Two days later, Julius met again with Kyle and Selina.
The three of them sat together, exchanging their findings with focused attention.
“The situation in the Lower District is more complicated than we imagined,”
Kyle’s voice sounded unusually low in the dim light.
“We found that the supply points for the poisoned wine are not limited to just one place, and the deliveries all follow a strict schedule, taking place precisely at midnight.”
Julius immediately added:
“On my end, I investigated the Upper District. There’s a red wine called ‘Crimson Dream’ that’s infiltrated the noble social circles, and its recipe requires a large amount of Hemlock Vine—exactly the same clue you uncovered before.”
“Baron Black obtains these ingredients through a man in a black robe, but I don’t yet know if he’s the same person connected to the Lower District.”
Selina’s fingertips traced lightly over the map, finally resting on several marked spots:
“In other words, when we were tracking that man in the black robe in the Lower District, we found that he not only had ties to the supply points there but also frequently visited the mansions of several important figures in the Upper District.”
The Vampire Girl raised her head, a trace of gravity flashing through her eyes:
“That means the Abyss Cult’s reach has likely penetrated the very upper echelons of Olivia City’s power structure.”
Her gaze shifted between Julius and Kyle, her voice lowering a few degrees:
“Is the Duke still keeping silent about this matter?”
“Not exactly,”
Julius explained, “The Duke has entrusted this matter entirely to Miss Eleanor.”
“What?!”
Selina abruptly stood up, looking somewhat agitated, “Entrusted it to Miss Eleanor?! Even though she’s the candidate for the Saintess, she’s only ten years old!”
“Don’t get worked up, Lin.”
Kyle reached out to rest a hand on her shoulder. “Miss Eleanor is far more mature than we think. This might even be the Duke’s way of testing her.”
Julius nodded in agreement:
“Miss Eleanor has already demonstrated outstanding judgment and leadership. Not only has she accurately assessed the situation, but she’s also provided us with the necessary support and authority.”
Selina slowly sat back down, but her brow remained tightly furrowed:
“Even so, entrusting such responsibility to a ten-year-old child…”
Kyle glanced at her meaningfully:
“In this city, age has never been the standard to measure capability, has it? Don’t forget, we have a genius here who created the Special Antidote at just ten years old.”
The three of them simultaneously turned their heads, their gazes fixed sharply toward the workbench.
***
Helos sat at the table, idly playing with a brand-new carving knife, looking at them with a mixture of disbelief.
Feeling their staring eyes, Helos finally set down her tool in exasperation:
“So, why exactly did the three of you come rushing into my workshop to discuss all this? Doesn’t my house have plenty of comfortable places?”
Kyle grinned:
“This place is safer, and usually no one gets close.”
He deliberately lowered his voice and made a secretive gesture, “Though it’s a bit cramped, since Lin and I can’t get too close to you anyway.”
He shuffled slightly toward Selina, keeping a safe distance between the two of them and Helos.
Julius stood a bit closer to Helos, nodding slightly:
“Your skills make this the most ideal place for discussion.”
Helos looked at their self-evident expressions and couldn’t help but roll her eyes:
“…You guys are unbelievable.”
She grabbed a rag and wiped her hands, “Fine, carry on with your discussion. Anyway, you won’t be touching any of my stuff.”
“We’re just figuring out the next step.”
Kyle scratched his fiery red hair, his expression unusually serious.
“The evidence already proves the man in the black robe is involved with those nobles. But the problem is, we don’t know if he has any accomplices.”
Leaning against the wall, Selina’s ash-gray hair shimmered faintly in the dim light:
“If we act now and manage to bring that guy to justice, won’t his accomplices just hide even deeper?”
A flicker of worry passed through her pale gray eyes. “The Abyss Cult has always been skilled at such tactics—sacrificing one pawn to protect the entire network.”
“Then force them out,”
Helos propped her chin in her hand, her silver hair spilling over the workbench. Her pale purple eyes shone with helplessness. “If we try to find them one by one, how long will that take?”
Kyle shook his head with a bitter smile:
“Second Young Lady, you make it sound so easy, but the reality is far more troublesome.”
“What trouble?”
Helos straightened, fingers lightly tapping the table as her gaze swept over the three of them.
“Let me ask you this—why do those Abyss Cultists use this kind of poison to control the populace? You all should know the answer, right?”
Julius pondered for a moment:
“To control the people, make money, sow chaos, and get close to Miss Eleanor?”
The silver-haired girl nodded approvingly:
“If that’s the case, then we can be certain their manpower is insufficient—you’re aware of that as well.”
“So, do we have any countermeasures against their poisoned wine?”
“Uh, you mean your antidote?”
Kyle blinked, answering uncertainly.
Obviously, he hadn’t caught up with Helos’s line of thought yet.
“Exactly.”
Helos stood and paced back and forth in front of the workbench, her silver hair swaying gently with her movements. “Here’s the question: what if we find a way to promote the antidote—”
Suddenly, she turned, her eyes flashing with excitement.
“For example, we could also produce a new wine containing the antidote, released under my father’s name, and priced lower than those cultists’ products…”
“Guess how the Abyss Cultists will react?”
“When they find out their ‘business’ is being intercepted and their carefully laid poisoned wine scheme is being undone, they definitely won’t sit still.”
The moment Helos finished speaking, Julius, Kyle, and Selina exchanged glances.
None of them spoke at first; all seemed deep in thought about what she had said.
Until Julius’s eyes brightened:
“This really feels like a great idea—using the Duke’s name would guarantee the new wine’s authority, and a low price strategy could quickly seize the market. The antidote would fundamentally disrupt their plans.”
Kyle stroked his chin thoughtfully:
“That way, they either watch their plan fail helplessly or have to take action against us—exactly the push we need to force them out.”
“I have a question.”
Selina suddenly raised her hand, looking toward Helos not far away. She asked, “Even if we launch this wine under the Duke’s name… how can we be sure its reach will cover those poisoned victims?”
Helos’s lips curled into a cold smile.
“Hmph.”
Without hesitation, she answered, “Remember this—when I invest, I never play fair.”
“Besides, if they can’t even open their eyes and see whose territory this really is…”
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