"..... So that's it, I understand your plan. To be honest, isn't it a bit rash?" said Ophelia after finishing listening to Lenarya and Zeta's entire plan.
Lenarya rolled her eyes.
"You can come up with another plan?"
Lenarya was right. Although it was rash and had many loopholes. But the plan was not made without consideration. Unfortunately, it was the best they could do in their situation.
Ophelia thought silently. Rather than changing Lenarya's plan. It seemed like she could "patch" the gap in the plan.
"Hmm... I have some additions that might increase the success chances. It's in exchange for you trying to help me. Want to hear?" offered Ophelia after thinking for a while.
Lenarya's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Tell me."
Ophelia smiled slyly. This was also her form of revenge. After all, the enemy of the enemy is a partner, right?
Ophelia said her opinions one after another. All of Ophelia's opinions surprised Lenarya. As expected of the Calliope Family Lady, the girl's intelligence and observation were quite high. Ophelia easily filled in the gaps that might thwart their plans. Not only that, she also offered to take part in the plan.
"How? I'd rather do it than the bunny, right? I can also help make Madam Lin lose the gambling secretly. Plus, if Madam loses, it means my ownership will change to Envy."
Ophelia's words made sense. It was indeed beneficial from many angles. But...
"Are you okay with that? We don't know what kind of person Lord Envy really is."
Ophelia shrugged her shoulders.
"She can't be worse than Madam Lin."
"Let's just say that. How did you manage to get yourself to be the one to gamble at that time? Madam certainly wouldn't trust you for such large-scale gambling. Your status here is just that of a slave," Lenarya said, stabbing Ophelia.
"That's why a little acting is needed here," Ophelia smiled.
"In these three weeks, while trying to maintain my sanity, I'll also make that bitch think I've completely subjugated her. That way, she won't lay an eye on me. After all, in such high stakes, the presence of the Princess of the Grand Families will attract the attention of the opposing side, right?" explained Ophelia.
Lenarya was a little amazed and worried at the child.
"That's too dangerous."
"Your offer will put you on the line. One mistake and our entire plan could be ruined."
"Don't worry. The Calliope Family's immune system is high. Some negative substances won't affect us, even if they do, it won't be as much as other races," Ophelia replied.
Lenarya thought for a moment. The results she would get if she agreed to Ophelia's offer would be more favorable. But could she risk ruining her entire plan with this girl she had just met?
Having finished thinking, Lenarya again let out a small sigh. She reached into her pocket, trying to find something. What she pulled out of there was a clear, bluish candy in a pack of six. She tossed the candy to Ophelia.
Ophelia, "?"
"Take that. It might help you," she said.
"What's this?"
"It's a solid potion. Its effects are slightly worse than liquid potions, but it can still heal small wounds. Besides, it also has a delay in healing. Your wounds won't heal immediately after eating it," Lenarya explained.
"Heh... So... What's this for?" asked Ophelia again. She couldn't think of a situation where she would have to eat that.
Lenarya recalled some old memories as an assistant who had observed Madan Lin a long time ago.
"Madam, will not harass a sleeping person. Because the excitement she craves is the expressions and words of her victims."
"If you feel your sanity is in danger. Do whatever you can to lose your consciousness. Even if it means you have to hurt yourself."
"That way, Madam will stop for a while. At least until you wake up again."
Ophelia stared at the solid potion Lenarya had given her.
"Hmm...."
"But don't pass out too soon. Or you might get sold for not being fun. Just so you know, things that are sold, usually have more bad luck."
"..... Alright, I get it. Thank you," Ophelia replied.
"Is there anything you want in return?" asked Ophelia. What happened between them was an agreement. Ophelia didn't want to be the more favored party. Because one day, this could turn around on her.
Lenarya had already thought of what Ophelia wanted even before Ophelia offered an explanation that patched up the gaps in her plan.
"I lack information and people."
"As Calliope has an extraordinary memory. You must remember the information from the Conqueror that entered the 3rd Floor this generation, right?"
"Tell me that information. I'll sort out the people who might be useful from there," Lenarya pleaded.
"Sure, no problem, that's easy. I'll tell you as much detail as I can," Ophelia replied without hesitation.
"If necessary, I can also tell you who my colleagues are. You might be able to get their help on my behalf," Ophelia said. Not in a bad way, of course.
But Lenarya shook her head.
"I'll sort it out myself."
"Whether it's your partner or not. I'll only take people who are useful."
