Chapter 80
Finally, Elia had the chance to talk with Alexis about Queens.
Because Alexis was so busy, they hadn’t had time for an in-depth conversation except during meals.
“Duke, I’m thinking of acquiring Queens Cosmetics.”
“It’s not dangerous, is it?”
“No, but I need your help.”
“Tell me, Elia. How can I help?”
“There are key researchers at Queens Cosmetics. And there’s also a director who leads them.”
“And?”
“They’re in danger.”
“Are you saying the Grand Duchess will try to harm them?”
“Most likely.”
“So she’s going to hold them accountable.”
“Exactly. That’s why I told Lapis to let me know if the director comes looking for me.”
“You think he’ll come to Lapis directly?”
“It’s not just him. With the lives of the researchers at stake, they’ll be looking for someone to help.”
“And that someone is Lapis?”
Elia nodded instead of answering.
The rumor had already spread throughout the capital’s social circles: the Beautiful Line was a business operated by the Black Pearl Trading Company.
Since the Black Pearl handled transportation and distribution, most assumed they were the actual owners of the Beautiful Line.
Of course, the real owner was Elia.
But because she was still too young to step forward publicly, Jasper acted as the official representative, and the Black Pearl handled operations.
The fact that the cosmetics were actually being developed in the White Magic Tower was a closely guarded secret.
No one would ever imagine that mages were the ones creating cosmetics.
“Duke, I want you to ensure the researchers from Queens Cosmetics can safely reach the estate.”
“Alright, I’ll do that. Tell Lapis that if he contacts me, I’ll dispatch knights from the Iron Eagles.”
“Thank you, Duke.”
With Alexis by her side, Elia felt reassured.
As soon as she had Alexis’s approval, she contacted Lapis.
When Lapis heard that Alexis would provide an escort, he agreed to notify Elia immediately if the director showed up.
Meanwhile…
A man nervously paced a messy laboratory, biting his nails.
He looked incredibly anxious.
His name was Millen, the director of Queens Cosmetics’ research lab.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the lab door.
“Come in.”
“Director Millen, it’s bad news!”
A bespectacled researcher entered, visibly panicked.
“What is it now?”
Millen snapped irritably. The female researcher flinched and responded hesitantly.
“Sales have dropped again…”
“What?!”
When Millen looked over the sales report she handed him, his face went pale.
“Call all the researchers. Now.”
“Pardon?”
“Immediately!”
“Y-yes, right away!”
After sending her out, Millen opened a drawer and stuffed a bundle of documents into a bag.
Soon, researchers gathered outside his office.
He looked at them gravely.
“Someone from the Grand Duchess will be visiting the lab today. That means our lives are in danger.”
The researchers’ faces turned white.
“You all saw what happened to a few of your colleagues last time sales dropped, didn’t you?”
Everyone nodded in fear.
“Listen carefully. Pack your things and follow Hena.”
Hena was Millen’s trusted assistant.
“Hena, you remember the place I told you about before?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Take the researchers there and hide. Got it?”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Millen gave her a firm pat on the shoulder.
“Trust me, Director.”
“Good. Get moving.”
At his command, the researchers followed Hena and moved out quickly and quietly. Millen watched them go, then left the lab in a hurry.
He had always expected something like this would happen and had already reached out for help.
They promised to meet him.
When he entered a nearby forest, he found a woman in a robe waiting.
“Are you the one here to meet me?”
Millen asked with a trembling voice. The woman nodded and introduced herself.
“Yes, I’m Lily from the Black Pearl Trading Company. Are you Director Millen?”
“I am.”
“Please, come with me.”
Millen nervously followed Lily. They arrived at a secluded cabin.
“Go on in. The branch leader is waiting inside.”
Millen swallowed hard and entered cautiously.
Inside, there was a table and two chairs. A man wearing a white mask sat in one of them.
He gestured toward the other chair.
“Have a seat.”
Millen sat down hesitantly.
The man introduced himself first.
“I’m Lapis, the branch leader of Black Pearl.”
“I’m Millen, head of research at Queens Cosmetics.”
“I heard you have something for us.”
Millen clutched his bag tightly and spoke seriously.
“First, I need assurance that our researchers are safe.”
“Don’t worry. We’ve already sent people. The situation should be under control by now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Surely you already suspect what’s going on.”
“I… I’m not sure…”
“It means that we stopped your assistant Hena from handing over the researchers to the royal faction.”
Millen’s eyes widened.
“H-Hena?!”
“Yes.”
“No, that can’t be…”
Lapis smiled and gestured to Lily.
“Bring her in.”
Soon, Hena was dragged into the cabin.
Seeing her, Millen jumped up in shock.
“H-Hena!”
Hena burst into tears and begged.
“I’m sorry, Director. Please forgive me…”
Millen stared at her in disbelief.
“You… you really tried to sell out the researchers?”
“I… I didn’t mean to…”
“You really… betrayed us.”
Lapis stood up with a calm smile.
“Don’t worry. Our people have already secured the researchers safely.”
“Thank you… truly, thank you.”
Millen bowed his head in gratitude.
Then he glared at Hena, opened his bag, and handed it to Lapis in full view of her.
“These are the core research documents of Queens Cosmetics. Without these, the company can’t produce any products.”
Lapis opened the bag and checked the documents. Lily stood watch as he reviewed them.
Once he finished, he looked up at Millen.
“Everything is in order. Let’s go. But that researcher can’t come with us.”
“Give me a moment. I need to speak with her.”
“Of course. We’ll wait outside.”
Lapis exited the cabin with Lily.
“Lily, deliver this to the young lady.”
“Me? What about you?”
“I’ll stay here and bring the director safely.”
Lily gave him a mischievous look.
“Will you be alright alone?”
“Of course. My skills haven’t dulled.”
“They’ll notice and start chasing soon.”
“I know.”
“Don’t overdo it… for Razley’s sake.”
“I won’t.”
Lily disappeared into the forest with the document bag.
Lapis quietly stood guard outside the cabin.
He had placed a concealment spell on the entire area. Even if pursuers came, they wouldn’t find the place easily.
He had used a magical tool made by none other than the White Tower Lord’s apprentice.
It could hide locations at any time, in any place.
Elia had asked Zirke to craft it for situations where secret meetings were necessary.
“She really is amazing…”
Elia had already identified the Grand Duchess’s spy within the lab — and she told Lapis exactly who it was.
That’s why Lapis had investigated Hena.
And it turned out she truly was one of the Grand Duchess’s agents, assigned to keep tabs on Director Millen.
Elia had predicted Millen would trust Hena deeply and leave the researchers in her care.
And just as expected, the moment Millen left, Lapis sent Black Pearl staff to shadow Hena.
True to Elia’s warning, Hena tried to hand the researchers over to the Grand Duchess.
At that moment, Lapis intervened — he captured Hena and whisked the researchers away to safety.
