If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 28

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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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If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 28
***
A few hours later.
I arrived at the Train Station entrance with a small travel bag and business proposal in hand.
Had Aden not arrived yet? My gaze swept across the surroundings before fixing on one spot.
He was walking toward me.
‘Wow…’
Even among the countless travelers flowing in and out of the Train Station, Aden stood out distinctly.
It wasn’t simply because he towered above others, nor was it the pitch-black attire he wore even on this business trip.
Against the bustling backdrop of the Train Station, Aden existed like a still life painting.
Where did that unhurried, composed yet perfectly composed coolness emanate from?
‘What a waste that someone so handsome has to be a villain.’
He truly was devastatingly beautiful. All appearance, no substance.
While I was entertaining such pointless thoughts, Aden strode over with his long legs and gestured with his eyes, offering no further explanation.
“Let’s go.”
I checked my watch—exactly 1 o’clock.
Clicking my tongue, I followed him toward the platform.
“Welcome. We’ll do our best to ensure you have a comfortable journey.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
It was my first time receiving such a polite greeting from a train attendant, so I responded reflexively. But seeing the train itself, I understood why.
An express direct train—one so expensive I’d never dared to ride it—awaited us.
That alone was astonishing, but the car we boarded was first class.
Yet Aden sat down at the pre-arranged table seat as though it were nothing unusual.
“Sit.”
I quickly took the seat across from him. The cushion was incredibly plush.
Money really does make a difference…
But wait—did this mean I’d be facing Aden the entire journey?
“Not there. That seat faces the wrong direction.”
“Oh, right.”
It turned out my assigned seat was at the opposite table with the aisle between us.
I was grateful Aden had phrased it as the wrong direction rather than saying outright that he didn’t want to face me—it spared me some embarrassment.
Soon the train departed smoothly.
But there were no other passengers. Had he rented the entire car?
“I don’t always rent out the entire car like this. It goes against the public transportation purpose of trains and is inefficient.”
“Pardon?”
“However, today we need to discuss confidential business matters, so we had no choice but to rent the entire car. Keep that in mind as we proceed with work going forward.”
“Understood, *cough*, ma’am.”
At this point, I seriously began to suspect whether Aden could read my mind.
“I told you to familiarize yourself with the business proposal beforehand. Give me a brief briefing.”
The exam arrived without a moment’s respite.
But I was confident.
“It’s a project to construct a modern port and large-scale logistics hub in Casis Bay, located in the Southwestern Empire.”
The Southwestern Empire was strategically positioned as a gateway and passage to other continents.
Among these, Casis Bay had particularly favorable conditions, with the sea and plains unusually close together.
“The Casis Bay region recently underwent a transition to autonomous territory after the previous lord died without an heir, so rather than negotiating with a lord, we can conduct business directly with individual landowners.”
“Yes. We’ve already secured a considerable amount of land.”
“However, there are two complications. One of them is the existence of an established port nearby.”
I pulled out a map and pointed to the harbor in Noel Marquis Territory.
While it didn’t match Casis Bay, the harbor in Noel Marquis Territory also had quite favorable positioning.
“However, I don’t believe the harbor in Noel Marquis Territory will pose a significant threat.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because it’s an extremely old port with many inconveniences.”
It suffered from severe deterioration and inefficiency.
The docks available for berthing were woefully inadequate relative to cargo volume. Consequently, they had to undertake the cumbersome process of transferring cargo from distant merchant vessels onto smaller boats, then bringing those into the docks.
Thus, despite its locational advantages, it never developed into a major logistics hub.
“Moreover, the Noel Marquis family has no intention of investing in the harbor. In fact, they likely welcome the logistics congestion.”
“The coastline is elongated like an anchor, making additional construction itself difficult—that’s true. But what’s your basis for saying they welcome the congestion?”
“Because they charge port fees by the hour. The longer unloading operations are delayed, the more money they earn. So they’re essentially running a protection racket. Where else will you go if you don’t use our port? That’s their logic.”
Aden raised one eyebrow.
This was information I’d heard from sailors when working at the Mason Merchant Guild.
Ships hated waiting endlessly whenever they entered Noel’s harbor, so quite a few preferred to make the longer journey and unload their cargo at my hometown of Sirena in the Southeastern Region instead.
But since Sirena’s harbor had closed, Noel would be even more arrogant now.
“So if La Mar constructs both a new port and logistics warehouse simultaneously, it would be like unclogging a blocked artery in the Empire’s trade.”
If successful, all the wealth of the Southern Empire would flow toward La Mar.
“Not only can we earn substantial profits, but there are additional benefits as well.”
“Additional benefits? What do you mean?”
“Because you’ll be able to easily obtain information about the inventory and merchandise handled by other merchant guilds who use the new port and warehouse.”
Aden gazed intently at me as I shrugged.
Was it my imagination? I detected a faint note of admiration from him.
“Didn’t you mention earlier that there were two complications? What’s the other one?”
“Ah, that would be the existence of Noel Marquis Territory itself.”
“Its existence itself?”
Aden let out a brief laugh.
As if he hadn’t laughed at all, his smile vanished in an instant once more.
Why had he laughed? I felt slightly embarrassed as I pointed to the map.
“Well, you see here—the main road connecting the port and logistics base borders directly on Noel Marquis Territory.”
“…”
“So I thought acquiring land on this side might be somewhat complicated…”
That was when it happened.
A sharp glint flickered across Aden’s eyes.
“You’ve grasped the situation far better than I anticipated, Iliana Grecia.”
“Thank you….”
“The very existence of Noel Marquis Territory is the problem. Your assessment is correct.”
I had no time to savor the joy of passing all the Question Mark Killer’s trials.
Aden’s voice had dropped to a sinister register.
“In reality, acquiring the land near the roads is the greatest obstacle to this venture.”
“Ah….”
“So during the four days I remain in Casis Bay,”
A different, unsettling smile played at the corners of Aden’s mouth.
“I intend to secure that land by any means necessary.”
I was hearing this again.
‘That won’t do!’
Please, just exercise some restraint in your methods….
Moreover, today I was becoming an accomplice with no way out.
‘I don’t want to go to prison with you…!’
The truly chilling part was that he wasn’t speaking idly.
Aden was genuinely prepared to do anything to make this project succeed.
I swallowed hard and spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
“I’ll do my best… to help as well.”
At this point, my only option was to stop Aden from going to prison by any means necessary.
Unaware of my resolve, Aden answered languidly.
“Very well. I’m counting on you again, Iliana Grecia.”
***
As Aden handed over the documents, he lifted his head at a small sound.
He looked down. A pen cap rolled cheerfully across the floor and came to rest against the tip of his shoe.
Aden picked up the pen cap and turned it over in his hands, then directed his gaze toward the person who was likely its owner.
“Iliana….”
He began to call the new secretary by her name, then stopped himself and simply gazed at her instead.
Iliana Grecia had her eyes closed, her head tilted at an awkward angle as if completely at ease.
Normally, Aden allowed his companions to do as they pleased during travel, provided they didn’t make a fuss.
But somehow,
“….”
he felt the urge to poke the dozing new secretary awake.
To see what she might say, what expression she might make….
He was simply curious.

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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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