Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Stolen Ledger
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The ledger plundered from Carhedin's secret vault.
Traces of the empire's rotten corruption were recorded there without any filter.
"These bastards really fleeced the country clean."
The list of parasites gnawing away at the empire.
And among them, what caught Darcor's eye...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sender: Baron] [Item: Ancient Magic Artifacts and Rare Biological Materials] [Destination: Empire District 3, Underground Auction House.] Darcor's eyes narrowed sharply.
'Baron.'
Smuggling out national treasure-level artifacts and forbidden magic tools from the empire.
'So that's why the Empress Dowager moved faster than in the novel.'
Baron had been stirring things up from behind the scenes.
The black curtain plotting to collapse the empire from within.
Ding.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜 Strike the Serpent's Head
📍 Location: Empire's Underground Auction House in District 3
⏰ Details: A massive smuggling deal is underway. Target Baron's participation confirmed.
🎁 Objective: Secure the target and destroy the auction house.
🎁 Reward: Madness Level greatly reduced + Hidden Skill unlocked.
⚠️ Warning: This is a heavily secured area. Blindly causing a ruckus gives the target a 99% chance to escape via secret passage.
"A hidden skill, huh."
The reward was excellent.
Darcor licked his lips and scrolled down, only for his expression to crumple in an instant.
"Hah, what a pain."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Entry Requirement: Must be accompanied by a female partner.] 'What is this, some romance fantasy novel? Wait, it is a romance fantasy. Damn it.'
Darcor rested his chin on his hand, running through potential partner candidates.
'Edel.'
The empire's strongest knight.
In terms of raw power, she was rock-solid reliable, but
she couldn't lie to save her life.
The moment they stepped into the auction house, she'd draw her sword,
and worse, if she sensed even a whiff of danger, she'd ignore the mission and unleash a barrage of nagging.
'Out. No need to stress myself to death.'
Then...
There was the partner who was perfect on paper.
"Elena?"
The Empress.
But lately, she'd blush and spout weird nonsense every time their eyes met—no need to fuel more misunderstandings.
'Her out too.'
Darcor's fingers drummed anxiously on the desk.
"Wait."
One person suddenly flashed in his mind.
Just the right mix of materialism, solid acting skills, and above all, someone who'd sell their soul for cash.
Darcor's lips curled into a sly grin.
"Yeah. Perfect partner material."
Saintess Chloe was on cloud nine right now.
She was about to strut out in the limited-edition heels she'd swiped from the emperor's wallet.
"My precious babies... Look at that gorgeous shimmer."
She was rubbing her cheek against the shoes when—
Kaboom!
"Kyaaak!"
The window flew open as if it might rip off its hinges, and a dark shadow burst in.
"Wh-who are you?! This is the sacred saintess's—"
"Saintess. Not asleep yet?"
A man lounged crookedly on the windowsill.
The empire's tyrant master, Darcor, his eyes glowing red.
"Y-Your Majesty? Why come through the window instead of the door...?"
"This is more convenient."
Chloe's face drained of color.
"I was enjoying the night air on a stroll. Thought you might be bored."
"N-not at all bored, Your Majesty. I was just about to sleep. Please leave!"
Chloe pulled a teary face and yanked the blanket over her head.
"Too bad. Was thinking of going shopping with you."
"...Shopping?"
Only Chloe's eyes peeked out from under the blanket.
"Yeah. The empire's best spot, loaded with goods.
Newest dresses, jewels—you name it, they got it."
"B-but it's the dead of night. And do I look like some easy woman to you? You must've forgotten—I'm a servant of the gods..."
Clink.
Darcor pulled a heavy pouch from his pocket and tossed it over.
"Stuff even the luxury boutiques don't carry. My treat."
Chloe kicked off the blanket and bolted upright.
"Saving lost lambs in the darkness is also a saintess's duty."
She dashed to the wardrobe.
"Just give me a moment."
'Easy to handle, as expected.'
Darcor chuckled and shook his head.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Your Majesty, this isn't the main gate, is it?"
Chloe glanced around in bewilderment.
The rearmost corner of the imperial palace.
Before a weed-choked, shadowy wall.
"Going out the main gate is like advertising."
Darcor crossed his arms, eyeing the wall's height.
"So? You're not telling me, a saintess, to climb over, are you?"
Chloe yelped in horror.
She'd dressed in her priciest new outfit— getting it dirty would be a disaster.
"Shh. Keep it down."
Darcor pressed a finger to his lips.
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps of patrolling Royal Guards echoed from afar.
"Getting caught would be a hassle. Even for you, right?"
"Eek!"
If they saw the saintess messing around by the wall at night, it'd be utter humiliation.
"So cooperate."
"W-wait. Cooperate...? Kyaaak."
