“What are you doing? Some sort of letter or something?” Evelyn asked.

“Don’t pry. It won’t benefit you,” Amelia said as her hands moved back and forth over a sheet of paper.

“Really?” Evelyn moved to Amelia’s back and peeked.

“As you can see, there is nothing to gain from reading this letter.” Amelia kept writing, unbothered by Evelyn’s prying eyes.

“Still guarded around me huh?” Evelyn frowned. “But you really to write such orders huh? Can’t your people move on their own?”

“Frankly, there is no need for me to order them. I have already arranged what my people need to do when I left my maidservant in my fief. I am merely ordering them to continue with the previous orders given.”

“Isn’t that unnecessary?”

“It may be in your standpoint, but a Lord least needs to communicate with their servants and vassals to inform them of the current situation.”

“Even though the situation changed so much that I’m now partially on your side?”

“Whether you have joined my side or not, my goal as a Lord does not change. The same is true for my plans as a Royal.” Amelia sighed. “But I cannot deny the fact that this event has sidetracked me from my original goal. Things do not always go the way you want it.”

“You brood too much.”

“I cannot deny that.”

Silence fell between the two. Within the room for two in an inn within Academia, spoke now and then, each conversation trying to pry more information from the other. However, the silence kept both on their guard. That is until finished Amelia finished sealing the letter with her private seal. did

“Evelyn, I will need you to gather materials.”

Evelyn grinned. “I already did.”

Amelia hastily shifted her sight to Evelyn. “You… Tell me you did not steal.”

“I may have? I may have not?” Evelyn smiled.

Amelia stood from her seat and approached Evelyn who was sitting on her bed.

“What?” Evelyn stared straight to Amelia.

A sudden clap resounded within the room. When the clap subsided, Evelyn was left dumbfounded. She felt her stinging cheeks as she returned her sight to Amelia.

“What was that for?”

“Hand them over. Everything you stole, hand them over. I’ll properly return them,” Amelia spoke in a deep tone. “You have me on your side. If you need anything, tell me. I’ll arrange them for you. There is no need for you to steal.”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’ll do whatever I want.”

“I’ll let you do as you please as long it does not violate any laws.”

“Way too upright.” Evelyn frowned. “Even though most of you Royals and Nobles steal from your people on a daily basis.”

“Do you have evidence to support your claim? Even though I cannot deny that some may have done or is doing such, lumping us as a group under one’s personal description is inappropriate.”

“Whatever.”

“Return them and tell me where you stole them.”

Evelyn sighed. “Fine. Fine. Can’t have fun when miss upright is around…”

“Stealing is wrong, Evelyn.”

“I don’t think you’re in a position to tell me that.” Evelyn glared. “I mean, you are a Royal of another kingdom. If ever you found something valuable in the dungeon underneath Academia then you will claim it for yourself, right?”

“…”

“Cat got your tongue?” Evelyn smirked. “So, it’s fine to steal when it’s on an international scale but not on a local scale?”

“This and that are different.”

“Heh… Care to tell me the difference?”

“For one, the legal owner of the item you stole is currently alive. In the case of finds within the labyrinth, the owner is immediately assumed dead. That is what is stated within the laws of Academia. Therefore, the items found within the labyrinth are without ownership. Therefore, within the laws of Academia, whoever founds the item within the labyrinth is the new owner.”

“With that logic then it’s fine if the owner of the items I’ve stolen from is dead, right?” Evelyn smiled.

“Stop spouting disgusting words. When the original owner is found dead, then the wife or the children will receive the ownership of the items owned by the deceased. In case the children are not in the capacity to receive ownership, the ownership may be transferred to three generations down of the deceased owner.”

“So their family needs to be wiped out in order to claim complete ownership huh.”

“…” Amelia’s eyebrows twitched. “You do know that’s considered murder. And if you ever committed one, I definitely would not hesitate to end yours.”

“Whoa. Hold there. I am merely speaking of the possibility.” Evelyn chuckled. “Anyway, since you’ve said it, then the owners of the items found within the dungeon—”

“It’s a labyrinth.”

“—Right. Labyrinth. Anyway, the owner of the items found within and three generations down are considered dead, right?”

“Yes.”

Evelyn smiled. “Did that law considered long-lived races?”

“…” Amelia looked to the side. “I doubt it.”

“Hehh… Then let’s say that we can prove that the owner, say a high-elf or something along that line, still has a living relative three generations down. Would that be covered?”

