the darker side of the Kingdom—aspects I’d overlooked in my past life—I grew acutely aware of my own ignorance.
‘And I proclaimed myself ready to be a splendid queen without truly understanding. Looking only at the Kingdom’s shine, never its shadows.’
Not this time. I resolved to face the Kingdom’s true face, its insufficiencies, head-on. I met Robert’s eyes with that vow.
“Don’t think of giving me anything. Let’s make a deal instead.”
“A deal, Your Grace? But as I said, there’s nothing I could—”
“Make medicine.”
Robert’s pupils trembled as though struck by an earthquake. Color drained from his face.
Producing and distributing counterfeit medicine in the Kingdom is illegal. Robert, quite despite himself, had committed countless illegal acts. So his fear was justified.
“You have nothing to fear. I told you I’d protect you. All you need to do is create a painkiller that doesn’t strain the body. It’s not difficult, is it? You’re already making it. Just stabilize the formula. I’ll provide everything the research requires.”
I spoke at length before he could misunderstand.
I needed to convince him that I already knew about his medicine, and that I wouldn’t turn him over to the Security Force because of it. That required considerable explanation.
“…Everything the research requires?”
At last, Robert began to show interest in our arrangement.
“Yes. If you want, even corpses.”
“Your Grace!”
Jenis cried out. I decided to explain the details to her later and focused on convincing Robert.
“What do you think?”
Does the offer appeal to you? Does it tempt you? Do you want to say yes without even realizing it?
Sure enough, Robert’s fingertips twitched.
‘I’ve made him an offer he can’t refuse, haven’t I.’
In the future before I died, Robert was called the mad physician.
The rumors spread because of his obsession with dissection.
And the rumors weren’t entirely without foundation. Robert sought out every place where dissection was possible.
There was a famous anecdote of him working without sleep for a week straight, rotating through the Artists’ Guild to participate in dissection research.
‘He’s a bit mad, I’ll grant you that.’
But Robert’s obsession with dissection was absolutely not the madness gossip-mongers claimed.
He was simply consumed by his research into effective treatment methods.
The reason was almost laughably noble for a genius physician.
The Kingdom relied on Divine Power and Magic to treat serious injuries and illnesses. In other words, only the wealthy could afford healing.
‘If there were more Healing Mages and users of Divine Power, it would solve the problem. But Magic and Divine Power aren’t fields that humans can master through effort alone.’
Medical science, on the other hand—the field Robert pursued and sought to advance—could be learned by anyone.
That’s why Robert devoted himself to researching surgical treatment.
His argument was simple: advance medical technique, train more physicians.
To perform safe, flawless surgery, he needed perfect understanding of the human body. So he unilaterally conducted corpse dissection, forbidden in the Kingdom.
“Your Grace. This is impossible. Corpses? You mean dead people’s bodies? You’re saying you’ll provide them?”
Jenis asked, fear trembling in her voice.
“Your Grace, we’ll get in serious trouble.”
Jenis tried to dissuade me, her words dripping with worry, but there was nothing better than this to secure Robert’s cooperation.
“Robert, I’ll provide them—the corpses you need for dissection.”
I spoke to Robert, not to Jenis.
“Th-that’s—that’s illegal, Your Grace!”
The protest came from Jenis. I turned to face her.
“There are legal dissections. The painters do them twice a year through their guild.”
Painters conducted dissection at the guild level to draw the human form with perfect accuracy. That was not illegal.
In this era, lifesaving medicine was scorned far below art.
“I’ve never heard of individuals being permitted to dissect corpses.”
Jenis, if you keep this up, you’ll weep. Should I give the handkerchief I left nearby to Jenis instead of Robert?
“If we accept that something can’t be done and do nothing, nothing will change. If it can’t be done, we make it possible. I’ll make dissection permissible through medical research, and if we hit an obstacle there, I can simply establish ten or so Artists’ Guilds. Why not?”
“That costs enormous amounts of money. Is that easy, Your Grace?”
Registering a guild costs the equivalent of three grand estates in the Capital. And since I’d be creating ghost guilds, I’d have to hire fake members.
In short, establishing even one guild required the equivalent of five estates’ worth of expenditure.
‘And that’s before accounting for acquiring the corpses.’
Building guilds for a single person? It was something others could never dream of. But I could do it.
“For others, it’s difficult. For me, it’s simple.”
Jenis’s jaw went slack. So this is when Cassion really grasps that my wealth is something tangible now.
“Once I’m Household Head, that is.”
Of course, there are obstacles to overcome before the money can flow freely.
“Why would you go so far…?”
