Chapter 85
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I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower. Chapter 85 "A truly serious problem has arisen."
"What do you mean?"
"Since we don't know who might be watching, would you come with me to the Garden... no, to my private Office?"
Immediately after entering the Office. Ashley, having thoroughly secured the door, retrieved something from atop the desk the moment I took my seat. 'Ah, that's...' What she held in her hands was another 'comic book'—one that bore a strangely similar aesthetic to the cover of the comic we had produced. It was none other than the ambitious work that the Stefan Marquis House had prepared: 【On the Secrets of the Monster Duke】.
"How could something like this happen?"
Ashley quickly explained the entire situation from beginning to end. To provide context, the latest issue of 【On the Safety Protocols of Goedam Duchy】 had just begun a new episode with a rather unique introduction. Normally, the detective protagonist receives cases from clients, but this time, the protagonist takes the initiative to pursue a case herself. And the device used for this was strawberry jam and freshly baked bread. But then...
"The way they use strawberry jam and freshly baked bread to find their target is absolutely identical!"
Ashley's voice, ringing through the Office, laid bare her shock and dismay.
"Some similarity in the cover or title is acceptable! These things happen."
I shared the same sentiment. There was a saying that imitation is the mother of creation, and since comic books had only recently emerged into the world, there were simply too few references to draw from. But when the story itself was similar and a specific element was identical, it was impossible to simply overlook it. This could only be seen as a clear case of story leakage.
"Hmm..."
And I had a fairly good idea of where the story had been compromised. It was a fact known to all the existing artists that Baroness Fabron had joined as a story writer. However, since she had not remained in the Grand Duchy due to circumstances, anyone with sense would have realized that the story for 【On the Safety Protocols of Goedam Duchy】 would be exchanged through correspondence. We were using ciphers for security, but even so, if someone were determined to decode them, it wouldn't take long. So... the situation was actually quite clear. 'Still, this much is within my expectations.' In truth, there was nothing particularly requiring correction in what Baroness Fabron had sent this time. However, if there were any disruptions to the comic book's production, I believed the problem would likely originate from her side, so I deliberately revised the story—which needed no changes—in my own way. Had I not done so... not only would the bread and strawberry jam have been identical, but even the crucial twist would have matched, so in the end, it was the right decision.
"Ashley, I think it would be best if you calmed down first."
"Ah, I apologize. I was just too angry."
"Yes, I understand that completely."
I knew well how much affection she held for the comic book. In fact, not just her, but everyone involved in the comic book's production, including myself, shared the same sentiment. I nodded calmly and spoke each word with deliberate emphasis.
"...Which is precisely why we must respond with even greater composure."
When anger takes the lead, even the most promising situations crumble to ruin. Still, this incident has taught me one thing with absolute certainty. The story leaked from Baroness Fabron's side, not from the Grand Duchy. If Stefan Marquis's comic had copied my revised story, I would have been forced to cast suspicion on every remaining artist in search of the culprit. So this was actually welcome news. The story leak was most likely an accident that occurred during delivery. House Ambrose, one of the most prominent noble families, was renowned for its meticulous security measures. Moreover, if it were discovered that they had planted spies not for political reasons, but merely to steal correspondence exchanged between families... They would have to be prepared to make an enemy of House Ambrose, which wielded tremendous influence over commerce throughout the Cletan Empire. Therefore, it was premature to suspect their involvement. There were countless other ways to access the letters. That left only external sources. The situation changed considerably from that angle. Approaching from the outside wasn't nearly as difficult. A simple letter—its contents weren't complex, so one could copy it and slip it back without issue. Since the Embrose Trading Company handled the logistics distribution for the many enterprises running smoothly in Blaire Grand Duke Territory, extracting a letter hidden among various goods would be child's play. So... as long as one could gain access to the Embrose Trading Company's distribution network.
"It's certain the leak came from Baroness Fabron's side. But what worries me is that based on the dates, the Baroness will be sending the plot for the next issue tomorrow...."
Ashley had regained some composure, but anxiety still clung to her as she muttered nervously.
"Even if Baroness Fabron discovers that 【Secrets of the Monster Duke】 and our comic's current issue overlap, how could she possibly change the plot she's already finished in just one day...?" ....
"Even if by some miracle she manages to come up with brilliant new inspiration and successfully revise everything by the deadline, finding an alternative security method to send it to us would be nearly impossible. This is truly a grave situation."
"No."
I shook my head firmly before Ashley's anxious imaginings could spiral further out of control.
"Don't worry so much, Ashley."
"...Do you have some solution in mind?"
"There's always a second option, even if it's not always the ideal one."
Just as I had revised every story except the strawberry jam and freshly baked bread episode, changing the plot was hardly a difficult task for me. Of course, properly dealing a blow to Stefan Marquis House—the true culprit behind all of this—was an absolutely crucial matter! * * * "Hahahaha! I can't remember the last time I felt this good!"
"The Divine surely watches over your back, Marquis. Otherwise, there's no way everything could proceed so smoothly."
Stefan Marquis, his face flushed from hearty laughter, clapped Robert Count on the back in encouragement—the young man he cherished more than life itself.
"That's right! Robert, you've handled this magnificently. Kekeke."
"By now, Blaire Grand Duke Territory must be in complete chaos. Since news travels slower there than in the Imperial Capital, they barely had time to respond."
How desperately I had wanted to witness that proud face contorted in dismay. Emboldened by Stefan Marquis's satisfied reaction, Robert Count continued with shameless glee.
"The ruffian I employ in the back alleys managed to steal the Embrose Trading Company's logistics ledger. The sales of blackout curtains and thermal bottles have dropped dramatically!"
"Oh? Blackout curtains don't usually generate many refund requests, I've heard?"
"The volume is so large that people find it troublesome. But with no new purchases, significant damage will accumulate quickly, sir."
"Is that so...?"
If things went that way, there was nothing more to wish for. The Stefan Marquis House planned to begin selling silk curtains the moment the blackout curtain craze from the Blaire Grand Duke Territory died down. Just as they had promoted and sold blackout curtains through comic books, Stefan Marquis intended to package the moldy silk curtains and sell them by any means necessary. 'Items made from filthy monster hides sold perfectly well, so what's a little mold?' After examining the devoted readers of the comic books about the Goedam Duchy that had been sold on the Blaire Grand Duke's side, Stefan Marquis reached a single conclusion. These devoted readers would sell their very souls to purchase those curtains if the protagonist promoted them as intentionally moldy. They were truly foolish masses!
"...Tsk. In any case, it seems I can finally see a breakthrough."
"Precisely. Ah, and since the counterfeit tumblers and thermal bottles—cheaper than the genuine articles—are selling like hotcakes, we've decided to lease warehouse space in Rollax County."
"Warehouse space in Rollax County? That won't be cheap, will it? Very... very expensive indeed."
Stefan Marquis's expression darkened considerably. And with good reason—the rental fees for warehouse space in Rollax County were notoriously exorbitant. At the sight of the marquis's stern expression, Robert Count hastily wrung his hands and lowered his posture.
"Yes, yes, of course, but the location is ideal for shipping goods, and above all, the security is impeccable, is it not? Hehe... so we've made a special effort to stretch the budget a bit."
Knock, knock. Just then, a knock sounded from outside, accompanied by footsteps.
"Ah, my wife must have arrived. You may go for now. I'll call for you if needed."
"Yes! Understood, sir. Hehehehe...."
After Robert exchanged a subtle glance with Stefan Marquis and withdrew, the one who entered was....
"My dear."
Audrey Stefan. His wife, with whom Stefan Marquis had maintained a marriage for thirty-five years.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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