Staring at the city defense soldiers before her—each one trembling and afraid to speak—Hillieu let out a sigh.
Then, she took out the small notebook Annie had given her earlier.
“Do you know what this is?”
Upon hearing the question, a junior officer at the front stepped forward and saluted.
“Please enlighten us, Your Highness.”
“This is a detailed record of every bribe you have received over the years!”
At her words, the junior officer’s face turned ashen with terror.
In front of him, Hillieu leisurely opened the ledger and began to read.
“Berkley, Star Calendar 820, February 17th, Gold Dragon 20, Silver Dragon 41…..”
In the ranks, a soldier collapsed to his knees in tears, begging for mercy.
Hillieu didn’t look at him but continued reading.
“Robot, Star Calendar 820, March 1st, Gold Dragon 15, Silver Dragon 121, 3 Magic Crystals…..”
Another soldier howled, crying for forgiveness.
As Hillieu recited the names of over a dozen people, chaos broke out among the city defense troops.
Fear, wailing, pleas for mercy, regret.
Standing behind them, Annie felt deeply satisfied with their reaction.
They did these things and accepted those bribes—they should have expected a day like this!
Just as Annie thought Hillieu would use this as evidence to convict them—
Suddenly—
Hillieu took a burning torch from nearby and, before the entire army, set fire to the ledger—a document that could serve as proof.
“Your Highness… this, this…”
The junior officer was drenched in cold sweat, now even more shocked by Hillieu’s actions.
“This is the will of Lord Leigel. You should thank Her Highness Vellis.”
Hillieu sighed, speaking in a tone of bitter disappointment.
“Her Highness, the Second Imperial Princess, promises you one chance. But it will also be the last.”
“This ledger and the bribes recorded within—wiped clean! Ushi City will not pursue you further!”
“But if Lord Leigel discovers disloyalty again, next time, it will be irreversible damnation.”
At her words, all the city defense soldiers immediately dropped to their knees, crying, “Long live Vellis!”
Seeing nearly seven hundred soldiers expressing their loyalty and surrender, Annie swallowed her doubts.
Combined with the five hundred soldiers Hillieu had brought, Vellis now commanded nearly thirteen hundred loyal troops!
This was a formidable force.
And it was their capital to fight the coming enemy.
At that moment, Annie felt a renewed admiration for Vellis, who had already returned to the mines.
Your Highness, as expected of you!
***
Ushi City, somewhere.
“Well? Any movement from the City Lord’s Mansion?”
Inside the room, a black-robed figure asked hopefully.
“None.”
Another, shorter, black-robed figure shook his head.
“Ushi City is temporarily unsealed, and the City Lord’s Mansion is quiet. It seems Heidi and Haina’s mission has failed.”
Both fell silent.
“Though the assassination failed, it was within expectations. We haven’t played our last cards yet!”
The black-robed man snorted coldly.
“What do you think? Will the clues left by those two cause any trouble for Vellis?”
The short one didn’t seem optimistic.
“I doubt it.”
“The master has already sent orders, mentioning that Vellis may have a powerful ally.”
“So we can’t count on Vellis believing that fake letter or the forged insignias on those two.”
At these words, the black-robed figure sighed.
“I see. That’s a pity. I was hoping to divert Vellis’s attention elsewhere, but it seems that’s not possible now.”
“It’s fine. Failure isn’t the end.”
The short one calmed himself.
“At the very least, we’ve gauged part of Vellis’s strength.”
“Whether she’s awakened or aided by a master, she’s still within our web!”
The black-robed man, reassured, grinned.
“Haha! You’re right. She probably never imagined that Mike McMillan and the others are only the beginning!?”
“Vellis, this Ushi City isn’t something you can govern with a few simple tricks!”
“From here on, you’ll face eternal ruin!”
Finishing, the two exchanged glances, their smiles cold and sinister.
***
Having temporarily subdued the city defense soldiers, Hillieu rested briefly.
Then, she took a few people, boarded a carriage, and left Ushi City quietly.
With the lifting of the city defense, people once more flooded the streets.
Meanwhile, Mike Ingram and Mike McMillan—hanging from the city gates—were subjected to insults from all directions.
Stones, wood, mud, even dung.
Anything throwable, someone would hurl.
Hillieu did not order the soldiers to stop this.
She accepted it in silence.
Along the way, desolate shops and gloomy faces were everywhere.
Hillieu watched it all with a heavy heart.
Once more, she agreed with Vellis’s view.
Ushi City must be thoroughly reshuffled!
If the same people remained in power, they might behave under strict rule for a while.
But once Vellis left, they would only revert to worse behavior.
The officials and city defense here were rotten to the core!
The carriage creaked along the road, jolting over slag.
The sun rose higher, flooding the world with light.
Hillieu and her group arrived at the Black Mountain Mine.
“Who goes there!?”
Seeing the carriage, the gate guards immediately shouted.
Hillieu did not step out—instead, a guard presented the token.
“This is the emissary of the First Princess, here to inspect the mine. Open the gates at once!”
Seeing the token, the soldiers dropped to their knees, saluting.
They respectfully cleared the way.
Hillieu remained inside as the carriage entered the mine.
Through a crack in the window, she saw Vellis’s old undercover domain for the first time.
The air was thick with smoke and a strange stench.
Supervisors wielding whips drove miners with harsh shouts.
The clangor of iron machines and hammering filled her ears.
A soldier ran to report, and soon, the mine’s overseer rushed over.
It was the officer who had spoken on the wooden platform that morning—Barnett Pound.
“Emissary, sir, what are Her Highness’s commands!?”
After checking the token Hillieu handed over, Barnett’s earlier harshness and indifference vanished—he greeted her with a smile.
“Nothing. I’ve come to deliver a message from Her Highness. I hope you will manage this mine well.”
“The foundation of Ushi City lies in its minerals. No mistakes can be tolerated.”
Barnett could not see the person inside the carriage, but he responded with utmost respect.
“Yes! I obey the orders of Her Highness!”
“Good. Tell your people to stay back and not interrupt my inspection.”
As she spoke, Hillieu beckoned with her finger.
Barnett quickly approached.
“Bring me the miner roster. I want to question a few workers.”
Barnett hesitated but eventually ordered the list be brought to Hillieu.
“The Fourth Mining Team, then. Two women? Interesting. Bring them here!”
“Yes, sir!”
Though reluctant, Barnett complied.