After Sefina went to sleep, Lin Shu returned to her own room.
She took off her maid uniform and looked at herself in the mirror, wearing only thin undergarments, with the key hanging around her neck.
Recalling the message the system had popped up earlier, Lin Shu suddenly wanted to try asking if she could find out anything using the keyword “Holy Clan.”
“…System.” She called up the system interface.
A faint blue panel floated in front of her.
“The key you gave me to return to my original world is related to the Holy Clan, isn’t it?”
System: [No further item description information available]
Lin Shu: ?
Why not just say “server busy” then.
Good grief, exactly what kind of secret information is it that even a transmigrator like herself isn’t allowed to know?
Lin Shu completely gave up now. This system wouldn’t give her any information, though it was quite proactive about giving out items.
She took the key off her neck.
Should she investigate the clues about this key further?
She suddenly remembered the look in Sefina’s eyes when she placed the flower wreath on her, and everything Sefina had done for her.
Forget it, I’ll wait a bit longer. I should wait for the news from Sefina’s investigation first; I can’t betray her trust.
At least in the Derago family, she had a place to stay and someone who was willing to look out for her.
Lin Shu hung the key back around her neck and climbed into bed.
***
The next day, inside Sefina’s room.
Lin Shu was called into the room by Sefina to discuss the list given by the head of the house.
They needed to discuss the family’s future partners.
The list simply noted a few groups and names. At a glance, they seemed to be distributed in regions quite far from the Demon Capital.
“Sweetie, have you heard of this group?”
Sefina’s finger pointed to a code name: “Clever Hands.”
Lin Shu felt it looked familiar. Thinking back to when she was by Lia’s side, she had heard people mention the code name of this mercenary team. They were called the “Professional Team.”
This praise made her strangely associate them with several black figures and a square object.
Although the Tepps family had never cooperated with them, they had left a deep impression on Lin Shu.
“I only know that they are very professional,” Lin Shu answered honestly.
Sefina smiled. “When my father and mother were still around, they once fought side by side with them.”
Lin Shu’s heart skipped a beat.
This was the first time Sefina had mentioned her father and mother.
Since entering the Derago family, she had never seen the two elders, nor had she even heard the maids mention them.
Ever since she had known of the Derago family, Saean was already the head.
“Then, they are currently…”
“They are no longer here.” The smile on Sefina’s face didn’t change, but the look in her eyes dimmed.
Lin Shu looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s fine, it’s all in the past.”
Somehow, it felt a bit strange. Lin Shu looked at Sefina’s expression.
She couldn’t tell if she was just putting on a brave face or if she had truly let it go.
Sefina continued:
“In the past, there was a war between the Demon Clan and the Holy Clan. They were sent to the front lines, and the ‘Clever Hands’ team happened to be in the Demon Clan’s ranks.”
“Back then, everyone said ‘Clever Hands’ was very strong. On the battlefield, their strength could rival an entire army.”
“But after the war ended, they vanished without a trace. No one ever heard news of them again.”
“It wasn’t until a few years ago that they seemed to reappear.”
Lin Shu was surprised by the strength of this professional team.
To have been on the battlefield… if they were hired as Derago’s professional muscle, wouldn’t that be an overkill in strength? They would be heavyweight enforcers!
“But regarding news of their whereabouts, there hasn’t been much…” As Sefina spoke, she suddenly became keenly aware of some movement outside the window and turned her head.
Lin Shu also looked up and was startled by the sight outside the window.
A person was hanging outside the window, a rope tied around her waist, swaying back and forth with a leisurely expression.
“Lady Daphne!”
Lin Shu rushed to the window and opened it:
“What are you doing here? Did you… hang yourself down from the roof?”
Don’t cosplay a bungee zombie here!
Laicai was nestled obediently in Daphne’s arms, completely unafraid of the dangerous high-altitude state its master was currently in.
Daphne kicked her short legs in the air, swayed a bit, and used the momentum to swing directly into the room:
“Your investment partner is here to see you.” Her tone was matter-of-fact.
While helping her untie the rope from her waist, Lin Shu complained:
“But why is your entrance so strange?!”
“Is it strange? I like to take the path less traveled every time I talk business. Innovation is a merchant’s secret to finding opportunities.”
“You’ve come at the right time. We indeed have some business intelligence we’d like to ask you about.” Sefina smiled and stepped forward.
She handed the list to Daphne. “We want to find this ‘Clever Hands’ team. Do you know if they’ve appeared anywhere recently?”
“Meow-ing hell, that’s way too coincidental!” Daphne’s eyes lit up.
“The Demon Merchant Guild is planning to hold a party soon.”
“It’s that meow-ing boring kind of ball where people wander around with wine glasses.”
“The ‘Clever Hands’ team is actually going to attend, breaking their usual pattern! I’ve really lived long enough to see everything; a bunch of people who are so good at fighting actually need to socialize.”
Lin Shu asked curiously, “Could it be that they have some needs as well?”
“Isn’t that perfect? We were just looking to talk cooperation with them.” Sefina’s smile deepened as she continued to ask, “So, Lady Daphne, do you have news about that party?”
Daphne clapped her hands and pulled a black envelope from her skirt pocket. “Here, an invitation. Consider it a gift for you.”
“A gift?” Lin Shu and Sefina spoke in unison, quite surprised.
“Although I was invited, I don’t want to go. I’ve lived so long that I’m bored to death by those things, meow.”
“You don’t want to go see ‘Clever Hands’?” Lin Shu asked.
“I’ve already seen them before.” Daphne answered bluntly. A light flashed in her heterochromatic eyes, and then she smiled. “If you see them, you’ll definitely be surprised.”
Sefina took the black envelope and pulled out a golden invitation from inside.
“The ball will be held in three days…” Sefina read the text on it.
Sefina looked at Lin Shu. “Sweetie, will you attend with me?”
Lin Shu’s heart skipped.
While she was with the Tepps family, she had never formally attended a party for high-class merchants. Just like how she didn’t know how to drink.
Since it was a social ball, there would surely be many rules and details to pay attention to, and maybe even dancing…
“M-Me? But Mistress, I don’t really understand the formal etiquette of these demon gatherings.”
“If you don’t know, then learn! Young people shouldn’t run away!” Daphne cheered from the side.
Lin Shu couldn’t help but think of the requirement Head Saean had for Sefina: to make Lin Shu the showcase of the Derago family’s strength and a bargaining chip for cooperation.
Lin Shu felt a bit uncomfortable, but seeing Sefina’s expectant gaze and remembering her promise to handle family affairs together, she finally nodded:
“Alright… then I will attend as well.”