The Virtuous Dark Witch

Chapter 60

“Why? Besides me, who else would Duke Austin Corell leave his fortune to?" Elara was in a bad mood. Her smile remained gentle, but her eyes turned cold. Her fingers stroked Cinderaven's head softly.

"No one! Absolutely no one!" Cinderaven lifted a wing to wipe away tears. He shouldn't have spoken up earlier.

Elara was satisfied with that answer. She released Cinderaven. "Then it's settled. If the city construction funds run short, Duke Austin Corell will unconditionally provide financial support to West Sea Mall and Luohe Plains." She grabbed paper and brush, scribbled quickly, then took blood ink and pressed Cinderaven's paw print onto it.

Why did this feel so deeply tragic? Cinderaven stared at his red paws. He hadn't agreed to anything. He had been forced. And had little Dessey forgotten that he was cursed with the Twin Spirit Curse because of the West Sea?

He looked up to see a Dessey Witch humming a tune, folding the Overlord Contract, and storing it in a Little Night Box. Once again, he realized how quickly hearts could change. Only a few days ago, she had sympathized and felt guilty toward him. Now… He had to stay alive. Between wealth and life, he had to keep at least one.

After putting the Night Box into the Secret Chamber, Elara turned back and patted Cinderaven's back. "Tell Duke Austin Corell to rest easy. We Dessey Witches always keep our word once paid. We will do our utmost to help him break the Twin Spirit Curse."

Cinderaven silently lifted a paw and stepped aside, avoiding her hand. He reluctantly replied insincerely, "With your promise, Austin Corell can rest easy."

Rest easy, my foot. He was terrified little Dessey would murder him for his inheritance when she was desperate. "This transformed being night raid has not only severely damaged West Sea Mall and Luohe Plains but also greatly harmed West Sea Forest's reputation. We cannot let this go lightly."

Was he planning to sacrifice others to save himself? Elara was pleased with Cinderaven's awareness. She sat down to discuss the night raid. "Andrea Capital is the Andros stronghold. I'm alone; I can't act recklessly."

Not act recklessly? Was she kidding him? Cinderaven wanted to remind her that the city beneath their feet had just changed lords. But a bird under the roof had to hold back his anger. "When you reach Andrea Capital, don't rush to demand compensation. First contact your aunt Thea Dessey. Tell Alexander about the Blood Pact and those Andros with strange bloodlines."

That was exactly her plan. Elara rested her elbows on the table and held her chin. "You want the seven dukes to know West Sea Forest opposes the Blood Pact, so they will weigh the situation and remain neutral—or support my claim for compensation?"

"You can put it that way," Cinderaven blinked his bright black eyes. "Actually, I have another suspicion."

Elara smiled knowingly. "You suspect the transformed beings who raided West Sea Mall are connected to the Blood Pact?" As expected, Austin Corell, who had suppressed the Andros for ten thousand years, would not become shallow just because his soul was trapped in a body. This was to pull out more secrets. "Tonight, we are going to the Blazing Sun Pit in Rodley Valley."

Traces of what they needed should still remain there. With that evidence, the seven founding Andros dukes would be more willing to cooperate.

"Quietly," Cinderaven loved Elara's wit. "There's no proof, and no faction will claim responsibility. Once you have evidence, you can shape the truth however you want—no one will contradict you."

Elara nodded, poking Cinderaven's beak gently with one finger. "How cunning!"

This was a diverting disaster, thank you very much! If he didn't help her get money, how would she see his worth? Cinderaven stared at her pearl-like finger, tempted to peck until she bled. "Cinderaven's loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon!"

"Mm, I can tell," Elara laughed, picked up Cinderaven, and went to the window. She looked down at two young wolf shadows speeding across the street. "They're bringing food to their father." There seemed to be more pedestrians on the street.

Inside the City Guard Mansion, Tony and Lona led the merchants, buried in calculating the numbers on the forms, comparing them to September earnings from the previous three years. They worked from sunrise to sunset, then from sunset to sunrise.

Except for meals, they barely slept. Finally, they finished calculating the losses of West Sea Mall and Luohe Plains within Elara's deadline.

Everyone, including Tony and Lona, had expected a huge sum and had prepared themselves mentally. But when the final number appeared, they were still shocked—it was simply enormous.

Elara carried Cinderaven into the castle, stepped quickly to Tony's side, and said, "Give it to me."

Tony, having recovered from the shock, bowed and offered the ledger. "Lord Elara, please review it."

