I had investigated the books as the fastest way to obtain information, but the income was not as expected.
The next idea that came to mind was to assign the investigation of pride to the Sky Mercenary Corps again.
But this couldn’t be executed right away.
I didn’t have any money to spend.
‘Well, it’s okay. The first profit from selling magical goods will come soon.’
Anticipating that moment, I decided to postpone the investigation of Pride for now.
The carriage stopped in front of the Angelos Capital Mansion.
Waiting to welcome Marquis Angelos as he finished his outing and got off the carriage was his aide.
“What’s all this commotion?”
“Your Excellency. There is something you must see.”
“What is it?”
“A urgent report has arrived from the upper ranks!”
Why would there be such a fuss over this matter? Marquis Angelos concealed his discomfort and accepted the letter from his aide.
However, as he read the letter, Marquis Angelos’ expression gradually stiffened.
Crinkle…
The letter was crumpled in the Marquis’s grip.
In essence, the notification stated that all mages of the Serma Tower would sever ties with the Angelos upper ranks. Furthermore, all supply deals involving magical stones, which had been contracted with the tower, would also be terminated.
Ha. Marquis Angelos composed himself, conscious of his aide’s gaze.
He couldn’t afford to show a disheveled appearance to the lower ranks.
“The impact might be significant, but we should be fine. After all, the Serma Tower isn’t the only magical tower out there.”
Even if the Serma Tower was excluded, there were still three other magical towers. There would be an impact, but it could be managed.
However, the aide still maintained a stern expression, seemingly having something to say.
“If you have something to say, speak up.”
In response to these words, the aide hesitated but finally forced his lips open.
“All the remaining two towers, excluding the South Tower, have also announced the termination of their deals.”
“…What?”
For the other two towers to join in was beyond Marquis Angelos’s calculations.
For a moment, Marquis Angelos felt his vision go white.
‘Damn it.’
This couldn’t happen.
With the profits from the upper ranks diminishing, how would Gabe Jenaid, the owner of the South Tower, manage to deal with the enormous amount he was squeezing out under the pretext of research?
How could he handle that research cost? The Angelos family itself might be shaken.
This time, the Marquis couldn’t conceal the crumbling expression on his face. The blow was so severe that he couldn’t salvage his expression.
Marquis Angelos hurriedly returned to his office and summoned the leadership of the Angelos upper ranks.
Among them, the one who seemed most contemplative was none other than the deputy head of the Angelos upper ranks.
“It seems you know something.”
With a single word from the Marquis, the deputy head bowed deeply and answered with a trembling voice.
“I-I, too, don’t understand why this has suddenly happened.”
“It’s better if you tell the truth.”
At the stern voice, the deputy head began desperately justifying.
“The mage Elvi, from the Serma Tower, recently tried to negotiate a magical goods distribution contract. However, it failed. It seems that due to this, the upper ranks’ contract conditions leaked out…”
“Failed to negotiate a contract?”
It was unusual for a rookie mage, especially one associated with Angelos, to fail in their first contract.
“But isn’t it strange? Just because they touched a mere rookie mage, all three towers decided to unite and terminate the deals?”
“I-I don’t know either.”
“Tell me about the mage Elvi.”
“There is no information available. Even during the contract, they wore a deep hooded robe, making it difficult to recognize their appearance.”
“Not revealing their identity, that’s suspicious.”
“Yes. I requested information from the Tower, but it was immediately rejected. I subtly inquired with other mages, but all I got was that they couldn’t tell me anything.”
At that moment, the aide, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, interjected.
“Considering the success of the mage Elvi’s magical device this time, I personally looked into the investor. However…”
“However?”
“There was only one investor for Elvi’s magical device, which was highly successful. Moreover, it’s the same for the upcoming magical device scheduled for release.”
“That’s strange.”
Investing one after another in a magical device from an unknown rookie mage, whether it succeeds or not? Even if someone has exceptional insight, not many would take such a significant risk.
“If we follow that person, we might find out Elvi’s identity.”
Marquis Angelos nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Chasing the unknown rookie mage supported by the Tower might be less burdensome than tracking the investor personally.
“So, what is the name of that investor?”
In response to the Marquis’s question, the aide promptly answered.
“It’s Liri Arsell.”
A few days later, the first investment profit distribution finally arrived.
Given the tremendous popularity among the merchant class and the common people, a considerable amount of money could be distributed.
[Wow, rich?]“Hehe. Quite, right?”
[Even with so much money, your insatiable greed to keep me from getting hungry is incredible.]“…”
This greedy child, Greed, is undoubtedly here to mock me.
[Kyaaah! Don’t touch me!!]While incessantly teasing Greed, who made sarcastic remarks with a cute face, I pondered deeply.
I thought I could gain independence as soon as I had money, but reality was not as easy as I thought. I still hadn’t identified the one trying to assassinate me. Also…
‘I suddenly came up with a plan to wake up Dad.’
Until then, it was safest to be under Ferdia’s protection.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
“Miss, it’s me.”
“Come in, Masa.”
As Masa came in, she offered a silver tray. On top of it, as always, there were numerous letters piled up.
“Ugh.”
Another war of copying and pasting responses today.
While browsing through the letters with a bored expression, I unexpectedly found the sender.
“Huh? Layan?”
Fortunately, it seemed the butler hadn’t opened it first, as the seal was intact.
Quickly unfolding the letter, I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“We’ve found a strong candidate for A.”
“…!”
It was a letter about my future sister, Estelle, who would be adopted.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
