I Reincarnated to Another World as a Woman-Chapter 139: Without Raising a Hand

Theo opens his eyes and yawns. He stretches, rolls onto his left side, and notices sunlight peeking through the gap between the curtains.

He reaches for the clock on his bedside table.

5:30 a.m.

"It’s still early. Why is the sun already up?" he murmurs, still half asleep.

He closes his eyes and drifts back to sleep.

An hour later, he wakes again and checks the clock.

6:30 a.m.

This is his usual wake-up time, yet the sunlight is much higher than usual.

Then it hits him.

Leila had reminded him during dinner last night. Yesterday was the last day of daylight saving.

Today, the clock went back one hour.

"No wonder the sun looks higher," he mutters.

Theo slides out of bed and does a few light stretches before heading to the bathroom.

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"Hey, you. Morning!" Julian greets him as Theo enters the dining room.

"Morning, Jules." Theo sits down, already reaching for toast and coffee.

"Did I miss Arthur?" Theo asks.

"Yeah. He left about five minutes ago," Julian replies with a grin.

"Today’s a big day," Theo says, smiling mischievously.

"Yeah. I hope he handles it well. But knowing Arthur, he’ll crush him," Julian’s grin widens.

"What are you two talking about?" Leila asks as she enters the dining room, carrying a basket of bread. She sets it on the table and takes one for herself.

"Arthur’s meeting with Chief Stille and the Arvion Dungeon Emergency Unit today," Julian explains.

"Ah. About the Mt. Helene dungeon?" Leila asks.

"Yes. I still can’t believe Chief Stille had the nerve to accuse us of abandoning the missing people and clearing the dungeon for our own benefit," Julian says, shaking his head.

"Chief Stille only knows how to cause trouble," Leila replies offhandedly. "Such a waste of good looks."

It has been more than a week since Theo and his students exited Mt. Helene’s dungeon.

Two days after Arthur forcibly discharged himself from the hospital, an article appeared on the front page of the Arvion Daily.

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About a week ago.

Maurice was reading at the breakfast table as usual when he reached for the newspaper, his standard morning reading.

As he read, his expression darkened. He frowned and immediately continued through the entire article.

Arthur entered the room shortly after and noticed his father’s expression. Curious, he asked,

"Bad news, Father?"

Maurice looked up. "Yes. A reporter from Arvion Daily, Jessica Kwan, wrote that you and your team went to Mt. Helene to clear the dungeon, not to find the missing people."

Arthur’s brows shot up. "What? Where did she get that ridiculous idea?"

Maurice went back to reading. "She wrote that you and your team went to the Rangers’ office and demanded to enter the gate, even though the Rangers told you it was nighttime, that the lighting was insufficient, and that the road to the gate was dangerous."

He paused. "According to this, you insisted on going anyway because you wanted to clear the dungeon as soon as possible, before anyone else discovered it."

Arthur could only blink several times in silence.

Then he reached for his coffee and took a drink.

"Someone must have fed her that nonsense," he said. "I think I know who, but I need more evidence." His mind was already churning.

His phone vibrated. It was Sam.

"Yes, Sam?" Arthur answered.

"No, I haven’t read the whole article, but I get the gist. Let’s not do anything rash right now. We’ll continue as planned."

He listened.

"Everything is going well? Great. Keep going."

Another pause.

"Do you know this Jessica Kwan, Sam?"

He listened again.

"You do? What’s she like?"

Arthur listened intently.

"I see. Can you give me her number? I’ll contact her myself. Thanks, Sam."

Arthur ended the call and noticed his father waiting for an update.

"Sam knew Reporter Kwan from way back," Arthur explained. "They’re from the same town. She was ambitious, sure, but she had integrity. She needed a big break, and Sam believed she thought this was it."

"If she got the information from Stille, she’s doomed," Arthur continued. "And I suspect this was Stille’s doing. I’m going to contact her and set the record straight. If she’s really a good reporter, she’ll know what to do."

Maurice nodded. "Good. Because this is Arvion Daily. Not some cheap tabloid. A lot of people read it and believe it. We need to counter this."

Arthur nodded as well. "Yeah. After this article, a lot of people are going to want to talk to me."

A grin spread across his face.

"But I’m not going to talk to any of them. Just Reporter Kwan."

A few hours later, during lunch hour, Arthur was sitting in his meeting room, its walls made entirely of transparent glass.

His suit jacket hung on the back of his chair. His shirt’s top button was undone, and his tie was loosened halfway. He was eating his lunch with vigor, clearly enjoying it. Ever since he had woken from two days of sleep, both his appetite and his portions had increased noticeably. He needed more food.

Not just him. Julian and Thea were the same.

I guess this is the effect of exercising with mana. As long as I don’t gain too much weight, I’m fine with eating more.

A figure passed by and knocked lightly on the glass wall.

Arthur turned and saw his second assistant, Sarah. He gestured for her to come in.

"Sir, Ms. Jessica Kwan is here."

Arthur nodded. "Send her straight in. That’s fine."

"Yes, Sir."

Sarah left and returned a few minutes later with a woman who looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She wore stiletto heels, a short fitted gray skirt with a matching gray blazer, and a plain white blouse.

Her dark brown hair was wavy, pulled back neatly into a ponytail.

Her makeup was immaculate. Her overall appearance told Arthur that she was high maintenance.

Her man must be loaded, he thought idly.

Sarah opened the meeting room door wider.

"Sir, this is Ms. Jessica Kwan."

Arthur rose after wiping his mouth.

"Please, come in. Have a seat," he said warmly. "I’m sorry, I’m in the middle of lunch. Have you had yours yet? Would you like something? You can order anything."

Arthur smiled, turning the charm all the way on.

Arthur was not a vain person. He would be the last to admit that he was good looking, or handsome.

But he knew that he was.

And he would be the first to make use of it.

"It would be stupid not to."

Those would be his exact words.