School Transmigration: I, Chosen as the Saint by Dragons at the Start-Chapter 243 --Infiltration

Blois entered the hall to find Marwan in the midst of an unending conversation with Armando, whose expression betrayed a hint of resignation.

Marwan was elaborately outlining his next plans to Armando, who couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness.

"Why did I soften my heart?" he thought.

If only he had known better, he would have preferred Marwan remain silent than allow him to speak again.

Unfortunately, the world offers no remedy for regret.

Just as Armando was about to be overwhelmed by Marwan’s incessant chatter, he caught sight of Blois at the door.

He was overjoyed; seeing Blois felt so comforting, as if, though the world had no cure for regret, Blois appeared as the antidote to his current torment.

With a hum, Armando interrupted Marwan, who, noticing the Crown Prince’s reaction after listening to his plan for so long, was overjoyed, thinking the Crown Prince wanted to discuss it further.

However, Armando simply glanced at Marwan and then directed his gaze towards the door, prompting Marwan to follow his lead.

Seeing National Preceptor Blois, Marwan’s face fell in disappointment, remembering Armando’s rule about staying silent in Blois’s presence.

He had to bite his tongue once again, much to his dismay.

Ignoring the somewhat disappointed Marwan, Armando walked directly towards Blois, saying, "Uncle, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for you for so long!"

Blois was puzzled.

"What’s going on? Why is he so enthusiastic? Could there be a plot brewing?"

Little did Blois know, had he arrived even later, Armando might have been driven to despair by Marwan’s chatter.

Blois was initially taken aback, then replied, "Apologies for making my nephew wait. I was unavoidably detained with matters."

Armando wasn’t concerned with whether Blois had been busy or not; his arrival was all that mattered.

"It’s no trouble at all, uncle. Just a bit of a wait."

Blois speculated: Could it be that the young man hasn’t uncovered anything and fears I might complain to his father? That must be the situation; otherwise, his behavior doesn’t make sense.

Without indulging in further small talk with Armando, Blois directly inquired, "I wonder if the Crown Prince has found any evidence of embezzlement in my residence?"

Blois’s straightforwardness was almost rude, embodying the adage about not greeting with a smile when showing up at someone’s door.

With an awkward smile, Armando responded, "There’s no need to search. I already know my uncle isn’t that kind of person."

Blois sneered internally: If you had found anything, you wouldn’t say that.

But rest assured, you’ll never find anything in your lifetime because I’ve already used it all up.

And thanks to you, it’s all been wasted, even causing me injury.

Just wait and see how I’ll deal with you.

"Is that so?" replied Blois.

"Ha-ha," laughed Armando awkwardly, then added, "I’ll definitely report to my father and clear your name, uncle."

"There’s no need for the Crown Prince to trouble himself. I’ll certainly seek justice from the king," Blois countered.

This crafty old fox seems not to let the matter go, planning to use this situation to his advantage.

No matter, I’ll go to my father first and report everything.

Armando plotted his next steps in his mind.

"Very well, everything shall proceed as the National Preceptor wishes. We won’t trouble you further, National Preceptor. Marwan, let’s go."

Hearing Armando no longer addressing him as ’uncle’ and leaving without regard for the consequences, Blois found himself momentarily at a loss with no way to detain Armando and Marwan.

He could only watch them leave the National Preceptor’s residence.

As Armando brushed past without sparing him a glance, Blois felt a surge of anger.

"You’ll see, it won’t be long before you come to me on your knees begging," he thought, his anger turning into a sinister smile as he watched Armando and Marwan exit the gates of the National Preceptor’s residence.

Stepping outside, Armando planned to report directly to the king about today’s events, wanting to avoid being caught off guard by the National Preceptor.

He then said to Marwan, who was following him, "You go back first. I need to report today’s occurrences to his Majesty."

Marwan’s mind raced, realizing: If the Crown Prince reports everything to the king now, the king might not blame the Crown Prince, but I certainly won’t be able to escape blame.

No, I can’t let the Crown Prince go back like this.

I must find a way to redeem myself.

"Your Highness, in my opinion, you shouldn’t go back now. We should make one more attempt," Marwan suggested.

Armando was exasperated.

"And what do you suggest? You, who only make matters worse, now I get a headache just by looking at you."

