Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1410: Margaret’s Plan

"What about his relatively legitimate business, aside from the illegal ones?"

Shard asked again.

"MI6 has sorted out his business connections, and the compiled intelligence has been sent to me. This man’s business is bigger than we thought, and he’s wealthier than his lifestyle suggests. His current net worth is at least this amount."

Her Highness the Princess made a gesture towards Shard, who expressed a look of astonishment.

"Krone or Gold Pound?"

"Krone."

Shard was even more shocked:

"His business is so large, even if smuggling and illegal trades are eliminated, legitimate businesses won’t be easy to handle, right?"

This question made Margaret laugh:

"Oh, Shard, my dear knight, you don’t think that legitimate businesses can’t have problems discovered, do you?"

She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her pretty eyes looking at Shard with amusement:

"As long as you’re willing to investigate, any businessman can have problems found. Even if there aren’t any real issues... that’s impossible."

Margaret said lightly:

"Our professors from Sekses Medical Academy have returned from investigating the so-called silver mine location, and because the situation is very complex, the analysis report will probably come out later this week or next week. By then, as long as traces of demons are found, the academy will inform the church, and then the kingdom’s official forces will investigate Osenfort’s business, he’s done. I’ve planned it out; isn’t there that compensation payment to the Stonemason Guild that hasn’t been settled?"

Shard raised an eyebrow:

"You mean to..."

"Although I once planned to take it myself, such a large sum of money pains me as well. Now that there’s a source, isn’t it better? Moreover, I’m the one spearheading the investigation; shouldn’t I secure some benefits for myself? If I were truly that ’clean,’ my father would instead doubt my capability."

"Hmm..."

Shard found it difficult to comment on the thoughts of royal offspring, nodding thoughtfully:

"Then if the kingdom’s authorities want to take action, please do so promptly. Once you start over there, I’ll go to Osenfort... and how’s the communication with the Stonemason Guild going, given that your time in Randall Valley is likely limited?"

"I need a banquet."

Margaret said:

"A banquet inviting most of the local nobility and celebrities, and then to reconcile publicly at the banquet. I’m persuading my father; he isn’t unwilling to relent, but there are added conditions: the Stonemason Guild must send people to repair the parts of the tombs smashed by the colossus, and this is without pay. This way, the royal family expresses its apology for the wage arrears—father is only willing to admit this—and the Stonemason Guild also expresses its apology for not completing the project."

"Can the Stonemason Guild agree to such a matter?"

Shard asked doubtfully.

"So, this is my task."

Margaret sighed.

Having not seen Miss Sylvia for a long time, Margaret went to find Miss Sylvia after talking with Shard, while Shard waited until Margaret left before sitting with the three Grand Witches, Miss Lathis, and Luviya in the manor’s study.

"When Miss Iluna Beath arrives in the area, let her assist me in setting up the portal. I’ve been feeling quite good these past few days, calling Galina and her followers over, and opening a portal to Milestone shouldn’t be an issue."

Miss Sylvia said confidently, and Miss Aphrola asked Shard:

"How’s the situation locally? Although Benanis reports to the council weekly, we still want to hear your views."

"I’ve finished looking into it, but there are many enemies this time. Cultists, Blood Spirit School, demons..."

Miss Sylvia and Miss Aphrola exchanged glances. They had heard about demons from Miss Benanis after arriving last night, but still felt incredulous when Shard confirmed it.

"There’s also one more thing to be cautious of; the cultists may be plotting a godfall. Well, not may, they are doing so. Last night, I actually encountered an unknown ascetic of the Sun Church; he is the vessel cultivated by the church for that True God to descend."

"Oh?"

Miss Aphrola thought for a moment:

"Is he a rather untidy man in his thirties or forties, carrying an oil lamp, with very short hair stubble?"

"Yes, his eyes are brown, around the Eleven Rings level."

Shard added.

"I know him, the ’Walker of Sorrow’ of the Sun Church; his real name is probably known by only a few within the Sun Church. He is one of the most dedicated ascetics of our time. Since he has come, it indicates that the church is truly ready for the godfall this time."

Miss Aphrola said worriedly, Shard nodded but didn’t mention handling the situation himself if things went awry:

"Whether the Evil God will descend, we’ll see then. The key right now is the Chosen One."

