The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 180

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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 180

A nobleman’s attendant in a black suit was standing there.

Under his hat, an eyepatch covering one eye was briefly visible.

‘Sion?’

What on earth is going on?

I watched in bewilderment as Sion handed immigration papers to the palace attendant.

Ruellian must have felt the same way.

How did Sion, who should be locked up in the labor camp right now, know to prepare the exact documents we needed and appear here?

“Yes, everything checks out.”

The palace attendant nodded and opened the door for us.

We entered the audience chamber without showing any outward reaction.

Among the bustling crowd waiting for their turn, I asked in a lowered voice.

“Did you escape by any chance?”

“No.”

Sion shook his head.

“Although I am a serious criminal, I was granted temporary leave thanks to the merit I earned during the last Imperial Tournament when I controlled the giant puppet to save His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“I see. But even so, how did you know we would appear here in disguise?”

“Don’t worry. No information was leaked.”

Sion answered calmly.

“I was able to appear at the right time purely thanks to my intuition. Or you could call it the survival instinct I’ve developed over the years.”

“You used people too?”

“Of course. To help Aristina, I mobilized all my old connections to keep watch on the situation. Then suddenly, in these times, corruption in the Royal Knights was exposed, one foundation was on the verge of collapse, and out of nowhere, changes occurred in the audience procedures. I saw a pattern in this series of events and prepared the documents just in case.”

After saying that, Sion added.

“Aristina’s disguise is perfect. But even if others don’t know, I do. I know the aura of our Rosen Family. That’s how I was able to immediately figure out Aristina’s new identity. I was happy to be able to help, but…”

He was speaking with bright eyes but suddenly stopped.

His gaze turned toward both of us.

Ruellian and I weren’t particularly holding hands or linking arms at the moment.

But Sion seemed to have detected through his characteristic sharp senses that considerable intimacy had developed between us.

“Aha.”

A strange murmur escaped from Sion’s mouth.

“So that’s how it is?”

“What?”

Ruellian responded.

I could feel his attitude toward Sion had subtly changed.

Until now, it had always felt like he was on edge and wary. Was it because he had received useful help this time? He seemed much more relaxed.

He spoke to Sion with a face that even bore a slight smile.

“I never thought I’d end up owing you a favor like this. If things work out well, I’ll properly repay you. For now, surviving is what’s important. For all three of us.”

“That’s right.”

Sion nodded.

“If it’s discovered that I cooperated with traitors, I’ll end up on the execution platform together with you. But for me, it’s the same either way. If something happens to Aristina, I’m destined to die as well.”

“The antidote is safely at the mansion, Sion. Feel free to take it whenever you want.”

“I said I won’t take any antidote unless it’s given to me by Aristina herself.”

Sion spoke stubbornly.

“So I’m just going to think of my life as already thrown away and serve as a liaison in the meantime. First, please take this.”

With that, he pulled out an object tightly wrapped in a handkerchief from his coat.

I was surprised when I peeked inside.

“Isn’t this a World Tree fragment used for harvesting ‘World Tree’s Lullaby’? Why this?”

“Queen Aunt came to visit Father and told him to make sure to send this to Aristina. She said it might be useful. And this is money that Father asked me to deliver.”

Sion removed several account rings from his fingers and handed them to me.

“Father said this: Even if he has to empty all of the Rosen Duchy’s wealth and end up on the streets, he will support you without reservation. He told me to tell you that everyone believes in you. So don’t be afraid and reveal the truth. Like a true descendant of House of Rosen.”

“I see…”

He still thinks I’ll solve all problems by spending money like water.

That was somewhat amusing, but separately, Father’s words moved my heart.

Everything was truly different from when I was first framed for poisoning.

And I had changed too.

Who would have thought the day would come when I’d be grateful for those words about believing in me rather than money.

‘Father…’

My eyes were getting moist with emotion when Sion’s voice brought me back to reality.

“Anyway, this isn’t the time for this. There’s someone waiting for Aristina.”

“Really?”

Ruellian and I followed Sion’s lead through the complex audience chamber.

Among the bustling crowd, someone spotted us and hurried over. He too was disguised as some nobleman’s attendant. But under his hat was a tearfully welcome face.

I called out in a suppressed voice.

