Chapter 281: Power inflation (1)

Chapter 281: Power inflation (1)

One quiet weekend. At sunset.

A carriage departed from the Colosseo Academy, heading for the Bourgeois Family.

Dolores. Piggy. Sinclair.

The trio were honored to be hosted and dined by the Bourgeois family, the most prestigious family in the Empire.

Naturally, Piggy and Sinclair were excited.

"Didn't our Oracle Club do great this time! 1st place in mock investment competition! And surprisingly, all of this was actually a real rate of return!"

"And we even hosted a party that was so spectacular it made my eyes roll back in my head. My God, how much did it all cost? I have no idea."

"Did you hear about the place we're going to for dinner tonight? It's a Bourgeois family vault!"

"Yeah, I heard that, too. There's jewelry, gold bars, coins, bills, checks, drafts, real estate titles, art, antiques, all kinds of expensive stuff near the table. They say it goes beyond the mountains."

"Hiig- that's a bit of an exaggeration, to say the least. Why would anyone put that stuff there?"

"If you put your money in a vault, then where else would you put it?"

"What if someone comes in to eat and steals it?"

"I can't imagine stealing all that stuff."

"Oh, yes, that, too, and I wonder if these gifts we have prepared will be part of that pile of treasure, and It would be an honor to do so."

With that, Piggy looked back at the back of the carriage.

There lay several treasure chests. A gift for the Patriarch of the Bourgeois Family.

Sinclair looked at these gifts, which had been carefully and painstakingly prepared, and muttered to herself.

"... I wish my brother could have come with us."

"What? You mean Vikir? Why all of a sudden?"

"...Just."

Sinclair replied, flicking her white short hair in the wind.

"He was supposed to come over to my place sometime. To eat."

"?"

Piggy scratched his head.

Why was she saying that now?

Then Sinclair smiled bitterly.

"I just suddenly felt regretful. I think it's really hard to eat a meal, looking at how busy he's been lately."

"Oh, is that what you're talking about? I agree, it's hard to eat with Vikir these days. Except for breakfast."

Piggy went on and on about how busy Vikir was these days.

But Sinclair's mind was elsewhere as she listened.

'Brother. You don't pay?'

'... I have no money.'

'Money? Why don't you have money? You're an academy student. Don't you think you're being too harsh? The poor kids here don't have parents, and we should help them.'

'They don't need parents.'

'Huh?'

'They have to deal with the world on their own. Parents are only functional in childhood, when they are essential, but otherwise they are unnecessary.'

Sinclair recall a conversation she had with Vikir many years ago when she was volunteering at a orphanage.

Meanwhile.

"...."

Up front, Dolores was not paying attention to the conversation between Piggy and Sinclair behind her.

All her attention was focused on the treasure chest in the back of the wagon, the gift she would be giving to the Bourgeois patriarch today.

'I'm sorry, guys.'

Unfortunately, the gift sets that Piggy and Sinclair had picked and chosen are not in that box.

They had already been moved elsewhere, and the empty box contained something else entirely.

"I see. Good taste."

Piggy and Sinclair make small talk.

Rattling...

Dolores was fidgeting with her hands.

'Soo, I need to put some sleeping pills in it.'

The worst thing she'd ever done in her life.

The very idea of putting something in someone else's food was new to her.

And then.

Dolores succeeded in slipping the sleeping pills into the teacups while Piggy and Sinclair were looking away.

Without thinking, Piggy and Sinclair drank the tea and soon began to doze off.

"Mmmm. Don't you feel a little sleepy?"

"Yeah, it's dinner time...."

Dolores turned to Piggy and Sinclair and said in a shaky voice.

"Hey, hey, hey,... no, guys, if you're tired, keep your eyes closed for a while and I'll wake you up."

"Oh, can you do that?"

"Thanks!"

To their relief, Piggy and Sinclair leaned back against the couch in the parlor and closed their eyes without question.

"Hey, is it supposed to be potent?"

Dolores waved her hand in front of Piggy and Sinclair's eyes.

As expected, they didn't stir.

Dolores breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out of the room to wipe off the sweat.

Then she ran into the butler again, who was coming this way.

"Ah, my lady. My lord has been busy, so I'm a little late, but I'm sure he'll be ready soon."

"Yes! By the way, Butler, I thought my friends who came with me would have to go back due to an unexpected incident..."

"What? Before the meeting? No matter how late you've prepared... , shall we cancel the meeting and postpone it to another time?"

"No, no, no, you don't have to do that, I'll just see him alone as the head of the club."

The butler shook his head, but somehow seemed to be convinced.

A little after the appointed time.

Dolores packed the gifts into a cart and headed deeper into the main building with a small attendant.

After walking for a while, the vault in question came into view.

It was like an entrance to a great plaza.

"My lord is waiting for you."

The butler bowed respectfully, then opened the door.

It was dark and cold inside.

The attendants stowed the carts of gifts Dolores had brought inside, then showed her inside.

And then. All the attendants bowed and slowly slipped out the back door.

Dolores was left alone in the vast darkness of the vault.

"...Uh, excuse me. My lord?"

Dolores cautiously opened her mouth.

...Pas!

Suddenly, the room was filled with light.

At the same time, Dolores couldn't help but open her mouth.

A magnificent golden incense. A blinding golden light.

A world of great wealth was welcoming her.