V1: Chapter 72: The Beginning of Miss Tentacle's Darkening
The second one? When did I give you the first one? Could it be from when we were little again?
How can this girl have such a good memory? She was only five or six years old back then, yet she remembers it so clearly, making me seem like that heartless woman.
"Yeah, just a little trinket I bought on a whim."
"I've delivered it to you. I'm tired from shopping, I'm going home."
Liang Di didn't try to stop her, nor did she make a fuss. She silently watched Liang Lin's back as she walked away.
Receiving her gift felt really good.
But… I don't think I've really helped her.
Suddenly, I want to see her smile.
How strange.
Three days later
Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction. Liang Di stopped bothering Liang Lin and focused on her own shop. She renovated the other vacant dessert shops, turning them into all sorts of other shops, shops that the nobles had never seen before.
It was no surprise that nail dyeing shops were gradually imitated by other nobles, so Liangdi started brainstorming new ideas for innovating businesses, such as novel clothing stores imported from other empires, custom jewelry shops, and… chess and card rooms.
Gambling was prohibited in the Soteland Empire. However, many commoners gambled in private.
But Liangdi said, “My chess room prohibits the use of silver coins, gold coins, and Vitcoins. We use special tokens or discount coupons from other shops in our Langwendi family as betting. So how can this be considered gambling? Anyone found using gold coins, silver coins, or Vitcoins will be asked to leave.”
That’s right.
Since there’s no currency used for transactions, how can it be considered gambling?
This was Liang Di’s biggest strategic move.
“Besides, our tokens can't be bought with Vitcoins; they're free. You just pay the entrance fee to enter the chess arena and get a free token. How does that even seem like gambling?”
Once the chess arena becomes popular, many people will bet, some will lose, and when their gambling addiction kicks in, they'll buy tokens from other nobles.
Yes, Liang Di said her shop doesn't sell tokens, but she didn't say people can't buy them privately.
“Is this what Liang Di has been doing lately?”
Old Master Donald closed the reports.
The butler nodded.
“It seems that the child's purpose in returning isn't just to revitalize the Langwendi family.”
Is she trying to revive the bad habits of those muddle-headed nobles? Then, what kind of shop will she open next? A pawnshop? Or a loan shop?
“How's Edwin doing?”
“No movement at all, about the same as before, a slight loss.”
Donald sighed and looked out the window.
"The weather in the Soteland Empire is as bad as ever... I wonder if it'll clear up later."
Meanwhile, Liang Lin advanced smoothly.
As for why the qualifying rounds were delayed by three days, it was because there was still an elimination round. This was for the noble young masters who had failed the preliminary rounds.
Ostensibly an elimination round, it was actually a scheme to bribe the eliminated commoners to deliberately lose to the noble young masters, allowing them to advance.
This was quite normal within the noble circles.
"Number 627 versus number 354!"
They'd already started manipulating things.
Those in power knew "Elton" (Liang Lin's alias) was strong, so they didn't pair her with a noble young master, but instead paired her with a commoner boy.
"What a pity."
The boy withstood three of Liang Lin's attacks, but on the last move, Liang Lin grazed his shoulder.
“If I had moved any further, your arm would have been broken.”
The boy, ashamed, threw down his sword.
“I lost.”
Liang Lin could tell that the boy's talent was quite remarkable; he was just unlucky to have run into her. If he hadn't, he probably would have advanced.
“How old are you?” Liang Lin asked.
“Fourteen.”
“Don’t forget your roots, practice diligently. Your talent, while rubbish compared to mine, is still outstanding among ordinary people. Don’t give up.”
This was already high praise from Liang Lin.
The boy was stunned. Despite being scolded, he still gratefully said “Thank you” to Liang Lin.
After the second qualifying round, less than a hundred people remained.
Liang Lin felt that this swordsmanship competition was too bland; there wasn’t a single strong opponent… Well, number 632 seemed barely capable of fighting him, and then there were two twin young masters from noble families.
Inside the Magic Tower.
"What are you doing?"
Hilary turned around, blocking the magic crystal ball.
"Fu, Liang Di is a really good girl, very intelligent. I think... our plan can proceed smoothly."
The magic crystal ball switched from Liang Lin's face to Liang Di's face.
"We still can't let our guard down."
Octaville put her arm around Hilary's waist.
"You know, Doris is currently the Queen. That old king still hasn't realized what's wrong with his young and beautiful wife."
"Doris came from across the sea."
"If the old king is inactive, then we should slowly depose him. The Third Prince is the most suitable successor."
"I've wanted to inherit the Tower Lord's position so much for this day..."
The Soteland Empire was a scar in Octaville's heart.
Hilary leaned against Octaville's chest, her face dark and worried.
"It isn't just yours, our wish will come true, Fu."
I'm sorry, Fu.
Five days later, at the finals
Liang Lin didn't notice a familiar figure sitting in the stands. Liang Di, wearing a top hat, sat in the last row.
Liang Di hadn't invited Liang Lin to the competition because she feared it would remind Liang Lin of her own failure to participate and make her sad. She came alone, wanting to see which noble young master would use his wealth to win this competition.
On the field, only ten people remained.
But among the commoners, only Liang Lin and the scarred man remained.
The result was inevitable; the two commoners would inevitably be paired together for a battle.
"Hey, kid, my name is Robin."
"...I'm not interested in your name."
"Haha~ Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"
"We're opponents, no need." Liang Lin gripped her sword hilt. "If you can defeat me, I think I can introduce myself."
On the stage.
Liang Di stared at the figure, finding it increasingly familiar. A premonition arose in her heart, but she dared not dwell on it.
It couldn't be!
She had seen Liang Lin board the carriage to the academy with her own eyes.
A sense of panic and loss of control crept into Liang Di's heart.
Author's Note
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