9. Dangerous
“If I survive in that mansion for over six months, please grant me a business loan at a fixed interest rate.”
“Well. Sounds like a loss for me.”
Chairman Fog leaned back, sounding slightly deflated.
All that risk, and all she wanted in return was money? That was far too trivial.
But her next words were unexpected.
“I plan to set up a factory in that mansion.”
“…A factory?”
This was the era of trade.
The royal family had adopted an economic policy that encouraged exports and restricted imports, implementing it aggressively.
As a result, tariffs on imports had tripled. This caused the prices of goods made with foreign materials—cheaper due to geography—to skyrocket.
At present, it made more sense to invest in maritime distribution or financial businesses in the city than to open a factory.
So to anyone else, Bella’s idea sounded like someone betting their entire fortune on a guaranteed failure.
But Chairman Fog didn’t laugh. Instead, he stared hard at Bella, his expression grim. Even so, he still couldn’t read her true intentions.
He had never met anyone whose thoughts were so unreadable.
Could she be making the same predictions as him?
“Yes. The only short-term way to draw crowds to a village is either through tourism or a factory. The factory I’m planning will produce candles and soap. Later, I’ll expand into tourism, and I don’t want some giant, gloomy factory ruining the scenery.”
“One moment.”
Chairman Fog raised a hand toward Bella and rang a bell twice. Luxurious coffee and desserts were promptly served at the table.
It was his way of saying he would now treat her as a proper guest. Bella, feeling a little offended, forced a smile and quickly popped a cookie into her mouth.
Bella hadn’t bought the mansion simply because it was big and beautiful. It was the perfect place to realize her dream.
Gulping down the cookie, Bella continued.
“With current trends, I believe the demand for luxury goods will soar. What I plan to sell is a fantasy—one that satisfies people’s inferiority complexes.”
“I’d like to hear more.”
Chairman Fog raised his lips in amusement, but Bella didn’t notice, too focused on the mission of sealing the deal.
“People say kingship is granted by the gods, but let’s be real—it was the commoners who created today’s powerful monarchy. And the best justification for the royal family to suppress the nobility is public sentiment.”
“Hmm?”
“The royal family will likely try to blur the line between nobles and commoners. At the same time, they’ll want to deify themselves. What better props to convey divinity than goldwork, glass, candles, and perfume? And who do you think will rush to buy those items?”
“So you plan to sell to the nobles?”
“No, Chairman. The commoners will buy them. Who built absolute monarchy in the first place? The commoners. One day, the world will be flipped upside down. I believe that.”
“You and I think alike, Miss Bella. Especially when it comes to the pursuit of wealth. But I do have one concern. There are rumors—ghost stories—about that mansion.”
At his words, Bella shook her head and held up her index finger.
“Don’t you know? Ghost stories can be solved with money. Even gods love money—why else would they take even the last coins of the poor?”
Seeing Bella’s solemn face, Chairman Fog burst into laughter, nearly dropping his teacup.
“Pffft… Hahaha!”
“Why are you laughing?”
Bella scowled deeply. Chairman Fog was acting as if he’d lost his mind.
Suppressing his laughter, he pulled a contract from the top drawer beside the sofa. He had decided Bella was worth investing in. With graceful penmanship, he began to fill it out.
“How about we add one more condition to our wager, Miss Bella?”
“Go ahead.”
“Tell me about the interesting and strange things that happen in the mansion. Just to me.”
Under his mask, Chairman Fog’s eyes held calm interest as he looked at Bella.
He had expected something like this ever since she proposed the six-month survival condition. Bella answered smoothly.
“You want to monopolize the information.”
“Exactly. Here’s my first question. Have you ever seen a ghost?”
“We’re making a deal here. You need to pay for each question.”
Bella held out her hand. Chairman Fog chuckled at her brazenness and pulled out a pouch from his coat.
“Haha. Right, a deal must be fair.”
He placed ten gold coins into her calloused palm.
Considering Bella’s highest annual income had been thirty gold coins, she couldn’t help but realize the depth of his wealth. Chairman Fog must truly be swimming in money.
