The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 149

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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 149

As I approached the main gate of the ducal mansion, the gatekeepers hurriedly came outside.

Though my appearance was suspicious, they seemed to recognize that I was their Young Lady.

“Young Lady! Are you returning now?”

“Yes.”

After receiving their greetings, I pointed behind me with my finger.

“There’s some luggage back there, so please carry it inside.”

“Yes, understood.”

They went to get the items without thinking, then hesitated slightly.

Miscellaneous items bought at the market, animal ear headbands, a cloak with dragon wings… They probably hadn’t expected the ‘luggage’ I mentioned to be things like these.

“Right. I went and enjoyed the festival. Make sure everyone enjoys themselves too.”

I said that and took the lead, entering inside first.

The spoils I had obtained tonight were neatly placed in my room. The advisors came flocking over.

“Young Lady, you’re back? I heard you did target shooting with a mysterious handsome man and ate apples?”

“Oh! It’s a limited edition cloak! How did you know to buy this?”

Everyone’s voice tone was a couple levels higher than usual. They seemed excited about the festival. I thought it was cute.

“Why are you cooped up inside the house instead of going out to see the sights? I don’t think I’ve been that strict about discipline, have I?”

“We did go out. But there were too many people, so we came right back in. It’s better to eat delicious food and chat here instead. There are many special menu items because of the festival. They even gave us a bottle of wine each, so we’re planning to open them later.”

“That’s right. Later we want to follow Young Lady to watch the Imperial Knight Tournament. We’re really looking forward to being able to watch comfortably from good seats.”

Their chattering drew my attention.

‘Right, I need to examine Windfarer.’

I spoke to the advisors.

“Alright. Everyone rest. Just Hanna, follow me for a moment and help out.”

Then I opened the large safe in the middle of the room.

Inside this specially made secret safe was Windfarer. I gazed at the majestic sword for a moment.

This sword was a national treasure to other people, but to me it was a murder weapon holding an important key to the murder case. I absolutely couldn’t let it be taken away.

‘I’m about to discover one more new clue right now.’

I took out the sword and carefully held it in my arms.

Sophie’s eyes widened as she asked.

“What’s that for?”

“Ah, I’m going to take it for a walk. Let’s go, Hanna.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Hanna immediately followed me out.

We left the main building with Windfarer and headed toward the annex.

‘According to the information Aldensis gave me, this sword has a special ability. The power to make its owner temporarily step outside of space and time. The culprit might have used that ability to infiltrate the ducal mansion’s annex that night.’

To use such mystical power, the owner must first subjugate the sword, he had said. In simple terms, it means to make it submit.

Perhaps because I’m neither a knight nor a mage, this sword showed no signs of wanting to obey me. But instead, some strange phenomenon did appear.

‘What is that?’

I fixed my gaze on the trees standing before me.

“Is there something there?”

Hanna also looked in that direction following me. But since she couldn’t seem to find anything, she just had a puzzled expression.

‘Hanna’s eyes can’t see it?’

It seemed to be a phenomenon visible only to my eyes while holding Windfarer.

On the trunks of several trees surrounding the annex, faintly glowing blue traces remained.

I could see them while holding the sword, but they weren’t visible when I put it down briefly.

Seeing these unique traces reminded me of something.

‘It’s just like a luminol reaction, isn’t it?’

There’s a method for finding evidence of crimes at scenes that appear clean.

You spray luminol solution and darken the surroundings.

Then the areas where blood had splattered in the past glow fluorescent.

‘It might be a similar principle.’

In this case, it would be traces of mystical power being used, not bloodstains.

Traces of someone using Windfarer’s ability months ago to distort space while infiltrating the annex.

Could those still remain on those trees?

“Hanna, come over here.”

I walked along, tracing the traces while holding the sword.

After passing through the garden, an iron fence appeared. It’s the fence that surrounds and protects the Rosen Duchy.

The traces that had been scattered here and there completely ended there.

‘The culprit secretly entered the ducal mansion through this point.’

I examined the surroundings carefully.

Though she didn’t understand what was happening, Hanna also held the lantern close and helped examine the area.

But we couldn’t find anything.

‘I have no idea?’

I went back inside and called a manager to ask.

“Is there anything strange about that fence over there?”

“I’ll take a look.”

The manager examined the area carefully, then brought over an elderly senior manager since he wasn’t sure.

The senior manager took the lantern and observed for a while, then suddenly spoke.

“Wait? They did it wrong!”

I quickly asked.

“What did they do wrong?”

“The bars were installed upside down.”

The senior manager said while tapping the fence.

“There was a time when they removed the fence to add another entrance here, but then canceled the work. The workers must have confused top and bottom then. Tsk tsk, they say the spirits’ protection resides in each of these iron fence bars…”

I asked him as he clicked his tongue.

“Is only this spot wrong? Or are other places like this too?”

“I’ll check.”

The senior manager went around in a circle, then came back and said.

“Only this spot is like that.”

“Good.”

