CHAPTER 62: ELENA’S INVESTIGATIONS 1

(Third Person POV)

The next morning, Elena left the imperial palace and departed the capital, which was located at the heart of the Empire, heading south.

After several hours of nonstop running, she reached a small barony town known as Meerhart Barony.

This was the town that had submitted a petition to the Emperor’s office requesting the construction of a dam due to a water shortage.

Elena came here to investigate the situation and understand what was going on.

She wore simple clothes to avoid hindering her movement and did not wear her mask, as she didn’t want to be recognized as a sorceress.

However, she still attracted attention wherever she went because of her stunning beauty, her black hair, and her red eyes.

She was currently walking through the streets of Meerhart Barony.

It was a simple town. The streets appeared clean and decent, and the houses looked a bit old.

Most of the people on the streets seemed malnourished and showed signs of poverty, reflecting the town’s dire condition.

Elena headed to a well-known local restaurant to have breakfast since she had left without eating anything.

She sat at a table, picked up the menu, and began browsing her options.

’Hmm? What is this? These prices are outrageous. The cheapest meal costs twenty credit points? Even in the capital, only a few high-end restaurants charge like this.’

Elena frowned in confusion as she looked around the modest restaurant and the inflated prices.

A waiter with a tired look on his face approached and stood beside her.

"Welcome, ma’am. Have you decided on your order?"

Elena lifted her head from the menu and looked at the waiter beside her.

"Yes, one burger. Also, I have a question. Why are your prices so ridiculously high?"

She stared intensely at the waiter, making him a bit nervous in front of this beautiful woman.

"Ahem, ma’am, since you’re not from around here, you might not know... Our restaurant is actually the cheapest in town. Other places charge much more."

The waiter spoke cautiously and politely, not wanting to anger the black-haired woman before him.

"You’re the cheapest in town? Don’t joke with me! Even fancy restaurants in the capital don’t have prices this high!"

The waiter began to panic under the cold aura emanating from her and wished he could disappear.

"Ma’am, our town’s situation is complicated. Our prices used to be much lower, but after the Baron raised taxes, everything became more expensive. You can ask anyone; they’ll say the same."

Elena thought about the waiter’s words for a moment before waving her hand for him to leave, which he took as an opportunity to flee for his life.

’Looks like this is going to be more complicated than I expected.’

After a short while, Elena’s meal arrived. She ate quietly, then asked for the bill.

The nervous waiter returned with a paper in hand and gave it to her.

Elena read the bill and her lips trembled at the amount.

"Two hundred credit points?! What the hell?! I only ordered a twenty-credit meal! Where did this number come from?!"

She looked angrily at the nervous waiter, demanding an explanation.

"Ma’am, please don’t be upset. Read the bill carefully and you’ll understand."

Elena read the bill again, and this time, her anger grew.

"Service fee: 100 credits?! What did you do to earn that?! And 80 credits for a donation to a charity?! When did I agree to that?! This is just a scam!"

Before the waiter could respond, a middle-aged man in a formal suit suddenly approached Elena’s table.

"Ma’am, I am the manager of this place. The fees we charge go entirely to those in need. By donating, you’re providing a great service to this city and its poor."

The manager spoke confidently, wearing a wide smile that might convince anyone he was a kind man.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Donation? The needy? Just admit that money’s going straight into your pocket. No need to sugarcoat it, you filthy scammer."

Elena mocked him coldly, seeing through him as she had seen through many others like him in her travels.

The smile faded from the manager’s face as he stared at her in anger.

"Ma’am, don’t accuse people like that. If you don’t pay, I’ll have to call the guards. Why don’t we just settle this? Pay and go on your way."

Elena suddenly calmed down upon hearing his threat, which brought a triumphant grin to the manager’s face.

Then, she suddenly lifted her head, a radiant smile on her face that stunned everyone with its beauty.

But then, slowly, she raised her right hand and extended her middle finger to the manager standing before her.

