I Decided to Kidnap the Male Lead

Chapter 58: And Then There Were None (II)

Chapter 58: And Then There Were None (II)

As if she didnt even want to say it, Ophelia opened her mouth with a frown on her face, clearly fed up.

There are still people who do that? No, that was a stupid question. I guess. Theres a lot of junk that does anything for money.

The act of buying and selling people was abandoned a long time ago, both in the world she came from and in this world.

But it was also tenacious, like the cockroaches that still roamed in the shadows in both this world and the other.

Just as bees gathered in honey, garbage that did anything that made money gathered at the smell of money.

In this case, it was a bit bizarre that it was voluntary human trafficking.

Wait a minute. Can the word voluntary and the word trafficking be put in the same line?

Ophelias jaw dropped, incredulousness coloring her face as Richard continued the story.

No, theres these pseubi vibes!

Pseubi?

Ah, I mean pseudo, but I mispronounced it because I was excited. Uh, anyway, pseudo means that it looks real and similar on the outside, but its not at all on the inside. Oh, this is of course, also a word coined by the grandfather next-door.

In other words, its fake.

Thats right. Its like a case of fake religion wearing a mask of religion.

While talking about the evils of pseudo, Ophelia hesitated.

Aside from it being fake, what was the reason for voluntary human trafficking?

What is the reason for making such a mission?

The whole reason for human trafficking is money.

But rather than selling it like that, it would be more profitable to go somewhere and make money by working like a slave.

You said it with your own mouth. You shouldnt expect common sense from pseudo-trafficking.

Of course, the ultimate goal of the pseudo is having a high status as a madman who talks about being a religious leader. I dont know if its a real crazy guy, but most of those guys are snobs among snobs, so they talk a lot about money.

Then Ill have to dig a little deeper.

Yes. If money is not the purpose

Richard tilted his head towards Ophelia when she paused her words.

What if not?

She shook her head.

The word terror that passed through her head would be an overkill.

There wasnt such a thing in this world right? No, could it be?

Ophelia.

No. Ive been thinking for a while.

Tell me anything.

Its really nonsense.

It doesnt matter.

There was not a sliver of doubt in his staring eyes.

Ophelia took a deep breath and explained by unraveling the word terror.

To infiltrate a place necessary to achieve a goal and bring about a disaster with human power.

It could be. Its really just my opinion. Has something like this happened before? In the history of the continent?

No.

Ah, of course. Hahaha. Please just pass it as nonsense.

Ophelia shrugged her shoulders with an awkward smile, but Richard shook his head.

No, I will tell you to investigate with that in mind too.

Yes?

Richard looked down at Ophelia, who had widened her bunny eyes, and smiled.

Didnt you say that?

Me? Did I say that

That I have to consider the worst.

Ophelia blinked.

That Did she say that?

Its an expression that I dont remember.

Its more amazing to remember.

I remember everything you said. They dont go away.

The words no matter how many regressions that were omitted in his words could be understood without having to hear them.

Ophelia reached her hand out toward him without saying anything else.

Richard also said nothing more and looked down at Ophelias hand that held his.

It was a soft hand that was much smaller than his own, but that small hand held his much larger one as if it was wrapped around it.

The warmth of their contact was lukewarm, and there was no ardent and affectionate emotion flowing.

And that was enough for both of them.

As comrades who had been going around for so long and didnt know how much longer they would spend together

Then Ophelia let go of Richards hand and asked.

Is the pseudo-trafficking investigation over?

No, there were other harvests. Medicine.

What medicine?

Ophelias expression was as rotten as when she heard about human trafficking.

If it was just an ordinary medicine, Richard wouldnt have even mentioned it.

Then, that medicine must be

Its not a medicine.

Yes? No?

Yes.

Then what kind of medicine is it?

She wondered if it was something like a cure-all, so she asked, but the answer came back as expected.

Its poison.

Ah, yes.

After giving a vague answer, Ophelia immediately tilted her head.

You said earlier that its medicine, but now, poison?

Its said to be an almost perfect fatigue reliever with no side effects.

Fatigue medicine? Where can I buy that Eup, ah!

Ophelias eyes went round at once at the sound of a fatigue reliever with no side effects.

Thanks to her sleeping through yesterday, she recovered a little, but since she became the crown princes aide, she was always suffering from chronic fatigue.

Richard, blocking Ophelias face as she struggled to grab the pink vial, smiled and added.

Once we get the original producer, well have to analyze exactly what this drug is.

You said there are no side effects!

Ophelia, whose eyes were turned upside down, showed a desperate will to take the medicine right away. Really, she couldnt help it.

You dont know for sure. So dont even think about touching it until its perfectly safe.

Richard!

Ophelia struggled, pushing her arms towards the medicine bottle despite knowing that it would not work. But she calmed down at once at Richards following words.

I dont want to lose you over something like this.

Those words came out so easily and calmly, but the weight contained in it was not something that could be passed as effortlessly and coolly.

Just as Ophelia could not bear Richards pain, Richard could not bear the loss of Ophelia.

It was an obsession that people in love often felt, but it wasnt that sweet and thrilling.

Since he was just holding on to live.

Driven to the abyss, the wounded held each others hands while facing each other.

The sincerity that they couldnt say out of their mouths dug deeper than that, under a layer of each others skin.

And this time it was Richard, not Ophelia, who joined their hands together.

The thumping sounds became more and more similar, as if their heartbeats were transferred from hand to hand, and then merged.

Eventually, Richard asked without letting go of her hand.

Why did you look for me?

Lady Neir is too suspicious.

Ophelia confided to Richard about everything she had done at the evening party.

Raisa appeared wearing a lion mask, and how that very mask was smashed and rolled around.

Plus her certainty that was like a prophecy that they would definitely meet again.

And

You saw the same thing in her eyes?

Ophelia shut her mouth for a moment and stared blankly at Richard.

The inside of the golden eyes was empty, and only dry, crumbly things were swirling around.

She tightened her grip on his hand and parted her lips.

It looked old.

Even with those words without context, Richard knew what Ophelia was trying to say.

Time.

It must be referring to the time that they did not yet know how much more would pass, even after a long, eons of eternity had passed.

I didnt see it wrong. Its really

Ophelias cheeks went white as she couldnt keep up with her words.

It was because the disgustingly unpleasant and grotesque hatred and obsession that had been seeping in Raisas eyes at that time, as well as the greed that covered it all, could not be erased and came to mind clearly.

Richard pulled the rounded shoulders and trembling chin into his arms.

Ophelias tremors gradually died away from his warmth and support, which was harder than anything else, stronger than winters steel.

She took a short breath and spoke up again.

Lady Neir is more dangerous than Marchioness Neir.

Even the marchioness wouldnt know what the young lady was doing or what kind of eyes she had.

If she knew, there would be no way she could treat her like a puppet.

A lion a lion mask. This is also my leap

Is it treason?

Ophelia unwittingly crumpled Richards shirt as his voice recited her thoughts.

The two didnt say anything, but a lot of words passed between them.

Nothing was certain yet.

No, even thinking like that was really merely a small piece that could only be called a leap.

But they knew who to pursue.

Raisa Neir.

If they looked at the trajectory of what she was doing or what she was likely to do, they would probably catch something.

Though, they didnt even know what it was yet

Soon, Ophelia took a deep breath and raised her head and one hand at the same time, strongly expressing that she had something to say.

When Richard nodded, Ophelia quickly uttered.

Ame: one, step, forrrrrrward (only for the raisa part, not for the love love how sad)

Dea: the love love is coming, one hand holding and eye gazing at a time