IHDOE Ch 23

[Benjamin] "You recognized it accurately. It moves so swiftly and stealthily that capturing it easily is impossible. Had it not been exhausted from fighting a natural predator, capturing it would have proven impossible for us as well. We were fortunate."

Satina watched the magical beast being dragged to the laboratory before heading toward the director's office.

Entering the office revealed a folding bed set up in a corner of the room.

[Satina] "What is that?"

[Benjamin] "Ah, because my work often keeps me up all night, I prepared it."

[Satina] "Your passion is remarkable."

[Benjamin] "Since the Young Duke personally trusted and entrusted this to me, I must work hard."

Books piled like mountains, and well-worn documents revealed how hard this man researched.

Well, this is why Sharlan entrusted him with work, completely unaware that he was a spy.

[Benjamin] "This is the Gritanan extract we sold."

He brought the ingredient that caused the problem.

Satina held the glass bottle, inspecting the sloshing, dark green liquid inside. As her gaze fell upon it, the system displayed a small notification window.

[Liv] "Gritanan Extract. Freshly harvested extract. Vibrant vitality overflows within it."

He pulled out another bottle.

[Benjamin] "And this is the product currently sold by House Radius. Do you notice the difference?"

As her gaze shifted to the bottle beside it, the system displayed another notification window.

[Liv] "Gritanan Extract was harvested some time ago. Prompt use is recommended."

[Satina] "Well, I can't notice any difference."

When she set the bottle down, he spoke with an expression showing he expected nothing from the start.

[Benjamin] "Even our investigations found absolutely no difference."

[Satina] "Yes, and I know little about such things anyway."

Still, I know who the spy is.

She thought inwardly, looking around the director's office.

Among densely stacked books, a thick volume titled Basic Introduction to Magical Beast Studies came into view. Though a basic text for a research facility director, its presence in the office was hardly unnatural.

However, evidence proving Benjamin was a spy lay hidden inside the safe behind that very book.

[Benjamin] "What are you looking at so intently?"

[Satina] "Nothing. Just thinking how many books you have."

[Benjamin] "Because this profession demands continuous research and study."

[Satina] "Is it not exhausting?"

[Benjamin] "I do it because I enjoy it."

[Satina] "Is that so? Ah, by the way, where is the lounge? Working right upon arrival tired me out."

[Benjamin] "Ah, of course! Traveling by carriage overexerted you! I will guide you to the lounge immediately!"

When she spoke while yawning, he promptly guided her to the lounge. As he left the lounge, the system spoke.

[Liv] "What do you plan to do now?"

[Satina] "Well, stealing the documents from the safe in the director's office would be best, right?"

Inside the safe behind that book lay letters Benjamin had exchanged with House Radius.

Satina looked down at her slender arms, which looked incapable of swinging a sword even once.

[Satina] "Sneaking in to retrieve them myself is impossible, right?"

[Liv] "Naturally."

[Satina] "Even with your help?"

[Liv] "Impossible."

[Satina] "Should I have tried attacking him with a nearby book when we were alone in the office earlier?"

At her joke, the system answered seriously.

[Liv] "Had you done so, the success rate might have increased by a mere 0.000001% compared to sneaking in, but the outcome of failure remains unchanged. The player's physical capabilities are fundamentally unsuited for combat."

[Satina] "Pity."

Contrary to her words, she showed little regret. As she leisurely sipped tea, the system spoke abruptly.

[Liv] "The player is mischievous."

[Satina] "So suddenly?"

[Liv] "Yes."

[Satina] "Why do you think so?"

[Liv] "Because you clearly possess a plan, yet reveal nothing to Liv."

Pausing briefly in silence, she offered a soft smile.

[Satina] "You caught me."

[Liv] "Because the player I know is not someone who relaxes like this without reason."

[Satina] "Correct. If opening the safe is difficult, I snatch evidence outside the safe."

[Liv] "With the player's physical capabilities, that will prove even more difficult."

[Satina] "Then I can order someone else instead of doing it myself, right?"

[Liv] "Someone else?"

[Satina] "Hmm, strictly speaking, not a person."

[Liv] "How so?"

[Satina] "I must make good use of what I possess."

[Liv] "What you possess……"

Satina shook the small coin pouch she always carried.

[Satina] "My tiny, precious 199 gold."

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[Benjamin] "……You mean you wish to buy a magical beast?"

Bewilderment washed over his face.

