Chapter 36 : Phyllis’ Bonus-Splitting Plan

After finishing her instructions, Candice boarded a vehicle with her team, following the direction pointed out by the compass without hesitation.

“Sir, if you would please.”

A soldier from the Defense Division gave a slight bow, extending his hand in a polite gesture.

His eyes followed Candice’s retreating figure before finally turning to look at Lorin.

Lorin blinked in confusion, her wide eyes filled with puzzlement.

“Please… do what?” she asked.

The soldier maintained a gentle expression and explained patiently, “We need to return and complete some reports. I hope you’ll cooperate with us.”

Lorin stood frozen in place.

Reports?

After everything she’d just been through?

Wasn’t it already clear what had happened?

Perhaps sensing her reluctance, the soldier continued with sincere patience, “There’s been some unrest in the city lately. I hope you’ll understand, Mr. Lin…”

Cold sweat trickled down Lorin’s back.

Understand?

How was she supposed to do that when her transformation magic was running out of time?

She had no desire to become famous.

At her insistence, both Claire and Phyllis had kept her royal identity a secret.

Only those within the palace knew of her true self, and they had all been warned strictly.

No leaks were expected.

But if she were taken to the Defense Division, her identity could be exposed at any moment.

“This… this…”

Lorin was frozen on the spot, unable to make a decision.

“If there’s no record, then the bonus money might…”

The meaning behind the soldier’s words couldn’t be more obvious.

“There’s no need for a report. I personally invited her.”

Just as the tension was thick enough to cut, a voice like music from the heavens—yet painfully familiar—sliced through the moment, pulling Lorin from her awkward predicament.

Her trembling body went still for a heartbeat.

A flicker of joy lit up her eyes, and she spun around eagerly.

But the instant she saw who it was, all that anticipation froze.

Her face stiffened in disbelief.

Standing not far away… was Phyllis.

Phyllis?!

Lorin’s mind went completely blank.

The soldier’s eyes widened in an instant, overwhelmed with excitement.

He dropped to one knee, right hand clenched over his heart in a formal palace salute, and called out loudly, “Your Majesty the Queen!”

Phyllis stood with regal grace, her cool gaze distant yet commanding.

She lifted her hand ever so slightly, motioning for the soldier to rise.

Then she glanced at the still-stunned Lorin.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she spoke in a tone that brooked no argument, “Unless there’s some pressing business, I’ll be taking her with me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” the soldier replied at once.

“Then what about my bonus…”

Lorin muttered under her breath.

Hearing this, the soldier quickly said, “Sir, please provide an account number so we can arrange the payment.”

Lorin opened her mouth, ready to give the number for her secret stash, but beside her, Phyllis curved her lips in an unreadable smile.

A chill ran down Lorin’s spine.

“I’ll have someone reach out to coordinate that,” Phyllis said before Lorin could speak.

“Eh?!”

“Phi—mmph!”

Before Lorin could protest, Phyllis calmly led her away from the scene.

The soldier watched as his queen departed, shaking his head slightly.

The Queen’s mind was not something mere commoners like him could fathom.

Still, having seen Her Majesty today, he’d definitely have to post about it on social media later…

***

Outside the city, Lorin let out a furious cry.

“Phyllis! What are you trying to pull?! Give me back my hundred-thousand-gold bonus!”

Phyllis gave her a sidelong glance, then with a casual wave, dispelled the illusion magic cloaking Lorin’s appearance.

In an instant, the petite vampire girl version of Lorin reappeared.

“That’s much easier on the eyes,” Phyllis said with a satisfied smile.

Lorin, flustered and indignant, tiptoed up so close that her face nearly touched Phyllis’s, shouting, “Answer me!”

Phyllis remained composed.

Her gaze fell calmly on Lorin as she said in an even tone, “That was compensation for the blood you borrowed from me. So that hundred thousand—half of it’s mine.”

Lorin’s face twisted in frustration.

She clenched the hem of her maid outfit with both hands, tugging so hard it warped the fabric.

Her wide amber eyes burned with fury.

“I’m wearing this, and you still took my money?!”

Phyllis didn’t seem to have seen through her identity… so why was she treating her like an enemy?

Lorin couldn’t make sense of it.

“That’s not enough,” Phyllis replied, utterly at ease.

Watching Lorin seethe only made her feel better.

Oh, Christian… who would’ve thought you’d end up like this?

Now you’re in my hands.

“Hmph!”

Lorin turned away with a huff—only then realizing they were no longer in the city.

Distant battle cries echoed from afar…

Suddenly, a realization struck her.

“You—!”

“Oh? Figured it out?”

Phyllis said sweetly.

“If I wanted, you wouldn’t get a single coin.”

Though rarely used, Phyllis did have her own intelligence network.

Usually, it was tasked with tracking the whereabouts of that archmage.

But lately, that hadn’t been necessary.

A glance at Lorin made her want to laugh again.

Of course, there was another reason to mobilize her network—Duke Wilson’s health.

The old man had done so much for House Lin.

It was the least she could do in return.

As for why she hadn’t shut this case down immediately… it was because she still wanted to test the archmage’s capabilities.

And besides, the mysterious organization behind the recent string of disappearances truly puzzled her.

Normally, when children go missing, people fear the worst.

But this group had done the opposite.

The missing kids weren’t harmed.

In fact, they were treated with surprising care.

A few even looked healthier than before—some visibly plumper, with glowing cheeks.

Not wanting to act recklessly, Phyllis had left a few contingencies in place and returned to dig deeper into the organization.

But she had found next to nothing.

Only in the dusty corners of the palace library had she discovered the faintest traces of its existence.

That was why she brought Lorin.

After all, Lorin had once been a great archmage—full of knowledge and expertise in both magic and the arcane.

“Come on. Looks like it’s almost over,” Phyllis murmured, her eyes on the brilliant light in the distance.

“Tch!”