If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 69

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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 69
Aden studied me in silence for quite some time before finally opening his mouth.
“What if that were the case?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed deeply.
“If I intended to kill everyone in Crimson, what would you do?”
I answered without hesitation.
“I’d try to talk to you and convince you otherwise. I want to stop something like that from happening.”
“…You’d convince me, you say.”
“As I mentioned, how could I stand by and watch you get arrested while seeking revenge on my behalf? I’m your secretary, after all.”
I spoke lightly at first, as if joking, but then my tone turned serious.
“And I don’t believe death is the greatest punishment.”
Aden seemed to be about to say something.
But his lips closed, leaving only a profound gaze fixed upon me.
“You asked me earlier, didn’t you? What would I do for you?”
“…”
“I want to see Kaileb Crimson abandoned by the money and power he’s so obsessed with, spending his final years in prison in utter misery and degradation. I think that would be the greatest punishment for him.”
I meant every word.
Setting aside the fact that Kaileb Crimson wasn’t worth bloodying Aden’s hands over, death seemed an inefficient punishment for someone like him.
I wanted him to be thoroughly defeated—so completely that he wouldn’t even have the consolation of a moral victory.
Aden’s eyes narrowed as he watched my hand grip the water glass tightly.
“I understand your thinking. But what does that have to do with you meeting Odette Crimson?”
“Oh, I’m not trying to meet Odette. My target is Count Plivier.”
Aden tilted his head.
“Are you trying to win over Count Plivier? To get him to side with La Mar?”
“Something like that. I think there’s a strong possibility he could become a whistleblower. And as a bonus, I could also prevent Kaileb Crimson’s long-held ambition.”
I spoke calmly.
“I’ve been wondering who Kaileb Crimson was developing and researching poison for. I couldn’t find an answer, but when I reframed the question, it became clear. Why did he have to go through such an elaborate charade to frame La Mar for it?”
“…”
“And who would Kaileb Crimson most want to harm?”
Of course, the first target would be the man standing before me.
But surely his ambitions didn’t end there. So who would be second?
“I think it’s Count Plivier.”
“Kaileb Crimson’s son-in-law, you mean?”
“Yes. If he eliminates the Count and frames La Mar, he can seize control of the Plivier estate without any suspicion falling on him.”
“…Despite being the person who benefits most from the Count’s death.”
Finally, Aden—who had been asking questions all along—offered something resembling an answer.
I nodded vigorously.
“Not as a son-in-law with an uncertain position from a political marriage, but as the guardian and grandfather of the young Count soon to be born.”
This was information I’d gathered while touring the Central Flower Garden.
The banquet to recognize the child in Odette’s womb as the heir of Plibie County Estate was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
Four days from now. Seventy-two hours from now. Too precise to be mere coincidence.
‘Kaileb Crimson intended to dispose of his son-in-law that day, and based on the confidential documents he extracted from me, frame Aden as the culprit and eliminate him together.’
It was the same in the original story.
Regardless of how political the marriage was, when Aden kidnapped his wife Odette, Count Plivier didn’t seem to care at all.
I wondered why that was…
‘It would make sense if Kaileb had already disposed of him.’
After all, to seize the title, he had deliberately chosen Count Plivier, who had no close relatives, and married off his daughter to him.
I also know from the original story what Kaileb did to the Count. Though I can’t tell Aden about it right now.
“Given Kaileb Crimson’s nature, that’s a reasonable conjecture.”
Aden spoke slowly.
“But it’s merely speculation. What you’ve listed is circumstantial evidence, not concrete proof, is it not?”
“Still, I think it’s worth verifying. At least whether the Count drank poison.”
“Even if that were true, there’s no reason for you to go there.”
“Is that so? I think differently. Wouldn’t it be easier to persuade Count Plivier if I, who drank the same poison, were to go?”
I added brightly.
“Besides your concern for my health, is there any reason I shouldn’t visit Plibie County Estate?”
“…”
“If there isn’t, would you listen to my ‘plan’ as well?”
***
And so, I ultimately came to the Central Region.
On the way, I completed my testimony smoothly, and subtly probed Oswald to see if he’d noticed any abnormalities in Aden’s magical power.
‘It seems he didn’t notice anything at all, which is fortunate.’
Above all, I obtained information.
The Holy Knight Order had begun a supplementary investigation into Crimson following my kidnapping incident yesterday.
