Bluebird Lady and The White Lion Family Chapter 73
As if on cue, the information was quick to reply.
That she would be visiting soon.
Eventually, Sophina invited the informant in on the pretense of repairing the clock.
In the parlor of the old Chadwick House.
The informant, whom she hadn’t seen since that little disturbance, was still the same.
She opened the door in her usual dulcet bass voice.
“You wanted to see me, customer?”
“Yes, I did. I’ve been thinking about this request, and there’s something else I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
Despite Sophina’s slightly challenging tone, the informant just smiled like a good-hearted monk.
I was worried that the contract would be a little awkward, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
Trying not to show it, Sophina got down to business.
“About the pocket watch in the secret location, it looks exactly like the one I got from the watchmaker in the first place.”
The informant raised an eyebrow.
Sophina watched the change in expression and added, “Is that a joke, or is there something to it? I mean, I’m sure it triggers some weird memory or something.”
“It should say on the back. Memories don’t change.”
“What?”
The informant turned more serious, and blurted out a few words, sounding a little wistful.
“I’m always dropping hints, customer.”
What does that mean?
Sophina’s chestnut-colored eyes took on an eerie glint.
‘I don’t think she’s playing a prank, but she has important information for me, and judging by the fact that it was found in a secret place, I’m guessing that pocket watch is worn out.’
‘Why are there two pocket watches, the first one I received and the one I found in the secret place?’
No two are alike, as each has its own unique power. It was a strange thing indeed.
‘Maybe it’s not an artifact.’
I was a bit puzzled as I had no clue.
At the sight of Sophina, the informant sighed and changed the subject.
“Oh, this is information about your request.”
A fairly detailed document with a picture of the object in the secret location.
Sophina’s eyes widened at the information.
‘Since she was the one who knew about the secret place first, she must know a lot.’
A detailed explanation of how to use them and their advantages and disadvantages, like someone who has used them all.
Sophina flipped through the papers, admiring each one in turn.
“That’s a lot of information. If you knew all this, why didn’t you take it first?”
“Because I thought there was someone else who could use it better?”
After the enigmatic and meaningful response, the informant asked back in a more casual tone.
“What are you going to use these for, anyway, customer?”
Sophina’s lips curled in concentration.
“Well, the war just started, so I thought I’d do something to help…”
But why am I explaining the situation?
She trailed off and her eyes flicked over to the informant.
“You seem to have a lot of questions.
“I’m more curious than I realize.”
A seasoned informant took the document from Sophina.
She flipped to a particular page.
“In that case, you might as well give this to your husband, because it’s a great find.”
What the informant was referring to was a sword.
It was a specialized sword that could apparently cut through anything, even souls.
It was from the original story, so Sophina knew it.
However, she had no intention of using it.
It was the original heroine’s favorite. I feel like I’m taking something that belongs to someone else.
“Oh, I can’t do that.”
Sophina muttered softly to herself.
The informant, shrewdly picking up on the subtle muttering, spoke up.
“Why not?”
“I just can’t.”
Sophina took the stack of documents from the informant and shook her head in disbelief as she looked at the others.
And then the informant snapped at her.
Hmm…
“It’s interesting. The woman who cut me off at every word is the first customer I’ve ever had.”
“First ever?”
Sophina interrupted, her voice cracking.
What’s the point of making such a stupid joke?
The informant winked smugly.
“Yes, I find you charming.”
Why the hell does this lady have to say that, I could almost feel it.
Sophina shot back with the heart of a part-time student fending off a flirtatious customer.
“What are you expecting from me? I’m a married woman.”
But the answer was unexpected.
“I’m about to get married, you know.”
Huh?
Sophina’s eyes widened.
“You’re getting married?”
“Yes, to a very handsome man. In, what, a few years?”
“Oh, in a dream?”
What, there I go again.
Sophina shot back with a teasing look.
‘I can’t believe I’m doing this. It’s like I’m talking to someone I’ve known for years.’
It was weird. She’s shady, and she has no conscience.
I’m just holding on to her because I think I might need her later.
Why does it feel so tense, like we’re in a relationship where we both hate each other and don’t care?
While Sophina was confused, the informant slammed the table with her palm, interrupting her thoughts.
The informant brought the conversation back on track.
“So why can’t we do it, my dear customer?”
Why does the informant keep showing interest in this? If I didn’t answer, she’d chase me to the ends of the earth.
Sophina gave a short answer, “I have someone else to write for.”
I couldn’t believe it, but I couldn’t explain the whole story.
Since then, the same thing has happened again. It’s like a back-and-forth situation, with the informant suggesting it and Sophina denying it.
“This is very strange, my dear customer.”
The informant hit the nail on the head, as if seeing right through her.
“It’s as if there’s another owner, and you’re the one who found this.”
Her jaw clenched in a sneer, and she glared at Sophina.
Sophina batted her eyelashes unnecessarily at the blatant stare.
It was definitely weird. That’s something I never thought I’d hear from someone who said that, and it seemed like it was true…
‘Honestly, I’m not interested in the original heroine, but I don’t want to ruin someone’s life.’
