The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 86

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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 86

…Huh?

At Ruellian’s words that completely missed my expectations, my brain stopped for a moment.

‘What did he say?’

I heard him correctly. But….

That intense gaze. The voice filled with power. That utterly serious expression.

Isn’t this the kind of atmosphere that comes out when the Agent of the Divine discovers a soul that has broken the laws of the world?

I thought that’s exactly what it was. But it wasn’t that at all—absurdly, it was because of the trivial curiosity of ‘who did you go to after abandoning me at the ball?’

Good grief. My heart nearly dropped.

I answered in disbelief.

“Benjamin. An employee of our guild.”

Silence flowed.

Just as Ruellian’s question had greatly exceeded my expectations, my answer seemed to have greatly exceeded his expectations as well.

‘This situation is really funny.’

I shook my head and said.

“That day everyone had business with me at the same time, so there was some strange competition…. I never thought you’d be this curious about it.”

“How could I not be curious? Even when a business partner like me requested a meeting, you brushed me off and left. I tried to find out who that person was, but there were no clues at all, so my pride was hurt. How could that happen even with my information network….”

“It didn’t come up because it was too trivial.”

“….”

A hollow expression appeared on Ruellian’s face. Should I say it was the face of someone who suddenly became aware of reality?

“…I think I was being a bit childish.”

His tone was indifferent, but I could see a reddish tinge spreading along his eyes.

‘Oh my.’

Does he know that his complexion turns red quite easily? He probably doesn’t know, which is why he’s holding his head up so confidently like that.

Since he’s the great Agent of the Divine, he wouldn’t have had occasion to talk with someone for this long in the first place.

“Anyway, let’s talk business.”

Ruellian spoke confidently, still unaware that a reddish tinge remained on his face.

“I know the situation with the princess well, of course. Eunice, the ringleader, took her own life, right? I’m also currently tormenting Prince Istan by sending him various documents. I thought it was all over with this much….”

His gaze turned to the scale on the desk. I looked there too.

Just like in the picture I had received through the mail, his side of the scale was tilted less.

This meant that the information he had given me in return was still insufficient compared to the information I had provided.

“The princess asked the question ‘What exactly is Eunice plotting right now?’ It seems I still have more to tell you about that question.”

Ruellian said that and turned his gaze to another place. There was a cage covered with a blanket.

“It’s probably related to this?”

“Right.”

I pulled off the blanket. The crow immediately flapped its wings and made a commotion, but quieted down immediately upon seeing Ruellian.

“That’s right.”

Ruellian looked at the creature with interested eyes. His gaze turned to the crow’s anklet.

“A letter carrier?”

“Right.”

I answered.

“After sending Eunice to the basement, I was thinking various thoughts while looking around the room, when this suddenly appeared outside the window.”

“Outside the window? How on earth did you catch it?”

“My bodyguard threw a stone, and then I stylishly gave it a good hit. It’s the same method I used to knock down Prince Istan, but the details are my trade secret.”

I said that while putting my hand in my inner pocket to take out a note.

“When the Head Butler opened the anklet, this note came out. There’s no other content, just ‘Did it end well?’ written on it. Like you said, it seems like a note sent by whoever gave orders to Eunice.”

“Let me see.”

He unfolded the note that was rolled up small.

“It’s handwriting that deliberately kills characteristics. It’s hard to guess even the most basic gender.”

“Right. That’s how it looks.”

“By any chance, among the servants that Eunice recruited, wasn’t there anyone who testified about the person they exchanged notes with?”

“Not at all. No matter how much we investigated, there were no clues.”

I shook my head.

“There’s only one method. Release this crow and follow it to see who it returns to. Of course, normally that wouldn’t be possible, but wouldn’t the owner of the Master Guild have some method?”

“I don’t know what basis you have for thinking that….”

He shrugged his shoulders once.

“You’re right.”

I thought so. I quickly asked.

“What method is it?”

“‘Let the birds of the air serve as God’s eyes to watch over the sins of this land…'”

Ruellian recited a passage from scripture.

“This passage isn’t there for nothing. Birds search for food on the ground, so their eyesight is much better than humans’. Using this, there’s holy magic that grants birds ‘God’s eyes’ to serve as watchers. Of course, there’s a restriction that it should only be used to save human lives….”

He manifested divine power in one hand.

“The fact that both our lives depend on this deal has already been proven through the scale. God is giving permission as well.”

Looking at the pure white radiance, something suddenly came to mind.

“Ah.”

When I unconsciously made a small sound, Ruellian glanced at me.

“What?”

“Come to think of it, didn’t you say that if you carelessly make contact with a woman you don’t intend to take as a companion, you lose your qualification as Agent of the Divine? But your divine power is fine? You said what happened in the department store exhibition hall wasn’t voluntary, but did God just overlook you dancing at the ball too?”

“Ha….”

He let out a sigh as if incredulous.

“You didn’t listen to me properly. I said it’s permitted when it’s to save human lives.”

His tone was cool and rational, but a reddish tinge was spreading across his face again. It was even deeper than before.

