Chapter 513: Purpose

“Mr. Bruce, the newspaper you asked for.”

In the quiet room, the Rat King personally handed the latest issue of the Belrand Daily to Muen.

“So... even if the clone is devoured by the black flames, there’s still no way to read the soul?”

Murmuring to himself, Muen opened his eyes and took the newspaper.

As he unfolded it, what immediately met his gaze was a conspicuous headline in bold, enlarged type.

“Faflan Food Processing Factory Found to Have Major Safety Issues, Now Sealed.”

Muen skimmed through it quickly and found that the entire article described how that food processing factory used inferior materials to produce food, even deliberately collecting leftover food scraps for secondary processing—driven mad with greed for profit. Especially where food safety was concerned, it was the kind of issue that could instantly provoke the anger of the majority of the public.

As for sealing the factory and severely punishing the responsible parties, it naturally made people applaud approvingly.

Textbook-level handling.

But... Muen knew that for a food processing factory to have warranted Celicia’s prior investigation, there was no way the factory itself actually had any problems.

The problem was...

“A pity. At best, it only lets those guys cut off a tail.”

Muen closed the newspaper with a trace of regret and shook his head, though he did not feel much disappointment.

This was all within expectations.

Trying to bring down those inner-council members on the strength of a single research institute—one that could not even directly prove its connection to them—was nothing but a fool’s dream.

At the very least, however, this severed one of their important routes. Without the cover of the food factory and the Shadow of Belrand, they would not be able to continue producing that drug in the short term.

Moreover, it was not as though there had been no gains at all from that research institute.

Those research personnel who fled in disarray had taken with them almost all the critical experimental data, yet they had forgotten to take something else.

Muen’s gaze fell onto the table.

There lay a stack of documents—receipts for goods... materials that had flowed into the research institute.

“Your biggest problem is hiding in the dark. Now... you’ve finally shown a bit of your tail.”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Muen’s mouth. He stuffed the receipts into an envelope and handed it to the Rat King:

“Mail this to the designated location. Sender—K.”

“Yes.”

Ever since Muen had single-handedly slaughtered Wood’s entire group, the Rat King’s attitude had grown increasingly respectful.

“I’ll go take care of it right away.”

“Oh, right.”

Muen called out to stop him.

“Any movement from Old Ghost’s side recently?”

“Ah, I was just about to report that.”

The Rat King showed a hint of puzzlement on his face. “For some reason, Old Ghost—who had been acting quite aggressively before—has suddenly gone quiet lately. Our people probed several times, and they showed no reaction at all. Several key figures can’t be found in the slightest, as if they’ve vanished.”

“I see. So he’s lying low for now?”

Muen rubbed his chin.

“What a sharp nose. As expected of the former uncrowned king who once dominated the Lower District. Looks like we won’t be able to find a breakthrough from this side.”

......

......

“So, you showing up in broad daylight with that stupid face of yours, swaggering straight in to see me—are you trying to get me smeared with the stigma of colluding with the underworld?”

Celicia took an elegant sip of her coffee, her gaze cold as she looked at Muen, who was sitting in front of her with a posture so casual it was as if he had returned to his own home, and who had unapologetically pulled her small cake over and started eating it.

“Tsk, don’t put it like that. I saw that the knights have already withdrawn—so it looks like Celicia, you’ve been lifted from restriction by your Father Emperor?”

Muen tasted the cherry cake and found that, as expected of something Celicia liked, its sweetness was astonishing.

“The Royal Knights withdrew, and you think that means no one else is watching?”

“There are.”

Muen nodded, then casually tore off his disguised mask. With an earnest expression, he said,

“But I think that with your ability and caution, those people wouldn’t be able to see anything useful anyway. I’m trusting you, Cia!”

“......”

Staring for a long time at that face that looked sincere but was actually even stupider than it appeared, Celicia suddenly raised a hand to her forehead. She looked rather helpless as she let out a sigh.

“Speak. What is it this time?”

“I heard there’s going to be a ball held in the palace? Hosted by Prince Andrew in His Majesty’s name?”

Muen rubbed his hands together like a fly and asked.

“You already know?”

“Of course I know. I’m not deaf or blind. Besides, the Campbell family received an invitation as well—but right now... no one can go.”

Muen gave a dry cough, then suddenly shifted topics.

“Celicia, what do you think Prince Andrew’s purpose is in holding this ball?”

“What else could it be. It can’t truly be to ease tensions between all sides.”

Celicia let out a cold laugh.

“Ever since news spread that my eldest brother Albert’s brain illness has recovered, he has remained behind closed doors. Imperial Brother Andrew’s purpose in holding this ball is, first, to gather supporters, and second... to force him to show himself. After all, if it’s merely a ball, there isn’t much difference between using a prince’s name and using Father Emperor’s name—but if it’s Father Emperor’s name, then even Imperial Brother Albert would find it hard to refuse.”

“So that’s how it is. Tsk tsk, sounds like it’ll be very lively.”

Muen sighed and marveled, idly spinning the coffee cup in his hand one moment and poking at the unfinished cake the next. He even shook his head with a look of melancholy, as if feeling profound despair at the storm-laden situation to come.

“Stop beating around the bush.”

Celicia looked at Muen with a half-smile as he was clearly gathering courage to speak.

“Mr. Campbell, who currently has no home to return to, you want me to bring you in?”

“......Your Highness truly is brilliant.”

Muen raised a thumbs-up.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“......”

Ignoring Muen’s praise, Celicia stirred her coffee with her silver spoon and took a light sip.

“Fine.”

“Please reconsider. This is... eh? What did you say?”

“I said, fine.”

Celicia set down her coffee cup and stared at Muen without expression.

“I can take you °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° in.”

“R-really?”

Muen’s eyes widened. He had prepared a whole heap of arguments—he had even planned on shamelessly clinging to her leg if necessary—but before any of that could be deployed, she had agreed so easily?

“If you start thinking about those filthy methods again, I’ll strip you naked, throw you out, and shout that the young master of the Campbell family is here.”

“Very sorry.”

Celicia withdrew her gaze and lowered her head, absentmindedly continuing to stir the coffee that had already cooled somewhat.

“I know your purpose. The inner council is hiding in the shadows, so you want to start with Imperial Brother Andrew, who is colluding with them, and use the ball to obtain some intelligence.”

“As expected of Celicia, indeed you’re—”

“I can take you in, and I can even help you probe for information from Imperial Brother Andrew, but...”

She paused, then spoke slowly.

“You also have to help me.”

“Help you?”

Muen frowned and immediately straightened up.

“Help you with what?”

“Nothing complicated. Just something very simple.”

Celicia paused briefly, then said,

“The same as Imperial Brother Andrew’s goal—you’ll also go and test my... Imperial Brother Albert.”