Elara took the ledger, placed the numb Cinderaven on the table, flipped through a few pages, then went straight to the final result. "Thirteen million six hundred ninety thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine gold coins, and seven hundred and sixty-one silver coins."

Wilson had just stepped into the castle when he heard the amount. He gasped in shock. "That much?!" Did he hear correctly? He turned to the mature young Rozin. Where had little Dessey found an accountant better than Lona?

Once he solved the two-thousand-year-old mystery of the missing wolves, he would hire Tony to calculate the Macadam Tribe's losses too.

"Excellent." Elara was extremely pleased with the number. She closed the ledger and looked at Tony. "About my earlier proposal—you may give me your answer now." Tony had exceeded her expectations. It was a pleasant surprise.

After leading the large-scale loss calculation, Tony had gained new confidence. His eyes held no doubt. He placed his right hand over his chest and knelt on one knee. "Tony thanks Lord Elara for your recognition. I will not let you down."

"Good." Elara gestured for him to rise and took out a Blood Rose Crystal Card. "From today, you are the Accountant of the City Guard Mansion. Due to staff shortages, you may also need to oversee Luohe Plains' accounts temporarily."

Tony glanced at the card but did not take it immediately. Instead, he suggested, "The City Guard Mansion's accounts may become very complex." I believe it is necessary to build a formal, dedicated accounting team." This was a lesson he had learned during the city-wide calculation.

"Do as you say." Elara had never intended to overload Tony with work. She was not a cruel boss. "Building a team will take time. Keep an eye on it."

"Yes." Tony sighed in relief, knelt again, and accepted the seemingly light but deeply meaningful card.

Elara glanced at the two stacks of ledgers neatly arranged on the table. She picked up Cinderaven and said to Wilson, "Load the ledgers onto the carriage. Have Nam and the others take down the transformed beings hanging on the walls. We leave for Andrea Capital in two hours." She walked toward the door.

“Wait—”

As little Dessey passed him, Wilson reached out to stop her. "With such huge losses, are you sure you don't want to hire me to go with you? The other side has—excluding the missing Austin Corell—seven founding Andros dukes."

Lona rolled her eyes and scolded Wilson before Elara could speak. "Are you deaf? Lord Elara just said 'we leave for Andrea Capital'! Are you a wolf or not?"

Look at his pathetic face. She had thought he could rely on his looks to win Lord Elara over and lead the Macadam Tribe to wealth and comfort. That hope had died after just two days.

Was that true? Wilson saw Elara did not deny it. He immediately lowered his arm and smiled. "I'll go load the ledgers."

Thea Dessey and Alexander would be married in a few days. At such a time, little Dessey was bringing a group of transformed beings to demand payment. He couldn't miss the excitement.

Elara gave him a cold look. "Make sure the City Guard arrangements are proper." She carried Cinderaven out of the castle. "If West Sea Mall is disturbed again, part of the losses will be charged to the Macadam Tribe."

Wilson, who had just picked up a stack of ledgers, froze at the words. The smile on his face stiffened at the thought of the huge sum. He looked at Lona, who also looked uneasy. Before he could speak, Lona could no longer stay. "I'll go check the city."

The transformed beings hanging on the four walls were taken down. Though emaciated, regular raw meat from the Werewolves had kept them alive. To ensure the journey went smoothly, Elara had Wilson buy large amounts of raw meat to feed them before departure.

Four ropes linked three hundred and sixty transformed beings into four chains. Wilson held one end of a rope and led a female deer, riding a stag leisurely behind West Sea Forest's black carriage.

Inside the carriage, Elara continued her daily cultivation. Cinderaven rested on the long table, under which lay a small stack of ledgers and several crumpled black cloaks. Two black horses trotted out of West Sea Mall, heading east under the gaze of several Werewolves.

Elara had wanted to keep a low profile on the way to Andrea Capital, but the procession was simply too large and eye-catching. Many factions were watching West Sea Forest.

Within a day, the news spread like wildfire: Elara Dessey, Lord of West Sea Forest, after taking over Anastas City and Luohe Plains, had arrested large numbers of Andros active in both areas.

Andros forces across the land immediately sent representatives to Andrea Capital, closely monitoring Elara Dessey and Anastas City.

In the central castle of Stirling Manor in Andrea Capital, Yade Anastas had knelt in the first-floor hall for two days and nights. Still, his noble great-ancestor showed no sign of meeting him.

Alexander, who had been kicked out of his room by Thea, listened to Butler Luke's report and wandered to the central castle out of boredom. Carter, Head Steward of the central castle, who had been standing respectfully beside Yade Anastas, quickly stepped forward when he entered, placed his right hand over his chest, and bowed. "Lord Earl, are you here to see Duke Alexandra Stirling?"

