Chapter 48: The Tempting Right
Three hours later, Madam Nancy stood before a full-length mirror, her fingertips lightly touching the corners of her eyes, where the wrinkles had already disappeared.
"Stop admiring yourself. The potion's effects will take hold slowly. If you suddenly turned into a teenage version of yourself, Harold would kill you tomorrow. In about a month, you'll look very young. As the price, you won't live past sixty, but until your death, you won't age."
"I can... stay young until sixty?"
Madam Nancy turned her head to look at Su Xiao. That gaze reminded Su Xiao of the Twisted he had fought earlier. Perhaps even the Twisted would instinctively step back upon seeing Nancy's current expression, though Nancy's combat ability was pathetically weak.
"Tell me, when did you start cooperating with the Ghost Ring?"
"A year ago."
"Oh? Then your assassination attempt was a ploy between you and Sin?"
"No, that was the work of a pack of mad dogs. Those mad dogs have already been dealt with by Sin and his people. Don't worry about them. Sin and I's plan was roughly like this..."
Madam Nancy lit a lady's cigarette and raised an eyebrow at Su Xiao.
"The founding of the Ghost Ring dates back over a decade. Initially, it was just a small organization. It wasn't until a few years ago that Sin and Eclipse appeared, along with another old Ghost, the one you blew up."
Madam Nancy's disguise ability was absolutely top-tier. Without those listening devices, Su Xiao would never have been able to root her out. As it turned out, being cautious had its benefits.
"Speaking of which, I'm considered a big shot in this. Joshua Eddie provided the Ghost Ring with financial resources, and I was responsible for clearing their channels. Otherwise, do you think Sin and Eclipse alone could have brought so many Ghosts into Zuer City?"
Flicking off some ash, Madam Nancy continued:
"Before the whole thing started, Sin and Eclipse had already prepared the Eye Chamber and the 'Core.' The so-called Core is a metal pillar covered in eyeballs—looks disgusting.
The range of the Eye Chamber could affect about a fifth of Zuer City. Originally, Sin and Eclipse didn't want to set up the Eye Chamber inside Zuer City, but I refused and told them how terrifying Harold was. Sin was persuaded by me and decided to use the Eye Chamber to eliminate Harold. That was also my opportunity. You should... understand what I mean, right?
The Ghost Ring doesn't want to overthrow the empire's power structure—they can't do that either. Even if Harold dies, I'll take his place. The Ghost Ring's only goal is to set up the Eye Chamber, gather life force to help the Undying King 'break free,' and then Sin uses the Core to devour the Undying King and take its place."
Through Madam Nancy's description, Su Xiao understood the Ghost Ring's plan: summon the Undying King through the Eye Chamber, then devour it.
This made Su Xiao wonder—could it be that Sin knew about the existence of the Void? Did he intend to transform himself into an energy entity to enter the Void?
It wasn't impossible, but for some reason, Su Xiao felt this was a bit far-fetched. He had fought Sin, and with the other's intelligence, he shouldn't be pinning his hopes on a summoning that might or might not succeed.
As for Madam Nancy, she seemed obsessed with her own appearance, but it wasn't that simple. This woman clearly wanted to become the Queen!
Given Madam Nancy's identity and status, there was no normal way for her to become queen. So she cooperated with the relatively less dangerous Ghost Ring because she knew the Ghost Ring wasn't trying to overthrow the empire's power structure—and couldn't do so either. Sometimes, humans are more terrifying than Ghosts.
With all the information about the Joshua family, the Ghost Ring, the Eye Chamber, the Undying King, and so on connected, Su Xiao finally understood why that unlucky former Vice Legion Commander had committed occupational crimes. He was clearly framed by Madam Nancy, but it was done perfectly—Su Xiao hadn't found any clues before.
"Where is Sin?"
Su Xiao spoke.
"I'm not sure for now, but I know where those Eye Chambers are. Of course, some of the Eye Chamber locations have changed."
"Speak, or I'll skin you alive right now."
"The first Eye Chamber is at..."
Madam Nancy began to list the locations of the Eye Chambers. She was willing to reveal this only out of desperation. If she couldn't convince Su Xiao, she would die here tonight.
"So? Interested in this matter? Actually, I regret it a bit, but I couldn't turn back from the start. Quitting would have left me as a corpse in a gutter. I've already been exposed and lost the qualification to take that position. I'm giving it to you, but I want Jones's position."
Madam Nancy extended her hand, clearly trying to pull Su Xiao into the fold. This was also out of desperation.
"He probably isn't interested."
A somewhat muffled voice came from behind the full-length mirror. With a crack, the mirror shattered, and Harold bent down to step out from behind it, sitting on the sofa next to Su Xiao.
"Kukulin, I stood behind there for three hours."
Harold rubbed his sore legs, completely unconcerned about the stunned Madam Nancy.
"Acting is tiring too."
Su Xiao yawned. His severe injuries hadn't healed yet, and staying up late was exhausting.
"You two..."
Madam Nancy spoke softly, then slumped down beside the office desk and laughed. She was laughing at Sin, because she felt Sin couldn't outmatch these two 'evil ghosts.'
"Your Majesty, that's basically it."
"Don't call me Your Majesty. Harold sounds better. Nancy, you wanted to sit in my seat?"
Harold looked at Madam Nancy with interest.
"If you wanted to sit there, you should have told me. Why go through all this trouble? You always like playing clever tricks. Don't sit on the floor. You've done a lot for the empire—I won't kill you."
"Heh."
Madam Nancy sneered, showing her disdain for Harold.
"I really don't plan to kill you. Go to Wind Sea City and spend the rest of your life there."
"Impossible. How could you let me go? I know you too well, Harold."
Madam Nancy looked at Harold with confusion.
"Of course, there's a condition."
"...?"
"Tell me, what did Leopold say before he died."
"He said... he didn't regret following you. At least, that's what the Ghost who assassinated Leopold said. I know, you won't let me go."
As she spoke, Madam Nancy lowered her head. She could never figure out where the problem was, why she had been exposed. She was only a few steps away from success. In fact, that was true.
"Is that so."
Harold let out a long breath. Just then, the door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked into the office.
"Can I choose... poison?"
"No, you can't. You guessed right—you must die here."
Harold's expression turned somewhat ferocious. Even when his wife died, he hadn't shown such an expression. Councilman Jones had followed him for too many years; he had to give him an explanation.
"For my father."
The middle-aged man who entered the room raised an old-fashioned rifle in his hand.
Bang!
Blood splattered. Madam Nancy leaned against the office desk, a large hole blown through her face.
Su Xiao stood up. He needed to deal with the Eye Chambers. Though he didn't know how many he could still find, it was an extra gain. And he needed to figure out what Sin's true goal was.