The Villainess Lives Twice

Chapter 268

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Proofreader: somnium

Seven undercover investigators gathered in one place.

The Emperor’s investigation organization was largely divided into two.

Among them, the open organization acted as a transcendental judicial institution under the direct control of the Emperor.

They were given only Imperial Decrees, and dealt mainly with cases of high-ranking nobles’ crimes and treason.

The other investigation organization was the secret police and spy organization.

The Emperor did not entrust such powerful powers to one man.

All seven undercover investigators had equal powers.
Organizational operations were also separate.

In effect, there were seven intelligence organizations.

The undercover investigators officially did not know each other’s identities.
They did not know how much budget they received and how the other sub-organizations were formed.

Therefore, there were many members who belonged to two or more sub-organizations at the same time.

The Emperor intentionally created such an organization.

The primary purpose was to weave the net tightly so that there was no information that could not be retrieved.

Another purpose was to enable information sub-organizations to check each other through redundancy.

If one is repulsive, the other organizations will automatically find out.

A safeguard was put in place to prevent them from stealing power from the Emperor by daringly blindfolding the Emperor and spreading false information.

Of course, they haven’t been working well so far.

The Emperor was already quite inertial, even before his body became uncomfortable.

He trusted his men, and he didn’t recruit talent as energetically as he did in his youth.

Instead of offering new, adventurous greetings, he promoted a subordinate who had been making a contribution or held a position for quite some time.

That’s why the undercover investigators stayed there for a long time.
The oldest has already been there for fifteen years.

So, they couldn’t help but know each other.

It was for that reason that they were able to gather without the Emperor’s order.
In the original arrangement, it was impossible.

The masked person number 1 pointed it out.

“I attended because 4 said it was a very urgent and serious matter, but this is not right.”

“His Majesty has fallen, how long will you be obsessed with detailed rules?”

said Cobb in number 4’s mask.

Even behind the mask, it was evident that 1 frowned.

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“In times like these, you have to be more careful.
Do you think His Majesty made the rules meaninglessly?”

2 agreed.

“In principle, we should not enter the Imperial Palace until the Emperor calls us.”

7 also said.

“It was abhorrent for 4 to continue investigating His Majesty’s surroundings.”

1 said again.

“I know you are in a position to gather information within the Imperial Palace.
But it would have been forbidden to you.”

Cobb objected,

“Did I just do that out of nowhere? There was a suspicious sign around His Majesty.”

Cobb was skeptical.

Because he knew Marquis Rosan.
There was a time when she was one with Lawrence.

Marquis Rosan was attached to Cedric.

But she is not involved in the deterioration of the Emperor’s condition? It couldn’t be.

He simply couldn’t find any evidence.

However, this alone could not be without evidence.

The disease got worse.
She must have put her hand on medicine or food somewhere.

So if he searches for it, he will surely find evidence.

6 said.

“You are overthinking.
It is true that His Majesty’s condition has worsened, but no poison has been detected anywhere.”

“He never used anything special from outside.”

1 also interjected.

Cobb clenched his fists under the table.

However, it cannot be argued now that Marquis Rosan would have done the work.
Cobb knew the way she worked.

Who would believe it in the first place? She was only 18 years old when she married Grand Duke Evron.

And she now was the Saintess.

The Saintess, it was nonsense.
Anyone who knew Marquis Rosan would not believe it.
It must have been something she had done with the temple.

Did she prove it by divine power? What does that mean?

She has a real Saint in her hands.
She must have found a way.

But Cobb couldn’t prove it.

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All he could say was this.

“Then, do we mean to stay like this? Did this happen not long after His Majesty’s command to inspect the Grand Duke Evron and his wife?”

“I haven’t found any suspicious corners yet.
It was true that the Duke was against Grand Duke Roygar, but it is up to His Majesty to decide whether or not it is treason.”

“I have no intention of moving voluntarily just because there are people who do not like the Crown Prince.”

“Isn’t it because 4 has a grudge for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess due to reckless actions in the fight for merit? I hope you don’t openly wrap it up as a cause and associate it with loyalty.”

2, 6 and 7 said in succession.

Cobb felt humiliated.
1 made a soft voice as if trying to calm them down.

“Come on, 4.
We are not ignorant of your concerns.
It is true that His Majesty thought there was something wrong with the Crown Prince, why do I not know that you are doing this out of loyalty?”

“…….”

“But we are only the limbs of His Majesty.
We cannot overturn what has already been decided.”

“Why would Ferguson sit still and do nothing? His Majesty has not decided to take down the Crown Prince.”

Words about Lawrence were about to come out of Cobb’s throat.
He was the true heir chosen by the Emperor.

