The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 25

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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 25

Huh?

The elderly lumber merchant looked bewildered. He must have thought I would naturally inflate the lumber price.

But that won’t work from the start.

The guild masters who visited here before me apparently raised the lumber price significantly to the old man, wanting to pass the test first… But that’s falling into a trap.

‘Queen Aunt told me to come back with a proper contract.’

If you raise the wood price like that, how much are you going to sell the music boxes for? Is it all good as long as you get the contract? The profit margins don’t match at all.

I can’t raise the purchase price.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t show him the taste of money.

This time I prepared the spicy approach.

I sat in the chair and crossed my legs boldly.

“Benjamin, who am I? Aristina Bianca Rosen. The only daughter of the wealthy Duke’s family. A brainless villainess who gets sick if she doesn’t waste money because she has so much of it rotting away. I was trying to waste money lavishly by doing this ‘useless music box’ business as this old man said. But I can’t get the materials, so I’m going crazy! I need to quickly spend the money I brought here somewhere else…”

I spread out the Elven Faith protest flyer I picked up from the floor.

“This looks perfect.”

“…!”

The old man was horrified.

The protest promotional flyer contained all sorts of crazy acts by the Elven Faith.

Marching while covering only private parts with tree leaves. Cursing lumberjacks and lumber merchants while singing in chorus in the square. Paint vandalism on lumber stacked outside. Following passersby around giving them looks until they sign petitions to eliminate the lumber processing industry…

Below all these acts of terrorism packaged and proudly written as their achievements.

‘We accept donations:

Imperial Bank 338-575465-xxxxxx.

This account is always transparently open to all sponsors.’

The donation account was prominently displayed like this.

My fingertip was tapping right at that spot.

“N-no…”

The old man who had been ignoring whatever I said finally began to waver.

“What are you talking about? So you’re saying you’ll donate 100 million to these crazy bastards now?”

“Why not?”

With the face of a wealthy only daughter whose head makes hollow sounds, I replied.

“I like trees too! Either way, I’m spending money on trees, so it doesn’t matter, right? My father always tells me to donate a lot when I’m bored.”

When I touched my ring, my account appeared in the air with a magic circle. I entered the Elven Faith’s donation account number below it and opened it.

【17 Pel】.

That was the entire balance of the account they claimed to ‘transparently disclose.’

Of course. Who would donate their precious money to these nuisance fanatics?

「Please donate now. The Elven Faith needs your support.」

As the message echoed, I tapped the donation account in the air and prepared to transfer money.

“Aaah! Guild Master!”

Benjamin screamed.

“Old man! Please stop our guild master! What do you mean giving those damn cockroaches a windfall! Quickly sign this contract and let the wealthy young lady’s twisted desires be healthily resolved through business! Please sell the lumber and steal that money that would go to those Elven Faith bastards!”

“Uh, uh…”

While the old man stammered, 100 million flew away.

The balance that was ’17’ went up with a cheerful sound.

To ‘100,000,017.’

「You have received a donation of 100 million Pel. Thank you.」

An image appeared of Elven Faith believers covering their bodies with tree leaves, dancing and running around cheerfully.

“Th-this…!”

The old man’s face turned red and blue. His nostrils flared, and steam came hissing out of them. He looked like he was under pressure and about to explode at any moment.

“Ah, spending money is really fun. I should donate the remaining 900 million too.”

I leisurely reached for my account.

At that moment.

The old man kicked his chair and jumped up.

“Wait!!!”

* * *

The next morning.

The Eunbidulgi Palace, which Queen Aunt had designated as the interview location, was bustling with people.

“What! There was no talk of this at the assembly hall yesterday!”

People who belatedly realized they needed to bring lumber samples turned red and protested.

“Did you get it?”

“No! There was exactly one place, but they absolutely refused to sell and chased me away!”

“Me too!”

People who couldn’t obtain maple walnut wood despite searching everywhere poured out complaints.

Even though they all went together to protest, Queen Aunt’s attendant was firm.

“That won’t do. You should have read the invitation carefully. You can only enter if you bring lumber samples. It’s clearly written that way.”

“Ah, this is really too much!”

In the midst of that noisy commotion, I appeared.

As always, with a tense appearance from head to toe. Walking click-clack on the stone-paved sidewalk, spreading intimidation in all directions.

People held their breath and stared for a moment, but soon began gossiping again.

“She probably didn’t read the invitation either, right?”

“Oh my, how much of a scene is she going to make this time?”

While frowning, everyone watched me with sinister anticipation.

But…

“Did you bring the sample?”

“Of course.”

I answered the attendant’s question confidently and turned around.

