Chapter 28
However, considering that “Nature’s Home” operates under the banner of protecting the environment and has Professor Einstein’s reputation, even if their green, non-mana food is several times more expensive, I believe many consumers will still pay for it.
But… I still feel like something isn’t right.
Rogers cut right through my confusion. He pointed at Mistrecui’s nose and said coldly, “At a time when magic is being pushed into the line of fire, you launch ‘green non-mana food’ to rake in money? I think you’re just a profit-seeking merchant!”
I narrowed my eyes, looking at Mistrecui with contempt.
That’s right, what about their “Environmental Protection Side’s” plan?
In the end, was it just to scam people?
“You dare to slander me in front of Her Majesty? You think I care about money? Once, a chamber of commerce offered me a clear price of two hundred million for hush money, to make me shut up about the mana food issue, and I refused them!” Mistrecui said righteously, the glorious image of an anti-mana-food activist leaping to life before my eyes.
“You two, stop arguing.”
Tristina said from the throne.
“Rogers, your magic potatoes… and Mistrecui, your green non… mana food… I permit you both to sell them in the Royal Capital. Let the market decide the final outcome.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace.”
They glared at each other, mutually displeased.
“You may withdraw.”
Tristina said, rubbing her forehead in annoyance. In that instant, I felt a little bad for her. She’s so young, but the burden on her shoulders is not light at all.
Rogers and Mistrecui exited the palace, one after the other. I glanced back. The smile Mistrecui gave me before he left made me feel a little uncomfortable. Really, I really can’t stand boys smiling at me like that. I just instinctively resist it.
They’re just blinded by my female appearance. If they knew I was actually a boy, I doubt they’d still be smiling.
“Fei’er, what method did you use to purify the polluted Lucerne River?” Tristina asked, just as Mistrecui smiled and closed the great doors.
“No, it wasn’t us. We met a person by the river in the suburbs who called herself an artist. She was the one who purified the river with magic,” I replied, my mind replaying the image of that girl’s ice-blue eyes, and her words—
”…’That person’ mentioned you.”
“There’s actually a mage who can purify river water?” Tristina asked.
“Mm… it seems… it’s magic that can control water?”
“No matter who it was, they helped me out a lot.” Tristina patted her chest, sighing in relief.
“Teacher Mei Lin is innocent. We also investigated and found that the river was polluted because someone dumped poison into the water.”
Lian Qi finished speaking, and Tristina’s beautiful face went pale with shock.
“D-dumping poison into the Lucerne River? Who would be so bold…?”
“The person who dumped the poison committed suicide with poison the moment they were caught.”
Tristina was stunned for a long time. I guess she… couldn’t process it.
“Then… was the poisoning meant to harm my citizens?”
“No, the mastermind behind this wants to frame magic,” Lian Qi said.
“Frame magic? Why frame magic?”
“We suspect this is all related to the Demon King’s plan to stagnate magic,” Lian Qi said, glancing at me. “Right? Fei’er?”
“Mm, mm. Lian Qi is right,” I quickly replied.
“The… the Demon King again!?”
Hearing that name, Tristina began to grow restless.
“I heard the one who caused all that chaos at the Magic Academy was one of her subordinates, right? Now she’s not even acting personally, she’s recruited a batch of subordinates!?”
“…Her subordinates call themselves the ‘Holy Twelve.’ Just from the name, you know they are twelve mages of great power. So far, I’ve only seen one, the one who caused the chaos at the Magic Academy. She’s currently still locked up in the Magic-Banishing Prison,” I said.
I remember she called herself… “Flower-Filled Collection” Miramini?1 For a direct subordinate of the Demon King, she actually disguised herself as a maid accompanying a student to infiltrate the Magic Academy. She really must have felt wronged.
Wait…
Actually, I also pretended to be a maid.
“Eh? I never asked you for the details of that fight,” Lian Qi said, staring at me.
“Actually… she was defeated by her own magic being reflected back at her,” I said with a weak laugh.
“What? Reflected back?”
“Actually… I just… gave the Holy Light the properties of rubber.”
Lian Qi stared at me blankly, then broke into a smile. “You have a move like that?”
“What’s it to you?”
“Why don’t we… spare a little when we have time?”
“Let’s talk about this kind of thing at home…”
Tristina is silently watching us!
Lian Qi turned her head and said to Tristina, full of confidence, “Please rest assured. Within three days, I will definitely announce the truth to the public.”
Announce the truth to the public within three days…
I looked at Lian Qi in surprise.
Is she serious?…
Afterward, we left the royal palace and returned home.
The moment I entered, I took off my shoes and said, “What’s the deal, were they just here for the money in the end?”
First, they guide public opinion to push magic into the line of fire, and then they wait for an opportunity to launch green, non-mana food to rake in money? I can’t help but sigh… all their scheming was just for this? And not some… more evil conspiracy?
“Fei’er, I already said I’d cook for you from now on. What do you want to eat for lunch and dinner? I’ll go to the market now.” Qifeng tilted her head and gave me a silly smile.
Eh? When did Qifeng get this ‘chef’ attribute? Ah, no, what was that word again? ‘Housewife’—?
“I’ll eat whatever you cook,” I said to her.
“Maybe the green, non-mana food and the magic potatoes will be available at the market today,” Qifeng said thoughtfully, tapping her lip with a fingertip.
“No way. I don’t want to eat the green, non-mana food or the magic potatoes,” I said.
A one-hundred-and-fifty-kilogram potato. Too terrifying.
“Fei’er, don’t be fooled by them. Their ambition doesn’t stop here,” Lian Qi said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, glancing at me.
Even though she’s wearing girls’ clothes, I still think she looks cool like that. Is it because of her short hair? Or is it an innate aura she has as a transmigrator?
“Maybe they just want to lull us into a false sense of security, thinking they’re only after money. Or maybe… this is also part of their plan. In short, it’s a move that kills two birds with one stone,” Lian Qi said.
“Then what should we do next?”
“Mobilize the power of the Church. We need some manpower. Then, before dark, go to the farm where Rogers grows his magic potatoes.”
“Go to the farm where Rogers grows his magic potatoes?”
“Yeah. The mastermind definitely wants the citizens to ‘recognize’ the dangers of mana food. If I’m not mistaken, we’ll go witness ‘the river turning pink for the third time.‘” Lian Qi smiled slightly, her words full of hidden meaning.
Footnotes
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花漫集 (Huā Màn Jí), literally “Flower/Blossom-Overflowing Collection.” ↩