[Satina] "Yes. That magical beast was prepared in the research facility for experiments. I want to buy it."

Leaning back in her chair, she asked with a languid expression.

[Satina] "Why? Is there a problem?"

[Benjamin] "No, no problem, but……"

He couldn't comprehend what the lady before him was thinking.

Satina's daily routine over the past few days was simple.

Arriving late in the afternoon at the research facility, she dropped by the director's office to engage in trivial banter with Benjamin, enjoyed refreshments in the lounge, and returned to the ducal mansion when the sun set.

While everyone busied themselves running around to win back clients lost to House Radius, she alone lived a leisurely, carefree existence.

Anyone watching would think she comes here just to eat snacks. Well, suitable behavior for a woman called a trashy ducal daughter.

A woman possessing neither bloodline nor ability, having nothing except a pretty face. Word said she came here because she insisted to her younger stepbrother that she could resolve the issue.

Well, begging with a face like that would make anyone want to grant her request.

Benjamin swallowed hard while looking at Satina.

Though her status as the Crown Prince's fiancée and ducal daughter prevented him from touching her, he would have harassed her several times already if given the chance.

Mocking her inwardly, he asked.

[Benjamin] "What do you plan to use the magical beast for?"

[Satina] "Hmm—"

Inspecting her nails, she tilted her head languidly.

[Satina] "Just because? Seeing my stepsister play with one looked fun. I thought having one for myself would be fine too."

Her face, as she spoke, appeared carefree and cheerful, devoid of any worry.

[Benjamin] "Even so, 190 gold is insufficient."

[Satina] "Aha. But that is all the money I can mobilize right now, so what should we do? How about making up for the shortage with information instead?"

[Benjamin] "Information……?"

She lowered her voice and whispered.

[Satina] "Have you never thought it strange why Sharlan sent me here?"

[Benjamin] "……!"

Hearing his name from her lips, Benjamin's eyes widened. She was a foolish, laughable woman, but Young Duke was not.

Could sending her here be his plan as well?!

Tension surfaced briefly across his face. Satina observed his shifting expression with a serene face.

Fell for it.

If opening the safe alone proved difficult, targeting the moment Benjamin contacted House Radius was the answer.

However, he was no fool. Without pressing cause, he would never act rashly to contact House Radius during such turbulent times, risking getting caught.

So I must force him to make contact.

Anxious, nervous—making it unbearable for him not to contact House Radius.

[Benjamin] "What do you mean by that?"

When she gestured with a finger, Benjamin leaned his body toward her. She whispered in an extremely secretive voice.

[Satina] "In truth, I came here to help Sharlan find House Radius' spy."

[Benjamin] "A-A spy, you say?"

[Satina] "Yes. Unless someone leaked it, how could they discover the Gritanan processing method?"

[Benjamin] "Could House Radius not have researched it independently?"

[Satina] "Of course that possibility exists. But think carefully, Benjamin. Duke Bersabet became furious over this matter."

She tapped the desk with her fingernails as if emphasizing.

[Satina] "Enraged beyond measure. Sharlan received a harsh scolding from Father because of that matter, too. You know his temperament well, do you not?"

He knew it all too well. No one in the entire empire was ignorant of how tyrannical and cruel Duke Bersabet was.

[Satina] "Then here is a question. Reporting to Father that House Radius researched diligently to discover the processing method while Sharlan slacked off, or reporting that those damned House bastards sent a spy into our family to steal the processing method—which side do you think aids Sharlan's safety?"

[Benjamin] "That naturally would be……"

[Satina] "The latter, right? Sharlan will receive less of Father's scolding only if he shifts responsibility onto someone else."

[Benjamin] "……"

[Satina] "And that spy has been decided as you."

[Benjamin] "P-Pardon?!"

The real spy, Benjamin, was shocked. His mind raced frantically.

Did I get caught? Where on earth—no, if so, things wouldn't be this quiet.

[Benjamin] "I am innocent."

[Satina] "I know. But someone must become the target of Father's wrath. Sharlan seems to have you in mind as that target."

[Benjamin] "B-But……"

[Satina] "Do you know why I came to the research facility? To accuse you. To say that after staying at the research facility for a few days to observe, you seem thoroughly suspicious. Then he will lead knights here immediately to arrest you, won't he?"

[Benjamin] "Such a thing……!"

[Satina] "You claim to be wronged, but I wonder if you can say that before torture as well."

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