Chapter 38: The Stars on The Road
Adelaine had to refine her plan to capture slave hunters, but the palace was too noisy for her to concentrate. Her palace was full of useless distractors. Of all times, they chose to fight grabbing each other’s hair in this critical period. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
In the end, Adeline summoned Collin and ordered her to ensure no one entered the drawing room. With a determined expression, Colin nodded and stationed herself outside the drawing room, not as a knight but as a guard.
The human trafficking ring operated across borders, capturing individuals who seemed to be worth a lot of money, and transporting them to the capital. Given their numbers, dealing with them all at once was impractical. Adelaine lacked the authority to mobilize knights or issue commands.
Therefore, she would have to handle things just as underhandedly from her end. Adelaine planned to kidnap the slave hunters one by one.
“I need a force.”
She needed overwhelmingly strong warriors. Slave hunters were inherently skilled fighters. They must be strong and skilled in fighting to capture strong freemen or barbarians.
However, there was no one to ask for help. No one among the nobles of this country would join hands with her and raise a private army to eliminate slave hunters. Even if there were someone righteous somewhere, it would take too long to find them.
Initially, she had thought of partnering with Ordo. But now, there was a much stronger presence by her side. Moreover, that man harbored deep resentment against slave hunters.
“Razie el Baltica.”
Adeline spoke his name aloud.
***
“Kidnapping the kidnappers?”
The two, who met boldly in a hotel in broad daylight, now talked over a lavish dinner.
“I can’t do something as refined as revenge. I have no one to help me. I don’t even know if there are any proper officials left in this country, and I don’t have that kind of power right now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m saying it’s impossible to bring them to justice by exposing their crimes.”
It is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Adeline handed a sheet of paper to the Lion King, who had paused his meal. It was a map remade based on Ordo’s intelligence and Nabi’s memory. The buildings used as bases by the human traffickers were marked in red. “It’s impossible to take down all the traffickers operating in Marma at once. But if we can at least render their southern base unusable, it will provoke a reaction.” Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“What are you planning to do with them once they’re captured?”
“Make them suffer, just like the slaves they’ve kidnapped and sold. Give them the same pain.” She smiled grimly.
The Lion King stopped eating, holding the map with one hand, deep in thought. Meanwhile, Adelaine swiftly devoured the food on the table.
“This is our only chance.”
Cesare was busy appeasing his fiancée, and the Emperor was delighted just by having Adeline stay close to the Lion King. Therefore, no one would oppose if the two decided to take a trip to the south.
The Lion King spoke. “Is it really necessary for you to go?”
“What?”
“We could just have my people wear masks and order them around, let them handle it.”
The Lion King spoke as if sending them out for a rabbit hunt. He said it nonchalantly, but Adelaine knew how difficult this would be.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
She let the Lion King think it over thoroughly.
What surprised her was that he didn’t ask many questions. He simply unfolded the map and asked seriously. His deep blue gaze bore into Adelaine. “After this is done, will you join hands with me?”
She had no intention of lying. She nodded firmly. “Most likely.”
“Is that a promise?”
“I’m not confident I can be a loyal ally you’d entrust your life to. We still have a lot to hide from each other. What I mean is, after this, at least you can be sure I won’t betray you.” She wasn’t sure if that was enough of an answer. From the start, this man had demanded too much from her. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Understood.” The Lion King folded the map and tucked it into his coat.
Adeline had planned to do her best to persuade him if he hesitated or refused. She was even willing to offer a reasonable price. But he simply nodded nonchalantly. He didn’t ask about the detailed plans or schedule.
‘What’s this?’ Adeline couldn’t hold back her curiosity, “That’s it?”
“What? What more should I say?”
“No, is it really just over like this?”
“I said I’d join you in what you’re doing. Isn’t this enough?” His answer was as straightforward as when he had assured her that his men would handle everything.
Watching him casually shove the food she had been eating into his mouth, Adeline let out a dry laugh. “I didn’t expect it to be this easy.”
“What on earth do you think I am?”
“A man who proposed to me.”
He laughed along with her. The low sound of his laughter tickled her ears. “Yes. A man who proposed to you. So let’s not overcomplicate things.”
“Do you possibly love me?” Adeline asked impulsively, but even as she spoke, she thought it was ridiculous. Before he could answer, she waved her hand and shook her head. “No, no. Sorry.”
“What do you mean, sorry?”
“Nothing. I was talking nonsense.”
After that, they continued their meal naturally. Adeline chatted about small things, and the Lion King asked about the people in her palace. Sometimes he would eat what she left behind, and she would eat what he left. Having different tastes in food sometimes benefited them both. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
As the meal was coming to an end, a subordinate of the Lion King, who had been waiting outside the hotel, came to the room. “Baltica, I have something to discuss with you for a moment.”
“Come in.”
Adeline watched the man who entered the room carefully. It was hard to guess his age. His face wasn’t deeply wrinkled, but his hair was entirely white. All of the Lion King’s subordinates she had seen so far were clad in armor, but this man was dressed in a simple shirt and pants.
Just as the subordinate, who slightly bowed to Adeline, was about to speak, the Lion King spoke first. “You came at the right time. Pick a few who are raring to do something and pack up.”
“Yes?”
“Adeline offered to give us a tour of the southern part of Marma.”
His subordinate looked at Adeline with a face that asked what on earth was going on.
The Lion King leaned back as if to avoid giving a detailed explanation.
Adeline added, smiling, to help the troubled subordinate. “Let’s go on a trip with me.”
“Yes?”
“It’s a trip, but also bring some weapons… and I’d appreciate it if you could recommend some subordinates who are good at fighting.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll cover all the expenses. You can buy whatever you need.”
Adeline could provide new weapons, horses, carriages, and even armor. She could also feed them only the best, most expensive food. If needed, she could do even more than that. She was spending the emperor’s money, after all.
The subordinate, who had been looking back and forth between Adeline and the Lion King with a serious expression, let out a short sigh. “Have you finally succeeded?”
The Lion King didn’t answer. He just smiled lazily, like a well-fed lion, and clasped his hands behind his head. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
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