It would have been if Lawrence hadn’t forbidden it.

But Lawrence cut it out right.

[“I don’t care what you do in the Capital.
Don’t utter my name.”]

[“How dare I ruin the grand plan? However, some must have a name to follow.”]

[“I am not interested in the commoner feelings you hold.”]

Lawrence said that suddenly.

[“The reason why I came to the Capital and employed you was not because you were special, but because you were in a good position to be employed.”]

Cobb bowed his head.
The fear that ran down his back was connected with the ecstatic thrill.

He couldn’t defy Lawrence.
Moreover, he couldn’t create power by selling his name without permission.

1 said.

“Until His Majesty wakes up, let each of us continue our investigations of Grand Duchy Evron.
As it is, it is not permitted, but because of the situation, we should each check to see if there are any suspicious things around His Majesty.”

1 asked if that would be enough.
3, who had been silent until now, spoke instead of Cobb,

“If the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, then, according to the rules, we will have to announce our identity.”

“I agree.”

“I agree.”

“There is no disagreement.”

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It was the rule, so everyone said so.

Cobb smirked inwardly.

The rules were made by Emperor Gregor.
But not even a generation has passed since then.
It was never enacted.

But he couldn’t resist the rules.
Cobb stood up feeling frustrated that he couldn’t even get any useful information.

On the way out, 3 spoke to Cobb in a low voice,

“1 is old and says what the rules are, but I agree with you.
You can’t leave the Empire in the Northern man’s mouth.”

Before Cobb turned around, 3 quickly took the lead and walked.

And he disappeared in an instant.
So did the other secret agents.

So did Cobb.
He went out on a road known only to him and got into the carriage he rode on.

He was just about to take off his mask, when the coachman knocked on the window.
Cobb opened the window connected to the front of the carriage.

“What’s going on?”

“I got this.”

Cobb opened the small folded note.
On the top line, “East” was written.

A few names were written underneath it.
All were the names of military factors.

Cobb quickly realized what that meant.

These are those who are attached in the East.
That meant, in other words, those who wouldn’t take Cedric’s side in case something happens.

Plus it was 5’s handwriting.
Although they didn’t say anything today, Cobb can think of 5 as an ally.

At least if this turns out to be advantageous.

If so, it was worth doing.
5 would have had a lot of military intelligence.

Cobb folded the paper neatly and put it in his chest.

＊＊＊

Ferguson greeted Cedric with a hard face.

He was on his way to meet the Emperor.
Of course, he couldn’t even get into the bedroom.

He only saw the figure of the Emperor at the entrance to the bedroom, guarded by the doctor, the chief attendant, and the guards.

He didn’t look for a long time, but he could confirm that the Emperor was unconscious.

“I want Sir to make a decision.”

Cedric said in a low voice.

Ferguson didn’t hesitate to answer, with his head bowed.

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He was by nature not suited to a person like Cedric.
The position he held was also something he couldn’t buy Cedric’s favor.

Ferguson’s position would be the first to split when the regime changed.

Moreover, he once ridiculed Cedric for being stupid.
Cedric must have known that.

But Cedric was already Crown Prince.
Whatever the Emperor’s true will, if he did not wake up, Cedric would become the next Emperor.

Even if he wakes up, the power the Emperor holds at that time will be different from before he collapsed.

Right now, Ferguson himself is thinking about the future.

Cedric said,

“I don’t think you need the investigation organization that you run.”

“Crown Prince…….”

“I promise you an honorable retirement.
The organization itself cannot be left behind, but the members will not be left out and will be integrated into the Security Office.”

Ferguson knew that this was the most expensive ransom moment.

Cedric needed to recruit the Emperor’s investigation organization.

But he doesn’t know who the secret agents are.
So, Ferguson was chosen as the first target.

There will be no more proposals after today.

It wasn’t bad considering the investigators under his command.
Although the extrajudicial power exercised as an investigator under the direct control of the Emperor would disappear.

It is enough that he can safely withdraw from the power struggle and maintain his connections.

It was a good reward.

Hopefully, he’ll get a chance to take over the security office.

To himself, too, honor and wealth will remain, and he will be able to maintain influence to some extent.

Ferguson said politely,

“The secret investigators had a meeting.”

If he decided to be loyal, he had to prove his worth.

And he had to stand up for the new master, not just thinking of being rewarded for his former status.

And he had a lot of information to sell.

“Five out of seven are willing to oppose the Crown Prince.
But at the meeting, two of them hid their will, and one sided with the one who made falsely hostile claims.”

“Is that one your colleague?”

“Yes.”

Just as the undercover agents were watching Ferguson, so was Ferguson watching them.

Cedric nodded his head.