Chapter 40: A Desperate Bargain

“Lucia? What has you so lost in thought, sitting here?”

It was midday, and on the periphery of the church’s training grounds, Lucia sat on a bench in the monastery cloister, utterly lost in thought. A familiar voice startled her from her reverie, revealing Imeline standing before her.

“How is it that *that woman* let you off so early today?”

“My teacher… she didn’t come today…”

Lucia shook her head, a worried expression clouding her features as she spoke of Lovelenica.

“There hasn’t been a single word from her.”

“Couldn’t she have simply overslept? Or perhaps she decided to take the day off and was just too indolent to notify you?”

Imeline, for her part, found nothing at all unusual in the situation.

“No, that’s not right.”

Lucia countered, shaking her head again.

“The last time my teacher wished to lighten my training load, she came to inform me first thing in the morning before returning to sleep. If she intended to rest today, she would surely have notified me in the same manner. Failing that, she would at least dispatch a messenger spirit or send a Sacred Page to the church, instructing another nun instructor to inform me.”

“So what are you implying? Do you believe Lovelenica might be in some kind of danger?”

Imeline asked with a distinct lack of concern. Her investigations from the previous day had left her thoroughly convinced that the Crimson Family was engaged in some unsavory dealings behind the scenes. This only heightened her suspicion towards both the Crimson Family and Lovelenica, making her utterly indifferent to whatever fate might have befallen Lovelenica.

“Could someone from the Crimson Family have done something to my teacher?”

Lucia’s delicate brows furrowed in a tight knot. She had, in fact, noticed Lovelenica’s distracted demeanor during training the day before. Furthermore, she had witnessed Lovelenica and Julie’s heated argument just two days prior, an altercation during which Julie had explicitly threatened to ‘punish’ Lovelenica. Could Lovelenica have been placed under some form of confinement?

Just then, Julie and her entourage of followers happened to approach them along the cloister. Both Lucia and Imeline spotted Julie, but it was Lucia who, without a moment’s hesitation, rose to her feet and strode directly towards her.

“Julie! What have you done to my teacher!?”

Observing Lucia’s hostile approach, Julie’s brows also knitted together. Her gaze hardened into an unpleasant glare as she fixed her eyes on Lucia.

“What do you mean, ‘what did I do’? I hardly have the time to bicker with a good-for-nothing parasite like her!”

“Then where is my teacher today?”

“Where did she go? Go ask that parasite yourself! Why are you pestering me!?”

As she spoke, Julie paused, a flicker of realization crossing her face. From Lucia’s agitated reaction, it dawned on her that Lovelenica had apparently failed to inform Lucia of her whereabouts.

“‘Oh? You actually don’t know, do you? Right, that parasite probably didn’t even have the strength to notify you.'”

“‘In-inform me of what? What exactly has happened to my teacher?'”

Lucia’s heart seized in alarm, her voice tinged with palpable anxiety. The more distressed Lucia became, the more vindicated Julie felt.

“‘Heh, as if I’d tell you.'”

With that, Julie made to bypass Lucia and walk away.

“‘Wait!'”

Lucia quickly moved to block Julie’s path.

“‘Please! I beg you, tell me what happened to my teacher!'”

Observing Lucia’s frantic demeanor, Julie found it utterly amusing. She cast a mocking glance at Lucia, her voice dripping with playful malice.

“‘Of course, I can tell you. Simply abandon your plans to team up with Attestor, and I’ll immediately reveal what’s become of that parasite.'”

“‘You—'”

“‘Lucia, don’t agree to her terms.'”

Upon hearing Julie’s outrageous demand, Lucia gritted her teeth, speechless. Meanwhile, Imeline placed a firm hand on Lucia’s shoulder, silently urging her not to concede.

“‘Ah, so that’s it~ Your bond as teacher and student is truly so shallow. It seems the scores from the Aberrant Hunt drill are far more important than your teacher’s whereabouts, aren’t they?'”

Julie’s voice dripped with sarcastic taunts, and seeing Lucia’s face contorted like a bitter gourd, Julie felt utterly invigorated. She then proceeded to lay out a new condition.

