Chapter 593: Suspicious Building

Joy froze, her words caught in her throat.

She tried to give an answer, find anything that she could say that Cassius had done wrong and needed punishment for but no matter how much she thought about it nothing came to her mind.

And realising this, she couldn’t help but tremble with how frustrated she was, as she had never been so clueless or lost before.

And seeing her daughter’s reaction, Maria reached over, stroking her daughter’s hand affectionately.

"There, there. Don’t get upset now. Your mother’s right here. No need to cry."

"I—I’m not crying." Joy muttered through gritted teeth, her face flushed with frustration. "I’m not!"

Maria chuckled lightly. "Of course you’re not, dear."

Joy looked away, her voice low. "I will find something wrong with him. I have to. There’s no way he’s that perfect."

Maria smiled knowingly but said nothing more, only shaking her head affectionately at her daughter’s stubbornness.

By now, the group had left the Red Light district along with the main area behind.

The cobblestone roads gradually gave way to quieter paths lined with small homes and distant fields, where farmers were finishing their day’s work.

The hum of the city faded into the calm whisper of the countryside.

Aqua finally broke the silence.

"So...Joy." She said curiously. "Where exactly are we going now? You’ve been muttering about some suspicious building for a while, but you haven’t explained what it is."

"Yes, I’d like to know that too." Carmela nodded, glancing ahead. "The way you’re riding so confidently toward it, it’s clearly not some small matter."

Joy’s expression grew darker, while her tone dropped to something cold and tired.

"To tell you the truth..." She began. "...in every single one of our previous investigations—no matter what we searched, what reports we cross-checked, or what witnesses we questioned—it all led to nothing."

"Every path, every clue, ended in a dead end."

Joy shook her head with a frustrated sigh.

"It was as if every stone we turned had already been polished before we got there. Every record matched, every worker was content, every system was running flawlessly. There wasn’t a single hint of deceit anywhere."

She let out a long sigh, her brow furrowed.

"It’s like the devil himself went through everything and covered up his own tracks perfectly. Every crime, every secret completely buried in darkness so deep that no light can touch it."

Aqua and Maria exchanged a silent glance and shook their heads slightly, unsure whether to feel exasperated or sorry for her.

"But..." Joy went on, her tone suddenly shifting. "...there is one place that doesn’t make sense. One place he didn’t manage to hide."

That caught everyone’s attention.

Carmela tilted her head slightly.

"And what place would that be?"

Joy pointed ahead toward the horizon, where faint outlines of structures could be seen beyond the farmlands.

"It’s a massive building on the outskirts of town. A warehouse or at least that’s what it looks like from the outside. It’s new and he had it built not long ago."

"Another project of Cassius’s?" Aqua asked uncertainly.

Joy nodded. "Yes, but this one is different."

"It’s the only structure I can’t find any record of. No documents, no construction ledgers, no permits listed under the Holyfield estate."

"It’s as if it appeared out of thin air."

Maria frowned. "That...is strange."

"And that’s not the only thing." Joy continued, narrowing her eyes. "It’s always heavily guarded."

My girls tried to approach it several times, but the security around it is tighter than even the royal armory. No one unauthorized gets close."

"And the worst part?"

She turned to look at the group, her pink eyes gleaming.

"The only people who ever go inside that building are women."

"Women?" Aqua repeated, startled.

"Yes." Joy said firmly. "Not just any women either. All of them were once victims—trafficked, enslaved, abandoned, or orphaned."

"Women from the underbelly of society."

"They go in every morning at eight, come out at five in the evening...and none of them ever talk about what happens inside."

Carmela frowned. "You questioned them?"

"We tried. We sent covert agents, questioned the women who came out, even bribed a few. But all of them, every single one refused to speak."

"They just shook their heads and said they weren’t allowed to say anything. Some of them even looked terrified when we pressed the issue."

"That...does sound suspicious." Maria admitted softly.

"Exactly." Joy said, gripping her reins tightly. "If Cassius has truly done something wrong, then it has to be there. That building is the only loose thread he hasn’t hidden."

"So what’s your plan?" Carmela asked.

Joy looked ahead, her eyes sharp with determination.

"We’re going in. Now that I have official permission to investigate, no one can stop me. I’ll see for myself what’s inside that building."

"And if there’s something foul at work, I’ll expose."

She then looked back at Isabelle and said,

"And don’t think that just because you’re following me, you can change anything. Or help him cover his tracks."

"I’ve already positioned several of my girls near the facility."

"They’re watching every entrance, every exit. No one major gets in or out without my knowledge."

"So, no matter what you do, no matter what tricks he’s prepared—I will uncover the truth. And when I do, I will bring judgment upon him."

But Isabelle only smiled faintly, unbothered.

"Do whatever you wish, Lady Joy." She said in a calm, almost amused voice. "I’m simply here to accompany you. I’ll be quite happy just to see how this unfolds."

"You’re really starting to sound like a little kid, Joy." Aqua giggled. "Throwing tantrums and making threats while Isabelle here sounds like a patient adult humoring you."

Joy shot her a withering glare, which only made Aqua giggle harder before she leaned in to whisper in Isabelle’s ear, her voice suddenly nervous.

"I just hope whatever’s inside that place isn’t something bad. I don’t want my brother to get caught up in anything shady."

Isabelle gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don’t worry Aqua. Everything will be fine. There’s nothing in that place to be afraid of."

