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nChapter 607: Setting the Dark Scheme, Irante Temple

nTranslator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

nThe young player nodded and said, “One time, after we finished… you know, the deed, perhaps because her mind was relaxed, she started complaining about the elves, saying they treated her Gremolagen family like dogs, looked down on them, and expressed her hatred. She also mentioned that if there was a chance, she would definitely settle this score.”

nComplaining about the elves?

nJi Chen nodded inwardly, realizing that the Gremolagen family wasn’t as loyal to the elves as the outside world portrayed them. At least this noblewoman seemed quite dissatisfied with the elves.

nHe signaled to continue.

n“In addition, about half a month ago, when I visited her mansion, I heard her arguing with her elder brother in her room. 1 didn’t catch exactly what they were arguing about, but I vaguely heard words like ‘ritual’ and ‘reckless’. That’s all I know.”

nThe young player shrugged nonchalantly.

nJi Chen nodded, his face showing no special expression. He simply gestured for Luo Yang to give the young player another bag of gold coins and then sent him away.

nWhile the information was limited, it hinted at something the Gremolagen family might have been planning during the recent Elf Queen’s ritual.

nSoon, more players arrived, all of whom had some form of contact with the Gremolagen family, including tasks they had undertaken or relationships with family members, and they shared what they knew.

nMost of the information was sparse, consisting of fragmented details.

nBut as they say, every little bit helps.

nThe clues weren’t complete; they were laid out for all to see.

nMoreover, it required piecing together tiny fragments of information, like solving a jigsaw puzzle.

nIt involved a series of steps: searching, assembling, combining, analyzing, supplementing, and more, to gradually bring these pieces together, like fitting them into a puzzle until the final picture emerged.

nAfter a whole day, Ji Chen extracted a crucial piece of information through the contributions of dozens of players—

nThat was the first player’s target of freeloading— Ivana Gremolagen.

nIn the information provided by many players, without exception, they all had some level of connection with this lady. Ivana Gremolagen seemed to be plotting something in the recent past.

nIvana Gremolagen had quite a reputation within the Maple Principality. She was the fifth daughter of the Gremolagen Duke. She was married off to the eldest son of a vassal when she was young, but her husband met a tragic end on the battlefield just one year into their marriage. Furthermore, the vassal and his wife both fell seriously ill and passed away without leaving any heirs with inheritance rights several years later.

nThus, the hereditary title, which had been passed down for centuries, dramatically passed to Ivana Gremolagen, granting her a vast territory and a river valley castle.

nAlthough Ivana Gremolagen possessed these lands, she spent most of her time in the luxurious mansion in Maple City, maintaining a lavish lifestyle filled with banquets, entertainment, and debauchery.

nOn the surface, she appeared to be a noblewoman who enjoyed life and accomplished little else. However, it seemed that her true nature might be quite different.

nJi Chen decided to focus on Ivana Gremolagen.

nOf course, he wouldn’t personally undertake this task.

nHe had Luo Yang call back the young player who had shared information about Ivana Gremolagen, but the player seemed hesitant about infiltrating Ivana’s circle to gather information.

nAfter all, she was a native aristocrat, a member of the ruling Gremolagen family in the Maple Principality, and wielded immense power within Maple City. If she were to discover their motives, it could lead to major trouble.

nHowever, Ji Chen noticed that the young player neither outright refused nor readily accepted the task. His tone and attitude indicated something else entirely.

nHe wanted more money!

nSo, Ji Chen decisively unleashed his financial power.

nWith a sweeping gesture, he placed a wooden crate containing thirty thousand gold coins onto the ground.

n“This is the down payment. If you provide essential information and if the mission succeeds, there will be extra rewards. Moreover, if you’re concerned about any risks afterward, I can arrange for your safe departure from the Maple Principality.”

nIn an instant, the young player’s demeanor changed completely. He patted his chest and looked resolute. “Leave it to me. I’ll do my best to extract the information!”

nIt wasn’t that he was willing to betray the wealthy woman; it was just that the young aristocrat had offered him an incredibly generous sum. Moreover, Ivana had more than one lover, and there was fierce competition among those living off her. Who knew when she might tire of him, and then he would be left with nothing!

nSeizing the opportunity to make a big score was what truly mattered!

nHe consoled himself with this thought.

nWhile thirty thousand gold coins was a substantial sum, it paled in comparison to the five-digit spirit crystals promised by the elves.

nJi Chen also understood why Miligas had entrusted him with this investigation. It was because of his status as the Lord of Glory.

nMiligas undoubtedly knew that this matter was closely tied to the Gremolagen family. Only the Gremolagen family had the power to conceal events within the Maple Principality to the extent that no clues could be uncovered.

nHowever, due to their status, they couldn’t openly investigate without concrete evidence linking the Gremolagen family to the case. It wouldn’t be wise to confront an organization that appeared outwardly loyal and practically fatherly, especially without solid evidence..

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