"Hnm... Alright, as you want."
"......."
"......."
Without Lenarya realizing it, a glimpse of Ophelia's eyes twitched along with her guilt-filled heart.
"Selling friend's information like this... Is this really okay, Cleopatra?"
Flashback End
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****OOO****
Character Information
Name: Ophelia CalliopeNova: II OrangeRace: UnknownAge: 17Status: Lady of the Calliope FamilyAffiliation: Calliope Family [https://img.wattpad.com/97afcd6abef3c5a6112d15e032367ca51195e2d5/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4c4d4550644438343430523939773d3d2d313334313139393932342e313739316436313462633436666431383737303636323730353738392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Name: Ophelia Calliope
Nova: II Orange
Race: Unknown
Age: 17
Status: Lady of the Calliope Family
Affiliation: Calliope Family
-------------------------------------------------
Name: LenaryaNova: UnknownRace: ElfAge: UnknownStatus: Madam Lin's AssistantAffiliation: Eastern Region 3rd Floor [https://img.wattpad.com/4d93c4c131c0b4c9c91e59bf944231500a7135ec/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7a45444c55624b444c70486175413d3d2d313334313139393932342e313739316436313065326564333537373737343633313134393235382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Lenarya
Nova: Unknown
Race: Elf
Age: Unknown
Status: Madam Lin's Assistant
Affiliation: Eastern Region 3rd Floor
-------------------------------------------------
Name: ZetaNova: V RedRace: UnknownAge: 20 years oldStatus: Madam Lin's spyAffiliation: Eastern Region 3rd Floor [https://img.wattpad.com/fa3017aee6ac69d0bdd8c976be07bb1809bdf7bf/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5a4e4f4e56357a466e6b764b55413d3d2d313334313139393932342e313739316436306636623962636362613138353634363635373131382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Zeta
Nova: V Red
Race: Unknown
Age: 20 years old
Status: Madam Lin's spy
Affiliation: Eastern Region 3rd Floor
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Berenice Ptolemaios AuletesNova: VII RedRace: AnubisAge: 16 years oldStatus: First PrincessAffiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate [https://img.wattpad.com/9a3c19ad83b8c697bc3d86b62b7a7cf61c465c2d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f765076376c4e49656b5f5a7a71413d3d2d313334313139393932342e313739316436303932663533366139353830383630363334383835372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Berenice Ptolemaios Auletes
Nova: VII Red
Race: Anubis
Age: 16 years old
Status: First Princess
Affiliation: Ptolemaios Sultanate
-------------------------------------------------
Name: RukaNova: II RedRace: RokkaAge: UnknownStatus: UnknownAffiliation: Unknown [https://img.wattpad.com/fc43f96f9f1b49631ed3dba9398b7b98f59f88df/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6d4a7938735566715355554576673d3d2d313334313139393932342e313739316436303736666561333439383334393038313338383633372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Ruka
Nova: II Red
Race: Rokka
Age: Unknown
Status: Unknown
Affiliation: Unknown
****OOO****
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Western Region 3rd Floor
Zeta, the young woman with long ponytailed red hair was currently talking to someone under the outdoor cafe. From afar, they seemed to be talking about something pleasant. The expressions and atmosphere there also seemed bright.
But moments after the people she was chatting with left, Zeta's face immediately darkened.
"Tsk, that sucks..." Zeta croaked as she ruffled her bangs.
Zeta took out the notebook in her pocket and crossed out the pictures of the people there with a red pen.
"This one's useless too."
Still wearing an annoyed expression, Zeta leaned back in the chair.
"I knew it, just data and direct observation might be different. But there's not much that's right about them."
The data Zeta was referring to was the data on the novice Conquerors that Lenarya had provided earlier. It had been four days since Zeta had gone around 3rd Floor and met them one by one. But as she said, most of them were useless in her plan.
"Well, what did I expect from rookies?" Zeta thought tiredly.
Although they were only 1 or 2 floors apart, Zeta was already several years senior to them. Zeta entered the Tower when she was Bere's age, 16, to catch up with her sister who had entered the Tower 2 years earlier than her. For some reason, she stayed on the 3rd floor for 4 years. It was also during this time that she got to know Lenarya who had lived here for much longer. Moreover, Lenarya was also her sister's friend.
".....!"
Zeta who was still leaning back tiredly, her eyes accidentally caught something.