"Screw yourself, you bastard. I’m not paying a single damn cent."

With one hand, Elena flipped the table in front of her and hurled it toward the so-called manager.

Boom!

The table slammed into the man, knocking him to the floor as he groaned in pain.

"You bitch! What the hell did you do?! I’ll kill you!"

The man struggled to his feet, blood trickling from his head, and glared at Elena.

Boom!

Suddenly, the air in the restaurant grew heavy, making it hard to breathe.

A coldness spread, sending chills down everyone’s spine.

Elena crossed her legs and stared coldly at the "manager" with her blood-red eyes.

"What did you just say?"

The man couldn’t respond. He collapsed again, clutching his throat, unable to breathe under the crushing pressure.

He desperately tried to gasp for air, but it felt like the very oxygen was avoiding him.

He saw a pair of boots in front of him, and when he looked up to plead for help, he met those same cold, red eyes.

Tears ran down his face from fear, and a wet spot formed on his trousers.

"Where did your courage go?"

The black-haired woman’s hand began to move toward him as if she were the grim reaper and this was his final moment.

"Stop! This is the Meerhart town guard!"

Before her hand could reach him, several armored men entered, swords drawn.

They quickly surrounded Elena in the center of the restaurant and drew their blades.

"Stranger, you have assaulted a citizen of our town. Surrender now to lessen your punishment, or we will be forced to arrest you."

Elena’s outstretched hand slowly lowered. She stood silently, observing the guards around her.

’Five... six... seven... eight guards. They arrived way too quickly. There must be a deal between them and this place to trap people who refuse to pay.’

After finishing her thought, Elena walked up to the knight she assumed was the leader and stood before him.

"You—go fetch the Baron. Now."

The guard was puzzled by her confident demeanor but responded with a stern look.

"We cannot summon the Baron over such a trivial matter. If you do not surrender now, we will proceed with your arrest."

The guards began to move in on her.

Bwoooom!

Suddenly, a black magic circle appeared beneath Elena’s feet and spread rapidly, pulling all the guards into it except one.

"Ah!"

"What’s happening?!"

"Please, forgive us!"

The guards screamed in panic as they were consumed by the darkness, but Elena ignored them, focusing on the one in front of her.

"Shall I repeat myself?"

The remaining guard, terrified at the sight of his comrades being swallowed by shadow, snapped out of his fear when she spoke.

"N-no! I’ll get the Baron right away!"

The guard ran out of the restaurant, heading toward the Baron’s mansion.

Elena turned her attention back to the manager and sneered.

"Were those the ones giving you confidence? Pathetic."

The man had been thrilled when the guards arrived.

But that joy quickly turned to despair as he watched the terrifying scene unfold.

Elena approached him slowly, like death itself, causing him to crawl backward on the floor in panic.

Suddenly, his hand was stuck. He looked down and saw the same darkness that had swallowed the guards.

"Ahh... please! I’ll do anything! Please!"

The man began sinking slowly into the shadow, staring into Elena’s red eyes, which remained indifferent to his pleading.

"I’ll give you any amount you want! Just spare my life! Please!"

Tears streamed down his face and his body shook uncontrollably with fear.

Elena turned her head away, leaving him to be swallowed by the darkness, his desperate screams echoing behind her.

Elena sat lazily on one of the wooden chairs, as if she hadn’t just destroyed half the place moments ago. She crossed one leg over the other, pulled out a matte black phone, and began tapping on it calmly, as if she didn’t care about the chaos around her or the darkness still lingering in some corners.

She raised her head slightly and cast a cold glance around the room, then said in a low but commanding voice.

"Everyone, get out."

No one needed her to repeat it. The sound of chairs scraping back and hurried footsteps on the cracked floor was the only response.

Within moments, the place was emptied—leaving only silence... and Elena.

She leaned back comfortably in the chair, still gazing at her phone screen, as if waiting for the Baron was just another boring appointment.