The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 31

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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 31

“This is really top secret….”

Zikren glanced around his surroundings. Then he secretly held out his palm toward me.

A small paper card appeared like magic. On that card was engraved the silhouette of some mysterious figure wearing a cloak.

‘Wait.’

Seeing that figure, a certain name automatically came to mind from the edges of my consciousness.

“…Black Ghost?”

Or ‘Black Phantom’. The nickname people gave to the Empire’s famous phantom thief.

They really shouldn’t give such stylish names to criminals.

They should give them pathetic names like ‘Sunfish’, ‘Bookworm’, or ‘Intersection Pink Slippers’, so their motivation drops and they get caught quickly. Thanks to this, the phantom thief kept evading capture and maintained quite a presence in the underworld.

“There’s a scary thief roaming the night streets.”

The coachman had mentioned it on the night I ran away too.

Also, as I saw in the General Assembly booklet, he recently robbed the 11th ranked guild and stole their treasures.

“You mean that mysterious phantom thief?”

“Who else would it be?”

Zikren grumbled.

“To think even a transcendent has to step in to catch such a petty thief! And you know what’s even funnier? I let him escape! Tch, I could have succeeded in one shot!”

So on the night of the murder, the Second Prince was catching a phantom thief?

‘Hmm…. Is that possible?’

I quickly organized the information in my head.

The undefeated phantom thief ‘Black Phantom’.

His characteristic was that he would stick a handwritten advance notice on the items he planned to steal.

It was an expression of great confidence and a show in itself.

‘Thanks to that, he could draw tremendous public attention.’

The protagonist of an unbelievable legend of invincibility, who would always succeed after posting a crime notice. He left not even a speck of evidence at the scene, and the items he stole would also vanish without a trace after that day.

They never appeared even in places like black markets.

‘And the notices were peculiar too.’

Old paper that’s rarely used nowadays, with ink that seemed aged and uniquely discolored. Such characteristics also contributed to the nickname ‘Ghost’.

‘In short, he’s an elusive figure.’

Even though the Imperial Security Forces tried so hard to catch him, they couldn’t find a single clue.

But coincidentally, on the very night Aristina was murdered, Zikren, one of the prime suspects, had a confrontation with that phantom thief?

I find it hard to believe.

“Well, since I’m at my level, I was the first in the Empire to almost catch that guy….”

Zikren recited his arrogant line while looking at me, then his eyebrows twitched.

“Why are you reacting like that? Don’t tell me you don’t believe me?”

“No….”

“You don’t! What a ridiculous personality. Do I need to show you evidence to make you believe?”

“You have evidence?”

“Of course. And there’s also the Chief of Security who can testify. The evidence and witness are right here in the Main Palace ahead, so come along if you’re curious.”

He’s quite confident.

And the Chief of Security no less. Isn’t he the head responsible for the Empire’s security? There must really be something there.

I followed Zikren and asked.

“What exactly happened that night?”

“I was secretly lying in ambush and then pounced on him.”

“How did you know in advance?”

“Of course I didn’t know in advance.”

Zikren answered cheerfully.

“I just used my transcendent senses to figure out one of his escape routes.”

“Where was that?”

“The Ancient Temple Ruins Underground Maze that even archaeologists didn’t know about. I wondered where that could be, so every time a notice appeared, I just camped out there blindly. Thinking he’d use that escape route someday.”

“That’s so like you. Simple and not very intelligent….”

“Tch! Everyone said that, but I was right in the end. After persistently lying in ambush, that guy finally appeared there that night.”

Zikren continued, flashing his sharp canine teeth.

“I caught him with a chain-type dragon artifact I had prepared in advance. Ah, you probably don’t know what that is? It’s a mystical relic imbued with dragon power.”

“Thanks for explaining. So what happened next?”

“That’s….”

Zikren’s swagger deflated a bit.

“What happened next was strange.”

He frowned as he entered the Main Palace.

“I couldn’t get the chain around his neck as planned, but I definitely got it around his wrist. Once it’s fastened, it can never be removed. Unless there’s a power stronger than dragon power….”

“But he removed it?”

“Hah….”

Zikren let out a long sigh as he opened the door to a room.

“He definitely ran away with it around his wrist, but when I tried to summon him, there was no response…. Much later, instead of that guy, this thing was summoned.”

He pointed to the center of the room.

Beyond the gray-haired Chief of Security who bowed and said “Welcome,” I could see a transparent glass case.

Inside were fragments of a shattered chain displayed in bracelet form, with the sharp white silver radiance piercing my eyes.

I was shocked.

‘This is…?’

Chain links that would have originally been O-shaped, but were all split in half to become U-shaped.

In the spot where these pieces were assembled together, exactly one U-shaped fragment was missing.

A silver fragment that could also look like a crescent moon shape.

The very thing I had picked up where the mercenary had left.

‘That fragment was this?’

I was completely dumbfounded.

“As the Chief can see, it’s not just a magic chain but a dragon artifact. How on earth did he break it and escape? Is that even possible?”

