Chapter 283: Power Inflation (1)
On a quiet weekend, nearing sunset, a carriage departed from the Colosseo Academy towards the estate of the wealthiest clan in the empire, the Bourgeois Clan. Dolores, Figgy, and Sinclaire, these three individuals were honored to have been invited to the grand estate for an evening meal, courtesy of Bourgeois.
Naturally, Figgy and Sinclaire were animatedly sharing their excitement and stories. “Our oracle club’s achievements this time were remarkable! We clinched the top spot in the mock investment contest! And unbelievably, all of it was based on actual returns!”
“In addition, we hosted a dazzling party, complete with jewels, gold bars, coins, banknotes, promissory notes, real estate deeds, artworks, antiques, and other valuable items scattered around the dining table. I can’t even fathom the total worth. It’s said to surpass mountain ranges.”
“Hehe, really? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”
“Why would you keep such valuable items on the dining table? What if a guest sneaks off with them during dinner?”
“How could anyone steal so much?”
“Well, that’s true. Then, could the gifts we prepared also become part of that treasure trove? That would be glorious.”
After finishing his words, Figgy turned to look behind the carriage. There, several treasure chests were placed—a gift for Bourgeois.
Sinclaire, who had contemplated and prepared these gifts with great care, muttered with a hint of disappointment, “It’s a shame Big Brother didn’t come with us.”
“Huh? Vikir, you mean? Why all of a sudden?”
“Just because… He promised he’d come over to my house for a meal.”
“?”
Figgy tilted his head in confusion. Why would that come up now? Sinclaire, brushing aside her white short-cut hair swaying in the wind, replied, “He’s quite busy lately, I wanted him to eat a proper meal with me.”
“Oh, that’s what you meant? I agree. It’s been hard to have meals with Vikir lately. Except for breakfast.”
Figgy started discussing Vikir’s busy schedule. However, Sinclaire, while listening to Figgy’s words, was lost in her own thoughts.
‘Big Brother. You don’t have money?’
‘…I don’t.’
‘Why not? You’re a student at the academy. Isn’t that too harsh? These kids here don’t have parents to rely on. We should help them.’
‘Parents are not necessary. They function only during the essential years when external support is crucial. After that, they are unnecessary.’
Meanwhile, Dolores, who was at the front, staring straight ahead, was completely oblivious to Figgy and Sinclaire’s conversation behind her. Her attention was solely on the treasure chests carried in the carriage today, the gifts destined for Bourgeois’ estate.
‘I’m sorry, kids.’
Unfortunately, the gifts selected by Sinclaire and Figgy were not in the boxes.
Those items had already been moved elsewhere, and the empty boxes now contained something entirely different.
Night Hound.
An assassin lay in ambush to assassinate the Bourgeois Clan head. “Bourgeois Clan’s head doesn’t bother with body searches when he brings someone into the vault,”
Night Hound had mentioned. It was probably the demonic confidence unique to demons—an arrogant attitude that dismissed any assassin as a mere toy. However, that very confidence was also a weakness of the devil.
“We should put the kids to sleep before the battle begins.”
Dolores tightly gripped a vial in her hand, containing a harmless sleeping potion. When the carriage arrived at Bourgeois’ estate, Dolores, Figgy, and Sinclaire would be guided to the reception room and kept waiting until the evening meal. At that time, Dolores planned to slip the potion into their tea cups and hide them elsewhere.
“It would have been best if they hadn’t come with me in the first place…”
However, both Figgy and Sinclaire had been eagerly looking forward to go to the Bourgeois Clan estate for the past few days, and given that they were specifically invited as “members of the Oracle Investment Club,” it would be unjustifiable for Dolores to go alone. Even now, Figgy was compiling a list of questions he planned to ask upon meeting Bartolomeo.
“The future trends of the empire’s economy, doubts about current financial indicators, criteria for discovering new businesses, prospects of the medium-sized merchant guild, recent issues of the mercenary guild mergers… and also, does he eat chicken?”
“I have questions too.”
Sinclaire also smiled with anticipation. Figgy asked, “Oh, Sinclaire. What are you curious about? Want to have a question match with me?”
