Chapter 11
“Isn’t it strange to look like you’ll do well? And with an economic mindset that treats gold units as spare change, I doubt you’d be good at any job.”
Even without seeing his face, it was clear the speaker was a young man. The type who, with youthful arrogance, would dismiss money as trivial and end up paying a heavy price.
“Lindus was so nice…”
Claire muttered unconsciously.
Her words were enough to provoke Teddy, who had just returned the money to Claire’s hands, and made a firm declaration.
“I’ll find the victim within two days. If I fail, I’ll connect you with another guild.”
“What about the money…”
“I don’t go back on my word.”
Teddy cut off the conversation decisively, speaking in a slightly high-handed tone. Claire, no longer insisting, quietly took the money.
‘At least I’m not losing anything…’
Waiting two days wouldn’t hurt.
***
True to his word, Teddy managed to find information on the victim within the deadline.
Her name was Jennifer, a woman in her early twenties, working at a small bakery.
The moment he handed over the details, Claire donned glasses and a hat to conceal her face and moved to meet the victim.
However…
“Why are you following me?”
“To ensure the request is completed perfectly.”
Teddy casually responded while naturally sticking by Claire’s side.
Through the reflective lenses, her green eyes, full of displeasure, scrutinized him.
A man wearing a mask that covered his entire face stood out far too much.
“What if someone reports us because of you?”
At her indirect suggestion for him to leave, Teddy replied lightly.
“I’ll deal with it.”
“That’s not what I meant… Fine, do whatever you want.”
Claire didn’t want to waste time persuading him. In the end, she brought Teddy along to the bakery where the victim worked.
Just as they were about to arrive at the shop…
“Oh, enough already! Who’d want to work in this pathetic place!”
A young woman slammed the bakery door open, bursting out in a fit of rage.
A middle-aged woman quickly followed her outside.
“Jennifer! Do you actually want to get fired?!”
“Do as you like! I hated it here anyway!”
“You…! Ugh, what’s wrong with her these past few days? Did she win the lottery or something?!”
Claire narrowed her eyes as she quietly observed their exchange.
Jennifer’s attire was far too flashy for a modest bakery employee.
Moreover, her skin was flawless. It was hard to believe she had ever suffered from severe side effects.
With a dry laugh, Claire quickened her pace to catch up to Jennifer.
“Miss Jennifer?”
“Yes?”
Jennifer turned around, looking puzzled.
Standing there was a woman in glasses and a man in a mask. Their odd pairing drew immediate suspicion.
“Who are you?”
“I heard you broke out in a rash all over your body. It’s a relief to see you looking fine.”
“What are you…”
Jennifer’s expression changed before she could finish her retort.
Taking a step back, Jennifer’s tone turned sharp.
“Who are you? Who sent you?!”
“You know that better than anyone. Why don’t we talk for a moment?”
“What? Why should I?!”
“You don’t want to be sued and pay an enormous amount in damages, do you?”
“…!”
Jennifer’s eyes wavered uncontrollably.
Claire calmly gestured for her to come closer.
But Jennifer…
“Ugh!”
…opted to run away instead of surrendering.
With no other choice, Claire chased after her and shouted.
“You’re only hurting yourself by running away! Stop while I’m being nice!”
“Who stops when someone tells them to?!”
“Why did you lie? There are no side effects from the Starlight Cream!”
“I don’t know! I have no idea!”
Jennifer stomped her foot as she feigned ignorance.
She had something she was counting on. She wasn’t running without a plan.
‘As long as I can reach that person…!’
At that moment.
Someone appeared from a side alley and tripped Jennifer. It was Teddy, who had deliberately taken a detour to intercept her.
Thud!
Jennifer fell clumsily, and Teddy stepped on the hem of her dress.
“Ugh!”
Thanks to this, Jennifer, who was about to get back up and run again, fell once more.
In the meantime, Claire caught up and clasped something onto Jennifer’s wrists with a metallic click.
