Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 98

Retribution Bears Interest 98. The Faith of Bad Guys? (98/200)

The Faith of Bad Guys?

2023.11.06.

Leah’s heart nearly burst when she heard from Terrence that Tuazo had been arrested.

She hadn’t even begun her revenge, but Terrence had already set things in motion. Of course, he didn’t do it knowingly.

In any case, it was definitely good news.

‘One of the three enemies is gone. But…’

There’s still a truth to confirm with Tuazo.

Tuazo was the one who conspired most closely with Allen among the trio.

By now, Allen must be desperately trying to erase any trace of Tuazo from himself.

‘You always take down the monster’s head last.’

Her abilities were still far too lacking to bring down Allen. And she wouldn’t let him be destroyed by tripping over his own feet like Tuazo.

‘He has to suffer terribly and collapse slowly.’

As soon as Leah entered the palace, she received a report from Pauline about the Crown Prince and Princess’s formal attire being made.

Even amidst all that, her mind was consumed with the thought of meeting Tuazo.

‘Does that idiot believe Allen will bail him out? He’s not that foolish.’

Now that the thing she had hoped for had happened, she felt overwhelmed.

She had set up countless hypotheses, plans, and action guidelines, but she was confused about where to start.

‘First, I need to drive a wedge between Allen and Tuazo.’

Tuazo still wouldn’t be able to accept the reality he was in. That’s because he believed that the tycoon Allen was behind him.

Moreover, Tuazo was a man who had risen from a commoner to the position of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Agency, so he had lived through all sorts of hardships.

So he must have decisive evidence to pressure Allen.

Just then, Luke and Louis walked over from the opposite side. The two greeted Leah and approached.

“Louis, I have something to do in the city. Would you like to come with me?”

“Of course, I will accompany you.”

Unlike Louis, who smiled and seemed happy, Luke’s expression was not good.

If Leah had errands outside and needed company, she should have asked him, the senior secretary, first.

Luke was worried that she might be angry about the incident with Chenel.

“Luke has to go to the mansion to escort the Duke, right?”

“Ah! That’s right.”

‘That’s what she meant.’

Luke felt pathetic for overthinking.

It would be even more disorganized for Louis to take his place in serving the Duke.

‘Luke’s face is too well-known, so it won’t work.’

Leah had intended to go meet Tuazo with Luke, but she immediately changed her mind.

She needed someone Tuazo didn’t know well.

“Lady, where are you going with Louis?”

Luke asked Leah.

“Yes? Oh, I’m going to look around the general store.”

“I’ll tell the Duke that.”

“Okay.”

Leah hurriedly left the palace with Louis.

Terrence must be sleeping now. She wanted to go and come back quickly before he woke up.

‘I can’t come forward yet.’

Leah briefly told Louis the schedule in the carriage.

She explained where she was going with him, who she was going to meet, and what role Louis had to play there.

Louis’s face was dazed even after hearing it with his own ears.

“When Terrence took over Hamilton General Store, there was a conflict with President McDowell.”

“Ah! So they are competitors?”

“That’s… right.”

“I understand everything now, Young Lady.”

“Just do what I tell you to ask.”

“So, a merchant and a public official colluded and committed corruption.”

“That’s right. In particular, President McDowell hired someone to damage the riding clothes we made the day before the Royal Equestrian Competition.”

Louis was furious. He also felt remorse. Grace was the same age as him, but she was much more mature.

He was ashamed of his past self, who didn’t know the ways of the world and acted immaturely. It was like he was doing something grown-up thanks to her.

“How could such a thing happen? Shouldn’t we leave it all to the Duke?”

“President McDowell is a meticulous person. There is no decisive evidence yet, and if Terrence steps in, it could turn into a media war.”

Only then did Louis nod in agreement.

Terrence was clearly the Duke of Lubeck, so her words made sense.

* * *

Louis faced Tuazo across the table. After briefly introducing himself, he said what Leah had told him.

“Don’t trust Allen McDowell. He’s erasing your traces right now.”

“Ha! A greenhorn comes to me and talks nonsense?”

“Tuazo, do you really trust Allen? Can he really get you out of prison?”

“Allen can’t easily turn away from me.”

“Because you framed Richard Hamilton together, right?”

Tuazo kept his mouth shut for a while, examining Louis’s face. As if looking for hidden intentions.

And he must be constantly calculating in his head.

“The Hamilton Trading Company did not trade dried poppy flowers. You know who the real owner of the poppy flowers on the cargo ship is.”

Leah listened to the conversation between the two from outside the door.

‘Tuazo and the captain of the cargo ship forged the documents together and matched their stories.’

“Why should I even tell you that? What do I gain from it?”

“At least, shouldn’t you do that if you don’t want to take all the blame alone?”

“Tsk tsk, I don’t know who sent you hoping for what, but I’m not that sloppy.”

