Chapter 44: The Executive’s Arrival and a New Strategy

It turned out that the tropes in romance novels were not without their uses.

Ever since retrieving the novel, Mo Qiu had dedicated each day to poring over it, meticulously studying its contents to discover her next suitable course of action.

Yet, the subsequent plot proved so utterly captivating that Mo Qiu invariably found herself unable to resist the urge to peek ahead.

Only when the hour grew late would she realize that she had accomplished nothing at all.

The complete set of novels, purchased online, had also arrived.

Mo Qiu was just about to devote the weekend to a thorough read… no, to the diligent study of this strategic treasure.

It was precisely at this crucial juncture, before the books in her hands had even grown warm, that Aiqi summoned her to a meeting.

“Why are we always having meetings?”

Mo Qiu was not the only one harboring this question; the demon who had adjusted his seat beside her also appeared thoroughly uninterested.

“Hello, would you like a candy?”

The other party initiated the greeting, “My name is Xinleit, and I recall you being called Libelle, correct?”

‘Xinleit? That name sounds somewhat familiar…’

Mo Qiu suddenly remembered: the last time Saluk had picked a fight with her in the hallway, Aiqi had mentioned this very name, stating that he was the one Aiqi had called back.

Xinleit possessed a youthful, fair face, yet the colors of his sclera and pupils were inverted.

Strange, small membranous wings also sprouted from either side of his head.

“Hello, thank you.”

Mo Qiu accepted his candy with a smile, though she did not eat it.

“Thank you for last time.”

“Hehe, no need to be polite.”

Xinleit offered a shy smile.

After this brief exchange, the two ceased their conversation, and Xinleit moved on to greet others.

Based on Mo Qiu’s past life experiences, only small companies indulged in endless meetings, where superiors incessantly ‘drew饼’ (TL Note: ‘Hua bing’ literally means ‘drawing cakes,’ a Chinese idiom for making empty promises or giving false hope) for their employees, effectively starving their subordinates to death with unfulfilled promises.

Confronted with such time-wasting meetings devoid of any substantive content, most employees would opt to ‘摸鱼’ (TL Note: ‘Moyu,’ a Chinese slang term meaning to slack off or goof around at work) during them, secretly attending to their own affairs.

Mo Qiu was no exception; even as she was led into the meeting room, she did not forget to bring her novel.

While Aiqi lectured from the front, she read from the back.

It seemed that among demons, there was no regulation prohibiting slacking off during meetings.

Even when Mo Qiu placed her book openly on the table and read it in plain sight, she remained unchallenged.

“Aside from those matters, we now move to today’s main point.”

“Ah~”

Someone yawned, though it was unclear who.

Mo Qiu only registered half of what was said, yet she nodded, conveying the impression that she was diligently participating in the meeting.

Her gaze never strayed from the pages for an instant, completely immersed in her own world.

“I had originally expected her to arrive a few days later, but this is also for the best.”

‘So, there was another foreshadowing here?’

“Everyone, make sure to give her a proper welcome later; if you curry favor with her, you might find yourself faring better within the Imperial Organization in the future.”

‘This part of the plot feels somewhat contrived; the author’s attempt to create conflict is far too forced.’

“Let us welcome Executive—Miss Elia!”

The moment these words were uttered, the conference room fell into an immediate hush.

All the demons, save for Mo Qiu, straightened their postures and collectively turned their gaze towards the meeting room door.

Under their many watchful eyes, the doors of the black palace slowly creaked open, moving like an old man shuffling along, coughing as he walked.

Yet, once the doors swung wide, they saw no figure whatsoever, and a wave of confusion rippled through them.

Aiqi, too, widened his eyes, nearly tumbling from mid-air.

‘Where was the promised executive?’

Mo Qiu, utterly oblivious to their minor commotion, remained engrossed in her novel.

Then, a hand emerged from above her line of sight, seizing the book’s cover.

“Is this a human novel?”

‘Who?!’

Mo Qiu spun around abruptly, yet only a fleeting shadow darted across her vision.

‘Behind me!’

Mo Qiu twisted her head once more, her gaze meeting a pair of vertical pupils.

These eyes, like those of a wild beast, exerted an invisible pressure upon Mo Qiu with just a single glance.

‘Who?’

Seemingly pleased with Mo Qiu’s expression, the other party let out a soft chuckle, then rose and surveyed the palace surroundings.

“Why are there so few demons in this city? Did I miss something?”

The others were still in a daze, as the executive’s appearance differed too drastically from their expectations.

They had initially expected more non-human features, but she appeared almost indistinguishable from a human in her early twenties, save for her vertical pupils and long, verdant green hair, like fresh grass.

She wore a form-fitting white dress, draped with a semi-transparent white veil.

Beneath the hem that cascaded to her ankles, her jade-like feet were adorned with a pair of golden-threaded high-heeled sandals.

She exuded an aura of very natural gentleness, like an ancient sage.

“Why are you still standing there stunned? Quickly, pay your respects to Lady Elia!”

Aiqi was the first to snap out of his stupor; his words roused the others from their bewilderment, and sparse applause rippled through the room.

‘This is an executive?’

‘Mo Qiu had expected a monster akin to Saluk; this one is actually quite cute.’

“Alright, alright, there’s no need for such enthusiasm.

Like all of you, I am merely a loyal subordinate of the Emperor.”

Elia’s smile bloomed like a flower in a garden.

“Since I’ve arrived, let’s all work hard together from now on.”

The moment these words were spoken, the immense stone pressing down on everyone’s hearts vanished.

It appeared, for now, that this executive would be a very agreeable person to deal with.

