The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 77

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 77

The Duke’s Mansion became bustling.

Right after Count Harper visited the Duke’s Mansion, even the nobles who had been half-doubtful at first began showing interest one by one. Those who had turned their backs believing only the rumors that the House of the Duke would fall began cautiously poking their heads out.

Letters poured in.

Letters asking about well-being, letters requesting visits, letters proposing trade discussions. All kinds of correspondence flooded into the Duke’s Mansion. New letters arrived almost daily. Letters piled up like mountains in one corner of the study. No matter how much we processed them, there was no end.

Count Harper had moved well for us.

Honestly speaking, it was faster than expected. Who would have thought that loose tongue would be this helpful.

The Count probably hadn’t intended it. He had just blabbed to those around him out of anxiety and nervousness. But that became perfect publicity for us.

Of course, Carlos was very annoyed by this ridiculous situation.

Even so, he was responding to the letters quite faithfully. Of course, the content wasn’t kind, but the fact that he was replying at all was tremendous progress.

Meanwhile, I became quite busy too.

Because Sion had brought the completed purification stones.

One month. It was exactly one month as he had said.

“Ta-da.”

Sion set down a small wooden box in front of me. His expression was playful, but his eyes were shining with confidence.

When I opened the lid, it was filled with crimson crystals. A gentle light colored the room. It was like having small suns contained in a box.

“Is this all of them…?”

“Yeah. This is the first batch. What I made over a month.”

It was on a completely different level from the previous test samples.

I picked one up to examine it. I could feel an aura almost identical to the purification stones I made. Both the purity and density. It would be difficult to distinguish them without closing my eyes and concentrating.

My hands trembled.

“Sion, is this really…?”

“I told you it was possible.”

Sion shrugged his shoulders. He looked proud.

“The composition almost perfectly matches Lorea’s blood. If there’s a difference, it would be in duration?”

“Duration?”

“Yeah. Since it’s artificially made, it’ll be slightly inferior to Lorea’s pure blood. It means the effects will fade faster. About 70% of the original is reproduced. Of course, with more research, I could make it more similar than it is now.”

I shook my head. This was more than enough.

“This level is fine.”

What we needed now wasn’t the highest grade product, but a supply version. Something that could be distributed to many people. We needed quantities that could replace the Imperial purification stones.

“I’ll use these for supply purposes. Distribute them to nobles, release them to the market. So people suffering from magic contamination can buy them.”

At my willing answer, Sion’s expression changed strangely. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“…Are you going to keep giving blood to the Duke?”

So that’s what bothered him.

For some reason, Sion detested me hurting myself to improve the Duke’s condition. Even though I had told him several times that it wasn’t a big wound and didn’t hurt much.

Sion grasped my arm and gently stroked it so it wouldn’t hurt.

I looked down at it awkwardly, then nodded.

“I want to give it to the Duke directly.”

“Why?”

Sion asked back. His displeasure was evident. Unlike before, his voice had become sulky.

“Just… he’s family.”

I want to do everything I can for him.

At my calm answer, Sion was about to say something more but closed his mouth. He looked dissatisfied, but didn’t argue further.

“…Fine. But tell me if it gets difficult. Don’t overdo it.”

I grinned broadly.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course. I’d be in trouble too if Lorea collapsed.”

Sion answered curtly. But his ear tips seemed to have turned slightly red.

I subtly changed the subject.

“More importantly, how should we handle securing the supply?”

“Hmm, that.”

Sion rested his chin on his hand.

“Right now I’m making them directly, but there’s a limit to this pace. About a thousand per week is the maximum.”

“That amount… would definitely be far from enough to distribute across the entire Empire.”

“Yeah. We’ll start with that amount at first, and once the manufacturing method is stabilized, we can mobilize the Mage Tower personnel. They listen to me well.”

So being an Archmage means being able to use power in places like this.

In his casual words, I somehow seemed to see the tears of the Mage Tower personnel.

Well, if magic contamination subsided across the continent, it would be good for the mages too. It was mutual benefit, in a way.

“Then it would be good to start with small-scale production and find methods later.”

“Yeah. At first, it might be better to act precious. If we release too much, the value will drop.”

That was right.

There needed to be scarcity for people to rush for it. It was strategically correct to release small amounts at first to create thirst, then increase the supply later.

“How do we handle distribution?”

“We should sell them under the Duke’s name. Wasn’t that the original plan?”

“That’s right. Since the Duke can’t move directly, we’d need to involve trustworthy middleman merchants…”

“I know someone like that well.”

“Who?”

“Someone Lorea knows too.”

Sion smiled blankly.

After blinking for a moment, unable to understand what he meant, I belatedly let out an “Ah!” of realization.

“Moonlight Trading Post.”

“Yeah. The continent’s largest trading house, with a tight-lipped, money-loving leader. Perfect, isn’t it?”

Sion grinned wickedly.

In this world, Sion was probably the only person who would refer to Hella, called the mother of all vagrants, in such a way.

After that, Sion and I put our heads together to plan various details.

Production volume, distribution channels, pricing, target customers. There was a mountain of things to discuss. We decided to start by targeting nobles primarily, then gradually expand based on their response. The price would be slightly lower than the Imperial refining stones, but not too cheap. Finding the right balance was important.

I gripped the refining stone tightly in my hand. The crimson crystal sparkled as it caught the sunlight.

‘Finally.’

What I had only vaguely dreamed of was becoming reality before my eyes.

* * *

Imperial Palace.

In the study where darkness had fallen, a man was looking out the window.

Stars twinkled densely in the night sky. Moonlight descended coldly. But that beautiful scene didn’t register in the man’s eyes.

“…The House of the Duke has created refining stones?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Though it hasn’t been confirmed yet, the rumors are quite serious.”

At the attendant’s report, the Emperor clenched his fist so tightly that blood stopped flowing.

‘Lorea, that damned bitch finally.’

What the Emperor had been worried about was only the Imperial refining stones running out. Even though Lorea possessed the only raw material for refining stones, with that frail body of hers, she could at most produce just a few refining stones.

Without the Imperial technology and the Emperor’s cooperation, the puppet Lorea Pryce could do nothing.

That’s certainly how it should have been.

But what wind had blown through that bitch to make her finally cause trouble?

“How dare she.”

The teacup in his hand shattered with a crack. Porcelain fragments tore his palm, but the Emperor didn’t even blink.

“Your Majesty, your hand!”

“It’s fine.”

The Emperor slowly raised the corners of his mouth as fresh blood dripped steadily to the floor.

“Interesting. Very interesting.”

She thinks she’s grown wings, does she?

“My beloved daughter. You’re finally dreaming impossible dreams.”

Then this father has no choice but to do his best too.

The Emperor turned to look at his attendant.

“Summon the chief researcher and the chancellor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The attendant withdrew. His footsteps quickly faded into the distance.

Left alone in the darkness, the Emperor looked down at his bloodied hand. Red blood flowed along the lines of his palm.

“Lorea.”

He called that name once more. Like a curse.

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