Tuazo was wary of the stranger. Allen had clearly promised. If he stayed in prison for only a year, he would somehow get him out.

“Hmm, Commissioner Tuazo of the Metropolitan Police Agency was once a great figure who could bring down even the birds flying over the Tales River [a metaphorical expression for having immense power and influence], but now he is just a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment. If His Majesty finds out about the poppy flower incident, he will probably be sentenced to hanging.”

“!?”

“If you change your mind, contact me. But don’t drag it out too long. Public opinion is very bad.”

Louis handed him a small memo.

Only the address was written on it, so it was impossible to know whose house it was.

Louis immediately got up and tried to leave as if he had no more business.

“Wait, the dried poppy flowers confiscated from Richard Hamilton’s cargo ship are in the basement of the Metropolitan Police Agency.”

Leah, who was listening from outside, was startled by Tuazo’s sudden words.

‘What does that mean? Is he telling me to look at the poppy flowers?’

Leah tried to calm her excitement and analyze the meaning of the words.

A person who could help her came and was wary, but he couldn’t tell her everything.

However, if he sent her away like this, he would be seized with the anxiety that no one would look for him.

So, is he trying to prepare for the worst by testing the waters?

‘Tuazo has decisive evidence.’

Leah was convinced. Then Allen will move to eliminate that evidence.

‘What would I do first if I were him?’

Her eyes flashed.

‘I’ll set a fire. Like ex-convicts who have a grudge against Tuazo caused a riot.’

Next, he’ll probably commit murder too.

There’s no faith among bad guys.

Leah came out of the prison and got into the carriage with Louis.

“Did I do well?”

“You were great, Louis.”

He blushed at Leah’s compliment.

“Take me to the Hamilton General Store headquarters.”

She told the coachman the destination and then smiled contentedly.

There were many things to do in the future, so she had to move as quickly as possible.

* * *

Terrence woke up late in the afternoon. He reflexively groped the seat next to him with his hand.

‘Oh, right, Grace abandoned me and went to the palace.’

He got up and headed to the bathroom. Maybe she’s back by now. If she hasn’t returned yet, I have to go to the palace and bring her.

‘Is she over her anger?’

He recalled the argument he had with her early in the morning.

She seemed angry, but also not; it was ambiguous.

However, even after taking a bath and having a simple meal alone, his busy fiancée did not return.

Luke said that she had left the palace early with Louis to look around the general store.

Terrence ordered tea from James, then sat on the sofa in the drawing room and unfolded the newspaper.

‘The Commissioner Tuazo article is all over the place.’

However, there was a disturbing part in the article.

‘Damn it! I told them to leave my name out, but they insisted…!’

He didn’t welcome this kind of fame at all. Just then, James hurriedly brought the tea and said.

“The Lady has returned.”

“Really?”

Terrence reflexively got up to greet her.

Just in time, he heard her and Louis’s cheerful conversation in the hallway.

He sat back down on the sofa. He felt a growing displeasure at the two’s friendly atmosphere, wondering what they were so excited about.

Finally, the two reached the drawing room.

“Terrence! When did you wake up?”

At Leah’s bright voice, Terrence folded the newspaper with a stiff face.

“Did you two go to work together?”

“Ah, I had to look around the general store.”

“Today was a day I learned a lot from the Young Lady.”

The smile did not disappear from Louis’s face. On the other hand, Terrence tilted his head and looked at the two alternately.

Terrence soon patted his knee, and Leah sat down on it, sensing it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and the two kissed naturally. It was a very embarrassing display of affection.

‘Do I have to do this childish act?’

She was matching his tune because she didn’t want to upset him, but she was ashamed of Louis, who was watching this scene.

“Ahem! I’ll be on my way now.”

Louis coughed dryly at Terrence and Grace’s passionate kiss and disappeared.

When the long kiss ended, Terrence whispered.

“Do you even know how much I miss you when I wake up and Grace isn’t there?”

“How much is that?”

“That’s…!”

It means he’s sad like a child. He couldn’t say it outright, so he just mumbled it.

Leah immediately realized it and didn’t ask any further.

“From now on, if you have something to do, do it with me.”

“Terrence is busy, isn’t he?”

She still couldn’t tell him all the facts.

“We have to do our own thing.”

The smile that bloomed on Terrence’s face at Leah’s words quickly disappeared. Why is she suddenly drawing a line between herself and work?

“Is work more important than me?”

“Why are you asking such a question? Of course, Terrence is precious.”

Even with her explanation, Terrence’s resentment did not subside. He much preferred her when she was crying and worrying about him in the morning.

“Do you know that?”

“Know what?”

“Men don’t grow up until they die.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll know what happens if Grace is more focused on work than me when you experience it.”

Leah immediately understood the meaning of the words and shook her head roughly.