I pressed a gold coin for reward into his hand and ordered.

“Fix it back to the original way. Right now.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

The senior manager, excited after receiving the gold coin, immediately called workers and started construction.

Watching all the upside-down iron bars being pulled out and properly reinstalled made me feel much more secure.

“Let’s go now.”

As I turned around with Hanna, I glanced down at Windfarer in my arms.

‘Thanks for the information.’

It would be nice if it could also tell me who the culprit was that used it to kill someone, but the sword doesn’t have a mouth.

‘I’ll figure out the rest myself.’

After returning to my room and putting Windfarer back in the special safe and locking it securely, I sat down at my desk.

First, I manipulated my account ring to display my account balance in the air.

The department store’s sales jumped whenever I caused some kind of buzz.

Each time that happened, the various businesses I had established also saw increased sales.

On top of that, I had recently prevented Argos Trading Company from going out of business and absorbed their quarterly results entirely.

Thanks to all these achievements, the pure cash balance in my account had recently surpassed 10 billion. It would only continue to snowball from here.

‘This should be enough ammunition.’

After first writing up a bunch of documents and stamping them with my seal, I summoned the director of the Rare Plant Academy.

It seemed like the time had come to use the honorary dean position that I had just left buried in dust all this time.

“Did you call for me, Dean?”

The director came running immediately.

I spoke to him.

“All this time, whenever the academy made requests, I would stamp my seal and approve budgets without even reading them. I never interfered even once. So I was quite a decent dean, wasn’t I?”

“To be honest, yes.”

“But from now on, I’m going to stop doing that.”

“Pardon?”

“Instead of being a decent dean, I’m going to become the world’s greatest dean.”

“…?”

I handed the documents to the director, who looked bewildered.

Guaranteed ultra-luxurious research environments for all scholars belonging to the academy. State-of-the-art technology support. Unlimited welfare benefits for the time being. New reward system based on research achievements… and so on.

The director’s mouth gaped wide at the unprecedented treatment that couldn’t be found anywhere in the world, not just the Empire.

“H-how is this possible….”

“What do you think?”

I asked while continuing to drop document bombs.

“With this much, do you think we could even develop alchemy that turns stones into gold?”

“Th-that would be impossible, but… it would be enough to turn an academic wasteland into a forest of knowledge.”

“Then make sure to produce results quickly.”

I pressed him gently but firmly.

“What research have you done on amaranthia flowers with my support so far?”

“I assumed the academy president would naturally be interested in commercialization, so we mainly researched cultivation environments. How to grow them well for mass production….”

“But you said it’s difficult to cultivate them unless you’re with the Holy Order, right? Instead of that, wasn’t there anything like this? How those flowers affect the human soul, what mysterious abilities unknown to the world might be hidden within them.”

“Ah! You mean research in the supernatural abilities field. Of course we were proceeding with that, shall we focus on that area?”

“Yes. I’ll provide full support for anything, so make sure to bring results.”

“Understood!”

The director returned excitedly.

Well, it would be good if results came out, and if not, so be it. After all, I’m just sitting here while others do the research.

At least there would be the positive result of advancing the Empire’s botany, right?

‘Now, the next task.’

Now I need to prepare a way to strike the fake thief who uses black magic from behind.

Fortunately, this ducal mansion was full of people who were masters of combat. The Elder Knights who had experienced all kinds of battles on land, sea, and air.

‘Those people must know something for sure.’

With such expectations, I went down to the hall on the lower floor.

The elders were gathered there as expected.

“…If there’s a spirit knight among this tournament’s participants who makes it to the round of 32, I’ll bet money on that guy.”

“Do you think a spirit knight could actually make it to the round of 32?”

“That’s exactly why it wouldn’t be an ordinary bet!”

They were talking heatedly but stopped their conversation when they saw me. They all smiled brightly and greeted me.

“Young Lady, you’ve come?”

“Yes.”

I answered warmly and took a seat.

“As expected, you’re all not interested in the Founding Festival and only focused on the Imperial Knight Tournament.”

“Shall we talk about something more interesting?”

“No. This works out well. I wanted to ask for advice.”

At my words, Helmut asked.

“Advice?”

“Yes.”

I replied calmly.

“You all seem to be making bets and gambling, so I thought I’d try to make some money with this opportunity too.”

“…?”

The elders looked at me with wide eyes.

Wasn’t I assigned the important role of presenting Windfairer to the winner at that day’s tournament? Others would be overwhelmed just with that alone, but betting and gambling? What betting and gambling? As expected, there’s nothing but thoughts of money in that head.

Their gazes seemed to contain such surprise.

Then.

“Hahaha! That’s my daughter!”

Someone strode into the hall with a pleased laugh.

It was Carnel Rosen.

I hadn’t even seen him wandering around outside, so where did he appear from like the wind?

That was surprising too, but personally, there was something even more surprising.

I looked at the duke with a bewildered expression.

‘Since when has he been saying “my daughter” so naturally?’

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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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