Primordial Draconic Incubus With A Gourmet Chef System

Suddenly, the woman's long, erect ears twitched as she heard the sound of the door being knocked on.

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

After the knocking ended, a powerful and deep voice followed, "Kaida, are you in there?"

"Yes, Master Orn. Please give me one moment." Kaida hastily scrambled out of bed, ran to the door, and pulled it open to reveal the towering figure of the Centaur, Orn.

"Hello, Master Orn. Has the investigation finished?" Kaida asked with a nervous expression. For some reason, when she saw the frown on Orn's face, her body felt slightly cold despite the weather being quite hot.

Orn heavily sighed. "Let's talk inside."

Kaida nodded and led him into the living room.

Once they sat down, Kaida smiled sheepishly, "I apologize for the lack of luxurious decorations fit for someone of your status, Master Orn."

The living room contained only two plastic chairs, a one-by-one foot table between the chairs, and no other decorations.

"I don't care for such luxury." Orn smiled as he dismissively waved his head. "You've been to my office. I don't care for luxury."

"Now then, let us return to the topic at hand." Orn leaned forward in his chair with a very serious expression. "I've spoken to the other gardeners."

Kaida's breath was immediately caught in her throat. The atmosphere in the room seemed to have grown much colder.

Kaida swallowed hard. "What did they say?" She managed to voice out after a long while of struggling. She had a vague inkling the outcome was not in her favor.

"They all said something similar, claiming they didn't see anyone enter the Ravenscroft Garden other than the rest of the gardeners and me." Orn sighed after he spoke, his eyes were tinged with pity because there was nothing he could do.

The gardeners had all subtly threatened to quit their jobs if Kaida was not punished. At the time, he was outraged and wanted to tell them to scram, but held it in. Even though most of the gardeners were replaceable, some like Thrax were not. There were a few Magical Herbs that required special Skills and experience to grow.

Although experience could be given to another via a Memory Transfer, Innate Skills like Thrax's could not be shared. They could only be obtained at birth and as a Mage grew.

In an instant, Kaida's red leathery face became extremely pale.

What she had feared came true! However, she did not blame the gardeners because what they said was the truth. No one other than the gardeners and Orn had entered the Ravenscroft Garden.

"B-but I didn't steal the Netherbane Chives!" After a while, Kaida said with teary eyes. "I would never do something that would potentially make me lose my job as a gardener!"

Being a gardener had many benefits with practically no disadvantages. The pay was hefty, they were given decent-sized houses next to their Magical Herb regions, and most importantly, due to the abundant Magical Herbs in the Ravenscroft Garden, the air was filled with potent Mana.

To Mages, the Ravenscroft Garden was Heaven!

Losing this job would mean Kaida would be back in Hell, which she did not want.

Of course, Orn knew that as well. He was also very pleased with being the overseer of the Ravenscroft Garden.

However, his hands were tied behind his back this time.

"How about this, Kaida?" Orn sighed. "You said you didn't steal the Netherbane Chives, correct?"

"That right, Master Orn." Kaida nodded her head.

"Unfortunately, the gardeners would not believe your words at such a precarious time," Orn said grimly. "For the time being, I want you to stay in your house. I will assign the gardeners to take shifts guarding your house so that you don't sneak out. During this time, whoever is on guard duty will also tend to the Netherbane Chives."

However, Orn knew now that Kaida had been successfully framed, the person behind the framing had accomplished their task. They had no reason to steal more Netherbane Chives.

Him giving her the punishment was to satisfy the gardeners so they do not rebel, potentially making him lose his job as the overseer and to allow her to absorb as much Mana as she could for her years of hard work.

Kaida's eyes widened in shock. "House arrest? But Master Orn, that will only make the gardeners suspicious of me."

"It's the only way to buy time and to appease the gardeners. You should know both the Family Head and the opposing faction led by his younger brother want their hands on the Ravenscroft Garden. Also, whoever can obtain it for their faction will be heavily rewarded. Since you're in the lead, they obviously feel threatened by you."

Orn did not explicitly state she was framed by one of the gardeners because it would make no difference.

Also, he was not entirely confident she was framed. For all he knew, as Grax had said, she was wearing a mask of naivety and innocence. Therefore, he would not take further action until he found evidence of who stole the Netherbane Chives.

As for Kaida, she felt a tear streaming down her face. With no other choice, she nodded, understanding the difficult position Orn was in.

"I understand, Master Orn. I will do as you say."

"Use this time to absorb the potent Mana and get stronger," Orn instructed her, then left her house.

—-------------

Back on Arcadia, the Astral Eye Crystal above the courtyard dimmed, and the hologram above it, showcasing Wang Chen's life slowly faded.

A moment later, the Astral Eye Crystal zoomed through the air towards Number One before disappearing into his Spatial Ring.

At the same time, the Astral Eye Crystal outside the Wang Family Manor changed back to showing what was happening in the courtyard.

"Does this vendor not have any shame?"

"Not only did he use a funeral to sell his popcorn, he's even eating with such a relaxed expression during the funeral."

"It's like he's watching a movie."

The Mages in the long queue were completely taken aback by his shamelessness. They wondered how thick his face was.

The guards and maids also wondered the same as them, but they were informed by Number One not to act. Therefore, they could only silently glare at Lucian.

[We must figure out who this brat is and teach him a lesson.] One of the guards said to the rest of the guards and maids, who all nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Number One coughed into his clenched fist, instantly attracting everyone's attention back to him.

"Now then," Number One said, then continued, "Although unconventional, to appease Young Master Wang Chen's Soul, let us address why Young Master Wang Chen was in the Moon Grove Forest? As well as how we acquired those scenes." Discover hidden stories at empire

Hearing this, Just like Number One had expected, the people sitting and those standing outside all wore expressions of interest and curiosity.

Ever since the scenes began showing Wang Chen's life and him being stabbed through by an Undead Skeleton, they wondered how the Wang Family acquired those scenes.

Therefore, how could they not be interested and curious?

Even Lucian, Lily, and the rest, who knew the recordings shown to them were fabricated, wondered how Number One would spin the tale in his and Wang Family's favor.

After a moment, Number One turned in the direction of one of the guards, who wore black armor compared to the rest, wearing silver armor.

"Bring those vile creatures out." He ordered.

The captain nodded with a solemn expression, then left the courtyard.

The audience was left confused but remained silent, knowing their questions would soon be answered.

After a few minutes passed, the doors of the manor opened, and the captain could be seen walking out with twenty people behind him, each wearing metal collars with brightly glowing Runic Symbols.

With each step they took, their lifeless gazes flickered with pain, and blood slid to the floor. Behind each of their feet were two trails of blood.

Despite the blood stains covering their appearance, Lucian was the first to identify the twenty people.

They were none other than the guards who had traveled together with Wang Chen.

'How could they still be alive?' Lucian frowned.

[Did Wang Ming change his mind? After all, as much as Wang Chen's life sucked, he lived a life better than most. Him committing suicide did not make sense.]

[Haah, if only I could use Dragon's Gaze. I would instantly know if these guards are the same guards who were killed by the assassin or if they are people disguised as the dead guards.] Lucian slightly regretted not paying attention to the recording; otherwise, he would have seen if the guards were slaughtered by the assassin.

[I was also preoccupied and could not be bothered to watch or even listen to the recording.] The System replied.

Meanwhile, after a few seconds of confusion, the audience's expressions changed as they clamored.