“No. I’m curious about only one thing.”
Figgy’s eyes widened upon hearing Sinclaire’s response. “Huh? Just one thing? Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Why! We’re meeting the most wealthy figure in the empire. We should gather as much knowledge as possible! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”
Despite Figgy’s enthusiasm, Sinclaire only smiled briefly.
Dolores, Figgy, and Sinclaire, three individuals with different thoughts despite being together, had now arrived at the main gate of Bourgeois’s ancestral home.
“Dinner appointment. Oracle.”
As Dolores stated the purpose of their visit, the gate opened wide. The carriage was guided towards the interior of the magnificent mansion, and naturally, the exclusive path for guests was free of any security checks.
At that moment, the steward guiding the carriage, with a modest smile, remarked.
“It seems we’ve been seeing guests from Quovadis more frequently lately.”
“What? Who else from our family has visited?”
Dolores asked with a puzzled expression, and the steward responded with a mysterious attitude.
“Yes. Just a few hours ago, Cardinal Humbert paid a visit. He has finished his business and left now.”
As Dolores heard the name ‘Humbert,’ a shiver ran down her spine.
“I never expected him to be here… Fortunately, he’s gone already.”
Just to be sure, Dolores unfolded her senses, but she couldn’t detect any nearby divine energy. If Humbert had been present, things could have taken a troublesome turn.
While she pondered various thoughts, the steward led them all to the reception room. “Please wait here for a moment, and I will announce your arrival shortly.” After placing a simple tea set and snacks on the table, the steward opened the door and left.
Dolores, Figgy, and Sinclaire began waiting in the reception room. “The reception room is incredibly luxurious. It looks expensive yet not extravagant. The interior exudes the beauty of the past.”
“Yeah, it’s tasteful.”
While Figgy and Sinclaire chatted, Dolores trembled with her hand. ‘I need to add the sleeping potion.’ It was a misdeed she had never attempted in her entire life, altering someone else’s food.
Eventually, Dolores seized the opportunity as Figgy and Sinclaire turned their heads, successfully adding the sleeping potion to their tea cups. Absentmindedly sipping their tea, Figgy and Sinclaire soon started dozing off.
“Hmm. Why do I feel sleepy?”
“Yeah. It’s almost dinner time, though…”
Dolores, with a quivering voice, addressed Figgy and Sinclaire, “Hey, hey, hey, he… no, hey guys. If you’re tired, take a short nap. I’ll wake you up when it’s time for dinner.”
“Oh, can you do that?”
“Thank you!”
Fortunately, Figgy and Sinclaire, without any suspicion, leaned against the sofa in the reception room, closing their eyes. ‘Did the medicine work?’
Dolores waved her hand in front of their faces, confirming their lack of response.
With a relieved sigh, Dolores stepped outside briefly to wipe away the sweat. At that moment, she once again encountered the steward approaching.
“Ah, saintess. The lord had some urgent matters and is delayed. He’ll come back shortly.”
“Yes! Steward, My friends who came with me would have to return due to an unexpected incident.”
“Really? A meeting right before the appointment? Although Lord is a bit late… Shall I cancel the appointment and reschedule it for another time?”
“Oh no, no! There’s no need for that. I can just meet him alone as the club representative.”
The steward, nodding while smiling, seemed to understand reluctantly.
A little past the scheduled time, Dolores loaded the prepared gifts onto a carriage and, accompanied by a few attendants, headed deep into the mansion’s interior.
After walking for a while, the imposing vault came into view, resembling an entrance to a grand plaza.
“Lord is waiting.”
The steward politely bowed before opening the door. Inside, a dark and cold atmosphere could be felt. The attendants stored the gift-laden carriage inside and guided Dolores further inside.
Finally, all attendants exchanged greetings and slowly retreated, leaving Dolores alone in the vast darkness of the vault.
“…Um, Sir?”
As Dolores cautiously spoke, a sudden burst of light illuminated the surroundings. Simultaneously, Dolores could only open her mouth wide.
A magnificent golden scent filled the air, blinding with its golden brilliance. In the vast darkness of the vault, Dolores stood alone, welcomed into a world of immense wealth.
