I tilted my head with a puzzled expression.

“What’s going on? Has Viscount Yoter already made a move?”

There were a few people in front of the building where Sherif’s headquarters were located.

However, the signboard of the headquarters was hanging down.

Even though I got off the carriage with a commotion, no one paid attention.

“Could they be out of business?”

I saw an X mark in white on the Sherif headquarters door. I looked around anxiously.

One man in front of the headquarters was muttering curses, biting his lips.

“Jeez…!”

If he’s cursing like that, he must be a noble.

There was even a man rolling on the floor, cursing. I turned my gaze away from them and stared at a woman standing nearby, looking up at the sky in bewilderment.

“It’s all over…”

The tall sister next to her didn’t cry either but had a disheartened expression, staring at the fallen signboard.

“We only needed to infuse magic…”

“It was the last chance.”

“We thought they’d at least encrypt it if they were going to take all our research results so suddenly.”

The innocent faces of those gathered at the entrance of the building distorted with tears.

“It’s legally like that. We’re finished now.”

“We invested so much money, damn it. We were almost at the finish line!”

Listening to their conversation, it was clear that Viscount Yoter had played a role.

I stared at them intently and shook my head inwardly.

“No, it’s not over yet.”

I clenched my fist and shivered.

The maid sisters cautiously spoke to me, who was shaking.

“Those people seem dangerous. Shall we come back next time?”

“No.”

Without a smile on my face, I walked calmly in front of them. When I looked at them from a little distance, I saw things that weren’t visible before.

Pieces of packaging paper of Kit rolling on the ground or square boxes that were completely empty.

In various ways, it looked like a desolate ruin. I frowned.

“I worked so hard, but to have the results taken away by Viscount Yoter so pitifully, it’s regrettable.”

For some reason, my heart felt heavy. I tilted my head, gazing at them.

“Hello.”

They looked at me with a puzzled expression.

However, I had to say something cool.

“I invested in you guys.”

After taking off my scarf and throwing away my sunglasses, I raised my shoulders confidently.

A magnificent and impressive figure to anyone who saw it…

“…W-Who are you?”

…I was ten years old.

The gazes of the people from Sherif became strange as they stared at me. They soon looked at me sharply.

“Are you a noble? Are you here to belittle us again?”

Seeing their sharp glares, it seemed like they had a lot piled up against Viscount Yoter.

I shook my head in a dodgy manner.

I’m Sian Mirmode, a person more opposed to the temple than you are!

But they seemed sensitive to the story about Viscount Yoter.

Before I could open my mouth to answer, the woman who had been lying on the dirt ground with a vacant expression got up roughly.

“Viscount Yoter?”

She opened her eyes wide when she saw me with a sharp gaze.

“Huh.”

I was about to retort, but it seemed she realized that I wasn’t from the temple. I waited with my fists clenched.

Then, the voice I was expecting came right away.

“Viscount Yoter wouldn’t have a daughter like this. I heard all his children are mature.”

“Yeah, you’re clever.”

Looking at them bewildered, I raised my head vigorously.

Now it was time for me to speak!

“I hate Viscount Yoter so much!”

They still questioned with a wary expression.

“Then, young lady, which family do you belong to…”

It seemed like they wouldn’t trust me unless I properly proved my identity. I pondered gravely. Should I reveal my status here, or should I speak properly?

But they beat me to it.
“Are you perhaps the lady who came to invest after seeing our that our headquarters attached before?”

Hmm, judging from the context of the conversation, it seems like they see me as a nouveau riche who got blinded by the promotional material and came to invest.

It’s not a bad way to think about it.

I nodded vigorously in response.

“Yes!”

Then their gaze shifted downward.

“Sorry, but… if you could give it to us…”

I grinned.

“Don’t you like money?”

But they quickly answered my question with a deep sigh.

“Even if you’re from the imperial palace, there’s nothing we can do. We’ve been officially classified as static by the imperial palace, little lady.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Just because we made the kits, they labeled us as a subversive group. If you get close to us, your headquarters will suffer too. Leave when you have the chance.”

I nodded.

Their trembling lips went down again when they thought I, who they considered the last fortress, might leave.

But looking at their expressions, I thought, these people… they’re clever, honest, and stupidly good at lying.

It’s a world of difference from the foolish and lying princess.

Therefore…

“You’re approved.”

With their bewildered expressions, I clapped my hands.

“Guide me inside!”