Chapter: 94
Did I show interest, so I was preempted?
Upon hearing Alsatine’s words, I furrowed my brows.
‘Alsatine, what do you mean…’
“Information peddler. I never thought you’d be this sloppy. You have only one talent, and you can’t even do that right?”
Even though the Newman family is deeply connected to the underworld, seriously.
There’s only one place where the necklace has been mentioned, so how do they know my connection to it?
Huh?
It’s impossible unless you leaked it from your side.
A confession of conscience?
Or did you commit madness on purpose to get insulted?
“I’m sorry, Lady Allen. I will gladly accept any reprimands. But can you please let me explain first since it’s urgent?”
‘Go ahead.’
“Incompetent information peddler. Speak. All you’re doing is proving that you’re sloppy.”
With a chuckle, Alsatine calmly began to explain.
“First of all, what I need to mention is that the Newman family has been interested in Lady Allen for a long time. As we’ve just figured out, they’ve been keeping an eye on you for at least four to five months.”
Isn’t that roughly around half a year ago when I just possessed Lucy’s body?
All I did back then was train like crazy within the Allen family, right?
The only thing I did out in the world was go into Evans’ small dungeon to retrieve Grandpa.
But that was merely our family’s knights training.
There’s no reason for them to show any interest.
As for what else I did.
Ah. The Reputation Quest.
Healing Agra’s Curse with the potion I had.
The moment I recalled him, the doubt cleared up.
I had already explained before that the Newman family is a noble family deeply tied to the underworld.
That family, which amassed wealth and status through all sorts of dirty and corrupt deeds, has significantly influenced the side stories.
Usually in a bad way.
But not everyone was like that.
After all, even the Newman family is a place where people live, so they have a few ordinary quests.
One of them involves the Newman family’s first young master.
The first young master of the Newman family is threatened by Agra’s Curse.
The head of the family has poured his wealth into keeping him alive somehow, but Agra’s Curse is relentless.
If he can’t get rid of it, all other actions are just futile struggles.
The head of the Newman family wouldn’t be unaware of this fact.
He’s currently desperately searching for a way to lift Agra’s Curse to save his son.
But what’s the problem?
If he lifts Agra’s Curse, he becomes an enemy of Agra and will be threatened by him.
In the same way, I’ve narrowly avoided death several times because of that bastard.
Since I know everything happening because of that jerk Agra, I can brace myself, but ordinary people in this world are different.
To the people of the continent, Agra is seen as an abominable evil god who almost destroyed the world.
Who would willingly accept the threat of such a malevolent god?
No matter how much compensation is offered, it’s meaningless if my life is in danger, right?
So, most skilled individuals hesitate to lift Agra’s Curse.
There are a few who aren’t afraid of their own sacrifices, but those people are usually virtuous clergy.
It’s easy to guess how such people would think of the powerful Newman family in the underworld.
Naturally, they wouldn’t help.
But can the Newman family force these people to treat their young master?
Of course not.
The only ones capable of lifting Agra’s Curse are those who could be called disasters themselves.
If the Newman family had the power to threaten such individuals, they would have resolved it themselves.
If no one can do it, can’t they just use items?
That’s a valid point.
Unless those items are ridiculously hard to get.
Items sufficient to suppress a divine being like Agra wouldn’t just be readily available, right?
No matter how vast their connections and wealth, if that item isn’t on the market, it doesn’t matter.
How desperate must the head of the Newman family be, watching his son die in this situation?
He would be willing to do anything to save his son.
In such a circumstance, rumors of a miracle worker might reach his ears.
Wouldn’t he be tempted by the thought that maybe this person could save his son?
But interestingly.
With low reputation and power, if this quest’s trigger appears, I’d be kidnapped.
Why was I able to walk around intact when nothing was going right?
Is it because I’m Lady Allen?
I truly feel grateful every day for starting as a noble.
If I had started as a commoner or a slave with all the penalties I faced due to my insatiable hunger for something new, I’d probably…
Ugh. I don’t even want to think about it.
In a game, you get a game over screen and it’s the end, but this isn’t the case here.
No doubt there would be a horrifying scene that couldn’t be seen without a 19+ rating.
“You’ve been tracked since the moment Lady Allen first visited here, so they must have thought your movements were in accordance with your will.”
‘So…’
“That means you got robbed of the necklace, incompetent information peddler? To brag about that? You ought to wear a sign saying ‘sloppy’ on your forehead.”