“Benjamin!”

“Master!”

Benjamin’s face lit up like a flame.

My hamster.

I was moved, proud, and somewhat pleased by the unexpected appearance of my employee.

We had benefited greatly from Ruellian’s dark guild connections to get this far, but when I thought about it, I had something similar too.

My one-man-army employee.

Benjamin approached and whispered quickly.

“There’s no time, so I’ll get straight to the point. Yesterday, the director came to our Black Rose Trading Company.”

“Director?”

My head was so full of Tesseud’s matter that I didn’t immediately understand Benjamin’s words.

“What director?”

“The director of Rare Plant Academy. The very place where you serve as dean, Master.”

“Ah!”

Only then did I remember.

“Right! I had called the director to research the Amaranthia Flower to find clues about the murderer, didn’t I? Because I accidentally learned that the murderer had once been interested in that flower.”

“Yes. That’s exactly what he talked about. Thanks to your full support, Master, he was so happily buried in research. He had no idea how the world was turning. He said he only found out that his dean had been wanted for treason when he went to the ducal mansion.”

“Scholars are truly amazing in many ways.”

I clicked my tongue.

“But if the director went to the ducal mansion, does that mean he had research results?”

“Yes. You asked the director to research how the Amaranthia Flower affects human souls and what mysterious abilities unknown to the world might be hidden in it, right? The spiritual aspect, not the achievement aspect.”

“Right. I did.”

“According to the academy’s investigation, this flower that supposedly blooms in the celestial realm originally has two abilities. You could call them black and white twins. The first is the ability to look into the souls of the living, which the academy already knows well, and the second is the ability to look into the souls of the dead.”

“Looking into the souls of the dead?”

Ruellian asked back.

“This is the first I’ve heard of such a thing.”

“Ah, that’s right. The religious community would say that. That kind of research belongs to those who were persecuted as witches in the past, so the Order strictly prohibits it.”

Benjamin took out his notebook and whispered while looking at his notes.

“Research into looking into the souls of the dead is said to be related to black magic. If pure-bred Amaranthia Flowers are processed in a temple, you can look into the souls of the living, and if processed through black magic, you can look into the souls of the dead. The academy found several books related to this, and they’re all owned by the Ancient Text Research Foundation.”

“Ancient Text Research Foundation?”

We both asked back simultaneously.

That was Tesseud’s secret source of funding that the dark guild had discovered.

‘Yes. This is it.’

The part that had remained in the realm of darkness in my mind seemed to brighten up.

Why Tesseud was so interested in the Amaranthia Flower is still unclear.

But at least the connection between the respected Sword Master and black magic has been revealed.

He had gotten involved with black magic while researching the other function of the Amaranthia Flower.

If we could just prove this fact, it could be the decisive blow to bring him down.

I hurriedly spoke to Benjamin.

“Talk to Gremory Editor-in-Chief at 【Justice Daily】 and have them track the Ancient Texts Research Foundation more thoroughly. We need clear evidence proving who the real person behind the scenes is, not just the figurehead foundation director they put forward. Got it?”

“Understood.”

Benjamin answered with determination.

“Don’t worry. I’ll also help Gremory Editor-in-Chief with the resolve that my life depends on it.”

“Thank you…”

“Not at all.”

Benjamin shook his head and said.

“Respected Master. I hope I can serve you again.”

At that moment, his round, bright brown eyes seemed to glisten slightly with moisture.

Seeing that, my own eyes grew hot.

“I too hope we can work together again in the Guild Office.”

“Master!”

Benjamin and I exchanged such final farewells and parted with deep emotion.

Even after the hamster’s form disappeared, I couldn’t take my eyes away for a moment.

“Come on, we need to move on to the next thing quickly.”

Ruellian, who couldn’t stand watching any longer, spoke up. Then he briefly explained to Sion.

“Maid Grace, who holds key evidence in this case, is somewhere in this Imperial Palace. We need to get our hands on Grace first before they feel threatened and make their move. Hurry while their hands are temporarily tied.”

“Understood.”

Sion took the lead.

“Let’s go, Aristina.”

“Right.”

The three of us frantically pushed through the chaotic crowds, passed the waiting room, and entered the inner parts of the Imperial Palace.

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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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