Chapter 16: The Azure Witch (Seeking Continued Reading)
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The following day.
Inside the president’s office at Starfall Society headquarters.
“Miss Olivia, has my reward come through yet?”
Ron wore an expression of eager anticipation, his eyes brimming with a fervent desire to improve himself.
The advance on his wages had already gone toward paying off his debts. At present, Ron had only six gold lions, four silver eagles, and a scattering of loose change to his name.
As a result, he had no choice but to set his sights on the superior who had dangled a promise before him.
The black-haired woman lounged lazily in her office chair, the room thick with the pungent scent of alcohol.
Her black hair spilled loosely over her shoulders, the lower third curling into large, flowing waves. A trace of drunkenness lingered in her amber eyes, while a broad, alluring flush, like oleander blossoms, colored her exquisite face.
Judging by her appearance, she must have done plenty of drinking the night before.
Olivia cast Ron a sidelong glance with her lovely fox eyes, then curled a finger and tapped on the desk.
“How many times do I have to tell you? When we’re at work, you’re to call me President.”
“You little bastard. Do you have any idea how many complaint letters from nobles I received yesterday because of your mess?”
Complaints?
At that, Ron’s expression did not change in the slightest. He merely muttered under his breath, “What does that have to do with me? When you receive complaints, shouldn’t you first reflect on your own conduct?”
“Whether you’ve been working hard all these years, whether you’ve been slacking off when dealing with anomalies…”
Who taught you to talk like that?
Olivia’s eyelid twitched violently. She had a feeling that this fellow would become a grave source of trouble sooner or later.
Before he had even joined the organization, he had dared threaten her with accusations of sexually harassing a minor. On his very first day of employment, he had already dared to mock her sarcastically.
If one more day passed like this, would he end up taking over the president’s seat as well?
The thought made Olivia spring to her feet and slam both hands onto the desk. Her body bent into an elegant curve as she leaned over the boy with imposing pressure.
“Investigator Ron, do you think I’m easy to deal with, hmm!?”
Her voice carried a firmness and an unmistakable authority unlike anything before. Olivia decided that it was time to establish the dignity of her office.
She could not remain on the losing end forever!
Yet when faced with his superior’s reprimand, the blond youth showed none of the panic she had expected.
Instead, he nodded with perfect sincerity, flashed his small white teeth, and gave her a thumbs-up.
“Miss Olivia, you really are easy to talk to.”
“And you’re gentle, kind, and generous. You’re also the second person in this world who’s been the nicest to me.”
Gentle? Kind? Generous?
The second person in the world who had been nicest to him?
Was he talking about her?
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Olivia suddenly froze, unable to stop her old face from turning red.
Renowned for her genius and martial prowess, she had never before received such lofty praise.
Most people described her behind her back as a genius, a legend, violent, overbearing, unreasonable, a drunken woman…
And yet today, someone had bravely revealed the truth and restored her to her true spiritual nature.
This, this…
The harsh words the black-haired woman had carefully prepared became lodged in her throat, unable to rise or fall.
She wanted to maintain the president’s dignity, but when she saw the clear, guileless look in the boy’s eyes, the wicked thought immediately subjected her to severe moral condemnation.
The office remained silent for several seconds. At last, the black-haired woman sat back down in her chair with the expression of someone suffering from constipation and said sourly, “Don’t try to curry favor with me. Even if you say things like that, I’m not giving you a single extra penny!”
Ron obediently nodded without offering an opinion.
That only gave Olivia another headache.
Her plan to establish her authority had ended in utter failure.
Instead, she had somehow made herself look like a complete pushover.
“Well, well, Ron Griffith. I do like that talent you have for playing dumb.”
Olivia rolled her eyes, then curled a finger and tapped the desk again.
“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Pity filled her amber eyes. Ron’s backside clenched.
“The mastermind who helped Xilan Valentine take revenge has been found. The Church has uncovered some clues as well, and they match my deductions perfectly.”
Seeing Ron discreetly prick up his ears, a trace of slyness passed through Olivia’s beautiful fox eyes.
“That person is a major wanted criminal pursued by both the kingdom and the Church, the leader of a mysterious secret society, and a notorious rebel chief.”
“She is known as the Azure Witch!”
“They say taking revenge on her enemies is her favorite pastime. What do you think, Third-Rank Investigator Ron? Do you think she might come looking for you in the middle of the night?”
The Azure Witch…
Why had you not said so sooner?
At that moment, Ron stood rigid in place, his heart turning cold.
He had heard of that infamous and terrifying figure!
The witch was said to stand eight feet tall, with a blue face and fangs, wielding a magic staff as thick as a bowl and using it like a cudgel. Her favorite thing to eat was Xiao Chunan, to replenish her magical power.
Moreover, no one had ever seen the Azure Witch’s true appearance. Anyone who did was forcibly imprisoned and offered up as a sacrifice to exchange for power from an evil god.
Of course, none of that was the most important part.
The most important part was that Ron had once read a forbidden book modeled after the witch: The Azure Witch and the Seven Dwarfs.
The boy vaguely remembered that, on that lonely night, his pure and earnest self had opened the fairy tale he had bought from a secondhand stall, determined to study it with the utmost seriousness.
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The book vividly recounted the tale of seven dwarf brothers who risked their lives, exploring the treasures hidden within the witch’s cavern with their own bodies.
It had cast an indelible shadow over his tender young heart!
“President, I think…”
“Don’t call me President. Call me Miss Olivia.”
Olivia arched her willow brows and mercilessly interrupted Ron’s shameless attempt to grow closer to her.
At that moment, the blond youth felt an immeasurable sorrow well up in his heart.
He had never imagined that his sincere praise would be held against him by such a petty woman.
In this cold and heartless society, were honest people not allowed to live anymore?
“President, I’ve risked my life for Starfall Society.”
“You can’t just stand by and watch the witch carry me away!”
Ron hurriedly seized the conversation, trying to make Olivia understand the gravity of the situation.
He was only a lowly apprentice mage. If the witch truly came knocking at his door, he feared he would end up being treated as a magical snack.
The black-haired woman, however, seemed not to hear him. She simply watched from the side.
Several long minutes passed. Only after Ron had called her “President” again and again in the sweetest, most ingratiating voice did the black-haired woman finally feel satisfied and let go of her irritation.
So the little rascal is afraid of witches after all. I thought there was nothing in this world he feared…
Olivia gave an inward scoff. She wound a strand of black hair around her fingertip without even lifting her eyelids and said calmly, “Why are you panicking? The Azure Witch won’t come to the royal capital. At most, it will be one of her subordinates—and her subordinates are currently facing a large-scale manhunt.”
“Besides, you’re under my protection. Understand?”
The sheer security in those words made Ron solemnly nod.
When one ventured out into the world, one had to rely on one’s connections!
In this vast royal capital, what Ron feared most was not offending someone. It was beating up a minor underling, only for the senior figure behind them to come looking for revenge.
That would completely disrupt his daily routine and subject him to severe and malicious harassment.
Quietly releasing the breath he had been holding, Ron’s small face filled with relief.
He looked at Olivia, who was winding her hair around her finger as though nothing had happened, and asked, “Miss Olivia, what about my reward?”
?
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