“I’m sorry.”
I roughly understood the situation.
So, the Newman family snatched the necklace to draw me out?
No matter how incompetent Alsatine might be, it’s unlikely he’d win in a competition when a noble family is fully trying to acquire something.
It’s more accurate to say that the Newman family moved quickly than Alsatine’s incompetence.
‘Have the Newman family made any contact?’
“What about that sloppy family? Did they send something?”
“Not yet.”
Why not?
They took the item, so shouldn’t they use that as a basis to negotiate or call me out?
When I tilted my head, Alsatine cautiously spoke up.
“May I offer my guess?”
‘Yes, that’s fine.’
“Spill it. I’m curious how long you can keep spouting incompetence.”
“I think the Newman family wants to gauge Lady Allen’s reaction.”
The Newman family has been working in the underworld for a long time.
So, they know very well how to cover their tracks.
If they left any evidence for that family to easily find them, it must be highly intentional.
With this clue in mind, Alsatine explained that the Newman family is hoping I reach out to them.
“If you contact them first, they’ll be convinced that the item they obtained is what Lady Allen desires. Then they can gain the upper hand in future negotiations.
Or it doesn’t matter. The Newman family will continue monitoring us and executing destabilizing tactics. One way or another, they will eventually acquire the item Lady Allen is looking for.
In conclusion, the Newman family wants Lady Allen to open the negotiation table.”
Not knowing why they seem so urgent to act, I found Alsatine’s explanation, which at least had some persuasive weight, agreeable to Grandpa.
[If leaving traces was intentional, then they’re hoping to hear from you.]
Hmm. Seems like the Newman family is quite desperate.
What should I do in this situation?
It shouldn’t be too difficult to negotiate and retrieve the necklace.
However, I don’t want to settle for just that.
Since the Newman family holds influence in the underworld, there’s plenty to exploit.
No matter how I think about it, I’m in a position of power here, and the Newman family is in a subordinate position; wouldn’t it be too disappointing to take just the necklace and split?
Isn’t there any way?
As I pondered, I realized once again that I didn’t have a talent for politics.
Not a single decent answer came to mind.
Usually, in novels, protagonists would whip out brilliant strategies and get way more than they originally aimed for during such moments.
Why don’t I have such talents?
After all, causing chaos post-possession seems to be what the smart ones excel at.
Damn this world.
But that’s okay.
I might lack a political talent, but I have Grandpa!
Help me! Grandpa!
‘Grandpa, what should I do?’
[Are you asking how to retrieve that necklace?]
‘No, that’s obvious. I’m asking how I can get more than just that.’
[You’re saying that you know what the other side wants and can offer it up? ]
‘Yes, of course.’
While it’s still impossible for me to lift Agra’s Curse directly, I do know the whereabouts of an item that can lift it.
If that item isn’t reliable, I can also suggest intermediaries who can lift Agra’s Curse.
In simpler terms, I can provide solutions one way or another.
I’m like a dirty water source!
[One more question. Is the necklace you desire urgently needed? ]
Hmm, let’s see.
Considering the time it’d take to clear the quest derived from that necklace and raise the favorability of the inferior noble to 70…
‘Two months is a reasonable window to wait.’
[That’s more urgent than I thought. Then, rather than waiting for the other side to rush, it’s better to take the initiative. Answer me a few more questions.]
*
“Lord, a letter has arrived from the Young Lady of the Allen family.”
“Hooh. That was quick.”
Lord Gus Newman chuckled as he looked at the letter brought by his subordinate.
It seems the item brought over last time was quite precious to Lady Allen, given the speed of the letter’s arrival.
With a smirk, Gus opened the letter and leisurely gazed at the top.
“To the lord of the shabby family, Gus Newman.”
“Cough.”
There it is. It’s clear he’s furious.
I knew Lady Allen had a sharp tongue, but I didn’t think it would extend to me.
Normally, Gus would have been annoyed by the insult and frowned, but he didn’t show even a slight crease in his brow today.
The fact that the other side was angry indicated how urgent the situation was, which was precisely what Gus wanted.
However, the more his gaze traveled lower down the page, Gus’ expression gradually soured.
It wasn’t merely because the content of the letter was filled with insults.
Had it been, he would have dismissed it as Lady Allen’s cute pouting.
“…What on earth is this girl doing?”
Gus soured at the reason.
“Is the weak young master favored by the evil god doing well?”
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