“The Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce deals in import-export trade and OEM products. But its ultimate transaction partner—or rather, its biggest collaborator—isn’t actually the United Chamber. Even though the United Chamber in Lakeside City has extensive connections across the Northland States, the consumer power of those northern countries alone can’t sustain the development of the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, nor can it compare with another much larger market. I think you already know…”
When Sylvia reached this point, she paused.
Her violet eyes turned to Enya, who narrowed her eyes and stared back before snorting coldly.
“What, are you trying to test me?”
“…Do you want me to swing this birdcage around a few times? Looks like you’ve been getting too comfortable these past few days. Perfect timing—I could use some exercise.”
As she spoke, Enya stood up and walked over to the stand where the golden birdcage hung. It was originally a coat rack, but Enya had repurposed it to hold Sylvia’s head.
Sylvia lowered her gaze, avoiding direct eye contact with Enya, and continued from where she’d left off.
“That big market is the West Wind Empire. The organization cooperating with it is called the Star Sea Chamber of Commerce, and the true power behind it is actually that frail princess.”
“When Gro first left his hometown, he worked as a mercenary and then as an adventurer for a while. But his own abilities were limited, so he couldn’t earn much. Being an adventurer didn’t let him leverage his strengths, so he decided to use his savings to go into business.”
“His first foray into business was in Lakeside City. After all, even back then the city had started advertising itself with the slogan of commercial freedom. But that time, Gro suffered a crushing defeat. He ended up penniless and buried in debt. However, that experience also allowed him to see the true nature of the Chamber of Commerce Union.”
“Gro spent several years paying off his debts. By then, he had no more energy left to continue in business—until a fire killed someone who had helped him during his lowest point. Driven by that tragedy, he began looking for a way to turn things around. But that ended up wasting several more years.”
“He made three attempts, all ending in failure. After all, he was trying to take on the entire Chamber of Commerce Union all by himself.”
“Then, ten years ago, an investor from the Star Sea Chamber of Commerce found Gro while he was traveling between West Wind and Lakeside City. They provided financial support and connections in West Wind.”
“And from then on, Gro’s path finally smoothed out, leading to his current achievements—and then his murder.”
“He had a secret pact with that investor. As for its contents, I don’t know. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be called a secret pact.”
Sylvia had said a great deal, and Enya listened intently.
After hearing it all, she was a little curious about that secret pact, but it was clearly not something easy to dig up.
Since the Information Girl claimed she didn’t know, Enya decided to treat it as unknown.
She didn’t interrogate her.
Gro’s life story had a strong narrative feel. He left his wife and daughter and hometown to struggle alone, wanting to earn more money only to suffer failure, sinking back to rock bottom.
But he didn’t give up—he paid off his debts, and then, driven by a tragedy, he found his goal again, climbing upward under the manipulation of “fate.”
But in the end, just when he was happiest after reuniting with his daughter, he was killed along with her by the assassins of the Hall of Shadows.
His story ended right there, with his bad ending.
Enya pondered silently as she covered the golden birdcage with the black cloth again.
Parit stood alone outside the villa’s door, holding a black wooden box with a golden lock. An anxious expression was on his face.
A flicker of hesitation shone in his cloudy eyes, as if he were contemplating a very important matter—one of great consequence, not easily decided.
Just as he was thinking, footsteps sounded from inside the villa. One of the doors opened, and a black-haired maid stepped out.
It was Lucia, who had become Enya’s personal maid.
Lucia glanced at the old butler standing at the entrance, his back slightly hunched. She hurried to the door to deliver the message.
“The Lady requests you come see her.”
“Mm…”
Parit looked at Lucia, a little distracted.
This struck Lucia as odd.
The two of them were already quite familiar with each other, and having gone through a crisis together, her view of the old butler had shifted from the initial impression of an impartial enforcer to that of a good steward loyal to Gro.
So Parit’s unusual demeanor now naturally felt strange to her.
She pursed her lips and asked, “Steward, is something wrong with me?”
“No, nothing.”
Parit shook his head. To dispel the girl’s doubts, he forced a smile.
But Lucia only felt more uneasy. She sensed that she and Parit now seemed to belong to different worlds, with a rift growing between them.
Lucia didn’t press further. She simply gave the old butler, whose face was lined and whose hair was half-gray, a deep look.
She turned and went back to her duties as a maid, leading Parit into the house and to the study used for receiving guests.
The villa’s study was on the second floor—a very large room. Though it had many bookshelves, there were only a few books on them.
