A Risky Loan and a New Mission

Iordera understood immediately.

“Thank you, Curator, but I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave now.”

She now had a direction, a method, but still lacked one crucial element.

She glanced up at the room on the rooftop.

Hecate had just returned from teaching, settling into a wicker chair to stretch her limbs.

Professor Luna’s classes weren’t solely about magic; sometimes, she would impart intriguing knowledge to her students. Today, for instance, she had delivered a lively and engaging science popularization lecture,

and the entirely different dominant species that emerged during that era.

The students were captivated, enthralled by the dazzling revelations, and grew even fonder of Professor Luna.

Back in her wicker chair at home, Hecate brewed a cup of black tea. Suddenly, she sensed that familiar aura approaching.

‘The timing is about right,’ she mused. ‘My dear should be here to ask for advice.’

‘Should I play coy, ramble about other things, or perhaps tease them a little first?’

‘Or should I simply intimidate them?’

‘So many choices, it’s quite vexing.’

Iordera pushed open the door and greeted, “Hecate, good afternoon. Are you resting?”

Hecate, holding her black tea, replied with an air of nonchalance, “Of course, my dear. Is there something you need?”

“Yes,” Iordera stated directly, “I wish to borrow more money, a larger sum than last time. Do you have it readily available?”

The witch stiffened slightly.

“Borrow money?”

“Indeed.”

Hecate frowned. “You came to me just to borrow money?”

“Yes, what else?”

Iordera swallowed the retort that had sprung to her lips. After a moment of careful thought, she said, “Last time, you told me I was welcome to borrow money anytime, so here I am.”

Hecate was momentarily speechless.

She composed herself, then rephrased, “Of course, my dear, you may always come to borrow money. However, is there truly nothing else beyond that?”

Iordera pondered for a moment before replying, “I’ve been rather busy lately. Next time I seek you out, I’ll be sure to include other activities.”

Hecate remained silent for a moment, then decided to speak more plainly. “Are you not going to consult me about what you plan to do?”

“Oh, no need,” Iordera replied candidly. “I’ve already consulted someone else.”

She understood perfectly. After all, Hecate had only recently returned to Saroyan, whereas Mrs. Lailila had been there all along. Moreover, when it came to matters concerning Saroyan’s high society, Mrs. Lailila possessed specialized expertise.

Hecate quickly grasped the logic, yet she still felt a pang of displeasure.

“How much do you need to borrow?” she asked.

Iordera held up a single finger. “One thousand gold, would that be acceptable?”

This was indeed a substantial sum.

“It is possible,” Hecate said, closing her eyes, “but the amount is considerable, so the interest rate will also be quite high.”

Iordera paused, slightly bewildered. ‘Shouldn’t larger loans come with more favorable interest rates to attract borrowers?’ she wondered.

Seeing Hecate’s inexplicable displeasure, however, she dared not ask.

“Whatever you say.”

She absolutely had to secure this money. It was of paramount importance.

Hecate’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Very well. I’ll lend you a thousand, and I’ll record it as two thousand.”

‘Good heavens, that’s double!’

Iordera hummed in acknowledgement, ultimately deciding against any protest.

‘Double it is, then. There will always be a chance to repay it later. I need it now.’

Handing over a gold coin card for a thousand, Hecate wrote something in her ledger, and her mood visibly improved.

****

The Teenager departed with the money, and after a while, another person ascended to knock on the door.

*Knock, knock, knock, knock.*

“Enter,” Hecate murmured, knowing who it was, without even opening her eyes. “Come in and sit.”

Mrs. Lailila stepped into the living room and pulled up a chair.

Back when they were in the Cabinet, Mrs. Lailila’s faction had been Hecate’s staunch supporters.

The two could certainly be considered long-standing partners.

“Well?” Hecate began, taking the initiative. “I told you, didn’t I? You don’t need anything else; just help her.”

Clearly, this was not their first conversation within the academy.

Mrs. Lailila nodded gently. “It’s incredible, but things are indeed developing in the direction we hoped to see.”

“To cause trouble for Saroyan’s core officials, thereby leveraging the power circles of the imperial capital and inciting unrest among the higher echelons.”

“When I was imprisoned, I kept helping her, and eventually, I found myself free,” Hecate said, spreading her hands with an air of ease. “She will do what she needs to do, and you’ll simply be brought along for the ride.”

****

Leaving the academy, Iordera first visited the bank to exchange her gold coin cards for smaller denominations.

Then, under the cloak of night, she returned to the tavern in the night market.

Cat Head had just finished serving a customer when he greeted her. “Good evening, little beauty.”

“Good evening,” Iordera replied, walking over and placing a gold coin on the counter. “Did you see the newspaper, Cat Head? The Governor said the culprits from last time were from a gang in the night market. Are they really people from our circle?”

Cat Head did not take the gold coin; he merely scrutinized her.

“That kind of news shouldn’t be a secret,” Iordera said, climbing onto a bar stool and crossing her slender legs. “That final explosion, that crystal arrow—it proves the people who ambushed me last time are the same group. I don’t think seeking a little revenge would be out of line, would it?”

Cat Head suddenly chuckled. “Not at all. But you’re not solely out for revenge for that ambush, are you? I recall the mission you abandoned last time was also located on West Street.”

Iordera’s gaze flickered.

“Don’t be nervous,” Cat Head said, pouring a drink and sliding it over with the gold coin. “You could ask any local in the night market about this, and they’d give you the same answer. They’re not from a gang. On the contrary, they’re the ‘unsettling outsiders’ the newspaper mentioned earlier.”

“A multi-person team with an average level exceeding 40, well-trained and highly effective. Truly dangerous,” he remarked with a sigh.

Iordera squinted at the mission board. “This kind of group, they hide meekly during the day, then come out at night to take on missions?”

“Or perhaps capture missions, where they can’t find suitable candidates. Not even ‘investigation’ missions are posted.”

It was understandable that if everyone was level 40 and well-trained, they might not find people strong enough for the missions, so they simply didn’t post them.

However, to not even post an investigation mission, offering a reward for clues and intelligence—such an efficient approach—that was rather intriguing.

“Indeed, everyone’s waiting for the authorities to post an investigation mission. That last customer was just asking me if they could trade their information for money. But…” Cat Head gave her a meaningful look, leaving the sentence unfinished.

This time, those who understood truly understood.

“Well, that simply won’t do. We can’t let our enthusiastic brothers lose heart,” Iordera said, pulling out several gold coin cards. “If the authorities won’t post missions, I will.”

Cat Head looked slightly taken aback, setting down the glass to examine her closely. “Are you serious?”

“Mhm.”