“You can’t run away now.”
It was a magical restraint Franz had given her just in case.
Not only did it bind the wrists, but it also immobilized the entire body.
“What the hell?! What are you doing? Let me go!”
“No.”
Claire coldly replied, looking up at Teddy. With his towering height, she suddenly realized just how tall he was.
“Thanks for your help.”
“Not at all. But what do you plan to do with her? She’s putting up quite a fight.”
“Hm, I’d like to have a quiet conversation with her somewhere…”
“Head over there. I’ll stand guard so no one disturbs you.”
Teddy pointed to a secluded alley he had noticed earlier, mentioning that there wasn’t a soul around.
Accepting his suggestion, Claire dragged the struggling Jennifer into the alley.
Thud.
Claire dumped Jennifer onto the ground without much care and crouched in front of her.
“You lied about experiencing side effects, didn’t you?”
“…Ha! It’s true! The rash just subsided. It was really bad before!”
Having resolved to deny everything, Jennifer brazenly pushed back.
“Is it okay to harass an innocent victim like this? I’m going to sue you! Who makes garbage creams like that anyway?”
Claire frowned as she watched Jennifer shout with veins bulging in her neck. But at Jennifer’s final remark, her expression turned serious.
Calling something they had worked so hard on garbage?
As someone who knew how much effort had gone into their first venture, Claire couldn’t let that slide.
Claire’s voice dropped low.
“Jennifer, do I look like a joke to you?”
“What are you…”
“Do you even know who you’re provoking?”
Claire swept her robe aside, revealing a dagger tucked into her inner pocket.
She had brought it for self-defense, never expecting to use it as a threat.
“Ahhh!”
Seeing the sharp blade, Jennifer screamed in terror.
“P-Please spare me! Help!”
“Shh, quiet.”
Claire raised a finger and pressed it against Jennifer’s lips.
With Jennifer silenced, Claire asked softly.
“Who put you up to this?”
It was clear Jennifer hadn’t acted alone. No simple report could have made her this well-off.
Someone must have paid her to do this.
When Jennifer avoided her gaze as if contemplating, Claire furrowed her brow.
“Not going to answer?”
“Eek! Pierre! It was Master Pierre of the Pierre Trading Company!”
When Claire deliberately moved her hand toward her pocket, Jennifer broke down and confessed with a trembling voice.
‘Pierre? That sounds familiar…’
Claire thought for a moment and quickly recalled the Pierre Trading Company.
A company that had always been second place in the cosmetics industry, overshadowed by the Divar Trading Company.
“What does the trading master want?”
“I-I don’t know exactly. He said the Divar Trading Company collapsed and they’re finally number one, but then a new company showed up, and it seemed to upset him.”
“Hm.”
Claire could understand the situation. Pierre had likely been overjoyed at the fall of his competitor, only to be threatened by the sudden rise of the Minerva Trading Company. So, he had resorted to underhanded methods to hinder them.
‘Then I don’t need to respond to this fairly either.’
Behind her glasses, Claire’s eyes gleamed sharply.
Jennifer, misinterpreting Claire’s expression, began crying and pleading.
“I was wrong! I’ll retract everything I said! Please, just spare me!”
Claire stared silently at Jennifer’s face, still carrying traces of youthfulness.
By age, Jennifer could have been like a younger sibling to Priscilla.
With a small sigh, Claire spoke.
“Jennifer, getting a large sum of money for a lie made your bakery job feel insignificant, didn’t it?”
“…”
“But remember. In this world, there’s no such thing as free money. If you didn’t earn it through your own hard work, easy money is like poison.”
As she adjusted her clothes, Claire added.
“Especially money earned by harming others.”
“I’m sorry! I’ll never do this again! I’ll work hard at the bakery! Please, just this once!”
Jennifer begged with a genuinely remorseful face. Claire pulled out a handkerchief, wiped Jennifer’s tears, and smiled faintly.
“Only if you do exactly as I say.”
—
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