“It should be… is what I want to say. However, I do not know how Academia will tackle such a situation. The Scholars will definitely be divided by the matter. Since, if they considered such, they may have to return their finds to the living relative. However, it seems unlikely, but the possibility is there.”

Evelyn chuckled and etched a conniving smile. “Considering who you are, aren’t you frustrated?”

Amelia shook her head. “No. Considering other races into the law takes time. We humans are, after all, very different from them. There may be similarities, true, but each race has a different set of values and needs.”

“Boring.”

“It takes time to incorporate a diverse group of races into human laws. Considering how we humans used to seclude ourselves from other races, we know little to nothing about them. Even those who live in my fief have little information about their own race.”

Amelia balled her fist. “After all, helpless children are far easier to capture than adults.”

The matter was not foreign to Laurel. Most non-humans within human settlements were either captive children or adults who were captured from their childhood days.

“Trafficking non-humans because they aren’t covered by law…” Amelia grit her teeth. “A despicable excuse.”

“Then why don’t you look for an adult within the territory of the other races? I’m sure it won’t be that hard to find someone willing to share information.”

“It’s not as easy as it seems. Laurel is the farthest from non-human settlements. We have to pass through the other kingdoms to get to them. Besides, it’s unlikely for them to lend a hand unless news about non-humans living peacefully within human settlements reached their ears. For now, we have to establish a law that will allow Dwarfs and Elves to feel at ease within Laurel. It takes time to review the law, but it’s definitely getting there.”

Restart the trade. Increase the volume. Advertise the merchandise from the Tribe. Allow people to have expectations and a good impression of both Dwarfs and Elves.

The wheel was rolling. It was rolling even without Amelia’s direct intervention. After all, the pieces were set. There was no need for Amelia to be there. She needed only the people she trusts to work on the orders she gave.

Ark and some of Amelia’s Maidservants, Rick, Fae, and Camille included, had been working on strengthening the presence of the Tribe within Laurel, or at least, Aves. The trade, both the routes and the merchants handling the trade were covered by Auguste’s vassals, a support which was planned if ever the trade resumed. Lastly, the law. The ones to handle the law was Diane, Argent, and Sylvar.

The effort was not evident in the front. However, good relations with the Tribe’s Dwarfs and Elves was progressing.

“It’s hard. It takes time. But sure enough, it’s progressing. My people are making it progress.”

Amelia recalled the continuing research on the behavior of the non-humans within her fief, the Duchy. As time grew by, more and more structures were built in order to cater to the needs of those non-humans.

“I don’t really understand what you are saying but fine.”

“We got off track. Nonetheless, everything you stole, hand it over.”

“Sure. Sure.”

The next day.

“Eh? Lia? I thought you won’t return yet?” Mola blinked her eyes atop a staircase. On the foot of the stairs was Amelia accompanied by maidservants.

Amelia heaved a sigh. “There are some troublesome things that I cannot handle without returning earlier as planned. Anyway, Mola, go get dressed and meet me in the solar.”

“Yeah, right. Should I get Meiko too?”

“Please do.”

“Your Highness,” one of the maidservants said as Mola vanished into the hallway atop the stairs.

“I will take it after my meeting with Mola. Also, please prepare the things I have listed. Then there’s Erina. She will arrive in two to three days. Please prepare her quarters and another one for a guest. Also, prepare another room and equip it with the tools I mentioned earlier. Make sure none other than the people within this mansion shall know the contents of the letter.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The maidservant bowed.

“Oh, one last thing.” Amelia turned around and faced the line of servants behind her. “Another Hero will join the mansion. Please do not treat her like Meiko. She is dangerous. As much as possible, if there is a problem surrounding her, report it directly to me. Do not try to suppress her with force. I am not willing to have needless deaths.”

““Understood, Your Highness.””

It did not take much time for Mola and Meiko to reach the solar where Amelia was waiting.

“So? What’s the reason?”

“I needed money.”

““…””

Mola and Meiko looked to each other with puzzled expressions.

“Wait, didn’t you have a summable spare with you?” Mola asked.

Amelia placed the palm of her hand onto her face. “It’s barely enough for the things Evelyn stole randomly.”

It took a few seconds before Mola was able to process a response. “… What?”

“Evelyn stole some things around Academia.”

“What?” This time, Meiko responded.

“Hahh… Do I have to repeat what I just said all over again?”

“No, we heard it. Loud and clear. We just can’t fathom why a Hero of all people would steal.” Mola scratched the side of her head. “Isn’t she wealthy? So why steal?”

“Please don’t ask me what I can’t comprehend myself.”

