Chapter 309
At least the 15th Manor is definitely out of reach.
“Then stay here and keep me company.”
“And what does ‘blue socks’ mean? I… I can’t shake the feeling you’re hinting at something. Care to explain?”
“The young lady with glasses?”
Aivina: “…”
Feeling the irresistible strength in Shaer’s hand, a sudden, uneasy premonition washed over Aivina—she might not be able to step out that door anytime soon.
…
July 7th, Berun City, Jazz Bridge District No. 5, Saunsby Manor.
“Get to work, ladies and gentlemen! We have some important guests arriving soon…”
Arthur Saunsby stood in the garden, hands on his hips, directing the chaos. “Hey, my good people, can we get everything ready before they arrive?”
The one he affectionately referred to as “my good people” was a composed old butler, who slightly bowed in Arthur’s direction and replied, “Miss Russell has sent quite a few capable helpers; we’re almost ready.”
“Phew, thanks to the generous Miss Russell! Where’s my good wine? I must treat her to a drink tonight.”
Arthur stroked his scruffy beard and pointed at a blonde maid struggling to move a table. “Hey, little one, don’t strain yourself with that. Let someone stronger handle it. Go with this old fellow to the wine cellar and fetch a few bottles of good wine. Don’t let him hurt his back again, please~”
It was clear that Arthur was in a great mood today. He seemed to be trying to speak with an Ansou accent, but with his big belly and movements, it came off as somewhat comical.
Called out by name, Shaer, who had been blending into the background, glanced at the wealthy merchant.
Having already experienced this moment in her simulation, Shaer set down the table as soon as Arthur spoke, nodded slightly at him, and followed the butler.
Everything was just as it had been in the simulation, without a single change.
The day had finally arrived.
For the past two days, Shaer had been conserving her energy, spending her time painting and reading, avoiding anything that might disrupt her future plans. Under her deliberate low profile, the last couple of days had passed quietly.
After retrieving the wine, Shaer continued to blend into the background until around four in the afternoon, when she pulled out her pocket watch to check the time. Her gaze then fell on a carriage that had just entered the manor and stopped by the fountain.
Ashcroft. The family crest and engraving on the carriage once again confirmed to Shaer that the most important “actor” had arrived as scheduled. It wasn’t until she saw a familiar woman step down from the carriage that she withdrew her gaze.
She turned and walked toward the back garden, stopping under the shade of a tree at the corner, seemingly waiting for time to pass.
One minute, two minutes.
Half an hour, an hour.
About thirty meters behind her, everything was set up by the lake in the back garden.
As the sky gradually darkened, the musicians from the orchestra hired from Ansou took their seats, tuning their instruments.
They seemed completely oblivious to the maid under the tree, methodically focusing on their own tasks.
With the instruments tuned, the lead conductor, a white-haired woman in a tailcoat, stood before the musicians, seemingly ready for the final rehearsal.
She delicately twirled her black and gold baton, giving it a slight shake. The rehearsed musicians began to follow her movements, filling the air with the gentle sounds of strings.
The soothing music seemed to cleanse the soul, and as time passed, the melody built layer upon layer, gradually rising toward a grand climax.
The string players were immersed in their performance, bows dancing; the wind players puffed their cheeks, eyes focused; the percussionists struck with precision, striving for perfection; the conductor’s hands flew, guiding the entire orchestra’s rhythm with her body.
And not far away, under the tree’s shade, the only audience member, Shaer, was met with a silver system interface.
“Sigh…”
Shaer silently sighed within.
The only imperfection in her plan was that the “Revolutionary” had washed out her blonde hair and wasn’t wearing a maid outfit anymore.
At least she hadn’t been in her pajamas when she saved.
“Loading save file, No.1.”
It was as if silver fragments were peeling away from Shaer’s body; in a twist, her original blonde hair and maid outfit vanished, replaced by a trench coat.
