CHAPTER 190: THE MIDDLEMAN EXPOSED

By the time Curtis left the room, Mirelle curiously glanced at the document that was thrown to the ground.

Using her magic perception, she read the atrocities committed by these nobles.

’These inhumane bastards!!!’ Mirelle was livid. She unconsciously increased her strength, causing Leonard distress.

"Lower your strength!" Shouted Leonard, who hurriedly reminded her.

"Ah, sorry, Crown Prince." Upon realizing what she had done, Mirelle quickly released her hands and apologized.

She then used her magic to heal his wound. Luckily, it wasn’t a big deal, and the pain was gone in the blink of an eye.

"Please forgive me," Mirelle lowered her head and pleaded. Had it not been for the fact that she came to a realization that Leonard was a far cry from other nobility and princes, she would not have been so submissive.

Actions spoke louder than words.

At first glance, Leonard appeared despicable and even hooligan-like. But once you pierce through the surface, one can see that he carried a lot of burden and even a sense of justice for those who suffered from the powerful.

"Sigh, forget it." Leonard waved his hand and pardoned her action. "I must remind you to learn to control your temper. One who easily exposes their emotions constantly would become an easy target."

"Mirelle understands... It’s just that the room only has us two. Just like how you raised your voice and threw the document to the floor, being out of character." Mirelle smiled awkwardly.

"..."

She had grown some courage!

To think she would dare bring up his outburst from earlier as well.

"Hmph, you must massage harder!" Leonard raised his legs and placed them on her knees.

"Yes, Crown Prince." Mirelle obliged and began using the right amount of strength to massage him.

Time quickly went by, and someone requested an audience.

"Master, Lord Wesley has captured the middleman that fits the description you mentioned." Shirley entered the room and relayed. Traces of jealousy could be seen in her eyes as she subtly glanced at Mirelle, who was servicing the Crown Prince with a massage.

"The middleman has been captured?" Leonard was a bit startled.

He never anticipated Wesley to actually be that capable.

This so-called middleman had managed to avoid the Crimson Guards’ surveillance. That alone spoke volumes of the power behind them.

Yet such a figure was still caught by Wesley.

’It’s a good thing that I planned carefully for a long time before making a move.’ He heaved a sigh of relief. Had he failed to stay hidden and gather more evidence and information first, then he would have been the one done in by Wesley.

"Where is that person then?" He inquired.

"Lord Wesley had sent the person over and is now being detained at the hotel’s basement," Shirley responded. "Do you wish to head over there now? According to the guards, the middleman is very tight-lipped."

"Tight-lipped, eh." Leonard chuckled in amusement. "I sure want to see how tight-lipped he could be."

...

Royal Velastra Hotel, Basement Level

Caroline’s research laboratory was also held on the basement level. But her room was the opposite of where they were currently at.

Upon his arrival in the area, the Crimson Guards all bowed their heads slightly to pay respect to him.

"Crown Prince," One of the higher-ranking Crimson Guards approached him and greeted him.

"Curtis is currently interrogating the man, but with little to no result." They then reported.

Leonard gestured his fingers to dismiss him as he advanced forward.

Once the guards opened the torture room, sounds of whipping could be heard.

"Who is behind you?" Curtis’s voice resounded, his tone mixed with coldness and cruelty.

In response to the question. The middleman spat out a mouthful of blood in disdain. Their hands and arms were all tied up in a magic chain, preventing them from being able to do anything. Yet despite the bloody mess on his body, they remained resilient.

"Mirelle, go and bring Claudia over here," Leonard whispered to Mirelle and promptly entered the room alongside Shirley.

"Hmm, now where have I seen you before?" Leonard rubbed his chin softly and stared at the man. He found the man quite familiar, but couldn’t exactly recall where he had seen him before.

Suddenly, memories of Maegan’s death resurfaced, and his expression soon changed.

"Manager Darren... the one who manages the Enchanted Oasis."

Curtis quickly explained the man’s origin. "That is correct, Crown Prince. This person has been managing the Enchanted Oasis for a while, and records show that he had previously gone to the capital under the excuse of delivering women to some nobles."

"Records, huh?" Leonard raised an eyebrow. "Then how come you couldn’t discover it previously?"

He had already informed the guards to investigate every person who had left and entered Velastra during a certain time frame.

How could they allow such a person to slip through and hide for so long?

Curtis’s body tensed up slightly. He remembered this was the same tone that Leonard used when he was displeased or dissatisfied with something.

"It’s our negligence, Crown Prince." Curtis lowered his head in shame. "We have checked the records and even confirmed that some women had indeed been delivered to the capital by Darren. There were many similar instances such as this, so we didn’t find it suspicious."

"Useless!" Leonard scolded harshly.

Shortly after scolding Curtis, Leonard stepped forward and stared at Darren’s injured state.

"Do you still remember me, Darren?" He calmly asked.

Darren was silent, but he still gave a look at Leonard. From his eyes alone, it was clear that he didn’t recall meeting him directly.

Seeing that he didn’t seem to know about him, Leonard decided to be generous and drop a hint.

"Remember about Maegan’s death? The one that you bought at a discounted price? She bumped into me on the open street."

As soon as he finished saying that, Darren’s pupils constricted.

"Y-You were that merchant?" He stutteringly asked, clearly in disbelief.

’Disguise spell. The Crown Prince was actually in disguise?’ Darren struggled a bit upon realizing the situation.