Chapter 197 - The Crime Lord's Haughty Smile

Penelope rushed to Millie's side fidgeting while awaiting Millie to punish her. I watched the two with my mouth wide opened, "Millie?! What is going on here?"

Millie smiled at me, "Well, it is actually an interesting story. When I took Penelope off of the streets, I put her in her dog kennel. When I plucked out her eye, she let out a rather strange noise."

Penelope blushed. Although her only eye looked around nervously, she was smiling from nostalgia. One would know that she didn't actually feel scared, but rather.... Something else.

Millie continued, "Then, the more I hurt her the more she seemed to like it. Suddenly, I felt like torturing her was really disgusting."

I blinked in disbelief, "So you're telling me..." I glanced at Penelope who was staring at Millie as if bewitched, "You didn't want to torture her because she liked it?!"

Millie nodded then made a disgusted face, "Why would I hurt someone who wanted it? That is just too much."

My face twitched. This coming from the girl who likes to torture people for fun...

Dante stood behind me and frowned the entire time. His voice was icy, "You can't just carry her around town on a chain."

"Yes I can." Millie smirked at him and pulled Penelope's wrist. Her sleeve moved down revealing a bangle bracelet that had been melted onto the skin. It would be impossible to remove without hurting the wearer. Across the bangle bracelet was Millie's full name.

"And what does that mean?" I have no idea why this bangle bracelet was so special.

One of her sisters exclaimed, "You made her a slave?!"

I looked up in confusion, "Slave?"

Millie giggled, "Oh Seri. Don't you know? Slavery is technically legal here although disliked. Anyone who is a slave must wear the bracelet belonging to their master. It's impossible to take off, so everyone will know that she is my slave."

"Why would you force her to be your slave?!"

Torture and murder is one thing... But now Millie is forcing people to be her slaves?! That's going too far!! Wouldn't this mean Millie is getting worse and not better?

Penelope smiled faintly while blushing, "Don't be mad Seri... I begged her to let me become her slave."

My mouth dropped open again.

Millie turned to her with a violent expression, "Did I say you could talk?! Shut up you filthy mutt!" Millie began to kick Penelope violently who fell to the ground and started whimpering. Although it sounded like Penelope wanted the violence to stop, her face contradicted this notion by showing an expression of pure pleasure.

What the hell happened to her?! What happened to the girl who tried to denounce me in front of everyone only a few weeks before?!

Really... The hearts of humans are terrifying indeed.

Millie stopped kicking Penelope and turned back to me with a smile. She spoke as if she didn't just hurt someone so violently, "So I accepted Penelope's proposal and allowed her to be my slave."

I held my forehead in confusion, "But why would you accept the proposal? I thought you hated her!"

Millie nodded quickly, "I do. However, you told me that I should get a punching bag so I can properly vent my frustrations. So I got one."

I sighed, "Millie... I meant an actual punching bag. Not a human."

Millie glanced at Penelope on the ground, "But she's not human."

I can't argue about this with her anymore.

I changed the subject, "But can we trust her? What if she is just doing this to trick us? She may turn us in for what we are doing."

Millie answered in a sweet tone, "I can cut off her tongue if you are too concerned."

"No... That's fine..."

Millie nodded, "Then, shall we look at the new headquarters? Come mutt!"

I watched Millie dragged the all too happy Penelope with her. I carefully observed Penelope's smile and actions. Well, if she is acting then she is a pretty good actor. I glanced at Dante who was staring at me with an eyebrow raised.

"I don't know what to do about this matter. So stop looking at me like that. You're making me feel guilty."

"You should feel guilty." He spoke in a soothing tone. Then he pinched my waist.

"BAHAHA!" I covered my mouth quickly and glared at him, "Stop doing that!"

Dante only smirked. I huffed in irritation then turned to Mathias, "Matty. How's the paperwork going?"

Having finally been called out, Mathias stepped out of the dark corner and walked over to me. He handed me the documents. I read them quickly then nodded with a smile, "I knew you would be perfect for this job."

Great! He's cut down my workload dramatically. Now finally my dreams of sitting back in a chair with minions at my feet will be realized.

I pointed ahead, "To the lair!"

One of the sisters stopped me with a worried expression. She glanced back at Millie to make sure she wasn't looking. Millie was too busy hitting poor Penelope. Her sister whispered, "Please keep Millie away from us... I think she's getting worse."

I chuckled and patted her shoulder, "Yes. I will try to keep her away, but I don't think you should worry so much. I think she's too preoccupied with... That."

We both glanced at Millie who was tormenting Penelope. Her sister sighed, "When my father and mother find out about this they will be really worried."

"Just don't tell them then." I looked at Millie's sister and squinted my eyes, "By the way, what about the name tags?"

