The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 48
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 48
“Now that we’ve settled that, come forward and explain the ventures you’ve each selected.”
The clamoring nobles who had been arguing loudly moments before seemed to have established an order, and one by one they stepped forward to begin presenting the businesses they hoped would receive investment.
“This venture is so extraordinarily promising that if it succeeds, we could earn hundreds of confections alone….”
‘Liar.’
“This business involves importing incredibly thick and plush clothing from across the sea in a foreign land, and look at this adorable rabbit design….”
‘Liar.’
Bunny tilted her head.
Bunny possessed the ability to sense malice in others. Malice meant harboring ill intent, and it encompassed dishonest words as well.
Therefore, Bunny could detect lies.
And everyone here was doing nothing but lying.
Bunny’s eyes grew dull with disinterest.
After listening to their elaborately embellished tales and stories, Bunny melted into Ludbreed’s arms.
‘Not grandfather, but Bunny who’s melting….’
Bunny let out a deep sigh and pointed with her finger at the stack of documents piled to one side of Ludbreed’s desk.
“Grandfather, what’s this?”
“Hmm? Those are documents they gave me asking to send money. Haven’t you learned all the letters yet?”
“Nope. But I learned eight of them.”
Bunny held up her fingers, then began squirming as she grasped the documents and started reading the letters.
As Bunny flipped through the papers carelessly, her lips began to pout more and more.
The pages were filled with difficult, ornate script, but among them she spotted a familiar character.
‘Oh? I know this one!’
Bunny’s eyes sparkled and she froze in place.
Young Master, the letters written here are things that will become a jackpot—meaning you’ll become rich—if you just buy them now. Tell people that this information came from Young Master’s Divine Beast, and make it a truly massive jackpot! I’ll tell you about Young Master’s king-tier jackpot investment venture later.
Below what Luriel had written were several ornate human characters, and one of them matched the shape exactly.
Bunny could replicate anything she’d seen once. Of course, studying to understand and learn was different from simply seeing and copying.
In any case, she could tell the letters were identical.
“This one!”
Bunny held a single sheet of paper high in the air.
It was just a thin stack of two or three pages.
The paper that had been inconspicuously stacked in one corner among the pile of documents containing elaborate stories.
“This one’s a jackpot.”
“A jackpot?”
“Yes. Super rich. Bunny’s Heu-Gyeom Dragon told me.”
Bunny pointed with her finger at the Red Sparrow perched on her shoulder, grooming its feathers.
“A jackpot, you say…?”
“What kind of venture is that, exactly?”
The nobles who had been watching the documents Bunny held aloft with narrowed eyes began rummaging through the piles on their own desks, examining the contents before their expressions darkened.
“Magical Engineering? Mana Stone Cooling Device?”
“Wait, if it’s mana stones, isn’t that the Magical Republic’s thing? Those Mage Tower bastards.”
“No matter how much you might not understand, surely you’re not suggesting that the Young Lady would help those mages.”
Ludbreed Yudia took the documents that Bunny had lifted up and examined their contents.
With Bunny in one arm and the documents in one hand, Ludbreed Yudia naturally flipped through the papers with his free hand.
“It doesn’t appear this mage is affiliated with the Mage Tower.”
“A mage not affiliated with the Mage Tower? How is that possible…?”
“In any case, he doesn’t seem to be someone ignorant of the world. How dare a mage covered in magical energy make such a brazen investment request to the Udiah Duchy!”
“This is absurd. Is there nothing else, Young Lady Bunny?”
One of those seated around the long table hurriedly asked Bunny.
Bunny shook her head firmly, crossed her arms with a serious expression, and opened her mouth.
“Nope.”
To be precise, Bunny didn’t know a single word of what they were saying.
“Young Lady Bunny, wouldn’t you reconsider? Look, here’s a garment with such an adorable cat design.”
“Ugly.”
Bunny stared intently at the cat-patterned clothing in the proposal.
“Bunny cute. Cat not cute.”
“But…”
“No deal, no buy, Dora.”
Bunny shook her head firmly. She had nothing more to say to liars anyway.
Bunny rummaged through the remaining documents in her hand, then suddenly stopped upon seeing something.
There was another familiar character.
“Grandpa, this one too!!”
“Hmm? A clothing business? Boutique-related, I see.”
Ludbreed Yudia pulled out another document that Bunny had pointed to and examined its contents.
‘A clothing business proposal, then.’
It appeared they were gathering investment funds for a boutique.
“It seems entrusting this to Young Lady Bunny was indeed the right call. One cannot simply choose such a major venture…”
While Ludbreed Yudia was lost in thought, one of the branch family members who believed the situation was turning against them quickly changed the subject.
“No, let’s go with these two for this year’s support.”
After reading through a well-summarized three-page magical engineering proposal and a clothing business proposal with multiple attached portfolios, Ludbreed Yudia handed the documents to Pel.
Both seemed to have sufficient potential, the documents were quite well-organized, and at the very least, supporting them seemed more meaningful than backing those branch family fools.
“Understood. I’ll process this according to procedure immediately.”
Pel accepted them promptly and replied.
“This is outrageous! Your Grace! Setting aside the clothing business, but mages?! Don’t you know how cunning and despicable those mages are! For the advancement of magic, they wouldn’t hesitate to commit inhumane acts…”
“Yes, I know.”
Ludbreed Yudia glanced coldly at the vassal raising his voice and cut him off curtly.
“It appears this mage isn’t affiliated with the Mage Tower either, and genuinely needs research and investment funds. Naturally, what my granddaughter chose is far better than anything reeking of your stench.”
“But… regardless, they are mages!”
“What does that matter? Besides, I’m already aware that research utilizing magical stones has been progressing in various directions recently. The research purpose itself seems worthwhile.”
At Ludbreed Yudia’s words, the vassals opened and closed their mouths repeatedly.
The man drew a deep breath and was about to speak, but fell silent again under Ludbreed Yudia’s cold gaze.
“From the start, I began this to help those with ability but lacking means—not to stuff money into your pockets and fatten your bellies. When did I ever say such a thing?”
“But to trust merely the words of a child….”
“Those words came from your own mouths. Once spoken, honor them. Otherwise….”
Boom!
The air around Ludbreed grew heavy. The Retainers’ faces drained of color.
Neigh—!
From somewhere came the cry of a horse, followed by the sound of wings fluttering in succession.
The concentration of divine power surrounding Ludbreed was intensifying.
Divine power was indeed a purifying force, but when its concentration became excessive, even oxygen could not exist, suffocating those nearby.
“My granddaughter’s words are far more trustworthy than yours with your honeyed tongues.”
My… granddaughter?
It was a peculiar form of address.
When had Ludbreed ever referred to the branch family children at the Mansion of Trials as grandchildren?
The Retainers’ pupils trembled faintly.
More striking still—Ludbreed was a man who had never even called Klein Yudia’s sole son, Kalvad Yudia, by such familial terms as grandson or grandchild.
“I will conduct thorough investigations before any support is granted. If there are no disqualifying factors, we shall proceed with this proposal this quarter.”
“Yes, understood.”
Pel smiled faintly and bowed slowly.
In time, through Bunny’s choice, the mana-stone cooling devices in which Ludbreed Yudia invested would sweep across not merely the Empire but the entire Continent, eventually giving rise to the historic phrase “one cooling device per household,” marking an unprecedented development.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————