Aiqi flew to Elia’s side, chuckling obsequiously, “Does Lady Elia have any commands? All personnel are present.”

Elia scanned the room once more, then pouted, “The quality doesn’t seem particularly good, does it?”

The faces of many demons stiffened, none daring to retort.

“However, there are some interesting individuals.”

A corner of Elia’s mouth curved upwards, and under the gaze of everyone present, her toes lifted from the ground as she floated lightly into the air.

“Wouldn’t you agree, young lady?”

Hearing her voice again, Mo Qiu felt as though someone was breathing directly into her ear, causing her to stiffen instantly.

Elia’s movements were undeniably gentle, yet her floating speed was so swift as to be almost imperceptible.

‘She entered the meeting room and approached me in this manner just now?’

‘Saluk’s movements were also fast, but Mo Qiu could still evade him.

If it were this person, she likely wouldn’t even register how she died.’

“A demon interested in human affairs… hm?”

Elia sniffed, “You’re not a demon?”

“Her name is Libelle; she was human until she joined the Imperial Organization last month,” Aiqi hastily explained.

“I see, then it’s not surprising.”

Elia’s smile drifted past Mo Qiu, an ostensibly harmless expression that nevertheless caused a cold sweat to break out all over her.

Only when Elia returned to the center of the round table did Mo Qiu dare to breathe, her tightly clenched fists slick with sweat.

‘A sliver of hope still lingered in her heart: perhaps this executive was merely putting on an act, with only her speed as a genuine asset.’

‘If that were truly the case, then Bai Chen and I would still have a chance at victory.’

“At least this city won’t bore me.”

Elia crooked a finger, and Aiqi immediately stepped forward with a fawning smile.

‘That Aiqi… Mo Qiu could see his almost-drooling expression even from afar, much like a lecherous man spotting a beautiful woman on the street.’

“I have come here bearing the Emperor’s orders, but I am still unfamiliar with this city, so…”

“Miss Elia!”

A demon suddenly rose, interrupting her speech.

A confident smile adorned his face, and as he spoke, he straightened a non-existent collar.

After casting a disdainful glance at him, Mo Qiu’s eyes settled on Elia, and she subtly raised an eyebrow.

Elia’s expression remained unchanged, yet the warmth in her demeanor plummeted rapidly.

She raised a hand, her fingers curling.

After the meeting room floor trembled, it suddenly fractured, sending shards of stone flying.

Yet, no one else saw anything emerge from within.

“Aaaaah!”

The self-professed demon’s face twisted in agony as he floated inexplicably into the air.

“When a superior is speaking, do not interrupt.”

Elia’s fingers moved upwards, causing him to float to the very top of the meeting room.

“A boorish fellow who dares to presume upon my intentions?”

Her palm opened towards the demon, then closed forcefully, utterly disregarding his pleas for mercy.

A living, breathing demon twisted and exploded as if it were a crushed tomato, sending fragments of flesh and blood splattering across the meeting room.

Mo Qiu instinctively recoiled, but her clothes were still sullied.

‘Alright, this one’s level of danger is genuinely authentic.’

‘What did she just do?’

Mo Qiu looked at the fractured floor; something seemed to have burst forth from the earth, yet they could not see it.

The demon, when crushed, did not appear to have been gripped by a hand, but rather something had coiled around him.

‘Did Elia summon something? Tentacles, or something else?’

‘An unseen enemy is the most troublesome.’

Blood splattered everywhere, but the portions that should have landed on Elia were repelled by something unseen, leaving the others to bear the brunt.

Of all the demons present, she alone remained pristine in white, appearing like a lotus flower untouched by the mud.

“The rules of the Imperial Organization are my rules; do you all understand?”

“Yes.”

“Under… understand.”

After surveying their terrified expressions, Elia smiled once more: “My apologies for dirtying everyone’s clothes; I offer my sincerest regrets.”

Having said this, she once again walked towards Mo Qiu, her high heels emitting crisp ‘patapata’ sounds (TL Note: Japanese onomatopoeia for light footsteps or tapping) as they tapped across the polished tabletop.

Stopping before the young woman, Elia bent down, her eyes narrowing: “You wouldn’t mind, would you, Libelle?”

Mo Qiu’s heart hammered furiously, and she managed to force out a reply: “Of course, I have plenty of spare clothes, my lady.”

“That’s good.”

Elia said, then thoroughly scrutinized her.

“You have a pleasing appearance, but your clothes are rather unappealing.”

‘Hm?’

‘Mo Qiu mentally scoffed; these were her own choices, and who was this demon to comment on their appeal?’

“If you have the chance, go change into better clothes, and stop dressing yourself like a clown.”

Elia’s voice receded, yet Mo Qiu continued to stare at her retreating back, until a sudden thought prompted her to avert her gaze.

‘Unappealing clothes… would Bai Chen think the same?’

At school, she had no choice but to wear a uniform, but at other times, she simply wore casual attire.

‘If she wore more beautiful clothes, wouldn’t it be easier to capture Bai Chen’s heart?’

Mo Qiu felt as though a new world had opened before her, and she began to ponder the possibilities.

Mo Qiu glanced at the novel resting beside her, and a slight smirk played on her lips.

Speaking of which, this very book contained a similar plot: the female protagonist, meticulously dressed, made the male protagonist’s heart flutter like a startled deer (TL Note: A common Chinese idiom describing a racing heart, often due to nervousness or infatuation) with just a single glance.

‘Such a thing should also work in reality.’

How interesting.

Mo Qiu had discovered an entirely new strategic path.