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Draku stared at the little girl who was beckoning him with her finger, his legs going weak.
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He wanted to run, but his legs felt like lead, immovable.
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His trusted aides had long since shrunk back into the corner, wishing they could squeeze themselves into the cracks in the wall.
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“I… I…”
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Draku’s lips trembled, unable to form a complete word.
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Lilia had no patience to wait.
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She raised her hand and made a grabbing motion in Draku’s direction through the air.
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A tremendous force pulled at him, and Draku’s body was lifted off the ground.
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He was dragged by an invisible leash, “flying” all the way from the hall full of groaning men to land at her feet.
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Thud.
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He crashed onto the floor beside Lilia’s feet.
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“Now we can have a proper talk, meow.”
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Lilia looked down at him, her small figure casting a huge shadow.
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Draku lay sprawled on the ground, his bones feeling like they were about to fall apart.
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He lifted his head and met those heterochromatic eyes, one gold and one blue.
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Fear completely overwhelmed him.
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“My lord… Lady Lilia… spare me! Have mercy!”
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He forgot all about his dignity as a viscount, kowtowing on the floor, his forehead hitting the ground with loud thumps.
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“I was wrong! I was truly wrong! I shouldn’t have colluded with Duke Varian! I shouldn’t have coveted the magic plant garden!”
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He confessed everything, only begging to be spared.
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Lilia crouched down, reached out a finger, and poked his plump back.
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“If only you had been this obedient from the start, meow.”
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She stood up, no longer paying attention to this waste of space.
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She turned to look at the mountain-like figure.
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“Commander Gromm.”
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“Your servant is here!”
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Gromm took a step forward, going down on one knee, his voice booming.
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The look in his eyes when he gazed at Lilia had shifted from doubt to complete reverence.
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This lady might look young, but her methods… were terrifying.
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“Turn this place upside down.”
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Lilia waved her small hand, pointing at the luxurious main building behind Draku.
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“Don’t leave a single valuable item behind! Understood? Meow?”
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“As you command!”
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Gromm stood up, hefted his warhammer, turned, and roared.
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“First Assault Team! With me! Confiscate everything!”
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“Roar!”
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The city guard soldiers behind him let out a unified roar, charging into the main building like wolves and tigers.
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Soon, sounds of smashing, looting, and plundering came from the main building, mixed with the screams of women and the wails of servants.
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Draku lay on the ground, listening to the sounds coming from his own home, his heart turning to ash.
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It’s over.
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All over.
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Lilia walked up to him and nudged his face with the tip of her shoe.
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“Stop playing dead. Where’s your secret vault? Meow?”
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Draku’s body trembled, and he jerked his head up, his face full of terror.
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She… how could she know about the vault?!
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That was his biggest secret!
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“I… I don’t know… I don’t have any vault…”
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He was still making a last-ditch struggle.
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Lilia pouted, took out that dossier from her bosom, and waved it in front of him.
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“One hundred meters underground. Obsidian Gate. Three alchemical combination locks. Also requires your bloodline verification.”
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With each line she recited, Draku’s face grew paler.
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“Should I read the combinations out loud for you? Meow?”
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Draku was utterly despondent.
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He lay collapsed on the ground, motionless.
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Lilia ignored him, turning to Lilith.
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“Sister Lilith, lead the way, meow.”
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“Yes, Miss.”
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Lilith gave a slight bow and led Lilia around the hall toward the study.
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On the innermost wall of the study hung a huge oil painting depicting one of Draku’s ancestors.
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Lilith walked up to the painting, reached out, and pressed the ancestor’s nose three times.
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Rumble—
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The wall split open from the middle, revealing a dark, downward-leading staircase.
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Lilia’s eyes lit up, and she was the first to rush in.
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At the end of the staircase was a heavy Obsidian Gate.
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“Miss, please step back.”
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Lilith walked up to the door, extended her hand, and a complex purple rune glowed in her palm.
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She placed her hand on the door.
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The rune brightened, spreading along the door’s seams.
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Click, click.
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Sounds of mechanisms turning came from within the door.
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The three alchemical locks opened in response.
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“The final one requires his bloodline.”
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Lilith looked at Draku on the floor.
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By now, Gromm had already dragged Draku over like a dead dog.
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“My lady, the man is here.”
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Lilith drew a small silver knife from her waist.
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She walked up to Draku, grabbed his hand, and made a light cut on his fingertip.
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A drop of blood welled up.
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Lilith caught the drop of blood on the tip of the knife, walked back to the door, and let it drip into a small indentation.
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Hum—
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The entire Obsidian Gate lit up with a blood-red glow, then slowly slid open to both sides.
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Behind the door, a blinding golden light made Lilia instinctively squint.
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When her eyes adjusted and she could see the scene inside clearly, her mouth slowly formed an ‘O’ shape.
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Gold coins were piled into a little mountain.
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Magestones and various jewels were scattered atop the coin piles, reflecting dazzling, multicolored light.
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The walls were hung with magic scrolls and precious works of art.
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In the corner were piled several crates of obviously valuable magical materials.
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Gromm stood at the entrance, swallowing hard.
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A mere viscount had embezzled this much!
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“All confiscated for the crown, meow.”
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Lilia’s voice was very calm.
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She walked into the vault, bent down, scooped up a handful of gold coins, looked at them, and casually tossed them back.
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Then she turned to look at Gromm.
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“Commander Gromm.”
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“Your servant is here!”
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“Empty this place out. Don’t leave even a single scrap of paper behind, meow.”
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“As you command!”
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Gromm roared, leading his men in starting the bustling “relocation” work.
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Crates, sacks, every container that could hold things was used to pack this ill-gotten wealth.
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Lilia walked back and forth in the vault, her hands clasped behind her back.
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She picked up a gemstone necklace, hefting it in her hand.
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“This one’s not bad. I’ll keep it, meow.”
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She then picked up a diamond-encrusted staff, using it as a walking stick to play with.
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“Hmm… this one is also passable. It barely matches this one’s temperament, meow.”
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She picked and chose, stuffing all the most valuable and beautiful items into the spatial storage bag Lilith had prepared earlier.
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An hour later.
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The entire vault was cleaned out, completely empty.
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Lilia looked at the empty room with satisfaction, clapping her little hands together.
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She walked over to Draku, who now looked ashen-faced.
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She took a gold coin from her bosom and flicked it onto his face.
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“Viscount Draku, thank you for your generosity, meow.”
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She imitated the tone of those nobles.
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“This lord shall temporarily hold onto these assets of yours on His Majesty’s behalf.”
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As soon as the words left her mouth, she paid no more attention to this broken man.
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She turned and led the large contingent out of Viscount Draku’s estate in a grand procession.
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All that remained was a thoroughly plundered manor and a mess of feathers.
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—
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Lilia sat in the magic-powered carriage returning to the Imperial Envoy’s residence.
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Holding a food box filled with specially made dried fish in her arms, she ate while making plans.
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The chicken, Draku, had been slaughtered.
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Next, it was time for those monkeys.
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Especially the biggest monkey of them all—Duke Varian.
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She licked the fish oil from the corner of her mouth, her heterochromatic eyes sparkling with excitement.
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“Sister Lilith.”
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She turned her head to look at the Head Maid beside her.
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“What do you think we should do next? Meow?”
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