Despite his frustration nearly reaching its peak, Armando managed to ask with a forced smile, "What should I do then, Marwan?"

Marwan, sensing he was on the brink of exhausting the Crown Prince’s patience, hurriedly suggested, "Tonight, let’s make another visit to the National Preceptor’s residence. We might discover something new. What do you think, Your Highness?"

Armando considered it and casually replied, "Alright, let’s do as you suggest. It’s still early; where shall we go now?"

"If Your Highness doesn’t mind, we could rest at my humble abode for a while and also discuss our plan of action for tonight."

"Very well, we’ll go to your place."

Armando thought to himself: Perfect, before I investigate that old fox, the National Preceptor Blois, I’ll find out how this little confused fellow managed to become an official.

Could it be a purchased position?

Marwan led the way, with Armando following behind, until they arrived at Marwan’s residence.

"Here we are, Your Highness."

Armando noted that Marwan’s residence looked much like any other official’s from the outside, nothing remarkable at first glance.

However, upon entering, Armando was genuinely shocked.

"Good heavens! Is this the home of an official, a noble? It’s so spartan and shabby, with food and debris strewn about."

Seeing Armando’s astonished expression, Marwan, his face flushed with embarrassment, said, "Your Highness, please make yourself comfortable in the hall for a moment.

I’ll go and brew some tea."

"Hmm? Wait a minute! Don’t you have any maids in your residence?"

"Your Highness, a minor official like myself can’t afford maids. Besides, I live alone and don’t need that many attendants. I also prefer not to have others serve me."

"Oh, I see. Then go ahead."

"Yes, Your Highness. Please wait a moment."

Upon entering the hall, Armando was struck by the sight of the almost barren interior, coated in dust, prompting a moment of reflection.

Who would believe that an empire’s high official lived in such dismal conditions, especially one holding a respectable position?

Could it be because he doesn’t speak up, resulting in someone deliberately withholding his salary?

He resolved to inquire further upon Marwan’s return.

Then, he saw Marwan approaching from afar, carrying a large bowl, and shouting, "Your Highness, your tea is here."

Armando, observing that Marwan’s household resorted to using a bowl for brewing tea, murmured disapprovingly, "What an embarrassment, a disgrace to refinement."

As Marwan arrived beside Armando, he said, "Here, please enjoy, Your Highness."

Armando, examining the tea leaves in the bowl, asked, "What kind of tea is this?"

Marwan, proud of his resourcefulness, replied, "These are leftovers from the finest tea leaves I have. I also use them to boil tea eggs."

Armando could barely contain his dismay.

"So, has anyone deliberately withheld your salary?"

"No, Your Highness. Why would you ask that?"

"How could a distinguished official of the empire live like this?"

Marwan glanced around, somewhat embarrassed, then smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. No one has withheld my salary."

Hearing Marwan’s response, Armando didn’t press further, thinking even a low-ranking official in the empire shouldn’t be living in such dire straits.

Surely, Marwan must have some detrimental lifestyle habits.

"Alright, let’s discuss how we can revisit the National Preceptor’s residence tonight to gather evidence anew."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Their conversation yielded no novel strategies, merely settling on donning night attire and scaling the walls for entry.

As evening approached, Armando and Marwan prepared for another investigation of the National Preceptor’s residence.

Dressed in tight night attire, they approached the exterior of the residence.

"Your Highness, let’s go this way. I noticed a large apricot tree by the wall during the day; we can use it to climb over," Marwan suggested.

Armando pondered, surprised by Marwan’s detailed observation.

Could he have been planning this since their daytime visit to the National Preceptor’s residence?

"What are you waiting for, Your Highness? Let’s go!"

"Right, I’m coming."

Following Marwan, they arrived at the base of the apricot tree and climbed up its trunk until they reached a point roughly level with the top of the wall.

There, they paused to scan the National Preceptor’s residence for any passersby.

"Your Highness, it’s clear. Let’s go down. There’s no one around."

Armando wondered how a civil official like Marwan seemed so familiar with the process of scaling walls into someone else’s property.

Had he done this often?

Armando then jumped down, following Marwan.

Together, they stealthily moved through the National Preceptor’s residence, searching for any potential evidence of Blois’s embezzlement.

Unintentionally, they found themselves outside Blois’s study, where the light casting shadows indicated two people inside, a man and a woman.