However, since their imperial directive was merely to oversee La Mar, even if they found Crimson suspicious, active investigation seemed difficult.
In other words, separate from my kidnapping case, the Holy Knight Order could only move if there were a decisive link—concrete evidence—that Crimson was involved in the attempted poisoning of Marquis Vito. The curse of bureaucracy.
‘Decisive evidence, then.’
As I mulled this over, I arrived near Plibie County Estate.
As I stepped down from the carriage and organized my luggage, I felt a presence.
Looking up, a familiar face greeted me cheerfully.
“Secretary? It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Scott. You’ve been well, I hope?”
“Well, I’ve been busy, but I’ve managed…”
“…Have it your way. However, the condition is that if you experience any abnormality in your body whatsoever, you immediately relocate to the Mage Tower where Sherwood is.”
After an intense back-and-forth, Aden sent me off.
But unwilling to let me go alone, he attached Scott, the legal expert from Branch 3.
Since I didn’t know what kind of ‘negotiation’ I might conduct with Count Plivier, it was fortunate to have Scott, who had some expertise in negotiations, accompany me.
Upon hearing that I had drunk poison, Scott looked at me with pity for a moment, then cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
“Anyway, we can’t reveal that we belong to La Mar when we go in, right?”
Scott adjusted his wig as he spoke.
“We can’t exactly disguise ourselves as maids or servants either.”
I nodded in agreement and replied.
We had decided to wear disguises just in case.
The employee we had planted at the Plibie County Estate would signal us when the Crimson people arrived, but it was better to be cautious.
I was wearing a black short-haired wig myself. I wasn’t wearing glasses either.
‘Or rather, I couldn’t wear them.’
I had left them at the cabin where I was kidnapped.
In any case, disguises were necessary, but posing as a servant wasn’t an option.
I wouldn’t be able to use communication devices or magical tools freely, and my movements would be restricted.
Besides, I needed to be able to move freely since I had to retrieve the antidote from Sherwood as soon as it was developed.
“And if we borrowed the name of a small subcontractor, the Count probably wouldn’t agree to meet with us…”
But there was a disguise that could solve this difficult condition all at once.
“Oh, don’t worry about that. Count Plivier, who’s short on funds, would welcome this identity with open arms.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Well, you know. A wealthy individual worth approximately 10 billion gold that everyone in the entire Empire knows about.”
“Huh?”
Scott’s eyes widened.
I grinned and pressed the pen-shaped recorder.
[Julius?]
[-Ah, the secretary lady! Yes, yes. So you finally want something, do you? It seems the Director approved some rebate or something!]
[Ha ha. It’s not exactly that I want something, but I have a favor to ask.]
[-What is it? Tell me!]
[Could I borrow your name, Julius? I need it for work.]
Julius answered immediately.
[-By all means!]
I turned off the recorder and put it in my jacket pocket, then shrugged.
“After that, I explained the entire plan to him, but he just kept repeating ‘If it’s the secretary lady, I can trust you, ha ha! Use it however you like!’ So you don’t need to hear that part, right?”
“Not at all.”
And so we…
“Good day. I’m Anne, the assistant to Julius Noel, whom I contacted earlier.”
“I’m Scotti, the legal representative.”
We became Anne and Scotti respectively and knocked on the door of the Plibie County Estate.
The butler who greeted us was delighted.
“Welcome! Thank you so much for coming, honored guests. I’ll show you to the master’s reception room right away.”
“Is the Count in?”
“He’s stepped out for a moment. I’ll inform him as soon as he returns, so please wait.”
“Yes, thank you. Oh, and this is a gift of goodwill from Julius Noel.”
“My, how thoughtful… The master will be delighted.”
As I handed over the ornate gift box, the butler’s pleased expression became subtle at my next words.
“Actually, this gift is more for the Countess than the Count. There’s a banquet tomorrow where the young master will be designated as the heir, yes? In the Southern Region, there’s a custom of gifting both baby clothes and the mother’s attire together, so I’ve prepared something modest in that tradition.”
“Ah… yes, I see. I’ll pass it along.”
At that lukewarm response, Scott and I exchanged glances.
Beep. A small sound came from the communicator.
It was the signal the staff had agreed to send if anyone related to Crimson arrived. Who could it be?
At the same moment, commotion erupted outside the reception room door.
“Welcome!”
“Welcome, Chairman!”
There was only one person who could be called Chairman.
Kaileb Crimson had arrived.

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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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