“Yes. I believe you.”

Ankedo looked down at Olentia with a wink. Even though he just glanced at her, she shuddered for a moment and avoided his gaze. Knowing his true identity, it was difficult to act completely nonchalant.

Moreover, she felt that Ankedo kept leering at her maliciously. Even though she wore a dress that covered her entire body as much as possible, she felt very uncomfortable.

Passing by the golden tiger statue, Olentia forced a smile and said,

“Where do we draw up the contract?”

She was curious about that room where guests were received. The mirror room from her prophetic dream. According to Moring, the embezzled money was hidden in the room next to the transaction site.

Fortunately, Ankedo did not suspect her and led her to the transaction location. While the building sparkled in the white sunlight outside, it was dark inside with all the curtains drawn. The bluish-green carpet was luxurious but looked somewhat gloomy.

After walking down a long corridor, Ankedo finally stopped.

‘This must be it.’

When Ankedo opened the door, the mirror room appeared. Seeing the countless mirrors inside, Olentia felt goosebumps all over her body. Her toes felt tingly.

‘I wanted to ask this at least once.’

Olentia asked him in a curious voice, trying to sound as natural as possible.

“Why are there so many mirrors?”

Ankedo grinned and replied,

“Perhaps to monitor if customers are up to no good?”

‘Was that the purpose?’

As Olentia’s eyes widened in surprise, Ankedo sat down and spoke again.

“Just kidding, I simply like them. To be honest, I like looking at mirrors because I’m fond of my own face.”

His lips were gently curved as he gazed at the mirror placed in front of the table.

‘What? Does he think he’s handsome? No way.’

Olentia cleared her throat and quickly got to the point.

“I’d like to see the item first before giving you the money.”

She wanted to quickly handle things as planned and leave this gloomy place. But for some reason, Ankedo was acting sluggishly.

“Let’s have some tea first. I have many things I want to discuss with the lady. You like tea, don’t you?”

“Ah, how did you know I like tea?”

“I keep up with the news of the capital too. I’ve heard rumors that the heiress of Armeniaca has rejected all proposals, be it from the viscount or the marquis’ heir.”

It seemed even such trivial matters were consumed as gossip.

Olentia looked awkwardly at the maids entering with a trolley. On the silver trolley were an elegant teapot, teacups, and saucers.

It seemed he was planning to properly enjoy teatime.

‘I really don’t want that. Does this guy have something else in mind?’

She wanted to avoid it as much as possible, since she had felt uneasy from the moment he looked at her lecherously.

Olentia carefully surveyed the room’s structure so she could escape at any time. There were no particular obstacles to the door, and no knight was seen guarding the door.

Instead, the exterior security would be strict. What could be done about that?

Inside the room, a long purple cloth was visible, and behind it was probably the side door Moring had mentioned. If she opened that door and entered, the room where the embezzled money was hidden would appear.

Since she couldn’t go to the next room right now to find the embezzled money, it would be best to complete the transaction and return.

It was better to think that the mercenaries would have taken note of this location well.

Of course, it would be great if she could take the embezzled money. Unless it had been laundered, it would have the date of issue, place of issue, and unique serial numbers engraved. If she could take that back and tell the archbishop, he would surely believe her words.

But now, even considering whether to drink the tea in front of her was stressful. It was a pale yellow tea with the scent of chrysanthemum. It was undoubtedly the chamomile tea she drank frequently like water. Still, she didn’t touch the teacup, wondering if Ankedo might have done something strange.

Then Ankedo, drinking his tea, urged her.

“You like tea, so why aren’t you touching it? Don’t you trust me?”

She knew he would say that.

Olentia pondered intensely for a moment. To complete the transaction safely and leave, she’d have to drink the tea, and if she broke off the negotiation, she didn’t know how Ankedo would react.

Olentia was filled with the desire to resolve this matter properly.

The prophetic dream of her wailing with regret at a grave flashed before her eyes. Although she had chosen to meet him, she needed to complete the magical artifact transaction safely and leave. For Moring’s safety as well, Olentia had to act.

‘Surely… it can’t be.’

Olentia pretended to go along with Ankedo and drank a little tea. She even managed a bright smile, and even as her body swayed, she didn’t think anything was wrong.

But Olentia collapsed right there.

Thud!

Seeing Olentia fall under the chair, Ankedo jumped up from his seat. He crouched in front of Olentia and grabbed her platinum hair tightly.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know your intentions? You cunning thing!”

A few days ago, Ankedo had heard shocking news from his subordinates watching Moring. That Moring had gone to Count Odor’s mansion with Olentia. And the fact that she didn’t return was enough to make him feel something was off.

Ankedo had been planning to someday lure Moring to the church, kill her, and make it look like suicide, so this was even more troublesome.