“‘You can still team up with Attestor, of course. However, one-fifth of your total score from the Aberrant Hunt drill must be handed over to me. What do you say? A fantastic deal, wouldn’t you agree? Hahahahaha!'”

“‘Lucia, don’t fall for this woman’s—'”

“‘Fine!'”

“‘Eh?'”

While Julie was still laughing, her hand covering her mouth, Lucia agreed without the slightest hesitation. Now, it was Julie’s turn to be utterly astonished.

“‘Wh-what? You actually agreed to that?'”

It was common knowledge that scores earned in the Aberrant Hunt drill, much like Purification Records obtained after completing missions, functioned as a special currency universally accepted by the three major organizations: Purification Seals. These seals were indispensable for both future promotions and the acquisition of unique treasures. Sacrificing a fifth of their total score to Julie was no small concession.

“‘Yes, I agreed. It’s an excellent deal! Now, quickly tell me what happened to my teacher! Don’t you trust me to uphold my promise? Then let’s sign a contract right now!'”

With that declaration, Lucia promptly retrieved a blank contract from her Sacred Ring and held it aloft before Julie.

“‘W-wait a minute!'”

Julie was visibly taken aback by Lucia’s reckless determination. She couldn’t fathom what madness possessed Lucia to offer a fifth of their scores simply to learn Lovelenica’s whereabouts; it was undeniably a losing proposition.

‘Could it be that I simply mocked her too much just now, and Lucia is resorting to this tactic merely to scare me? If so, why should I be afraid? A seemingly insignificant piece of information for a fifth of their scores? Isn’t this an absolute windfall?’

“‘Sign, then! Who are you trying to frighten?'”

Having reasoned it out, Julie promptly produced a quill pen, snatched the contract, and swiftly scrawled their agreement upon it before signing her name. She then thrust the contract back into Lucia’s hands, as if fearing Lucia might renege on the deal.

“‘I’ve already written it. Trying to scare me, are you? Sign it, quickly, or are you afraid—'”

“‘Signed.'”

“‘Tsk…’

Julie’s lip twitched involuntarily. She hadn’t anticipated Lucia’s earnestness; Lucia had affixed her signature even before Julie could finish her mocking taunts. ‘She truly is willing to part with it! Never mind. I certainly won’t lose out. At worst, I’ll simply tell her.’

“‘Now, tell me what happened to my teacher!'”

“‘Hmph, fine. You’re quite something, truly a madwoman.'”

Bound by the contract, Julie found herself compelled to speak, even against her will. She pursed her lips, answering with a disdainful sniff.

“‘That parasite is merely ill. It seems she’s running a high fever and is confined to bed at home. In her state, she likely couldn’t have informed you in advance, could she?'”

Julie let out a cold scoff, then brushed past Lucia, who stood blocking her path, appearing ready to depart.

“‘Hmph, I’ve told you what you wanted. Are you satisfied now?'”

“‘Wait!'”

Yet, Lucia once again positioned herself directly in Julie’s path.

“‘Take me to your home.'”

“‘Pfft—Wh-what? Take you to *our* Crimson Family estate? Are you out of your mind!'”

Upon hearing Lucia’s audacious demand, Julie utterly lost her composure. Not only was Julie herself staggered, but her small entourage of followers also stood frozen in stunned silence.

It was a well-known fact that none of Julie’s own hangers-on had ever set foot in the Crimson Family’s opulent manor, let alone Lucia, whose relationship with Julie was notoriously acrimonious.

“‘Aren’t you the third young lady of the Crimson Family? Surely, bringing a friend home to visit wouldn’t pose any issues, would it?'”

“‘Indeed… but the problem is, we are not friends.'”

“‘We merely need to *pretend* to be friends.'”

“‘Hey! Why on earth would I pretend to be friends with you? Is there no end to this? Stop pestering me!'”

“‘Please, I beg you! Beautiful and lovely Miss Julie!'”

“‘You—you! Offer me *another* fifth of the scores, and I’ll take you!'”

“‘Deal!'”