Lucia had once suggested bringing books from the main building, but Enya refused. Her bookshelves could only hold books she had read, not ones used for show.
Parit entered the study and saw the beautiful silver-haired woman with golden eyes sitting by the large window, her back to him.
The window had three panes, with a large arched pane on top and two smaller ones on either side.
It was over five meters tall and four meters wide, facing diagonally east. Even now, in the dim twilight, plenty of light still came through.
Enya sat in that light, as if she were radiating a soft glow.
There was an ethereal quality…
Parit withdrew his gaze. After Lucia took her leave, he stepped closer and placed the object he was carrying on the oversized desk that separated him from Enya.
After taking a step back, he said, “My Lady, if you wish to become the owner of the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, this item is indispensable. Also, I think…”
“Mm.”
Enya slowly turned around.
She first glanced at the old butler, then her gaze fell on the black wooden box.
A key was already inserted into the golden lock, but it hadn’t been opened.
It was clearly waiting for Enya to open it herself.
She waved her hand, and the black wooden box floated toward her as if grasped by an invisible hand, finally landing in her hands.
The key in the golden lock turned by itself.
As the lock clicked open, the contents were revealed.
Inside the box was a folded piece of rose-red fabric, on top of which lay a yellow paper scroll tied with a blue ribbon in a loose knot.
Under Enya’s gaze, the scroll floated out. She set the box on the table and looked at the scroll.
At that moment, the blue ribbon on the floating scroll untied itself. As the scroll unfurled, Enya glanced at its contents and couldn’t help but chuckle.
This was an oath scroll. Its contents stated that the person who signed it would gain the inheritance rights to the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.
This contract was witnessed by the God of Order and could not be altered by anyone.
One name was already signed: Goro Houston. The other side’s name was still blank.
In other words, this was an “incomplete contract.” Anyone could complete the contract portion, and with the god as witness, they would gain the final inheritance rights to the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Parit could sign it himself and become the heir to the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.
But though the God of Order would protect the contract, that didn’t mean He would stop bandits from stealing it outright.
So the old butler was clever—he understood that strength was the only thing that mattered in this world. Contracts had long been rendered obsolete in this age of diminished miracles.
Only overwhelming power was the truth.
And precisely, Enya had power. She was the truth.
When Enya turned her gaze to him, Parit chose to bow his head.
He didn’t dare meet her eyes—it would have been too oppressive. After all, even Katherine couldn’t face those eyes, and Parit knew exactly how capable Katherine was.
Enya placed the contract on the desk, pulled her chair closer, and summoned a fountain pen.
She paused to think for a moment as she was about to sign, then wrote her name on the blank line.
Einfall Krolock.
She omitted the name “Enya” that her birth mother had left her.
Slowly, she rolled up the contract again, tied it with the blue ribbon, returned it to the box, and locked it with the golden lock.
Enya twirled the key in her hand before making it disappear.
She leaned back in her chair and said to Parit, who still had his head lowered, “Don’t worry. I will definitely avenge Gro and his daughter. After all, those guys were after the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, and now it’s become a threat to my interests.”
Parit visibly breathed a sigh of relief. This was also why he had so easily handed over the contract originally prepared for Kalian to Enya—he wanted her to tie herself to the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Enya couldn’t be bothered to dwell on that small calculation. She tilted her head slightly, looking at the loyal old butler, and asked, “Anything else?”
“Yes, I’d like to know what plans you have, my Lady. Is there anything you need me to do? Just give the orders.”
Parit’s demeanor was humble, his tone submissive.
Enya tilted her head back, stared at the ceiling for a long moment, then smiled.
With a mysterious look, she said to Parit, “Send plenty of people to protect me—three layers deep, patrolling day and night. Also, use the excuse that I’m weak and unwell to turn down all meeting requests. If anyone insists on seeing me, let me know.”
“…Understood, my Lady.”
Parit was a little stunned.
‘You, a Lady of the Dragon Tribe, probably possess terrifying strength at the peak of the Sixth Rank—yet you want us humans to protect you in three layers, and claim you’re too weak to receive visitors? Isn’t this a bit…’
But he was smart enough to figure it out after a moment’s surprise.
Parit had one last thing.
“My Lady, should we hold a banquet to meet the various heads of the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce?”
“No need. I don’t like banquets. Just hold a normal meeting.”
Enya had no interest in banquets.
With nothing else to discuss, Parit took his leave.
Accompanied by Lucia, he left the villa and headed off into the night to arrange everything Enya had instructed.