“Wow… You really are rich, Chairman.”
“Only now you realize?”
Bella quickly pocketed the gold, marveling aloud. Chairman Fog leaned back with arrogant leisure, watching her.
“Handing over ten gold coins per question, I’m impressed. The answer is, ‘I haven’t seen one.’ But I can sense them.”
“Do you believe ghosts exist?”
“Gold first, please.”
Bella extended her hand again. Chuckling, Chairman Fog placed another ten gold coins into it.
“Here you go.”
“Ghosts exist. But they’re not evil.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Will you pay for that?”
“Let me rephrase. Were the deaths in the mansion the ghosts’ doing?”
Chairman Fog’s gaze sharpened, as if trying to evaluate her. Bella answered without hesitation.
“No.”
“Then…?”
“This is really important information.”
Grinning wickedly, Bella bared her teeth. Chairman Fog, amused, handed her the entire coin pouch.
“I’ll give you thirty more gold coins.”
Seeing the hefty pouch, Bella giggled with madness. Just a short conversation had earned her fifty gold coins.
After tucking it away, she suddenly stood and moved beside Chairman Fog.
He looked up at her in confusion, and she leaned in close to his ear.
“I’m the one who killed the culprit.”
“…?”
Chairman Fog almost jumped to his feet. The words were deeply embedded in his brain, but his rational mind struggled to process them.
Miss Bella… had killed someone? A lone woman with such a frail frame? Alone? Or with help?
Chairman Fog rubbed his forehead, feeling dizzy.
Bella smiled sweetly at his reaction.
“Keep your promise, Chairman Fog.”
Chairman Fog closed his eyes, feeling a collision of dread and excitement.
He had known Bella was obsessed with housing, but now he was sure—this woman was not entirely sane.
At twilight, when dusk bathed the world in fading light—
The ghost quietly watched the sunset.
“……”
The sun had risen and Bella had left the house, yet she had not returned.
Maybe it was because she hadn’t explained why she left, but the ghost couldn’t stop feeling anxious.
‘Am I going soft?’
He lowered his gaze with a faint sigh of self-mockery.
After all, this was the first time since losing his body that he had spoken to a living person.
Bella always spoke to him. Especially when she left—she would always tell him goodbye.
That was why… when she told him her name, he didn’t take her body.
As long as she remained in the mansion, there would be plenty of opportunities.
‘I need a body.’
Only then could he leave the mansion. Only then could he uncover the identity of the one who murdered him.
As the sun dipped and the ridges turned red like they were burning, a familiar figure came into view.
The ghost couldn’t take his eyes off Bella as she approached the mansion.
Once she passed through the main gates, she suddenly looked up.
Ah.
The ghost’s eyes widened.
Their eyes met.
Bella was clearly staring directly at him. She looked surprised, too, her eyes round.
“Ghost?”
Seeing her lips form the word, the ghost hastily pulled the curtain shut.
How?
He had never intended to reveal himself to her. Surely he looked monstrous—
Just before dying, he’d gasped for breath, twisting in agony as his blood drained away and pain tore through his body.
He must look just like that. No wonder the mansion’s previous owners fled in terror.
The ghost turned away from the window, eyes closed, hiding his sorrowful gaze.
But before he could sink into self-pity, the door slammed open.
“…?”
“Ghost! How could you close the curtain in someone’s face?”
It’s not because of you—it’s because of me, he tried to say. But his words didn’t reach Bella.
She marched over, fuming, and yanked the curtain open.
The red twilight bathed them both.
Her violet eyes, empty as they were, glowed with sunset hues.
The ghost couldn’t flee. He was captivated by her gaze.
Bella reached out with a face full of joy. Her fingertips gently touched the outline of his misty figure.
“I can see you.”
“…!”
Her smiling face filled the ghost’s blue eyes.
He stepped back in panic, bumping into the cold windowpane with a clatter.
“They say twilight is the time when spirits are most visible.”
“……”
“I think I’ll look forward to this time from now on.”
She was dangerous.
This woman named Bella—
Was far too dangerous.
