Almost at the same moment, inside Li Ya’s office on the sixth floor of the Merchant Guild.
“Here, this is your new identity.”
Li Ya handed Rex a gilded identity card.
He took it and looked down at it.
On the ornate bronze surface, a line of small text was engraved: Granchester Chamber of Commerce Special Advisor, Rex Leonardo.
Below the name, the chamber’s steel stamp was affixed—it looked very official.
“Leonardo? Special Advisor?”
Rex flipped the card in his hand.
“I won’t complain about you changing my surname, but the title you’ve given me sounds quite unusual.”
“That surname makes you sound more like a native of Orentia. And as for that title…”
Li Ya leaned back in her chair, her fingers unconsciously touching her left shoulder.
The wound had scabbed over, but the new skin always itched, and she couldn’t help pressing it lightly through her clothes.
“I’ve informed my subordinates about that title. You can go anywhere in the chamber of commerce.”
Rex said nothing, simply pocketed the card.
“You are quite generous, my lady president.”
“After all, I still need you to help me root out the mole in the chamber of commerce.”
Li Ya stopped pressing her wound and looked up at him.
“And isn’t this deal a win-win for both of us?”
“But it seems you trust me a bit too much.”
Rex leaned against the window frame.
The mask cast a shadow under the light of the Magic Lamp, making his expression even harder to read.
“Haven’t you ever suspected that I staged the assassination attempt on you myself?”
Li Ya covered her mouth and laughed out loud.
“If you really were that kind of person, why go to all this trouble?”
She stood up and gathered the documents on her desk.
“First you help Aldo with his delivery, then you save my life, and then you follow me back to the main city… What are you after? My few gold coins?”
“Let’s go. Time to head back.”
Li Ya picked up her coat, put it on, and walked out of the office first.
The carriage drove through the streets of the main city.
The sky had completely darkened, but the Magic Lamps on both sides of the street lit up one by one, illuminating the entire road like daylight.
Rex lifted the corner of the carriage curtain and looked outside.
The capital of the Orentia Federation was livelier than he had imagined.
The Empire Capital was certainly bustling, but that kind of bustle was restrained by order—everything was arranged neatly according to the nobles’ tastes.
But here, it was different.
The stone buildings along the street were of varying heights.
Some were decorated with exquisite carvings, while others were just bare brick walls.
The signs also differed in their scripts; some even bore shop names in a dozen languages.
“First time in the Federation?”
Li Ya noticed his curious gaze.
“Yeah.”
Rex lowered the curtain.
“I’ve only seen it in books before.”
“Then you should take a good look around.”
There was a hint of pride in Li Ya’s tone.
“The Federation is different from your Empire. The Empire is one country, one emperor, one set of rules. But the Federation is dozens of small countries lumped together. Each place has its own customs, laws, and temperament.”
“Sounds chaotic.”
“It is chaotic,” Li Ya admitted.
“But chaos has its benefits. If you offend someone here, you can just run over to the next place and no one will bother you. And…”
She paused.
“The more chaotic a place, the more opportunities there are for business.”
“Is the president trying to give me a lesson with that tone?”
“I’m just introducing my own country.”
Li Ya leaned back in her seat, a slight smile on her lips.
“Besides, now that you’re my special advisor, you should at least know a bit about the Federation, right?”
The carriage stopped in front of a three-story villa.
Rex got out and took a look.
Just the courtyard was more than three times the size of his ancient castle.
Two stone statues stood at the entrance, and the shrubs in the garden were neatly trimmed.
This place was truly another world compared to his shabby ancient castle.
Li Ya briskly walked up the steps.
Before she could knock, the door was pushed open from inside.
“You’re back, miss.”
Victor stood at the door, still as meticulous as ever.
His gaze passed over Li Ya and fell on Rex.
He gave a slight bow.
“Mr. Rex, welcome.”
Rex nodded.
Then he saw the person behind Victor.
Hilda had changed into a dark house dress here.
Her silver hair was tied back with a simple hairband.
“My Lord. You’re back.”
“How was your day learning with Uncle Victor?”
Hilda nodded.
“Mr. Victor taught me a lot of useful knowledge.”
Upon hearing this, Victor revealed a subtle smile.
“Miss Hilda learns very quickly. She picks up everything the first time. She’s very interested in the recipes here.”
Li Ya watched this scene with a somewhat complicated expression and quickly changed the subject.
“Is dinner ready, Uncle Victor?”
“Of course.”
Victor stepped aside.
“Please follow me.”
The dining room was on the first floor of the villa.
It wasn’t large but was elegantly arranged.
Three sets of tableware were neatly placed, each polished to a shine.
Li Ya sat down at the head of the table and pointed to the seat next to her.
“Sit down. Make yourself at home.”
Rex sat down.
Hilda naturally stood behind him.
“Please, have a seat as well, Miss Hilda.”
Victor pulled out the chair across from her.
“You are a guest; no need to stand on ceremony.”
Hilda glanced at Rex first.
Only after receiving his permission did she silently sit down opposite him.
“Now, tell me,” Li Ya’s voice became more formal than before.