"No," Alexander gestured for him to step aside and sat down on the long leather chair in the hall.

Carter did not dare to step back. He opened a new bottle of blood, poured it into a crystal glass, and offered it to Alexander. "Lord Earl, would you like to drink now?"

"I'll do it myself." Alexander poured a cup, took a small sip, and looked at the pale Yade Anastas kneeling stiffly on the floor. "What are you begging for?"

The rumors outside changed every moment. He was tired of listening and didn't believe a word. Little Elara was cold, but anyone who knew her understood she only struck if struck first. She would not arrest Andros for no reason.

Yade Anastas hid his hatred, lifted his head, and met Alexander's gaze. His dry lips moved twice before he spoke hoarsely. "Grandmother was right. So-called love has blinded your beautiful eyes. Lord Earl Alexander, please remember your noble birth and everything it has given you."

"Tch," Alexander sneered. "I haven't forgotten my identity. On the contrary, the one who has forgotten is you."

He stood up with his glass, one hand in his pocket, and walked before Yade Anastas. He said mockingly, "You kneel here begging for Anastas City." But with your bloodline, you don't even deserve to call the one in the study upstairs 'Great-Ancestor', let alone inherit a city. That is the truth you must accept."

Yade Anastas had never suffered such humiliation. His pale red pupils reflected Alexander's arrogant face. He had killed his father for a filthy Witch. How dare he act so arrogantly, without guilt, to the only child of Rocky Anastas?

"Do you hate me?" Alexander no longer hid his disdain, l*****g the blood from his lips. "Anastas City no longer exists. West Sea Mall and Luohe Plains both belong to West Sea Forest. All of this was given by your grandmother Ana Stirling and your father Rocky Anastas."

"If you hadn't existed back then—"

"Even without me, your father would have died." After learning about Duke Austin Corell from little Elara, Alexander suspected the duke was close to her. He just hadn't found any proof. "And he would have died a more painful death."

Duke Austin Corell had always opposed Andros nobles recklessly transforming humans and disliked the existence of Moonlight. Ana Stirling and Rocky Anastas had long offended him greatly. In the past, they would have been either burned to ashes in the sun or stripped of their bloodlines.

"What are you doing downstairs?" Duke Alexandra Stirling stood at the top of the stairs, his long white eyebrows furrowed. He looked displeased at Alexander's casual clothes. "Come up. I have something to say to you."

Alexander handed the glass to Carter. He could guess what his father wanted to discuss. He looked up and asked, "Can I refuse?" West Sea Forest's business wasn't his problem, and he couldn't make decisions for little Elara.

"Come up." Duke Alexandra turned back into the study. He acted as if Yade Anastas didn't exist from start to finish, completely breaking Yade.

"Coming." Alexander sighed helplessly, looked at the devastated Yade, and kindly warned him. "Don't always listen to your grandmother. She is foolish and confused. She has survived only because of her father's status. You don't have that luxury." He looked away and walked upstairs. "And don't think you're clever. You know perfectly well what those outside rumors are about."

The rumors had escalated rapidly, even claiming Elara Dessey intended to exterminate the Andros. It amazed him even sitting at home. If no faction was deliberately manipulating this, he would renounce the Stirling name to the old man in the study who had been bothering him lately.

He pushed open the door, sat opposite the old man, and glanced around. "Where is Mother?"

"She went to Eliza Miller's to pick up Thea's wedding dress," Duke Alexandra tapped his fingers on the table. "Elara Dessey will arrive in Andrea Capital at noon tomorrow."

Alexander slouched lazily in his chair. "When you asked my little friend to refine the Dark Soul Cord, you called her Lord Elara. Now that she's coming to demand justice, you call her Elara Dessey."

If Lisandra weren't the only child, Duke Alexandra would have beaten this reckless boy to death. He replied coldly, "You and Thea are marrying soon. Calling her Lord Elara would be too formal."

"Based on past experience, I think formal is better right now." Alexander dropped his laziness and leaned over the table. "Thea was gentle to me all afternoon. But half an hour ago, after receiving a letter from my little friend, she completely changed and kicked me out. She's clearly taking it out on me."

Unfortunately, the little black bat had chattered for nearly two minutes. He had strained his ears but understood nothing. Thea's face had darkened visibly.

"Elara… Lord Elara captured Andros, who are all transformed beings." Duke Alexandra wasn't sure what she planned, but based on previous contact, he and Lisandra had some suspicions.