But recently, the knights of Count Odor’s mansion and the guards had searched the Sentmi River, and the body of Thomas, the administrative officer of Odor Province’s church, had been found.

Ankedo thought all these events couldn’t possibly be coincidental.

The count’s movements and Olentia taking Moring away.

In the end, he concluded that Olentia was suspicious.

So Ankedo decided to invite Olentia as a customer and deal with her. The mercenaries who had followed along while she rode in the carriage had long been captured. The fact that no one else was following besides the mercenaries meant that Olentia had not shared today’s secret visit with Count Odor.

If Count Odor had known, he wouldn’t have sent his niece in the first place.

So it was his intention to do something about this cunning wench who had tried to investigate him.

Ankedo examined Olentia’s face with a cold gaze. She was indeed a pretty wench.

Ankedo chuckled as he stroked her face with the back of his hand.

“You should have told your uncle everything before coming. Though I’m not sure if he would have believed you. Your useless courage has led to your neck being grabbed.”

Olentia suddenly left the count’s mansion without a maid or knight. Realizing this, Dimidius chased after her in a carriage.

The carriage she rode in arrived in front of a brown wooden building. He couldn’t tell whose house it was, and Olentia entered the wooden building very naturally.

On the other hand, Dimidius, unable to enter the building, couldn’t know exactly what was happening, so he waited for Olentia for now.

‘Is she trying to bring someone else to the count’s mansion again?’

Like when she brought a friend from the doll workshop.

But suddenly, a black carriage burst out from behind the building and started driving away immediately. Feeling something was off, Dimidius didn’t ride in a carriage but ran quickly using demonic power. He had a strong suspicious feeling, but he couldn’t follow in a carriage.

That was a very good decision.

The cargo carriage that had been secretly following Olentia’s carriage was stopped at a checkpoint and immediately captured. There were several armored mercenaries there. It was a case of mercenaries catching mercenaries.

Where on earth was Olentia going?

Who were the mercenaries following Olentia’s carriage, and who was the employer of the mercenaries who checked and captured those mercenaries?

Was it related to the murder case of Administrative Officer Thomas that Killen was investigating?

His head was very complicated. But one thing was clear – Olentia was in danger right now.

Thinking that, Dimidius knew he had to do something.

Even if using demonic power wasn’t a pleasant thing, he had no choice.

Dimidius ran at a speed similar to the carriage and arrived at a building. It was a white circular domed building that looked just like a temple.

Before Dimidius could catch his breath, he encountered the mercenaries guarding the building. Seeing Dimidius wearing a mask, they burst into laughter and approached.

“What are you? Did you come to a masquerade ball?”

“You should have worn a balaclava instead! Tsk tsk! A mask falls off easily!”

They all seemed to find this situation amusing.

Dimidius didn’t find it amusing at all.

“Leave if you don’t want to die.”

Despite Dimidius’s warning, the mercenaries didn’t get the message.

“Hey, but why is my body trembling like this?”

“Is it because of that guy? Ah, I don’t know!”

Finally, Dimidius’s eyes glowed ominously.

‘You should have told your uncle everything before coming. Though I’m not sure if he would have believed you. Your useless courage has led to your neck being grabbed.’

Ankedo’s voice could be faintly heard. Olentia’s mind had vaguely returned, though she couldn’t move her body.

Olentia used all her strength trying to move.

But sadly, she couldn’t even twitch a finger.

Had he used a liquid magical artifact that paralyzes the body? She seemed to have heard of such a thing before. If it were a simple poison, it wouldn’t just stiffen the body like this. Then, even if she had self-healing ability, it was likely to be useless.

Olentia felt utterly pathetic for falling into Ankedo’s trap. She seemed to have missed something important because she was so focused on resolving the matter and leaving.

‘I should have been more suspicious!’

At that moment, Ankedo’s voice was heard again.

“How should I kill you? Beheading you at once seems too boring?”

Olentia’s face looked peaceful as if sleeping, but in reality, her mind was in excruciating pain.

“I should have some fun at least.”

Ankedo made an ominous sound and grabbed Olentia’s dress. Even in her dazed state, she could feel the force trying to tear the front of her dress.

Rip!

The moment the clothes were slightly torn.

As the divine transmission was heard in her mind, Olentia’s eyes flew open. The feeling was so clear that there was no mistaking the divine transmission.

It was definitely God, and His power raised Olentia.

The bracelet on her right wrist vibrated with a buzz as white light spread out. Although she hadn’t experienced it much, it was always amazing.

Olentia clutched her torn neckline and glared at Ankedo.

“What are you doing!”

When Olentia shouted, Ankedo’s eyes widened as he blurted out,

“What? I used a liquid magical artifact that paralyzes the body?”