Robert asked haltingly, his fingers working against each other, his lips pressed tight.
“Why? For you, obviously.”
I pointed at Robert with one finger. Placing him beneath Irenbert isn’t only my ambition.
Robert flourished even under a black-market dealer. He did before, after all.
But he gave up far too easily. It’s a loss for Robert himself, and for the Kingdom.
“And it’s for me too. I need your help desperately.”
Robert was deeply shaken.
“I’m needed, you say?”
When I nodded, tears welled up in his eyes. I quickly produced a handkerchief. He took it with trembling hands.
“Do you need time to think it over?”
I sank into a sofa twice the size of my body and crossed my legs.
I wanted to project the ease of a refined adult woman, but my still-growing frame betrayed me—my feet dangled uselessly in the air.
Focus slowly returned to Robert’s vacant eyes. I was certain he would accept my proposal.
Desire and excitement lurked behind the tears that stained his face.
“Yes, I’ll do it!”
His voice rang out so forcefully that all his earlier hesitation seemed to vanish. At last, I could smile without reservation.
***
Everything went smoothly. Robert accepted my proposal, and I secured a laboratory for him.
For now, it was an expense I could cover from my own resources.
In half a day, he produced the side-effect-free painkiller I’d requested.
The pills, pressed together crudely by hand, looked shapeless and smelled foul. But I knew the efficacy was genuine.
“How can you be sure this works?”
Jenis remained wary of Robert.
‘Has she still not forgiven Robert for his past wrongs?’
“Medicine shouldn’t be taken carelessly,” she said, pinching her nose.
She wrinkled her nose as she spoke.
“True enough. We need verification.”
I decided to be the test subject myself. I’d been awake all night yesterday and my head was throbbing—perfect conditions for testing a painkiller.
“You’re going to take it, miss?”
His voice wavered, his eyes uncertain. I understood Jenis’s concern well enough, but if I don’t trust Robert, who will?
And I couldn’t very well use someone else as an experiment.
“There’s no risk. I’m confident. My younger siblings all take it.”
Robert glared at Jenis as he spoke, clearly stung by her repeated doubts.
“He has siblings?”
Jenis avoided addressing Robert directly whenever possible. So of course the question came to me.
By “siblings,” Robert meant the children of the Slums—not blood relations.
They wandered barefoot through filthy streets, never properly fed. For them, injury and illness were simply part of life. The medicine Robert gave me was made for those children.
Countless doses consumed and survived by them had already proven the drug’s efficacy and safety.
“Trust me. That’s why I’m taking it.”
I swallowed the pill deliberately, right in front of Robert. His pupils dilated sharply—he hadn’t expected me to actually do it. Then his suddenly widened eyes filled with tears.
‘No handkerchief this time.’
Robert was a man with plenty of tears. He’d been crying just moments ago.
“Want to wait in my room while the medicine takes effect? You want to confirm it works too, don’t you?”
Robert nodded. Uncertain where to sit, he hovered awkwardly until Jenis pulled him over to the sofa with a disapproving expression. Once Robert was seated, I closed my eyes.
The medicine worked quickly. The dull pain pressing behind my eyes vanished, and the heat throbbing at my temples faded.
“Oh, this is excellent.”
With my head clear, energy surged back. As I opened my eyes brightly and spoke, Jenis looked at me with disbelief.
“Really, Jenis. I’d want to take this once a month when I’m hurting.”
“It worked, miss?”
Robert jumped to his feet. He’d shown such confidence in the medicine’s effects, yet I sensed deep anxiety beneath the surface—waiting for someone to believe him.
“Yes, very well. Trust me and try some yourself.”
‘I sound like a swindler just now, don’t I?’
But Robert’s medicine truly was effective enough to recommend without hesitation.
“If only we could fix the smell. And could it handle more severe pain, not just mild aches?”
I rose and approached Robert. I hadn’t brought him here merely to make headache medicine.
I hoped he would heal Cassion’s illness.
If immediate treatment isn’t possible, at least ease the pain.
“Yes, I’ll do my best!”
Robert nodded vigorously, his shy smile spreading across his face. He looked exactly like a large, eager dog.
“Good work, Robert.”
I stepped closer and reached out my hand. I wanted to pat his head.
But patting Robert’s head when he stood a half-head taller than me was no simple task.
As I rose onto my toes and fumbled about, Robert smoothly bent his waist down.
I stroked his head gently, and that’s when I noticed the strange expression on Jenis’s face.
I Bought the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author │ Lee In-hye
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ Room 1101, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Ace Techno Tower 8th Building, 11th Floor)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
© Lee In-hye 2021
※ This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder,
and the content may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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