“What’s your plan?”
“Regarding what?”
“About the mole, of course.”
Li Ya tapped her fingers lightly on the table.
“I’ve already done a round of checks. There are seven people who had access to the complete route map. I had their accounts, communications, and whereabouts for the past six months all investigated. Clean as a whistle. Nothing at all.”
“Is it that you found their behavior was too clean?”
Rex said.
“Exactly. Too clean.”
Li Ya nodded.
“So clean it looks like it was meticulously handled. But I can’t find any solid evidence.”
Rex wiped his hands with a napkin.
“Then don’t look for evidence.”
Li Ya was taken aback, not understanding Rex’s meaning.
“You checked their ledgers, communications, and movements. But these are all ‘surface-level things.’ If the mole has been hiding in the chamber of commerce for this long, they would have taken care of those surface matters long ago. No matter how carefully you investigate, you won’t find anything.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Investigate the things that aren’t on the surface.”
“For example, has that branch president recently suddenly replaced the family carriage with a new one? Has he bought any expensive items for the house? Have his children suddenly come into a large, unexplained allowance? Has he taken on another mistress outside? These things won’t be recorded in the ledgers, but the neighbors will know.”
Rex continued, “Or, for another example, has he suddenly changed any habits recently? Someone who never took time off before—has he been making excuses to go out often? Someone who never drank before—has he started drinking recently? You won’t find these things by checking his travel records.”
“You mean… start from the details of their daily lives?” Li Ya frowned. “But that would take time to observe.”
“No need.”
Rex shook his head.
“For this kind of thing, you don’t need to investigate it yourself. What you need is…”
He glanced at Victor, who was standing nearby.
“Miss, Mr. Rex is right. Having someone from inside the chamber of commerce investigate would be too easily noticed. But if we hire ‘outsiders’…”
“Outsiders?”
Li Ya was startled.
“The street vendors, carriage drivers, tavern waiters. These people spend over a dozen hours on the streets every day. They know better than anyone who bought a new carriage, whose children are wearing new clothes, whose master has been sneaking out for late-night rendezvous.”
Li Ya fell silent.
She looked at Rex, her gaze filled with scrutiny and something unreadable.
“You think fast on your feet.”
Rex didn’t take the bait and continued, “Seven people is too many. Checking them one by one would take too long. We need to narrow it down first.”
“How do we narrow it down?”
“You said the route for the shipment to the Empire Capital was finalized the day before you left. How many people knew about it at that time?”
Li Ya thought for a moment.
“Four. Me, Uncle Victor, Aldo, and…”
She paused, her expression changing slightly.
“And the warehouse manager responsible for dispatching the goods.”
“Uncle Victor and Aldo can be ruled out. That leaves just one person, doesn’t it?”
“You mean… Hermann?!”
Li Ya spoke the name, a hint of coldness in her voice.
“Hermann Brent. He’s been with the chamber of commerce for twenty years, working his way up from a warehouse porter to warehouse manager. Everyone says he’s honest, dependable, and reliable.”
“The most honest people are often the most easily overlooked.”
“Alright. Then let’s start with Hermann. Check if he’s been acting unusually lately.”
“Leave this to Mr. Victor to arrange. Find a few outsiders to keep an eye on him, but don’t tip him off.”
Victor nodded.
“I understand. I’ll arrange it first thing tomorrow morning.”
Li Ya leaned back in her chair and let out a long breath.
She rubbed her forehead, a tired look appearing on her face.
It was the first time Rex had seen that expression on her.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“Tomorrow,” Rex broke the silence, “I’ll take a trip to the warehouse. In my capacity as the new special advisor.”
Li Ya looked at him.
“What are you planning?”
“I’ll meet this Mr. Hermann first and see what kind of person he is.”
“How do you plan to meet him?”
“Just find an excuse.”
Rex stood up.
“For example, the new advisor wants to familiarize himself with the business procedures and asks the warehouse manager to show him around. Very reasonable.”
Li Ya nodded.
“Alright. I’ll have Uncle Victor arrange it.”
Then, Rex indicated that he would go rest first.
Hilda followed him out.
Only Li Ya and Victor remained in the dining room.
“Uncle Victor.”
“Yes, miss.”
“What do you think of this man?”
“Miss, Mr. Rex… is even more formidable than I imagined.”
Li Ya let out a laugh.
There was a hint of self-mockery in that smile, along with something else.
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Upstairs, Rex walked into the guest room Victor had arranged for him.
Hilda followed him in and quietly closed the door.
“My Lord.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you genuinely trying to help, or…?”
“Isn’t this just a deal?”
Hilda was silent for a long time.
Then she walked to the bed and sat down beside him.
“You always do this. You make light of your own affairs, and then treat other people’s matters as if they were your own.”
“Do I?”
“You do.”
Rex didn’t argue.
He just turned his head and looked at Hilda’s profile.
“Get some rest early. There’s a lot to do tomorrow.”
“Mm.”
Hilda stood up.
When she reached the door, she paused.
“My Lord.”
“Hmm?”
“…Good night.”