“That’s what I’m saying, Your Highness. Maybe he really is a ghost like the rumors say.”

I stared blankly at the two people whispering.

‘It’s possible even without being a ghost. If he’s God’s Representative with powerful and mystical abilities.’

In the sensation of goosebumps rising from head to toe….

The flow of events from that night became clear.

Zikren’s persistence finally paid off, and the two encountered each other in the Dark Underground Maze.

The Second Prince personally coming to catch him.

Ruellian must have been surprised too.

He somehow managed to avoid getting the collar around his neck, but with the chain fastened around his wrist, he fled to a safe place.

The Sanctuary, where no one could pursue and his power became even stronger. He barely made it there.

And through his stigmata, he powerfully drew upon divine power and succeeded in breaking the chain.

‘But at that very moment. I had burst into that place.’

The mercenary’s appearance, frozen like ice for a moment. That was probably raw emotion, not acting or an illusion.

‘How dumbfounded he must have been.’

At such a coincidental moment. Not just anyone, but the good-for-nothing princess he had so despised appeared and thoroughly exposed all his secrets.

‘His world must have collapsed.’

No matter how arrogant and selfish a person might be, he had no choice.

Wondering if the stupid princess had noticed something, if she might quickly run her mouth somewhere. With an anxious heart, he even made an exceptional approach and clung to me.

“What other reason would a man have for seeking out a woman, Princess? It’s because he’s interested.”

“Was my date proposal that unappealing? My pride is hurt.”

Recalling how he tried so hard, I let out a hollow laugh.

‘Haha…. There really was a desperate reason.’

The puzzle pieces floating around in my head came together as one, clicking into place with a snap.

‘No wonder his pickpocketing skills when rifling through my pouch were extraordinary.’

It was all foreshadowing.

I was left dumbfounded.

“…Where on earth is this last fragment hiding?”

Zikren said this while turning his head, then stopped when he saw me. He waved his hand in front of my face.

“Aristina, why are you spacing out?”

“I’m what?”

“Aha, I get it. The Chief of Imperial Security just mentioned ghosts, so that’s why? You’re still afraid of ghosts, just like back then.”

He said arrogantly, his golden eyes gleaming.

“How foolish. That guy isn’t a ghost. At least we figured out that much this time. He has a physical form, that’s why he got caught in the snare. I was careless this time, but I can win next time.”

“I’m certain you will.”

The Chief of Imperial Security nodded while picking up a bundle of documents about the phantom thief.

“Now that His Highness the Crown Prince is also participating, that guy is finished. If he just falls into your two’s terrifying trap, wouldn’t he be as good as dead?”

“I’d like to keep him alive if possible so he can stand trial, but even if we go easy on him, he’ll be paralyzed at minimum.”

Oh.

Zikren’s words brought me back to my senses.

‘Wait a minute.’

If the phantom thief’s identity is Ruellian…

The target the Crown Prince and Second Prince would end up killing is the leader of the Holy Order, respected by all.

He’s also a trusted friend they’ve known since childhood.

‘This would destroy the political world, overturn the Empire… Wouldn’t this be a disaster?’

The moment my heart turned cold.

A sharp ringing sound echoed in my ears, followed by dizzying vertigo.

「Of course it would be a disaster.」

Someone’s voice penetrated deeply into my mind.

「Contractor, you have finally seen that future.」

The tone was dignified, but…

‘A child?’

What appeared before my eyes along with that young voice was a small baby dragon.

A large head with large eyes. Its appearance, brilliantly shining with golden scales, seemed somehow familiar.

‘It looks exactly like the baby dragon I saw in the vision when we talked about contracting with the World Tree and such? The one that was sleeping deeply while listening to a lullaby…’

「That is correct.」

Life sparkled in the baby dragon’s large golden eyes as it earnestly nodded its large head up and down.

「You remember. Well, anyone who sees this body’s majestic appearance even once could never forget it.」

Majestic, it says.

For that, it had a 2-head-tall proportion with a head as big as its body, and both front and back paws that were just adorable.

‘Who exactly are you?’

「I am the will of a certain powerful being whose name cannot be spoken. Just know that much.」

The baby dragon spoke solemnly.

「Through your contract with the World Tree, you became able to see me and I became able to see you. Therefore, I wish to make a request.」

‘What request?’

「Since disaster has befallen the two Transcendent Ones you contracted with, I request your help.」

As the baby dragon waved its arms, a vision appeared before my eyes.

It was Ruellian in a terrible state, covered in blood from head to toe. And Aldensis and Zikren, hands stained with blood, in great shock.

「The predetermined future is approaching. A future that is still undetermined in both time and place. Therefore, it can be prevented if appropriate measures are taken.」

The baby dragon said this while staring up at me intently.

「Contractor of the Transcendent Ones. Will you prevent this future through very simple manipulation, fulfill my request, and receive compensation?」

Hmm? Compensation through very simple manipulation?

I asked back.

‘What kind of compensation?’

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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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