Chapter 47: The Third Brainwashing in 35 Chapters
The day before the ball.
I was sprinting across the rooftops of the Royal Capital, utilizing my «Ninja» Skill. My destination was the mansion of Duke Lecherie, located in the Central District, where the grandest noble residences were clustered together, resembling a palace.
As I approached the Central District, I halted and concealed myself in the shadows of the roof. I had received prior information from Prince Lucas that the area was heavily guarded by soldiers.
If there were anyone with detection skills, it would be highly likely that I would be discovered even with my «Ninja» Skill. It would be better to approach from ground level rather than from the conspicuous rooftops.
I glanced back towards the Royal Academy.
I had shared minimal information with Rouge after discussing it with Prince Lucas and Lily beforehand. While I informed her that I was seeking Prince Lucas’s assistance to save Lily, I kept silent about my role and my skills.
I hadn’t mentioned that I would be sneaking into Duke Lecherie’s mansion today. I only told Rouge that I was going to seek help from an old acquaintance of her father to assist Lily.
“I want to do something for Lily too, but…”
Rouge began to speak but slowly shook her head.
“Can you do something for Hugh to help save Lily?”
With that, she sent me off, wearing a princess’s expression. The matter at hand was intertwined with the Succession War. She must have considered the risks of her involvement.
Princess Lucretia, being Prince Lucas’s sister, was both free-spirited and thoughtful. She was quite capable academically, and it wasn’t that she was simply clumsy; her mind was sharp. Perhaps she had even caught on to my lies…
By now, Rouge was likely holding a study session with Lily, who was running late for class with Lecty. I had informed them that I would join them once I finished my business. I wanted to wrap up this troublesome affair quickly.
I scaled the wall separating the Central District from the city and infiltrated the area. I quickly spotted Duke Lecherie’s mansion, confirmed by the line of merchant carts coming and going.
To be cautious, I hid before entering the mansion and switched my skill to «Clairvoyance» to check the interior.
As Prince Lucas had predicted, the guards seemed to be lax due to the merchants coming and going. They probably never expected someone would brazenly infiltrate the mansion in broad daylight.
And there was Duke Lecherie… He was on the second floor, seated on a sofa in what appeared to be his study, conversing with someone across from him. A merchant, perhaps? The figure was cloaked in a dark green robe, their face hidden beneath a hood. They seemed suspicious, yet Duke Lecherie was conversing with them in a friendly manner.
Who are they…? I couldn’t see their face due to the hood.
Couldn’t see?
The moment the question crossed my mind, a pair of glowing red eyes peeked out from beneath the hood, glancing in my direction.
“—!”
I quickly cut off «Clairvoyance» and concealed myself. I pressed my hand to my mouth, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart.
Did they see me…? Through «Clairvoyance»…? That shouldn’t be possible, but…
After holding my breath for about thirty seconds, I used «Clairvoyance» again to observe the mansion. Just then, I saw Duke Lecherie receiving a small vial and a large leather pouch from the hooded figure.
The vial contained a translucent, pale pink liquid. The leather pouch likely held a fortune in gold coins…?
Duke Lecherie was grinning as he checked the contents of the pouch. Could it be a reward from human trafficking? It would be one thing if he was paying, but receiving it seemed unnatural.
The hooded figure shook hands with Duke Lecherie and exited the room. Immediately after, it felt like they glanced back at me…
Just a coincidence, right…?
The hooded figure then walked away as if nothing had happened and climbed into a carriage parked outside the mansion.
…For a moment, I considered following the carriage, but securing evidence of Duke Lecherie’s involvement in human trafficking was more important right now.
I switched back to my «Ninja» Skill and infiltrated Duke Lecherie’s mansion. I moved through the spacious garden, hiding among the foliage, and leaped onto the balcony of the second-floor study where Duke Lecherie was.
Duke Lecherie was still inside, counting the gold coins from the leather pouch. There were no servants or other figures in the room. It seemed there was no one in the hallway outside either.
If I was going to strike, now was the time.
I opened the door from the balcony and slipped inside. Duke Lecherie, engrossed in the coins, didn’t even notice the sound of the door opening. I pulled out a hand mirror from my pocket and released my brainwashing.
“Hello, Duke Lecherie.”
“Who—?!”
“Skill: «Brainwashing».”
As Duke Lecherie startled and attempted to stand, I immediately cast the brainwashing spell. The words «Under Brainwashing» appeared above his head.
“Sit.”
I instructed him while taking a seat on the sofa opposite him, ensuring he wouldn’t feel discomfort from fatigue or back pain.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Are you involved in human trafficking?”
“Yeah, I’m involved.”
…Just as Prince Lucas had surmised.
“Is that money obtained from human trafficking?”
“That’s right.”
“Where are the abducted people sold?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? What do you mean by that?”
“I was approached with a negotiation to buy the citizens of the Kingdom of Reese at a high price. I don’t know who the other party is. I don’t know where they are sold either.”
“What the hell…”
So he sold his own country’s citizens just because someone told him they would buy them at a high price…?
“Are you kidding me…? What do you think those kidnapped people are…?!”
“I don’t care how many commoners disappear. They’ll just multiply again.”
“—!”
I felt an overwhelming urge to punch him, gripping my fist so tightly that my nails dug into my palm.
Was this scumbag trying to take Lily for himself? Did she have to marry someone like him?
I wanted to command him to “die” right here and now. If I did, Duke Lecherie would undoubtedly throw away his life without hesitation… But that wouldn’t do.
My goal isn’t assassination. If Duke Lecherie dies here, the first ones to be suspected would be Lily and House Puridi. Prince Lucas would also come under suspicion.
Calm down… It’s not my place to judge Duke Lecherie. It would mean nothing if his crimes weren’t exposed at tomorrow’s ball.
“Do you have any evidence of your involvement in human trafficking?”
“I don’t have anything like that.”
“Why not?”
“Leaving evidence is something only a fool would do.”
“…Then you’re going to become that fool starting now.”
As instructed by Prince Lucas, I had Duke Lecherie write two documents by hand that would serve as evidence of his involvement in human trafficking. I placed them in a special leather case to avoid any dirt or creases.
“Forget about me and keep counting the gold coins. I’ll release the brainwashing in ten seconds.”
I stepped out onto the balcony to hide, and as soon as Duke Lecherie’s brainwashing was lifted, I switched back to my «Ninja» Skill to check on him. …He seemed to be counting the coins without any noticeable discomfort. This should be fine…
I had obtained the evidence I needed. Now, all that was left was to wait for Duke Lecherie to be judged at tomorrow’s ball… but.
“I wonder who that person was…”
As I distanced myself from Duke Lecherie’s mansion, I recalled the hooded figure who had been buying the kidnapped people from Duke Lecherie.
Could it be that I couldn’t see their face because that hood was a magical item…? And those red eyes that seemed to glance at me twice through «Clairvoyance» were troubling.
“Oh…”
Speaking of which… I forgot to check the contents of the vial handed to Duke Lecherie along with the gold coins. Should I go back to check now…? No, if I’m discovered, everything will be for naught. I can’t take any more risks of being found out.
Knowing Duke Lecherie, it’s likely that the contents are either an aphrodisiac or a stamina potion… Still, I should at least report it to Prince Lucas.
I hope it’s nothing significant…
Author’s Comment:
The last person I brainwashed was the shop assistant from Chapter 12. Following the old butler Cervus and the shop assistant, Duke Lecherie is the third person I’ve brainwashed. What a powerful skill in this other world… ugh!