Chapter 82: Minor Issues - All according to Plan
Unexpectedly, the evolution process was going to take longer than expected, a whole 168 hours.
When Aldritch evolved Lina, it only took an hour and some minutes, so he would have never expected it to take this long to evolve into a vampire noble.
While he was encased inside a maroon cocoon, several developments were observed.
Ingrid who had come to meet with Lada didn't do so out of 'care', it was because she had heard certain news that prompted her return to the mansion. While in the academy, she managed to pick up on a discussion regarding one of their operations, one in which Lada was in charge of.
"If the authorities truly have cracked down on the abnormal movements within the slave market because of our frequent purchases over the last few months, then we need to act fast, we need a solid plan." Ingrid said to Lada in a more serious tone.
They both had met Aldritch just a while ago after Ingrid came to Lada to discuss this issue, but after learning that he was preparing to undergo evolution into a higher rank, both of them, by themselves, decided not to discuss this issue with him, as it would distract him.
"I see… this is a serious problem indeed. For now, I'll get someone to check up on the markets to know the specifics of what has happened so far, from there, we'll know how to proceed. This matter shouldn't be so difficult that we'll have to involve master. Since I haven't been conducting the trades myself, I shouldn't be involved." Lada said, to which Ingrid agreed;
"I see, there's that." Ingrid said. She had noticed how Lada addressed Aldritch in private, and she couldn't help but compare it to how Lina addressed Aldritch when others were absent, both of them referred to him as 'master', instead of 'lord', as everyone had agreed… and by everyone, it was mostly those that had been with him the longest, not the newer members of the family.
Clearing the thought of her mind, Ingrid turned her body indicating that she was about to leave, "I'll leave it to you to handle, I doubt you'll be needing my help, but do let me know if I'm needed." She said before walking off after Lada gave her a nod.
That very night, Lada had a few people visit the various slave markets where they made their purchases to learn of their situation at the time. Before morning came, they were done and came back with useful information.
Just as expected, everything was going just the way Lada expected. In preparation for such an event, Lada never conducted the trades herself, instead, she put one of her slaves as a figure head, making him act as the one who was actually buying the slaves, while others under her did the figure head's biddings.
To that event, the traders that had ratted out to save themselves pointed fingers at the figure head, not Lada. With that development, Lada felt more at ease concerning the situation, as it would be easier to handle.
While purchasing the slaves, the coachmen in charge of delivery always delivered the slaves to the various hideouts, but their memories were wiped each time, so there was no way they would be able to trace any of the deliveries, that was also handled.
"You may leave now." Lada ordered in a cold tone exuding authority. She immediately sent the slave away after he gave her the report.
Her people going to ask for information from the people working in these slave markets directly was certain to reach the ears of the authorities, but that wasn't a problem since she was planning to use it to their advantage.
"If they're so eager, then why not give then something to chase while bringing those goody-two-shoes into the picture, that should keep them busy for the time being." She thought to herself, a smirk almost forming on her lips.
Lada immediately thought of Maggie who she placed in the academy and her recent exploits. The guard at the academy gate, Hens, the one who frequently asked her about Aldritch, turned out to be a member of a bunch of righteous bandits called The Chivalrous Saints. This bandit group wasn't quite like the ordinary.
It was made up of powerful commoners who deliver their own justice to the nobles in the shadows through various ways, stood up for the commoners, and did other things along those lines. Well, they were more of a fly than a thorn at the kingdom's side ultimately.
It didn't take long for Maggie to fish out Hen's spy within the academy, a young boy who was also a member of the Chivalrous Saints. Edward Armstrong happened to be such a perfect target for such a group, being the Illegitimate son of a noble who was forced to grow within the first walls from childhood. He grew to sympathize with commoners while hating nobles.
After Maggie found out about him, it didn't take long before she was invited to join them, an offer which she very much accepted, being a 'commoner' herself.
Initially it was just a way for Lada to have a foot into the affairs of the Chivalrous Saints, but now it had opened up an entirely new opportunity.
These group of lost sheep had also been on her list, as they posed a threat to her own plans, and she couldn't track them properly, always failing at different times, much like in her attempt to track those of the Red Gate Order. The Red Gate Order was a whole different case.
Her major issue with this righteous group of hypocrites was the fact that they operated without any feasible leader… such organizations are always difficult to combat. Discover more content at m,v l'e|m-p| y r
"If the Chivalrous Saints happen to take in someone who has been buying and freeing slaves, someone who is being hunted by the kingdom… that would definitely keep them busy while giving me the opportunity to nip them in the bud." She thought aloud with a sly grin on her face.
She immediately summoned Maggie alongside the 'figure head' so she would enact her plan. After this, she would only need to sit back and watch how it develops while facing other matters.
'I should also check up on the monster invasion plan.' She thought to herself before drinking lightly from the cup of tea beside her.