I don’t want to feel indebted.
Meanwhile, the informant continued, “I’ve been there before, but you’re unnecessarily nice, and that’s the problem, customer.”
She reached out and stroked Sophina’s head as if in praise. Then she rose to her feet as if nothing had happened.
The informant pulled something out of her bosom.
“I’ve got something else for you, just in case.”
What…
‘Why does she sound like she’s known me since forever?’
Just as I was wondering that, the informant waved goodbye and disappeared.
“I’ll leave you to it, then, dear customer.”
Suddenly alone, Sophina blinked dazedly. Then she came to her senses and looked at the papers the informant had left behind.
As if she’d read her mind, it contained nothing but direct help.
‘Huh?’
That was it!
Sophina’s face instantly lit up. She had found something to salvage from the documents.
What could possibly be useful in a war?
‘Weapons and their underlying metals.’
Since I had already made the cure, I thought I’d try something else.
There were many types of ores in the secret place. Some had mysterious properties, but there were two that caught Sophina’s eye.
The sharpest ore in the world, and one that possessed an ego-like quality that protected its owner.
‘I must forge an alloy.’
Maybe then I could create a new metal that would serve as both spear and shield.
Of course, I’ve never done anything like this before, so there was a high probability of failure.
‘But we do have a jack-of-all-trades scientist here, don’t we?’
Sophina went straight to Canus.
Canus was strolling through the garden, crawling around.
With an uncanny amount of gentleness, Sophina scooped him up and gave him a quick hug, praising him.
“My smart, cute, cool, and wonderful Canus, who does all the good things in the world by himself!”
It was clear she wanted something.
Canus snorted,
— I know I’m smart, but I’m not buying it.
Sophina pretended not to hear and nudged the little snake.
“How about we try one of our breakthrough inventions?”
Get it, mad scientist!
Perhaps sensing Sophina’s true intentions, Canus cast Sneak Attack differently than before.
— Invention? No. You think I’m going to fall for that again? You’re going to make my life hell!
“This sister is going to try the weapons business, and if it works out, I’ll give you the job of being the Boss.”
Eventually, Sophina pulled out a trick.
A word that Canus would love.
— Boss?
“Yes, you’ll be the boss now.”
Sophina’s voice had taken on a devilish twist. She was planning to expand her business. Not just cures, but food from the Roneache flower.
If we were to develop and deliver minerals, the business would become even more complicated.
I needed to hire someone who could handle it.
‘That’s exactly what Canus is.’
Sophina gestured to Canus with a glint in her eye.
The little snake scratched its head with his tail, and then gave his acceptance.
— Ahem. Go ahead, then.
‘You’re caught!’
And just like that, Sophina had won a permanent research slave.
A few days later.
They sat spread out in a laboratory set up in a corner of Sophina’s office.
Our poor lab slave, Canus, complained to Sophina about his momentary lapse in judgment.
— I’ve been tricked, I haven’t weighed in for ten days, and my snakebites breaks are on the lab schedule!
Don’t ever take the graduate school route, my dear. I remembered the words of the academy students.
Feeling a pang of regret, Sophina turned to Canus and said shamelessly.
“Sure. Who said it was a good idea?”
— Are you trying to pummel me?
“Huh? Hey, look, it’s overflowing.”
She skillfully deflected his rebellious tone.
Without missing a beat, Canus wandered off to do whatever she asked.
— Where, where?
—?
Sophina used her powers to remove the alcohol lamp that had been heating the beaker.
The bubbling black liquid slowly subsided. She wiped the soiled desk with a tissue and spoke to Canus.
“I’m helping, you know.”
— Heh, if I can’t humanize yet, what if I can’t help with this?
And I haven’t even found the main building.
The grumpy but diligent Sophina flipped through her lab journal.
“But how come we’re getting nowhere?”
— The two ores are too incompatible. Melting them at high temperatures, mixing them, and solidifying them won’t allow their unique properties to come through.
Nothing comes easy in this world.
Sophina flopped down on the long desk she had set up for the experiment.
“Chemistry is dead.”
— Die.
Canus thumped along with Sophina.
After this time of strumming and meditation. A brilliant idea popped into her head.
‘If we don’t mix it up, it’ll be just fine!’
Sophina suggested to Canus, looking up from the table.
“Well, what if we don’t mix it at all, but just kind of splice it together?”
— Oh, that’s kind of like what I had in mind, listen…
Canus had a similar idea, and he gave her the recipe for the ancient mineral he’d seen in the texts.
Sophina snorted and held out her hand.
“Huh? Dude, you must be a genius!”
Canus did a little dance of joy and high-fived her with his tail.
One day, fueled by a spark of inspiration, the researchers got to work.
Canus gazed at the finished product, a metal piece embroidered with different colors of marbling, and exclaimed.
— Hey, look at this! Doesn’t this feel good?
“Yeah, it does. It’s kind of cool.”
Sophina immediately took the metal outside and called in a group of servants to test it safely.
‘It worked!’
The result was a resounding success.
“I’ll have to tell Ricardo.”
She smiled wryly to herself.
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