"Ah, well we made them. Do you want us to start wearing them now?"

"Yes." I answered quickly.

"Alright. I will tell the others." The sister glanced at Mathias and smiled, "Hello Mathias. Would you like to try a cake?"

He didn't answer, but his face turned dark. She grabbed a plate and handed it to him not at all upset from his lack of response. He took it and bit into it slowly. He handed her back the plate and she walked off with a smile.

I turned to look at Mathias in disbelief, "Matty... Do you have a crush on Millie's sister?"

His face turned darker and he quickly buried his head in the documents. I chuckled. I can't believe it. Mathias actually has a crush on someone other than Mary. I wonder how that came about?

Dante embraced me from behind once more and whispered into my ear, "Name tags?"

I shivered from the ticklish sensation. I responded calmly, "I can never tell them apart. So I asked them to wear name tags."

"..."

Millie ushered me over, "Come, Seri. Let's go see how the other half turned out."

I walked over with Dante who was still holding on to me lovingly. I unlocked the door to the office and stepped inside. It was a simple office with a few bookcases and potted plants. I pushed one of the bookcases revealing a hidden passage. Dante and I walked first, followed by Millie pulling Penelope, then Mathias, Bertram, and Charles followed.

The hidden passageway was dark and dimly let, but once we reached the bottom, it opened up revealing an underground gambling den. The gambling den had another secret passage entrance that other people would use. It wasn't attached to the building itself, but was nearby. I already planned to have a bouncer at the door to screen anyone wanting to enter.

The gambling den was exactly what I had envisioned. I stood in my office with a haughty grin. I jumped in the large chair and turned to look down. Below my real office was dozens of gambling tables with different card games as well as fully stocked bars. I laughed gaudily, "There! Now I'm exactly like a mobster!"

Millie smiled warmly at me, "I'm glad you enjoy it Seri. I know they spent a long time trying to build it."

Charles chuckled arrogantly, "I told you I had good connections. You won't have to worry about them saying anything either."

I nodded, "Wonderful... And have they finished painting my house yet?"

Charles's smile twitched, "You know it is taking them longer because of the... Location. Stop being so impatient."

"Ugh. Fine."

Dante kneeled by my side and looked at me with his gem-like golden eyes, "What about me?"

I reached out and squeezed his cheeks, "Yes, yes. Of course you will have a place by my side here. I had them make you a chair as well."

He shook his head, "Not that."

"... Then what?"

"Do I also have a room at your new house?"

"...."

His face inched closer to mine.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "You live at the Imperial Palace with William."

Dante inched even closer, "I don't want to live with William. I want to live with you."

My face blushed from the proximity of his face. I could feel his breath as his mouth came tantalizingly close. I pushed him away after I remembered we weren't alone in the room. I spoke in a flustered tone, "I will think about it."

Dante kissed my hand and I pulled it back in embarrassment. Millie watched in irritation and reached out to grab Penelope's hand.

*SNAP*

"Ah~" Penelope fell to her knees, "M-Mistress..."

We all looked over to see Millie with an annoyed expression holding Penelope's broken finger in her death grip. I recognized this look in her eyes and spoke quickly, "Ah, Millie. I also have a surprise for you."

Her face lessened up at this, "Oh? What is it?"

I nodded to Mathias who handed me a rolled up piece of paper. I handed it to Millie who opened it up. "The reason why I chose this location was because of the tunnels that ran underneath the entire kingdom. If we ever need to escape, we can just use the hidden tunnels. Coincidentally, these tunnels also go to my new home as well as your... Um... Dog kennels..."

Millie's face lit up at the chart of the tunnel system, "Seri. This is incredible. How'd you know about this?"

"Fufu. Well, I'm a genius of course."

Actually, I may have cheated slightly. I always noticed that castles and royal palaces have secret underground tunnels where Royalty could escape if they were ever under siege. After I recalled that Simon miraculously disappeared after the King's death in the original novel, I began to suspect that there was a tunnel system here as well. Millie's underground torture room convinced me this was true.

Thus, I sent PoonPoon off to chart the tunnels for me. His sense of smell was far better than mine, so he could easily find his way back. I have the utmost confidence that this tunnel chart is accurate. PoonPoon may be a lot of things, but he is definitely a hard worker when food is involved.

"Just don't share this with anyone. One of the tunnels will lead to a room I prepared just for you at my new estate." I paused, "However, don't just pop in whenever you want. You need to at least let me know when you are coming."

Millie smiled, "Oh, Seri... Do you really think I would just come over without being invited?"

"... Yes. Yes I do Millie."

Before she could deny it, I turned to look at all of the empty gambling tables beneath me. I rubbed my hands together, "I think it's time we get things started."