"Miss Benanis said you’ve already negotiated with the Chosen of the Earth? Although Miss Benanis described his incredible situation, is he male or female?"

Miss Sylvia asked curiously.

Shard asked the Blonde Witch:

"Miss Benanis, when you saw Guardian Fleming by Eldron Lake, did you feel he was male or female?"

"Definitely male."

The Witch asserted, leading the other two ladies to understand:

"For any individual with both male and female characteristics, witches judge them as male. Actually, only true females can be exempt from a witch’s curse."

Thus, all five ladies looked at Shard, who could only emphasize again:

"I really am male."

"We never said you weren’t."

Miss Aphrola recalled the incident in Coldwater Port when she did something to the unconscious Shard in the water, a flush appeared on her face, but she covered it well:

"I brought the materials for the [Contact Ground Worm] ceremony. Sacrifices are also needed: flowers of summer, grass, and flame."

"Leaves, flowers, fruits of spring; flowers, grass, flames of summer; flowers, stones, souls of autumn."

Shard counted:

"Now, there are nine kinds of sacrifices. If the winter requirement is also three, then the [Feast of the Earth Mother Goddess] will need at least twelve kinds of sacrifices. Is the Chosen One Ceremony this complicated?"

"We’ve discussed before, some sacrifices may not be necessary."

Luviya reminded:

"But for now, we need to collect all nine known types. The Guardian also promised to collect his share. Do you have any clues about the winter sacrifices, Shard?"

"The deity of winter is the Old God [Winter Maiden], who has departed, but there is still an Order in the Far North."

"The [Winter Choir] and the Thirteen Rings’ ’Winter Singer’, we’re aware of them, but the Council doesn’t have much connection with them, whereas Saint Byrons does. Should we seek them for knowledge of the God Summoning Ritual?"

Miss Aphrola asked Shard, who shook his head:

"No need, I feel that the Chosen One Ceremony shouldn’t be this complex, at least not collecting twelve different sacrifices. If I have time this weekend, I’ll go to Huntington City to seek enlightenment from a Sage, then we’ll have results."

"Alright."

The witches nodded, though worried about the future, but all had confidence in Shard.

After discussing the important matters, Miss Aphrola and Miss Sylvia, who hadn’t seen Shard for a while, jokingly brought up Shard’s affairs:

"Heard from Galina that you got along well with Benanis in Randall Valley?"

Miss Aphrola with her brown curly long hair asked with a smile, the Blonde Witch embarrassedly turned slightly away, while Shard nodded:

"Miss Benanis is truly a pleasant lady... Okay, I know what you want to ask, we have kissed... more than once."

Except for the subject of the topic, the ladies by the coffee table sofa laughed. Miss Lathis glanced at Luviya, who winked at her, and then she knowingly added:

"The bottle of essential oil that made Shard have a high fever was also related to Vanessa."

"Yes, I was there at the time."

Luviya laughed and aided, Miss Benanis slightly bowed her head, not letting anyone see her face, while Miss Aphrola sighed and shook her head:

"I thought, before parting with Shard in Huntington last winter, when Sylvia, Galina, and I taught Shard how to kiss, it was crazy enough, but Benanis turned out to be braver than us."

This made even Miss Benanis laugh, the atmosphere in the room was quite pleasant, only Shard felt rather odd.

"When Galina arrives, we can have a good talk about stories with Shard."

Miss Sylvia proposed, to which Miss Aphrola immediately nodded:

"Yes, let’s find a night, exclude Shard, and have a pajama party with just the girls. Prepare books, pillows, and sweets; it has been so long since I participated in such an event since coming of age."

"Sounds fun, but Shard must provide us with a few bottles of nice red wine."

Luviya said, making them laugh again, Shard wasn’t sure if the ladies were really teasing him.

He was still missing Mia, whom he hadn’t seen for more than 24 hours, and was about to propose leaving now when there was a knock at the door. Miss Lathis asked, and the maid outside the door said:

"Miss Aphrola has come."

"Oh?"

"My niece, also my apprentice."

Miss Aphrola explained:

"I’m here officially for the family business, but concerned about Shard, I had Haley handle other matters first. It seems she’s done. You don’t see her much in the Council, right? A good time for introductions."

Thus, Miss Lathis asked the maid to open the door, and everyone in the room looked towards the entrance.