The female conductor seemed to sense something; she glanced back during a pause in conducting. Not noticing anything unusual, she turned back, closed her eyes, and focused on identifying any flaws in the music.
At this moment, the guests, led by Arthur, were making their way toward the lakeside. They seemed completely unaware of the red-haired girl leaning against the wall.
Only Opode, while chatting and laughing with others, suddenly shivered. Excusing himself, he quietly took out the “Evil Eye” to confirm there was no danger before returning to the lakeside.
It was almost time.
Shaer put away her pocket watch, rounded the corner, and walked toward the manor entrance, heading straight for the banquet hall—while Lucy walked ahead of her, completely unaware of Shaer’s approach from behind.
Once Lucy entered the corridor, Shaer leaned against the corner, tossing her silver pocket watch in her hand, absentmindedly watching it bounce up and down.
When the sounds from inside settled down, Shaer turned and stepped into the corridor.
“Not pleased to see you again,”
Shaer rotated the 【Exceeding Gear】, looking disinterestedly at the Keybearer on the ground, who was raising her left hand. A hoarse, layered voice escaped her lips, “Keybearer…”
Silver light burst forth from the pocket watch, and Shaer calmly watched as the Keybearer twisted, shrank, and rotted, until the eye in the center of that massive, tumor-like brain focused on her.
Buzz—
The beam of light connected to Shaer for only a few seconds before it suddenly exploded. The terrifying head before her burst open, brain matter and blood splattering everywhere.
Shaer stepped forward, bent down, and pulled the ring from the Keybearer’s left hand. She then turned to look at Lucy, who was still trembling on the ground, too afraid to lift her head.
“Deliver the curtain to Aivina; consider it a thank-you gift from the intermediary.”
Shaer stepped over the prostrate Lucy, not looking back as she said, “The rest is yours.”
As she reached the door, Shaer paused, turned back, and fixed her silver gaze on Lucy on the ground, smiling, “Why don’t you try lifting your head and see if your two coins have any use?”
“Y-You’re joking, my lady…”
At this moment, without a command to look up, Lucy was too terrified to move a muscle.
She had actually sneaked a glance at the Keybearer earlier—she had witnessed the rapid decay and explosive death of the Keybearer. In such a situation, how could she dare to look up at the “Revolutionary” sent by Miss Shaer?
Unless she was looking for trouble.
“Tsk… Boring.”
With the Keybearer dead and her secret message replaced with “hold your position,” there was nothing left for her to do.
Shaer stuffed the pocket watch back into her pocket and walked toward the door, silver fragments scattering around her, the pink stars in her pupils gradually fading.
It was only about four or five minutes after Shaer left that Lucy, feeling a bit weak, propped herself up and looked nervously in the direction the “Revolutionary” had gone.
…Just as she had guessed.
The killing was unnecessary for her; she was merely there to make an appearance and wrap things up…
How could there be such a pressuring “Revolutionary”? And from the tone, it seemed she had known that Keybearer for a long time.
As the fear in her heart slowly dissipated, she looked at the horrific remains behind her, excitement quickly overshadowing her fear.
She had actually connected with such a powerful mysterious organization…
Wouldn’t there be many opportunities for “extra income” in the future?
Had she gained the organization’s recognition?
So the enormous rewards hidden beneath the immense crisis described by that card type were actually this…
Lucy quickly approached the corpse, excitedly starting to gather her spoils.
Outside, the orchestra’s performance at the lakeside banquet reached its climax, almost mirroring the excitement in Lucy’s heart, while no one noticed the events that had transpired here.
Meanwhile, Shaer had already exited the manor, walking along the path until she reached Aivina’s manor entrance and pushed the door open to enter.
Back in Aivina’s room, Shaer didn’t change her clothes; she simply walked to the bedside and lay down.
Finally, she could rest for a while…
The tension in her mind finally loosened, and Shaer slowly closed her eyes.
Chapter 175: The Ansou Plan and the Starving Tara.
“Old Fort, put those bottles in the wine cellar.”
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