Chapter 94
“…It wasn’t too difficult after that. I thought you had at least minimal security, but there was nothing.”
Irene, who spoke nonchalantly, put the newly loaded gun into her bosom. She was dressed in an outfit similar to that worn by Knox’s members, not the usual maid outfit—long high-waisted trousers that fall widely, a black top, and a hunting cap.
Despite that, there were dark red stains on her that even black couldn’t cover them at all.
It was proof that it wasn’t ‘nothing’ as she said before meeting Edith. Even now, in Lichpen’s mansion, there was a scent that couldn’t be hidden, with only the smell of blood lingering around.
Edith laughed at the ridiculous words.
“Aren’t you a maid?”
“Is it strange that only a maid is here?”
“No. More than that, it’s surprising that you know more than I thought. You weren’t hired as a maid for that purpose from the beginning, were you?”
In some cases, well-educated members of the organization were hired as employees. It was to do close security and organization work together. However, it didn’t apply to Irene as it was said. When she first came in, she worked as a maid in the kitchen.
“There would’ve been no place to learn such a thing, how the hell…”
“Well, Madam Edith didn’t learn to become a researcher, either.”
“Ah, haha… That’s right.”
Edith laughed as if she had been caught off guard, but she couldn’t continue her words for a long time and had to take a deep breath. As she was currently tied to a chair, blood still oozed from her shot feet.
The only fortunate thing was that Ahibalt wasn’t there.
A moment ago, after catching her, Ahibalt arranged the surroundings and tied her to a chair in the lab. Edith involuntarily let out a sigh at the sensation of the tight strap digging painfully into her wrist.
“I didn’t think you’d be good at this, but you’re quite decent…”
“It’s something I’ve had enough of when I was staying in this mansion. You flatter me immensely.”
“Haha… Is it okay to treat someone who’s the age of your mother like this?”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been old enough to be taught by an adult.”
Unlike Edith, who constantly broke into a cold sweat from the gunshot wound to her foot, Ahibalt had a refreshing attitude. It felt even more heinous, and Edith let out a blank laugh involuntarily. She was well aware of how entangled she was with the filthy people.
The important thing was to survive.
‘…And I have to finish my research.’
It was really just around the corner, and it couldn’t end like this. Edith forced her mouth to open, holding back the nausea that hit her throat.
“So… did you come here to catch me because I sent you the medicine?”
“There’s that, too. But other than that, I was asked a request.”
“Asked?”
“Because there’s someone who wants to meet you.”
At his words, Ahibalt pointed to Irene, who was rummaging through a table behind. She seemed to be looking for something, before picking up a roll of paper and coming over to them.
“Thank you for your help, Young Master.”
“You’re saying thank you to me for nothing. It’s something I’m more grateful for. Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yes, this.”
Edith’s eyes widened when she saw what was written on the outside of the paper in Irene’s hand.
At the same time, she could feel a sense of hopelessness that she hadn’t felt even when her foot was pierced. It was because the research that was picked up was something no one would look at, but it was like life for her.
“That, that’s…”
“Looking at her reaction, it looks like you’ve found the right one. So, what is this? I don’t know since it’s written in code.”
“This is Madam Edith’s research. Giving the Youngest Master such medicine must have been an extension of this research.”
Irene’s gaze turned to Edith, who was pale, and she parted her lips.
“Is it not?”
Silence had been a confirmation.
Edith couldn’t open her mouth because of a feeling of dismay she had never felt in her entire life. She didn’t know how Irene figured out her password, but if she were to take all of her research materials, it would have to go back about twenty years so she couldn’t leave it like that.
Not understanding the intention of the two people in front of her, sweat soaked her hand. Would they kill her for bringing Rodion into that research? Or would they destroy the research?
‘…It can’t end like this.’
If so, then there was the last resort. As she thought so, Edith gritted her teeth as she made up her mind.
However, what Irene did the next moment was unexpected.
“Young Master, could you let me talk to Madam Edith for a moment?”
She asked for personal time with Edith.
“You’re asking for a difficult request. Edith is a researcher, but she has been with Knox for a long time. It’s dangerous to leave you alone with her.”
Even though she was a middle-aged woman who had been bound, Ahibalt’s vigilance wasn’t easily lowered. Still, Edith decided that Irene’s words were the only means by which she could revive herself, so she hurriedly opened her mouth.
“O-over there. Beyond that door is soundproof.”
She pointed with her chin to her laboratory.
Located inside the laboratory, half of the wall was impaled with large glass windows to observe the results of the experiment.
“If you’re going to talk, why don’t we do it over there?”
There was no reason for them to reject her offer. And so, Ahibalt was watching them from outside the lab while Irene sat facing Edith.
Edith was the first to open her mouth.
“So, what did you want to talk about that you have to shoot my feet?”
“…There are two things. In a way, it could be seen as one thing.”
“Research on the relationship between favorability and fate.”
“Yes. I don’t know if you remember, but Madam Edith once told me about research when I was helping organize your luggage at Lavrenti before.”
“It was something like that when I thought about it. Still, don’t expect me to remember it properly. I’m a lonely researcher, so I talk easily when I have someone to listen to.”
The tremor in Edith’s voice slowly diminished. It was unknown whether it was because her anxiety had subsided or if it was because she was excited about the research she had dedicated her life to.
“Regardless, can you explain to me what the research nobody cared about had to do with you, that you broke into someone else’s house and made a hole in their foot?”
“As I said when we talked about it, I also believe in fate. And I know that this world has a destiny that depends on favorability.”
“…What?”
Edith’s face hardened.
If her hands hadn’t been tied to the chair, she would have grabbed Irene right away. However, the conversation they had to go on couldn’t end at just this point.
Irene continued without wavering.
“Actually, I’m certain that I know more than Madam Edith does.”
“You know that, but why didn’t you tell me when you first saw my research? Why the hell—!”
“Because I decided that Madam Edith’s research wouldn’t help me. At that time, you only grasped the existence of fate, and that kind of thing couldn’t help me. However…”
Things have changed, and now Edith’s research actually created a variable in this game.
“If fate is determined by favorability, it means that it’s possible to change fate by adjusting the degree of favorability. That’s what I need.”
Because I want to get out of this tiresome bondage.
The last words came out of her mouth as if they were self-deprecating. Even though it wasn’t a word that contained any special emotion, she didn’t know why tears flowed at that moment.
“What I’m going to tell you now is my hypothesis.”
Two weeks into preparing to meet her, Irene wondered how Edith might have noticed the system.
And…
__
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know or tag admin in comments so we can fix it as soon as possible.