"Bere Nee-san!!! How many times has this happened!? Stop gambling, you suck!!" annoyed a boy who was sitting pouting on his floating pillow.
The girl walking beside him made an apologetic pose with a wry smile.
"Sorry, sorry... Come on, don't be angry..."
"I won't lose again!"
"How many times has Nee-san said that? If you continue like this, I won't give Carmela to you anymore!!!" the boy got angry. The floating pillow went faster, leaving the girl behind.
"Ru-Ruka! Don't leave me! Come on, please!!! I'll get stomped on the third floor!!!"
The girl didn't give up, she was still trying to catch up and persuade her friend.
"No. Giving Carmela to Nee-san is just a waste of money," she replied curtly.
"Come on, Ruka! Nee... Help me please... You can get the money easily anyway..."
"Easy, you say 💢?!!!"
"That kid..."
Zeta remembered that the two children who seemed to be fighting nearby were on the list Lenarya had given her.
"Rokka and Princess Ptolemaios!?"
Instantly, Zeta spontaneously pounded the table. She remembered that both of them had unusual identities in the data provided by Lenarya.
"Chance!"
To be honest, Zeta had been looking for them for the past four days as well. But they couldn't be found anywhere because they always changed places to gamble. Unexpectedly, when Zeta chose to give up looking for them, they appeared in front of her.
Without further ado, Zeta immediately headed to their place. Of course, not without preparation. Despite not finding them so far, Zeta also sought information about them from their former opponents in gambling.
"Nee, kimi tachi... (Hey, you guys...)"
"?"
The two children instantly turned to Zeta.
"What?"
Ruka, who was still annoyed, replied rather curtly.
Zeta rearranged the words in her head so that none of them offended Ruka.
"Shota brunette who rides on a floating pillow... Rumors about you spread all over the Western Region, you know."
"You're the 'Little Prince of Marauders' right?" Zeta asked brightly.
The boy's face instantly turned red.
"Wha- Stop calling me that!!!"
The girl beside him smiled broadly.
"Little Prince of Marauders... Bwahahahahaha!!! Yeah, you're called that. Your nickname is so funny I swear... Hahahaha..."
"Shut up Bere Nee-san!!! I won't give you any more capital!!!" Ruka raged. Bere immediately fell silent, trying her best to hold back her laughter.
Trying to ignore Bere, Ruka looked back at Zeta.
"Just Ruka! Call me Ruka!!! Not that!!!"
"A-Ah... Yes..." Zeta nodded absentmindedly.
Though to her, Ruka's nickname sounded cool. Moreover, Ruka managed to get that nickname in just 4 days of her appearance in the Western Region. Why didn't he like it?
"So? What do you want from me?" asked Ruka.
"Nee-san also wants to challenge me to a gamble? How much do you want to bet? Just so you know Nee-san, I won't bet below tens of millions."
Actually Ruka was just bluffing. He was already lazy about gambling today. After all, that 'tens of millions' was his entire balance. He hoped Zeta would give up after hearing the amount.
Not realizing that, Zeta widened her eyes slightly. Yes, someone like Ruka must have received many challenges. Usually people approached him because they wanted to challenge him. But he had prepared this plan with Lenarya carefully in advance. Did he think she would back down because of Ruka's words?
Zeta smiled confidently.
"Heeh... Tens of millions, huh."
"Don't underestimate me. And don't compare me to those rooks who challenged you all this time."
Realizing the atmosphere had suddenly turned serious, Bere's laughter completely stopped. Bere felt a dangerous feeling that she should be aware of. Her hand naturally covered the distance between Ruka and Zeta, to protect Ruka if something really happened.
But Zeta didn't care at all.
"At first I wanted to try a simple approach. But your words were so arrogant, boy."
"Bo-Boy!?" startled Ruka.
"Tens of millions? Pfftt... What kind of change is that?"
Ruka felt offended. Who was this woman to think tens of millions was pocket change when Ruka himself had to really fight for it?
"You--"
Before Ruka's anger could come out, Zeta had already cut him off.
The woman waved her hand in the air. Then the holographic screen showing her balance was clearly displayed in front of them. What was written there really surprised Bere and Ruka. Both of their eyes were perfectly rounded.
[ Balance Conqueror Zeta - 4,678,545,000 Carmela ]
"Let's bet 1 billion Carmela," the woman grinned.
Well, with her skills and salary. Zeta can earn one billion Carmela a year. So in four years, she'd already have that much in her balance.