"Transformed beings?" Alexander frowned. "Were there that many in Anastas City?" He suddenly felt his own bloodline wasn't so noble.

Duke Alexandra shook his head. "Those transformed beings weren't originally from Anastas City. They raided West Sea Mall on the night it was renamed from Anastas City and were captured then." He had received the news days ago. "But this time, Lord Elara didn't kill them immediately like before."

Because they were transformed beings, he hadn't paid much attention at first. In the eyes of Andros nobles, transformed beings were no different from Rozin people—lowly beings.

"Raided West Sea Mall?" Then he understood why his little friend hadn't killed them. His mood improved after being kicked out. "Transformed beings are lowly, but the ones who turned them must be Andros nobles. Besides cultivating witchcraft and loving money, my little friend has few other hobbies."

Unable to catch a high-profile fool like Ana Stirling, she kept the transformed beings alive and marched them all the way to the capital to find their masters. That was exactly something little Elara would do.

Duke Alexandra hadn't interacted with Elara much, but he knew the young lord loved money. He smiled bitterly at his son's words. "Then we need do nothing but wait for her to enter the capital."

But thinking about finding "masters", Alexander's smile faded. "Father, who is helping her identify their bloodlines?"

Duke Alexandra froze, then sighed deeply and walked to the window. "Brett Hall has been waiting for Benily Larissa. He already realizes something is wrong with him. Your mother questioned the steward of Redney Manor. In the past seven days, Brett has sent eleven groups of followers to find Austin. He sighed again, full of powerlessness, and turned back to his son. “Alexander…”

Before Duke Alexandra could finish, Alexander interrupted. "I can't enter West Sea Forest, and Thea isn't taking me with her. The love between Thea and me is pure, and we both cherish it. Using her would be betraying that love."

"Very well." Duke Alexandra did not press.

"However…," Alexander wiped his nose. "I can ask little Elara again." If something can be said openly, she won't hide it from me."

Marching a group of emaciated transformed beings into Andrea Capital would create a huge spectacle. Cinderaven didn't mention arranging a grand display at all, which saved Elara a lot of trouble. The people of Andrea Capital witnessed West Sea Forest's "feat" again. The whole city fell silent.

Thea had long known Elara's arrival time and waited at a crossroads not far from the city gate. Alexander had shamelessly tagged along. When Thea stepped into the carriage, he held her arm tightly and refused to let go.

Sitting inside successfully, Alexander felt flattered. From this moment on, he thought, he was family with the Dessey Witches. "Little Elara, is that group outside your wedding gift to us?"

Elara glanced at him. How arrogant!

"We're family now. Keep the gift." Alexander thought the emaciated beings were an eyesore. "If you really want to give something, you could cast Black Mandala on us at the wedding." It's beautiful, and your aunt likes it too."

"Very well," Elara agreed cheerfully.

Cinderaven, coiled before Elara, looked sympathetically at Alexander. In just one month, Alexander had done two things he would regret for the rest of his life. First: daring to tease her recklessly. Second: just now, daring to look down on those transformed beings. Did he know how valuable they were?

"You've worked hard," Thea held Elara's hand. "Is everything all right at home?"

Elara nodded. "Everything's fine. Little Diane and Little Dana are growing healthy and plump."

Diane and Dana? Who were they? Alexander turned to Thea. It seemed she was hiding many things from him.

"Good," Thea ignored Alexander's gaze. "What do you plan to do with the group outside?"

Speaking of that, Elara turned to Alexander. "On my return to West Sea Forest, I encountered two interesting things."

"What things?" Alexander was curious. "About Little Diane and Little Dana?"

Elara shook her head, leaned forward, and frowned. "Do any Andros survive after having their heads torn off and hearts ripped out?"

Alexander's eyes darkened. He roughly understood his little friend's meaning. "You encountered them?"

"I did." Elara held up two delicate fingers. "Two groups of nearly a hundred." The first broke directly into West Sea Forest—all dead. The second ambushed me halfway. I blasted them into pieces with Dark Nether Fire Bombs. Then I watched as the flesh and blood scattered everywhere regrouped. Andros nobles who should have been dead stood up and rejoined the battle."

"How is that possible?" Thea turned to the grim-faced Alexander. "When did such a faction appear among the Andros?"

Alexander shook his head. "I don't know." His father probably didn't either. "Then what? How did you kill them?"

"Kept killing them until they stayed dead." Elara lifted her right foot, hooked a piece of tattered cloth, and tossed it to Alexander. "This is the black cloak Andros wore. I examined it—they are light artifacts that block sunlight and aura."