Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 93: The Greedy Lady (3).

-You truly are an amazing person. This is a gift containing my respect.

Characters with the [Aesthetic Sense] that could see achievement scores usually started with similar phrases and gave rewards for achievements. It was kind of a ‘special perk’.

Of course, the rewards varied by character, so even those perks were random… Truly, a crappy ass game of random luck!

However, it seemed impossible to expect such special perk rewards from Elizabeth at a glance. After all, this was reality based on [Group Leader]. There couldn’t possibly be such perks.

Naturally, unable to show that he had read her mind, Allen casually started a conversation without missing a beat.

“Could you be… Vice Group Leader Elizabeth?”

Upon asking, the platinum-haired beauty silently looked at Allen and then responded with a slightly elegant smile.

“Yes, that’s correct. You have a good eye.”

“How could I not recognize a Vice Group Leader of the Top 10, whose fame is widespread?”

Elizabeth’s smile deepened, and she slightly extended her right hand towards Allen, palm down. …Wondering if it was a gesture of respect, Allen carefully took her hand in an elegant manner and lightly kissed the back of it. Then, looking up to gauge her reaction, he saw that she seemed quite pleased.

“But what brings you to this humble place…?”

“Well… there’s no particular reason. My Big Sis said there’s a great mercenary leader here… Oh, Big Sis Viola is like a sister to me.”

“A great mercenary leader, you say. How could I?”

Honestly, even for a top-notch mercenary group, facing the Top 10 was like trying to intimidate a pupa. It was not good to truly accept their praise. Especially for the greedy lady with dozens of snakes twisting in her belly like this… Humility was always a virtue.

Elizabeth suddenly crossed her legs and smiled mysteriously.

“Are you enjoying being in the mercenary city?”

“Yes, well, where else would be better for a mercenary than the mercenary city?”

“I don’t like it here much. It’s too chaotic. There are too many people and not much to see.”

“The view of the river at sunset is magnificent.”

“We have plenty of those in our town too.”

“Haha… is that so?”

Elizabeth, who had been staring intently at Allen, slightly licked her upper lip with her tongue, then uncrossed her legs. She then stood up, showing off her long and elegant neck that she seemed proud of, as if she wanted Allen to kiss it, and gave him a light nod. Truly an elegant mage… Though it might sound a bit cheap to say, she really was a damn sexy woman.

‘…No wonder she’s a regular in fanzines.’

Being a vice group leader, she was practically unrecruitable unless it was in the very late stages of the game or somehow something would cause the downfall of the Duke’s family, but the reason for her popularity was clearly felt. In terms of sex appeal, she was definitely the best among all the women seen so far.

However, for the current Allen, she was a fruit that was not only impossible to pick but also impossible to even look at… Moreover, in some ways, she was an even more dangerous being than Group Leader Viola.

“I’ll be leaving now… there’s no need to escort me out.”

The Lady sent Allen another mysterious smile and put on her leather hood. Then, she turned around and walked away with elegant steps, exiting the roadside office.

Allen sighed deeply and said to Old Dog Kalisman, who was standing very quietly in a corner as if he wasn’t there,

“Let’s call it a day…”

His heart was pounding so hard that he felt he couldn’t go on any longer today.

Having returned to Viola House, Elizabeth sat quietly in the drawing room, sipping tea and being lost in thought for a long time. She had gotten rid of the annoyingly chatty Group Leader Rados from her sight because… now was not the time to be mingling with such a trivial man.

138…

From her experience, it was certain that the greater the figure, the higher the number seemed to be. ‘Sword Emperor Magnus’, whom she met at the Top 10 Conference long ago, was the owner of the highest number, 31. And all the leaders of the Top 10 had scores over 20… And until now, there had never been an exception. Not even once.

‘Except for that man…’

Elizabeth felt her heart strangely pounding and her mouth dry. It was undoubtedly an excitement based on anticipation and curiosity… Though she came to kill Dagon, that standardless bastard, she never imagined experiencing something like this.

Could her Big Sis have known, too?

