chapter 81: Teaching You How to Get the Elf Princess for Free (1)

“Good luck with that,” Shia replied nonchalantly.

Lilith pouted slightly, clearly unimpressed with his lack of enthusiasm.

“Slave trading is illegal and harms countless lives and rights. The traders and buyers involved are nothing but criminals. I need your help to ensure our mission succeeds. You can pose as a buyer and work with me from the inside to catch them all in one fell swoop!”

Her expression was radiant with righteousness, her eyes sparkling with determination. She spoke as if she were on a holy crusade.

Shia smirked inwardly.

This so-called tea was turning out to be far more costly than expected. Lilith’s plan was flawless on the surface, but it was clear she had ulterior motives. Her scheme would undeniably benefit her, though at great risk to him.

“Going undercover as a buyer sounds dangerous,” Shia remarked, his tone calm.

“Not at all,” Lilith reassured him confidently. “With me there, you have nothing to worry about. I’ll protect you. Disguising you as a buyer is just to ensure no criminals escape.”

She leaned in slightly, her voice filled with conviction.

“Rescuing those enslaved and bringing the culprits to justice is a noble cause. The academy will surely reward you for your contributions, boosting your reputation.”

As Lilith continued her impassioned speech, Shia observed her delicate features, her lips moving as she spoke. He knew the true climax of the story was fast approaching.

The underground slave auction would mark a turning point for Lilith, cementing her rise to prominence. While the plot had reached its mid-stage since the academy arc began, this event would be her true breakout moment.

Not only would she earn fame, but she would also acquire an elf Princess as a pseudo-divine slave—a key figure in her journey to power.

And so, Lilith had found her trump card for self-destruction.

The price, of course, was Shia being beaten half to death.

But since the pain wasn’t hers to endure, it wasn’t really a price at all.

Who cares if the devoted lapdog gets hurt?

In the original plot, following Lilith’s instructions, Shia acted as an undercover buyer. But in reality, he was just a pawn. He purchased the enslaved Elf Princess, only for Lilith to swoop in heroically, “rescue” her, and conveniently claim her as her own. The plan was crude yet effective.

Naturally, heroism requires a villain to punish.

Unluckily for Shia, he was cast in that role.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

This ill-favored tea truly cost him dearly—half his life, to be exact.

Meanwhile, Lilith continued feeding Shia her syrupy words of persuasion.

“Shia, you have no idea how pitifu l the people captured by slave traders are.”

“There’s one poor elf who was taken to that place by those evil people.”

“Since this is a group operation, any slip-ups or carelessness might lead to that poor elf suffering even more.”

“To ensure her safety, can you do me this little favor?”

Lilith’s wide, innocent eyes brimmed with sincerity and expectation.

Did she truly not know how dangerous this was?

Unlikely.

She was merely using every resource available, her fiancé included, without a care for his well-being. Lilith was fully aware that Shia couldn’t cultivate and was just an ordinary person.

But what did that matter to her?

In her mind, even if Shia’s strength was inadequate for such a perilous mission, wouldn’t the academy headmaster’s protection suffice?

With such a strong guardian watching over him, Shia’s safety was practically guaranteed. Naturally, he was the perfect candidate for the job.

Lilith used emotional appeals and logical reasoning, emphasizing the elf girl’s plight and the headmaster’s power, crafting the illusion that only Shia could succeed in this mission.

As it happened, Shia had the same idea—but for a different reason.

Using the Guen heiress’s resources, he planned to snatch the heroine role from her and claim the Elf Princess for himself.

Here’s how you acquire an Elf Princess without spending a dime.

“Alright, I’ll help you,” Shia finally agreed, his expression conflicted.

Lilith’s heart leapt with excitement, though she maintained her composed façade.

“I knew you’d agree! Only you can handle this task. I trust you completely!”

“But buying a slave requires money, doesn’t it?” Shia asked earnestly. “You’ve asked me to pose as a buyer and purchase her, but you know I’m broke despite living here.”

“Don’t worry. Just find her and stay by her side. I’ll bring the other students to join you and ensure everything goes smoothly,” Lilith reassured him.

“But wouldn’t that risk exposing us? What if my act isn’t convincing enough and we’re discovered prematurely?”

Lilith hesitated briefly. While she didn’t care about Shia’s life, she was deeply invested in the Elf Princess’s survival.

“If the criminals try to harm us…”

With a reluctant sigh, she produced a small pouch of gold coins and handed it to Shia.

“Take this,” she said, visibly pained by the gesture.

Lilith’s reluctance was clear. Though she wasn’t short on money, giving it to Shia was an entirely different matter. After all, how else would he remain perpetually penniless?

Thinking she’d been generous, Lilith didn’t expect Shia to give her a disdainful look.

“That’s it? Are you worried I might not look poor enough to fit in?”

He weighed the coins in his hand, then gave Lilith a once-over.

His gaze seemed to say, “You’re from the illustrious Guen family, and this is all you can offer?”

Faced with her fiancé’s disdain, Lilith, the proud Guen heiress, couldn’t stand the humiliation.

This wouldn’t do.

The Guen family’s wealth was beyond ordinary comprehension.

“Gold coins? Please. That’s nothing to me,” Lilith scoffed, casually tossing another large pouch of coins onto the table.

Shia’s eyes gleamed at the sight, which didn’t escape Lilith’s notice.

With a smug smile, she added yet another pouch, followed by a sleek black card.

“Here. This card holds more gold than you could spend in a lifetime. Is that enough?”

Shia’s face lit up with a smile, brimming with satisfaction.

“Plenty. With this much money, forget one elf—I could buy you an entire caravan of them.”

“Truly befitting of the prestigious Guen family,” he added, earning an even prouder expression from Lilith.

“Lilith, why don’t you stay over tonight? I’ll personally cook to show my gratitude,” Shia offered.

Lilith stiffened, recalling the dog kennel in the courtyard.

“No need. I just came to discuss this matter. Now that it’s settled, I should head home. Tia’s waiting for me,” she replied, already heading toward the door.

Shia walked her to the entrance, closing the door behind her as the evening breeze cooled the air.

It wasn’t until she was outside that realization struck her like a lightning bolt.

She had given Shia her black card!

That card contained years of savings and pocket money!

Her expression twisted in anguish as she glanced back at the closed door, torn between demanding the card back and sticking to her plan.

Ultimately, she consoled herself with the thought that it was all worth it. Soon, she would have a loyal Elf Princess as her prize.

By repeating this mantra, Lilith managed to suppress her heartache over her depleted funds.

The next evening, Shia set off alone for the underground auction.

Though called an underground auction, the venue appeared to be nothing more than an unassuming villa. Cars came and went, the exterior eerily quiet, betraying nothing of the events within.

When Shia stepped into the villa, she discovered an entirely different world within.

The luxurious decor gleamed with opulence, every corner shining in gold and silver.

Dressed in a fine silk robe and donning a pure white mask, Shia’s gaze swept around the room with an air of elegance and composure.

This slave auction was structured distinctly into two levels.

The ground floor hosted ordinary slave transactions. The entire interior of the villa had been opened up, lined with cages reaching up to the ceiling.

Inside the cages were a variety of slaves. While some were human, the majority were other races.

However, the true spectacle was on the second floor, where only the finest slaves were held.

But Shia had no intention of heading upstairs.

His purpose here was to intercept Lilith’s acquisition of the Elven Princess.