Chapter 34: Mephia’s Conquest Plan

“Investigate thoroughly. Do not miss a single clue related to him.”

Tia did not show much reaction to the bizarre death of the One-Eyed Wolf.

After giving her orders, she led Viola and Lily back to the carriage.

The carriage then departed for the Earl Harris Manor, leaving Derek alone at the scene.

He stared silently at the corpse of the One-Eyed Wolf, waiting for the Inquisitors to arrive.

After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.

No matter how much he thought about it, he was already embroiled in this mess.

If he wanted to stay alive now, his only choice was to cling tightly to the daughter of the Count and be a Tax Official who lived for her sake.

***

Early the next morning, before the thin mist had even dissipated, Derek sought out Tia with the latest investigation news from the Inquisition.

Upon learning that the One-Eyed Wolf had a blood-stained basement in the Slums, Tia did not head there immediately.

Instead, she turned to Derek and commanded, “Accompany me to the Inquisition.”

Derek was slightly stunned and instinctively asked, “For what?”

“To find an Inquisitor named Mephia.”

Tia lifted her elegant skirts and walked toward the prepared carriage, her voice devoid of emotion.

To be honest, the incident with the One-Eyed Wolf was a complete accident.

If possible, she did not want to cause unnecessary complications at all.

But now that it was unavoidable, she would not choose to run away.

However, for a powerless daughter of a Count to investigate a basement alone was far too dangerous.

It was better to bring along the esteemed Lady Mephia from the Inquisition.

Even if they found nothing in the end, it would still serve as an opportunity to improve their relationship.

Derek hesitated for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of realization and caution.

“Lady Mephia? She has already headed to that area. She is near the stronghold where the One-Eyed Wolf usually operated.”

Tia’s movement as she boarded the carriage paused for a imperceptible second.

‘Is Mephia… really this dedicated?’

The thought flashed through her mind, but she simply nodded.

“Then we shall go directly there.”

The carriage passed through the crowded streets and finally stopped outside a remote courtyard on East Street in the Slums.

The surrounding area had already been cordoned off by Enforcer Knights to prevent bystanders from approaching.

The air was thick with a pungent odor—a mix of blood and decay.

Accompanied by Derek and two knights, Tia entered the low, dilapidated building and descended the stairs leading to the basement.

The further down they went, the more intense the smell became.

The stench of blood, rotting corpses, and an indescribable, eerie scent combined to make Tia hold her breath.

When they finally entered the basement, they were met with a vast, roughly cleared room.

The walls were made of crude stone bricks.

Although the floor had been cleaned, stubborn dark brown, almost black, bloodstains could still be seen in the cracks and corners.

Several items that were either too difficult to remove or deemed worthless were discarded messily in the corners—broken blood-red chains, strange metal racks, and several blood-stained surgical scissors.

The color drained from Tia’s face almost instantly.

She reflexively covered her nose and mouth with her hand, her slender shoulders trembling slightly.

Her deep blue eyes quickly welled with tears, and her stomach churned so violently that she could hardly stop herself from doubling over and retching.

As a pampered Noble Young Lady, it was only natural for her to feel nauseous seeing such a scene.

“Can’t handle even this?”

Mephia’s voice sounded exceptionally clear in the cold air of the basement.

She walked over slowly, stopping just a step away from Tia.

“Miss Tia, if you knew what used to happen here, your expression would be even more spectacular than it is now.”

Her tone carried a hint of playfulness.

Tia forced herself to endure the discomfort and lowered her hand.

Her fingertips were still trembling, and her voice was weak.

“What… what is the truth?”

She lifted her damp eyelashes and looked at Mephia.

Though her gaze was filled with fear, there was also a trace of stubbornness.

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.”

Mephia’s gaze swept across the empty room.

“If my guess is correct, this place was used as a site for Human Experimentation,” she said flatly.

She paused, turning her eyes toward the stains on the wall that were difficult to clean.

“After all, the smell in the air is complex. Besides the lingering stench of death and blood, it’s mixed with the residual scents of several specific potions. This kind of smell is not something you encounter in ordinary places.”

“Human… experimentation?”

Tia’s pupils shrank suddenly.

“Indeed. Moreover, it hasn’t been more than two days since they cleared this place out and tried to cover their tracks. It seems that what you did yesterday inadvertently ruined someone’s grand plans, Lady Tia.”

Mephia took a step forward, drawing even closer to Tia.

Tia quietly backed away until her back was nearly pressed against the wall.

“From what I know, the masterminds with the capability and daring to conduct such experiments are usually extremely vengeful. Therefore, the probability of you being targeted and retaliated against is quite high.”

Tia had been backed into a corner with nowhere left to go, yet Mephia continued to move forward until they could both feel each other’s breath.

Tia instinctively lowered her head, avoiding eye contact.

At the same time, her face turned slightly red, unsure of why the other woman was doing this.

At such a close distance, it was practically a wall-pinning.

Suddenly, Mephia tilted her head slightly to listen.

“Your heart is racing. Why? Are you afraid?”

‘Afraid?’

‘How could her heart be racing because of fear!’

‘It’s because she’s too close!’

Mephia’s cold and dangerous aura almost completely enveloped her.

Tia’s breath hitched.

She didn’t dare to make a single move, fearing that the other woman might lean in for a kiss the next second.

She couldn’t understand why Mephia was acting this way.

Explaining the basement was one thing, but why was she pinning her against the wall?

Could it be that she had already guessed Tia’s true identity as a Witch?

Tia lowered her eyes, her long lashes hiding the complex emotions flickering in the depths of her gaze.

She took a soft breath.

When she looked up again, her face showed only the fragility expected of a frightened noble girl.

“…Yes.”

A moment later, a slightly cold, delicate hand reached out and touched her right cheek.

“But no matter how afraid you are, it’s useless. Your father cannot protect you. However…”

While Tia was stunned, Mephia leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I am different. Not only can I save you perfectly, but I can also drag those masterminds out. Provided that…”

“You must unconditionally agree to do one thing for me.”

As she finished speaking, her index finger hooked under Tia’s chin.

The ambiguity created by this overly close interaction caused the girl’s face to flush all the way to her ears.

Her eyes grew dazed, as if she had lost the ability to think.

“So, once you have made up your mind, come find me. I will protect you.”

Leaving those words behind, Mephia acted like a heartbreaker, walking straight out of the basement without another look at the Count’s daughter, who was practically bubbling with embarrassment.

Once Mephia was out of sight, Tia quietly patted her cheeks to snap herself out of the flirtatious atmosphere and regain her composure.

Retaliation?

It was true that she had accidentally exposed someone’s conspiracy.

Given their nature, they would likely seek revenge.

But… if she wanted Mephia’s help, she had to agree to do one thing unconditionally.

Something that required the daughter of an Earl to agree to?

Tia felt it was likely not that simple.

However, this might also be a great opportunity to improve their relationship and take back her Witch’s Tear.

After pondering for a long time, she still failed to reach a definitive choice.

After learning everything she could about the basement, she followed Derek back to the Count’s Manor.

Unexpectedly, that evening, she received a message from Grey Cat, a regular operative of the Witch Council.

**[Nightingale, I need you to do something for me.]**

Hmm?

Tia’s code name in the Witch Council was Nightingale, and Grey Cat was the senior Witch who had recommended her to become a regular member.

To Tia, Grey Cat was someone she owed a favor to for that recommendation.

So, despite her confusion, Tia continued to look at the Crystal Ball.

**[Help me kill the daughter of Earl Harris, Celestia.]**