On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 47

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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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Episode 47
“Mmph?!”
I wanted to thrash against such a shocking statement, but all that escaped my gagged mouth was an embarrassing whimper.
“Anyone who talks too much or looks too clever—silence them before they cause trouble. Take away their ability to speak or write.”
At the facilitator’s words, a large woman yanked me from the line and dragged me into a separate warehouse.
‘What do I do? How am I supposed to get out of this?’
My mind filled with nothing but panic.
The woman offered no mercy—no final words, no will to write, no last dignity.
She simply drew a wicked dagger and seized my wrist, lifting it into the air.
‘No. Wait. Someone—help!’
The blade gleamed before my eyes, and tears began to well up from sheer terror. That was when it happened.
Knock. Knock.
Someone rapped on the warehouse door.
The woman sighed with obvious annoyance, then showed me the blade in warning.
“Hold on a moment.”
She stepped outside and conducted what sounded like a serious conversation, then warned me once more: “Stay quiet.”
Whatever it was, she abandoned her post.
‘I don’t know when she’ll be back. Now is my only chance.’
I struggled to my feet and reached for the door handle.
The door swung open at once, and a white mask appeared before my eyes.
One of the bidders dressed in a black robe and white mask.
“…!”
I stumbled backward in fright, and the masked figure slipped inside, closing the door behind them.
‘Did this person buy me? Am I about to be dragged to another continent?’
I was trembling with dread when the bidder removed their mask.
“Mm-mm!”
“Shh. Shh. Keep quiet.”
I nearly cried out at the welcome face before me, but Simona hushed me at once.
She quickly untied the gag and rope from my wrists, exhaling heavily.
“Vivian. What in the world happened to you?!”
“Simona!”
A familiar face in this place—I could not have been more relieved.
I threw myself into her arms, but a sudden question made me pull back a step.
“How did you end up here? Did you know what this place is?”
“Of course I did—I followed some promising connections. Powerful people tend to look after their own, so it’s good to network. I had no idea they were running a slave auction, though. Ugh, it’s sickening.”
“You really haven’t changed, have you?”
“And you’re still finding new ways to give me a fright.”
Simona pointed down the opposite corridor outside the warehouse.
“Go that way and you’ll find a back exit. I have companions waiting, so I need to catch up with them.”
“What about the others?”
“Getting mixed up here will only make things worse for them. I’m hoping the Tower Master loses his mind and blows the roof off this building. First priority is getting out of here ourselves.”
I decided to follow Simona’s advice and think about the rest later.
That was when it happened.
People came rushing from the direction of the back exit Simona had indicated.
Footsteps were growing closer rapidly.
Simona hastily pulled her mask back on, then shoved my frozen form toward the warehouse shelves.
“Hide. Quick—hide!”
I scrambled into a large crate in the warehouse and held my breath.
‘This is…’
Of all the boxes, I had chosen one that held ailing magical beasts, too weak to even move. Their pain and panic pressed against me like a physical force.
‘Sorry. I’ll just hide for a moment.’
I gritted my teeth and reached out with my Attunement Ability.
I felt the twisted, anxious emotions of the beasts gradually settle, and I exhaled softly with relief.
The moment passed. Suddenly, commotion erupted outside.
“Don’t you know this area is restricted?”
The warehouse guards had spotted Simona and her companions.
‘What if Simona gets into danger because of me?’
I was fretting over whether she’d be captured on my account when her voice came through, utterly composed.
“Someone stole my wallet and ran off this way. You’d think the auction house made plenty, but why would a thief target a customer? That’s ridiculous.”
“Your wallet? Who on earth would… wait. Where is the woman who was here?”
My heart hammered at the question clearly aimed at finding me.
I was merchandise they’d planned to mutilate—cut my tongue, sever my fingers. If they caught me again, things would be far worse.
“A woman? Yeah, the one who stole my wallet was female, but it’s your job to find her, isn’t it?”
Simona’s casual tone was beginning to edge with irritation.
“Do you know who I’ve been drinking and dining with? Can you even imagine the caliber of people I’ve been traveling with today?”
“We… we will certainly find your wallet. But this is a restricted area. Please leave.”
“You better find it. If word gets out about how shoddy this auction house is, it’ll reach the Imperial Palace itself.”
After Simona’s shameless threat, she left, and the guards sighed with frustration.
‘Once they’re gone, I bolt. The back exit should be the direction Simona pointed out.’
I was timing my escape when I froze in horror.
“You lot search for the escaped merchandise and the wallet. The rest of you—start moving those crates.”
My crate lurched and began to rise.
“…!”
The guards were carrying the crate I was hiding in somewhere else.
‘This is insane!’
I barely suppressed a scream, but when I peeked through the gaps, something unexpected happened.
They were actually taking me outside through the back exit.
The guards moving the crate muttered with obvious annoyance.
“Why does the princess want these things anyway?”
“Watch what you say.”
“There’s nobody else here.”
“Even so…”
“What kind of hobby is it, anyway, collecting dying magical beasts like this?”
“Maybe she wants to heal them. Does the reason really matter? Best not to ask questions if you want to live long.”
I listened to their exchange in silence, but something felt wrong. I examined the beasts in the crate more carefully.
The more I thought about it, the more unsettling it became.
Injured or ailing magical beasts are usually transferred to the Magical Beast Sanctuary for treatment.
If someone truly wanted to help wounded beasts, the normal course would be to support the Sanctuary.
But “repeatedly” collecting dying beasts? That was not normal.
‘They said princess. Which princess? The Imperial Palace? Or…’
I was troubled by the growing suspicion that these beasts weren’t being taken for healing when the crate suddenly dropped hard to the ground.
“Ugh…!”
“Ahhh!”
My brief cry was mercifully swallowed by the guards’ louder screams.
“What?! Where did—!”
“Call for backup now!”
Chaos erupted outside the crate.
What terrible luck, choosing the wrong inn. I was already regretting my decision from hours ago.
I peered through the crate’s gaps to make sense of the commotion.
Beneath the dim moonlight, wizards in dark robes stood facing the guards.
“Tell us where you’re taking those beasts, and we’ll let you walk free.”
A wizard I’d often seen coming and going from the Magic Tower flexed and released a spell between his fingers.
And between them, walking with leisurely whistles—
Tower Master Cade had appeared.
‘Wizards? Why are they here? Why is Cade…?’
Though bewildered, I was grateful that familiar faces had shown up.
…Even if I couldn’t be sure they’d rescue me.
Unable to find the right moment to slip out, I vacillated where I lay.
Guards rushed out from the building, and Cade calmly surveyed them, then spoke.
“A place that smuggles magical beasts, yet heavily staffed. Suspicious indeed.”
The guards outnumbered the wizards, but they hesitated to attack them directly.
‘Yet they’re not backing off either. What are they planning?’
Cade gestured dismissively, and several wizards cast their spells.
The guards immediately tore open magic scrolls from their pockets.
The magical attacks dissipated against the disposable barriers, scattering like dust.
Cade let out a cold, bitter laugh and stepped forward.
“You have scrolls too? This grows more suspicious by the moment.”
The guards drew out more scrolls from their pockets.
As the unexpected standoff unfolded, I shifted restlessly in the dark, edging forward.
The crate tipped.
“Mmph…!”
Realizing it was falling, I clutched the beasts to my chest and tumbled out.
I landed awkwardly on the ground, sprawled in full view, and locked eyes directly with Cade.
“…”
“…”
His gaze flickered down to the rope loosely binding my wrist, then to my split and bleeding lips.

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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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