“Evelyn? Stealing?” Meiko murmured with a troubled face.

“Believe it or not, she did.” Amelia leaned her back on her chair. “I’m not sure if it’s just her way of knowing how I would react to situations or it’s just an impulse. But I believe it’s closely related to the former.”

“It’s highly likely to be the former,” Mola added. “Anyway, if that’s the case, then we should just be on our guard, right?”

“Yes. Keep all the documents somewhere else. Don’t keep them in the storeroom. And if possible, have the servants retrieve the documents only if you are sure that Evelyn is not around. We do not want her to gain too much information.”

A sudden knock came from the door.

“Your Highness, it’s me, Albert.”

“Oh. I thought you already forgot about Glasses for a second there, Your Highness,” Mola chuckled.

“I cannot deny that. I indeed forgot about Albert. Anyway, please enter, Albert.”

Albert, usually called as Glasses, took a seat beside Mola. “It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“Yes, it has been.”

“So, what was the reason I was called in?”

“I have read what you’ve found about the dasbalites.” Amelia smiled. “Please continue progressing the research. We may be able to create our own mana supply or some sort with the knowledge we can gain from the dasbalites.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Glasses bowed. “Right now, we managed to capture a mimic and had successfully sealed it along with a bunch of dasbalites. For now, the mimic has been stable and has considered the dasbalite as a proper object fit for the mimic’s purposes.”

Meiko shuddered as Glasses explained the matter. “Ugh… those horrid times…”

“Was there any significant change?” Amelia asked.

“It’s still under observation,” Mola answered.

“Right,” Glasses continued. “For now, the mimic is stable and isn’t moving at all. It did collect the dasbalite shards around it and formed some sort of plant-like structure. Although it was not like that at first.”

“Then we could say that the mimic was able to successfully adapt to the nature of the dasbalite and has formed an effective measure in order to use it?”

Glasses nodded. “That too is what we believe. The mimic has exposed the dasbalite’s surface into the air.”

“I see. Is there any other significant change?”

“There is one,” Mola answered. “The mimic became completely docile after a while. It was running wild at first, thrashing around the enclosed chamber. But the more it grew into a plant-like structure, the more docile it became. Perhaps the energy produced by the dasbalite was enough for it to survive and has entered some sort inactive state.”

“So it did manage to make use of dasbalites…” Amelia put a finger onto her lips and looked to the ceiling. “In any case, is there a hint for us to make use of the dasbalites like the mimic did?”

Mola’s expression turned sour. “To be frank, we do not have a concrete solution right now.”

“Your Highness, the mimic’s adaptability and how it manages to do such is still a huge mystery till this day. Although we have verified that those rikeas aren’t the only ones capable of making use of the dasbalites, a solution to utilize the dasbalites on our own is…”

“Albert, Mola. It’s fine. Harnessing something we knew little of is not an easy task. Having blockades along the way is understandable. So, please, don’t be too bothered that both of you have gained little from the experiment.”

Glasses stood and took a deep bow. “I apologize for the disappointment, Your Highness. I will amass knowledge to fully realize a tool that can mimic the functionality of Academia.”

“I’m on the same page with Albert.” Mola stood from her seat and copied Glasses.

“Both of you, I know the matter with the dasbalites may bring about a revolution. I know deep inside that both of you are excited to bring about a new age in the realm of magic and magic tools. However, don’t push yourselves too hard. I still need you both for other projects. So, please, raise your heads. I appreciate the work both of you have spent on the study of dasbalites.”

In response to Amelia’s order, both Glasses and Mola took their seat.

“Nevertheless, Mola, I want you to leave your findings to Albert. Albert, you will continue the study of the dasbalites. It may slow down the progress but I need Mola for another matter. It requires some physical activities, so I’ll have to excuse you for my plan.”

“Understood, Your Highness,” Glasses replied.

“Physical activities?” Mola questioned.

“It’s an urgent matter. We need to dive deeper into Academia’s labyrinth.”

“Huh? Why?” Mola asked.

Amelia looked towards Meiko’s direction. “Meiko, I want you to tell everyone here the interpretation of the mural you found deeper into the labyrinth.”

“Mural?” Mola expressed her confusion. “Wait, Meiko, we haven’t come across such, haven’t we?”

“Uhm… it’s a long story. So, please, just for now, let me cut to the chase.”

Thus, once more, Meiko explained her thoughts regarding Academia’s labyrinth. She also explained her interpretation of the mural she once glimpsed at while she was using Clairvoyance.