“Focus more on the task at hand rather than such trivial things. Isn’t this the last deal? You don’t seem very professional, contrary to what I thought.”

Oh my. You’re the one whose face and words don’t match.

‘That aside.’

Seeing this strange phenomenon of the Holy Order’s leader’s face turning red, and getting top-grade information that others don’t know….

As he said, today might really be the last time.

Feeling somewhat regretful, I watched what Ruellian was doing.

“It’ll be done quickly.”

He opened a desk drawer and took out a book.

It was a book with religious paintings drawn on each page. Pictures where magnificent religious symbols, saints, holy women, and sacred animals were harmoniously combined.

But it was somewhat strange. Usually such religious paintings are gilded or painted with splendid colors, but these were just colorless line drawings.

I said.

“They look just like rough sketches.”

“That’s not wrong.”

Ruellian opened to a certain page and placed one hand on it.

Brilliant radiance was born from his fingertips. His stigmata became visible to my eyes as powerful divine power manifested.

At that moment, something miraculous happened.

The rough sketch that had no color began to be painted with brilliant colors.

The robes of the saint sitting in the chair changed to splendid gold and blue. Light rays extended from the halo behind his head, and all the birds flying around it also turned into full color.

It seemed like everything would come alive and move at any moment.

“Done.”

Ruellian cut out the page with the picture using a paper knife, then folded it in half and half again. Then he opened the cage door.

“Looking at this creature’s condition, it doesn’t seem like it flew from very far away.”

“Really?”

“Probably. Though I’m not certain since you didn’t bring it immediately after catching it.”

He spoke carefully while placing the small folded paper against the crow’s head.

“Let the birds of the air serve as God’s eyes to watch over the sins of this land….”

As he recited the scripture passage he had mentioned earlier, the paper began to glow.

It dissolved and disappeared as if it had melted into water.

The next moment, a mysterious eye pattern appeared on the crow’s forehead.

‘Ah.’

I finally understood.

That book was, in essence, similar to Duke Carnel’s blank check book.

A book that allowed one to freely choose and use divine magic.

‘That’s incredible, isn’t it? It’s practically a legendary treasure, right?’

Had my eyes sparkled too much? Ruellian pushed the book far away while closing the cage door. Then he shook the bell on the desk.

After a moment, the sound of the elevator operating could be heard, and the old man who managed this place appeared.

“Did you call for me?”

Ruellian nodded and pointed to the cage.

“Go outside and release this one.”

“Yes.”

The old man politely walked over, picked up the cage, and left.

“Now, Princess. You need to watch carefully from here on.”

Ruellian pointed to the center of the stained glass.

Soon, video-like scenes began to appear there. It seemed to be the landscape visible from the crow’s perspective.

‘It works. God’s surveillance camera…’

I opened my eyes wide and stared at the screen.

Through the cage bars, the interior of the elevator was visible. Then the door opened, revealing the first floor of the chapel.

The old man went outside and opened the cage door. The crow immediately kicked off from there and flew away.

Through the bird’s vision, buildings and roads spread out under the sky were visible. It was an unhesitating flight as if it had a clear destination.

Ruellian watched the screen for a moment before speaking.

“How about some tea while we wait?”

“That would be nice.”

At my answer, he reached toward the desk. He was about to pick up the bell again when he hesitated.

He had remembered that this place was neither the Order’s headquarters nor his own manor.

It seemed there was no one around except for the old man who had just left.

I quickly said.

“It’s fine.”

“No. I said I’d serve you, so I should keep my word.”

Ruellian stood up from his seat.

He went into one of the several doors on either side of this control room-like space, then came out shortly after carrying a tray.

“I’m not sure if it’ll be drinkable. The Princess has refined tastes.”

No. My palate is quite cheap. Would you believe me if I said there wasn’t a single thing I ate at the ducal mansion that didn’t taste good?

Moreover, this was tea served by the Empire’s one and only Agent of the Divine and head of the Holy Order.

This was an Achievement worthy of recording in an autobiography. Even if it tasted like sewage water, I could drink it to the last drop.

With such thoughts, I sipped it and…

“…?”

When I showed surprise, he flinched slightly.

“Is it that terrible?”

“No. It’s delicious.”

The tea had no bitter taste, was smooth, and had a deep, luxurious aroma. The temperature was also just right.

I asked for another cup and sipped it while watching the screen the crow was showing…

At some point.

“Hmm?”

Ruellian put down his teacup and stared intently at the stained glass.

On the screen, the crow’s view, which had been maintaining a steady altitude, was gradually getting lower. It had begun descending toward somewhere.

“…”

We quickly exchanged glances.

It was this close?

While we watched tensely, the crow descended toward a certain point and cawed loudly, “Caw caw caw!” It was an alley lined with large houses.

“Obern Street. There are many inns there.”

Ruellian said.

At the same time, the crow’s body dove straight down toward a 3-story building.

Having heard the bird’s call, a window opened and someone leaned out.

‘Who is it?’

I opened my eyes wide.

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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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