The servant who followed me hurriedly stepped forward. He was holding a silver tray in his hands. People’s eyes widened when they saw what was placed on the tray.

It was unmistakably that lumber sample that was currently causing a shortage in the vicinity.

“Huh? Th-that… Aristina Bianca Rosen?”

“Ah, what! That’s unfair! Does money solve everything!”

“Wait, but if she solved it with money, she’ll be kicked out anyway. Like that guild master who came with imported lumber through illegal trade earlier.”

“Right. Just obtaining it doesn’t solve everything. The unit price is important.”

People murmured.

However…

“Young Lady, may I see the contract stating the lumber purchase price?”

“Here.”

The attendant nodded after reviewing my contract.

“Good. In a moment, as soon as the previous interviewee’s interview ends, you may enter immediately.”

What?

People’s mouths fell open.

“She passed everything?”

“How? What method did she use to accomplish that?”

Yes, actually I did solve it with money.

Shocked gazes beyond surprise poured onto me as I proudly showed off the 100 million Pel lumber sample.

My nose rose to the sky.

‘Duke Carnel, are you watching?’

When I came home late last night, I was really scared. I was worried he might think I had lost my mind and run around at the party again, getting drunk, and scold me.

But all the lights were just off?

‘Seriously not interested in you.’

The entire manor was saying that.

But I wish he would at least see this moment.

Didn’t the Duke’s advisors come? The report needs to reach the Duke’s ears properly.

Still pretending to be haughty with my head held high, I rolled my eyes at light speed to survey my surroundings.

Although Prince Zikren had taken all the attention, there were still people who had come to watch over here.

Under the shade of a tree, somewhat apart from those onlookers, I spotted someone wearing a hooded robe.

I was startled.

‘Ruellian?’

I tensed up for a moment, but fortunately that person was a woman.

Since she had entered my field of vision, I looked more closely and noticed that the lips and jawline slightly visible under the hood seemed somehow familiar.

Who was it…?

After thinking for a moment, it suddenly came to me.

‘Eunice!’

Duke Carnel’s chief aide. Intelligent, calm, always with her hair tied to one side.

It seemed to be her.

She had been hiding perfectly, but when I appeared, she had stepped forward briefly to get a better look. Then she quickly disappeared afterward.

‘Too late. You’ve already been caught.’

She had pretended to be uninterested, but secretly sent even her chief aide to receive reports. I needed to do even better without giving any cause for criticism.

“Young Lady, you may enter now.”

“Oh, right.”

Hoping that Eunice would relay my performance well to the Duke, I put the wood samples in my bag and confidently entered.

The attendant guided me to a room at the end of the corridor. It was a space like a chairman’s office, with a large desk and chair.

“She will be here shortly.”

“Alright.”

Nothing is as nerve-wracking as waiting time before an interview.

As I realized how much I wanted to land this contract, I suddenly became nervous.

‘No, don’t. Don’t get nervous.’

I quickly took a deep breath.

‘How will I handle marketing if I get the contract? What if I develop new products?’

I was reviewing the answers to the anticipated questions I had diligently prepared last night when…

“…?”

The moment I felt a strange churning sensation and looked up.

The floor shook violently.

“What? Could it be an earthquake?”

I hoped it was my imagination or due to nearby construction, but the shaking was serious.

Following evacuation procedures, I covered my head and hid under the desk, and my vision went dark. Not because of the earthquake’s shaking.

‘If this happens, my interview will be…?’

Because the interview was more important to me than the earthquake.

I could already see the announcement before my eyes.

【Today’s scheduled interviews have been canceled due to the earthquake. We will announce the rescheduled date later】.

‘No!’

If I had been among the rejected candidates, I would have cheered and called it divine intervention.

But since I had beaten all the competitors and success was within sight, I felt like I could die from frustration.

Earthquakes don’t happen with timing in mind, but why now of all times?

Zikren, is this your doing?

No. No matter how reckless he is, he wouldn’t cause an earthquake at Queen Aunt’s palace…

“Oh! Come to think of it, Queen Aunt!”

I was shocked.

She was on her way here right now!

“Queen Aunt! Queen Aunt!”

“Ah… I’m here! Over here!”

A panicked voice could be heard from outside.

“Oh my! Are you alright?”

The year’s number one stupid question. The precious interviewer and future contractor was an elderly person who looked like she could be blown away by a breeze.

I had to escort her to safety.

“Please wait! I’ll come to you!”

I mustered my courage and stood up, grabbing the desk. Protecting my head with my bag, I held onto the wall for support and came outside.

But…

“Huh?”

As soon as I came out, I was surprised.

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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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