As soon as she thought that, her fingertips and toes tingled, and her hair stood on end.

Group Leader Viola could certainly see something like the potential of the opposite party. A talent similar to, but not exactly the same as, Elizabeth’s. Surely, it couldn’t be that she had never once seen that from the man she kept so close.

‘She saw it. She must have seen it. I’m sure of it.’

The Vice Group Leader lifted her cup to her lips, only to put it down again upon realizing it was empty. She continued to feel thirsty.

‘How much could it have been? Surely, it must have been a lot? That’s why that woman is so concerned about it. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense. No wonder…!’

Vice Group Leader Elizabeth had known Group Leader Viola for over ten years, but she had never once seen her wear any jewelry that touched her body… Except for that necklace…! Especially for that stubborn and meticulous woman, if a man made her do something for the first time, it must surely mean he was special to her.

‘…However, it is not yet completely certain. I’ll have to subtly check when he comes later.’

She felt a sudden sense of greed. Insanely so. It was the activation of her personality that, once she desired something, she must have it at all costs.

Whether or not the man named Allen was precious to Group Leader Viola… she wanted him. Even if he was precious, she wanted to snatch him away and possess him.

The person with the number 138. Whatever potential that man had, it was already enough to stimulate Elizabeth’s desire for possession. He was even handsome enough to carry around and boast about.

‘…It seems he has already fallen for my seduction…’

Elizabeth recalled the polite and gentle kiss that had touched the back of her hand. And the passionate gaze he had given her as well…!

‘Well, how could he escape my charm? A woman as beautiful as me.’

The elegant genius mage was so full of confidence that it overflowed.

After finishing her duties at the guild house, Group Leader Viola heard that the Lady wished to have dinner alone with her. The Group Leader gladly agreed.

The best room to view the beautiful sunset was on the third floor. There, Group Leader Viola and Vice Group Leader Elizabeth met.

“You’re still the same, Big Sis. The office work could be left to the kids.”

“I’m not satisfied unless I do it myself.”

As they exchanged these trivial conversations, the meal preparation was completed. Only after the dining table was filled with dishes of food could the two women converse without interruption.

Elizabeth, who had little interest in the meal, merely pretended to cut her food while observing Group Leader Viola closely… And then she broached a topic.

“You know, I met Group Leader Allen today.”

Suddenly, the hand of Group Leader Viola stopped abruptly and then moved again. Although trying to appear calm, upon closer inspection, there were definitely more than one or two odd things.

“…Really? He’s quite a decent person, isn’t he?”

“He is handsome. Big Sis would definitely fall for him.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Just kidding, just kidding. Hoho. Big Sis, you’re too stiff; that’s the problem.”

Group Leader Viola’s mind became incredibly complicated. Elizabeth also had a similar ability. It wasn’t widely known across the continent, but still, those who knew, knew.

…However, what the Lady saw was a bit different from Viola. Clearly, she had said that she seemed to be able to see the status of others. If that were the case, Allen, who hadn’t achieved much yet, should definitely have a low number… Of course, one couldn’t be completely reassured, but it was better not to show it.

At that moment, Elizabeth put down her fork and knife.

And then, suddenly, she asked a piercing question.

“How many points was it?”

“…What?”

“The number. The one you see.”

Viola, the head of the family, was momentarily flustered but answered as calmly as possible, as if it were nothing.

“288.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Did you think I wouldn’t check the number of someone I keep by my side? He’s just a fairly decent person.”

Of course, she couldn’t reveal the real number. Even if it was to Elizabeth.

…No, it was even more impossible to reveal to Elizabeth. Her greed and obsession were such that even Viola had to admit defeat.

‘No wonder she felt a bit off yesterday… But still, I didn’t expect her to act so quickly.’

“I see…”

But that off feeling… she felt it again this time.

At that moment, Group Leader Viola felt a twinge in her heart.

“I wasn’t quite satisfied with that Rados guy anyway… This works out well.”

Elizabeth smiled innocently.

“So, Group Leader Allen, it’s okay if I take him, right?”

…The Lady had declared a battle for possession.