Aqua exhaled in relief, trusting her completely.

They continued down the dirt road until, in the distance, they spotted a fenced courtyard surrounded by open fields.

Beyond it stood a tall, elegant building of pale stone—its structure more refined than a warehouse, with banners fluttering lightly in the breeze.

But what caught their attention wasn’t the building itself—it was what was happening in front of it.

Dozens of young girls stood in the courtyard, arranged in neat rows, each holding wooden sticks or practice swords.

Some were punching the air in unison; others were sparring lightly under the guidance of armored female knights.

A few even performed disciplined tackling movements, their small faces determined and focused.

"Are those...little girls swinging swords?"

Maria squinted and pointed.

"Look at that one! She’s barely five! Oh, heavens, she’s so serious—but so adorable!"

"It’s kind of surreal, isn’t it?" Aqua laughed, finding the sight endearing and funny. "They look like they’re training for war but half of them could still be playing with dolls."

Carmela crossed her arms, watching closely.

"Still, this isn’t just play. The discipline, the stances...this looks like formal training. But for what?"

Everyone slowly turned toward Isabelle, who gave a reluctant smile.

"Why is everyone looking at me?"

"Because..." Carmela said dryly. "...every time something unusual happens, it somehow ends up being connected to your Master. And you always seem to know the details."

Isabelle raised a hand sheepishly.

"Fine, fine." She admitted with a sigh. "You’re not wrong. This is another initiative by the Young Master."

Aqua rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Of course it is."

Isabelle continued, smiling with pride.

"This is one of his newer programs. He calls it the Women’s Defense Initiative. Its purpose is to train young girls and women in basic self-defense and martial combat."

"He doesn’t want women to spend their lives afraid or to rely on others for protection. He wants them to be strong enough to protect themselves, so he started this program so that they can learn self defence and combat."

Hearing this, Maria’s eyes glowed with admiration.

"That’s...actually wonderful."

Isabelle nodded.

"He collaborated with the Holy Guard to make it possible. The female knights you see here volunteer as instructors."

"Every few days, neighborhood girls gather here to train for free. Even older women are welcome."

"And the results have been extraordinary—there have already been several cases where women have defended themselves from attackers."

"Word has spread quickly, and it’s inspired even more to join."

"That’s amazing!" Aqua burst out laughing. "My brother’s practically turning every girl in town into a warrior!"

"Indeed." Maria said warmly. "It’s another wonderful initiative. I should’ve known."

"Honestly..." Carmela sighed. "...at this point, I’m not even surprised anymore.

But before anyone could add more, a loud, cheerful voice rang out across the courtyard.

"ISABELLE!"

Everyone turned toward the sound.

A young woman in a knight’s uniform—slender, short brown hair, and bright green eyes was waving from across the field with a wide grin.

Isabelle’s face lit up instantly.

"AVERY!"

With how both of them shouted each other other’s names with such affection, Aqua and the others thought that they were close acquaintances or friends.

This idea solidified even more when to everyone’s surprise—

Avery started running toward her and too Isabelle ran towards her

—both of them laughing as if reuniting after years apart.

Aqua smiled. "Aww, that’s sweet! They’re—"

But before she could finish, Isabelle threw a punch straight at Avery’s face.

Aqua screamed. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Avery swiftly blocked it and swung back; Isabelle dodged and swept at her legs, but Avery jumped aside and countered with a shoulder strike.

And just like that, the two began trading blows right there in the middle of the road, their movements fast but oddly graceful.

Maria blinked in confusion. "I thought they were friends!"

"They are." Carmela said calmly, watching their forms. "They’re sparring. Look...no killing intent."

Indeed, both women were smiling between their strikes, laughing occasionally even as they attacked each other.

And after a few minutes, they finally stopped, stepping back and breathing lightly.

Avery grinned. "You’ve improved again, Isabelle! You should really join the Holy Guard, you’d rise through the ranks in no time."

Isabelle laughed, panting softly. "Not a chance. My duty is with my Young Master. I’ll never leave his side."

Avery pouted slightly, placing her hands on Isabelle’s shoulders.

"You’re so lucky, you know that? You get to be with Cassius every day. I barely get to see him with how busy I am."

Isabelle giggled. "If you want to be with him that badly, you could always become a maid too. I think you’d look adorable in the uniform."

"Absolutely not!" Avery’s face turned red. "I’m a knight! I’d look ridiculous!"

"You’d look cute." Isabelle teased.

"No! I look heroic in armor, thank you very much." Avery crossed her arms.

But then her expression softened as she said,

"Still...even if I don’t get to see him often, I love what I do here. Training these girls, it feels right."

Isabelle smiled warmly. "That’s just like you, Avery."

But then, with a mischievous smirk, Isabelle leaned in and whispered,

"Though, even though you say that you don’t see often, why is that I always see you entering through the back entrance like a sneaky cat at night?"

Avery’s entire face turned crimson. "H-Hey! Be quiet, you!" She shouted, pulling Isabelle into a flustered hug while Isabelle continues to tease her.

As the two laughed and teased, the rest of the group finally arrived.

Aqua, still fascinated by the way the two women had suddenly gone from joyful reunion to trading blows, leaned forward on her horse with sparkling eyes.

"Alright, Isabelle." She said curiously. "You have to tell me who exactly is this beautiful knight who thinks throwing fists is the best way to greet someone?"