Chapter 56 : Hydra’s Gift

Hitana didn’t know that a web woven of pure malice was already tightening around her.

Now, holding evidence in her hands, she no longer felt the joy she once did when catching Hydra’s missteps.

She wasn’t happy—not with the nobles’ clamor, nor with Anselm’s deliberate schemes.

The young wolf, whose horizons had broadened, knew the wealth of the nobles.

Even a sliver of their riches could save countless commoners from freezing in Chishuang Territory’s winters.

The thought that people in the outer districts of Chishuang City froze to death daily, while those nobles gathered, praising Hydra’s “art,” stirred an irrepressible storm of rage in her long-dormant heart.

“This absurdity must end.”

The girl muttered to herself, refusing to accept such twisted rules, such an absurd world.

Though it was a clear day, cold winds occasionally howled past.

Hitana stood on the street, watching passing carriages, her hands gradually clenching, oblivious to the biting chill.

At that moment, she was remarkably calm.

“I can’t do anything alone. Even with this, I can’t effectively spread Count Ironstone’s words.”

Over these days, all of Anselm’s teachings seemed to align perfectly at this moment.

Hitana rubbed the Shadow Crystal, narrowing her eyes and muttering: “Offending that guy is one thing, but spreading this would mean offending Hydra too. In Chishuang Territory… it seems no one has the guts for that.”

Hitana thought of the “Revolutionary Army” she encountered last night, and her mood worsened.

“…Relying on those people? I’d rather hope Hydra starts acting openly and honestly.”

The girl’s impression of the Revolutionary Army was utterly deplorable.

Besides, Hydra had caught them all.

Even if remnants remained, she had no way to contact those elusive stragglers.

“Damn it, I should’ve planned this earlier.” Hitana, now keenly aware of the consequences of reckless actions, bit her nail. “Just holding this thing seems completely useless.”

Unable to find anyone to help expose it, Hitana felt at a loss—showing Count Ironstone’s words to just one person was meaningless.

She needed many, many people to see the footage to stir a wave in Chishuang Territory.

Some noble merchants who recognized Hitana’s identity bowed to her, but our young wolf either ignored them or glared back fiercely, every bit the barbarian.

After going in circles, she had the key item but nowhere to use it, leaving Hitana deeply frustrated.

In her eyes, Anselm was obsessively protective of his reputation in Chishuang Territory.

If she exposed Count Ironstone’s words, his reputation would undoubtedly plummet.

Since Anselm intended to implement those policies anyway, in this scenario, to salvage his reputation, he wouldn’t bother with the nobles and would forcibly push through the original decrees.

If I could pull this off, the lives of Chishuang Territory’s commoners would improve.

Hitana firmly believed this.

“Don’t rush… don’t rush.”

She repeatedly cautioned herself, the mistakes she’d made still vivid: “Think carefully about other options. The initiative is mine.”

“Just one chance… one chance to make this recording public.”

Hitana muttered, strengthening her resolve, and headed toward Anselm’s residence.

***

Having finished his outing, Anselm was in his study, speaking with the important figure he’d briefly conversed with earlier.

“Your Grace, I’ve inventoried the assets plundered by those rebels. They’ll be returned to Chishuang Mansion tonight.”

“You’ve worked hard, little Hydra.”

The ordinary-looking old man in the projection wiped his glasses, sighing helplessly: “If we’d really lost all that, it would’ve been quite troublesome.”

“Among those assets were the crystal core and heart of a Red Ice Python.”

Swirling his wine glass, Anselm’s tone carried a hint of surprise: “I thought Count Chishuang had given them all to you?”

“Cantrell is a greedy and foolish fellow.” The Grand Duke of Gray Tower seemed unsurprised,

“That’s something he would do.”

“Then, shall these two items be sent directly to Tianlu Tower?”

“No, no, no… just let them stay there. I don’t need those two things for now.”

The Grand Duke of Gray Tower appeared unconcerned about his possessions.

“Very well, since you’ve said so, I won’t do anything unnecessary, but…”

Anselm put down his wine glass, interlaced his fingers and said earnestly, “Your security measures at Chishuang Mansion are a bit too lax. To protect those assets, relying solely on restrictions and guards—isn’t that too weak?”

The old man chuckled, “Who would’ve thought they could get their hands on such powerful ether-shielding scrolls? Those are rare items. There aren’t many circulating in the northern black market and most of them were released by us.”

Anselm’s point was reasonable and the Grand Duke’s response was sound.

The young and the old gazed at each other across the distance, one with a polite smile, the other with a kind expression.

“In that case, I won’t disturb you further.”

The young Hydra bid farewell to the gray old fox, “Goodbye, Your Grace.”

“Come to Tianlu Tower sometime.” The Grand Duke of Gray Tower raised his teacup toward Anselm, “I should play the host.”

“Definitely.”

The conversation ended, the image vanished, and Saville’s figure appeared beside Anselm.

“How’s it going?” The meticulous evil serpent held his wine glass, asking leisurely.

“As you predicted, Miss Hitana has completed the recording.”

Saville bowed slightly, “I was a bit worried she wouldn’t know how to operate the Shadow Crystal, but thanks to your guidance, she figured it out before setting off.”

“She must be agonizing over how to make what she saw and heard public.”

Imagining Hitana pacing in circles, muttering to herself, forcing herself to stay calm, her little face scrunched up in intense thought—a silly yet adorable sight—Anselm couldn’t help but laugh.

“Shall we give Miss Hitana that opportunity?”

“It’s too early.”

Hydra’s lips curled upward as he toyed with a ring embedded with an emerald gem—the very one Hitana had taken from the Chishuang Manor treasury.

Or rather, the ring Anselm had arranged for her to take.

The wicked serpent, who had prepared a quagmire of despair for the young wolf, placed the ring in Saville’s hand, and the old butler knew he would return it later.

“Before that, she still needs to receive a small gift from me.”

“To strengthen… her resolve to defeat me or to change me.”

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