Darcor scooped Chloe up like luggage by the waist.
"Might feel dizzy. Don't puke."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Dawn Step Fwoosh.
Darcor's body shimmered like mist and shot into the air.
A leap clearing the palace's towering wall in one bound.
"Mmph?! Mmmph!"
The dizzying nightscape of the palace whizzed by below.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thud.
Darcor landed lightly and set Chloe down.
"We're here."
"Urghhh..."
Chloe staggered, barely holding down her churning stomach.
Her hair was a mess, her pricey new dress ruined.
"Th-this was brand new!"
She brushed off her skirt with a pout.
"Get in quick."
"You want me in that cart?"
It was a rickety old thing, fit only for hauling cargo.
"Don't want to? Walk then."
Darcor hopped in first, adding,
"By the way, District 3's pretty rough. Walking means that dress is toast."
"District 3?"
Chloe's eyes bugged out.
District 3.
Infamous for daily murders and robberies.
"Have you lost your mind? That's a den of criminals! Not my scene. You keep forgetting—I'm a noble saintess. I can't set foot in that filthy place. I'm not going!"
Chloe backed away in refusal.
'Shopping, you said. Stuff even luxury stores don't have. This is fraud!'
"Suit yourself. Shame."
Darcor started closing the carriage door, then smirked.
"Was gonna buy you the priciest thing there if you played nice."
"Th-the priciest...?"
"Yeah. Stuff money can't even buy, from what I hear."
"W-wait a sec."
Chloe tilted her head, then—
"On second thought... Serving the lowliest is the true mark of a saintess."
She hopped in like lightning, calculations complete.
Her attitude flip was flawless.
"Let's roll, Your Majesty! No time to waste!"
Greed reignited in Chloe's eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A slum reeking of stench and thick with smoke. District 3.
In its deepest part, a building that looked abandoned.
The entrance to the underground auction house.
"Halt. This ain't for just anyone."
Rough-looking bruisers guarded the door.
Tattooed head to toe, axes at their belts.
They eyed the approaching man and woman with dripping menace.
"Make way."
"Invitation? And what's with the chick? Face all wrapped up. Show it."
The guard's filthy hand reached for Chloe.
"Ch-chick?!"
As Chloe bristled—
Darcor yanked her roughly into his arms.
"Watch your mouth, pal. My girl's high-maintenance."
Chloe's face buried in his firm chest.
"Hates showing skin. Sensitive complexion."
The sudden embrace left Chloe breathless.
'His Majesty's chest... this firm?'
'Maybe he likes me and set this up...'
Her delusions spun in wild directions.
'Ugh. This perfume's overpowering.'
Darcor, meanwhile, swallowed a curse inwardly.
What kind of saintess douses herself in such harsh scent?
It was torture for his sensitive nose.
Darcor pulled out a fat pouch of gold and chucked it at the guard's chest.
Thwack.
"This kind of invite work?"
"Oh, of course, milord! Welcome, honored guest. Forgive our ignorance!"
Money talked in this world.
The man bowed and flung open the iron door.
"Right this way for our VIP."
Through the dank, sticky air, they finally reached the underground auction house.
A world apart from the slums above.
Chandeliers glittered overhead, red carpet underfoot.
A decadent space of masked nobles sipping champagne.
"Wow..."
Chloe gawked around, entranced.
The display cases of rare gems and artifacts stole her soul.
"Snap out of it. Wipe your drool."
Darcor poked her side.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Successfully infiltrated the underground auction house.] [Detecting target...] Ding.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Target Detected: Baron 💨 Status: Participating in auction The underground auction buzzed with crowds.
Blended among them, a middle-aged man in a black mask swirled his wine.
He looked like a refined gentleman,
but Darcor saw different.
A vivid red skull mark floated plainly over the man's head.
"Found you, you rat."
Darcor's lips twisted into a venomous smirk—
"Th-that one! That thing!"
A shrill screech pierced his eardrum from the side.
Chloe was yanking Darcor like a maniac.
Her eyes were crazed, reason gone.
"Buy it for me. Please!"
Her trembling finger pointed to the central stage.
The auctioneer had just unveiled today's main item.
"You've all waited long enough. Today's highlight! The Blue Diamond Necklace, called the Tears of the Legendary Goddess. Starting bid: 5,000 gold!"
A fist-sized blue diamond gleamed mesmerizingly.
"You promised! The priciest one... You swore on the gods' name!"
Chloe clung and begged desperately.
No trace of saintly dignity left.
Darcor smirked in disbelief.
"Yeah, yeah, I said I'd buy it. Calm down."
He shook his head, soothing her.
But his gaze pierced past the diamond,
locked on Baron behind it.
"First, let's get a look at that rat's face."