After the performance evaluation and review were completed, several proposals were discussed.
Opinions were exchanged about extending the mining rights period for the diamond mine received in exchange for lending Imperial-made large ships to the Imperial Family.
There were also discussions about installing a massive waterway in the Corin region, which suffered from drought every year.
Finally, the Duke directly addressed the unfortunate incidents that occurred during the family meeting.
“To ensure that this painful experience is never repeated, I will inspect the lands of Roberg more thoroughly from now on. Know that I will establish a special inspection agency and strengthen audits beyond the current level.”
At this, the expressions of nobles who engaged in corruption in connection with Osdel, Benjamin, and Belita turned ashen.
Additionally, it was decided to send relief supplies and support personnel to help the residents of Jade who suffered damage from this incident.
Finally, the Duke made the final decision to upgrade the magic shield level within the Roberg ducal castle.
Upon hearing this, Classid showed a relieved expression.
“Thank you all for your hard work.”
“Glory to Roberg!”
Just as the atmosphere was about to relax with the family meeting ending.
The Duke spoke with his piercing red eyes glowing coldly.
“One moment. Based on the performance evaluations from this family meeting, I will finally adjust the personnel structure and those responsible for major projects. The adjustment plan will be delivered to each family, and no objections will be accepted. With that, the family meeting is adjourned.”
Kuwoong.
The doors opened, but both direct and collateral family members left the grand hall trembling with anxiety.
Liria, who had been waiting outside the meeting hall with Marit and a temporary escort knight, approached with her head stretched forward.
Liria deliberately made eye contact with people and greeted them with nods.
Then she began to earnestly listen to their inner thoughts.
Attending the family meeting to monitor Osdel and those connected to him, and picking out people who weren’t beneficial to the family.
‘This was my original purpose, after all.’
Though it was unfortunate she couldn’t attend the family meeting, now that she had obtained the Key of Heart, it was time to make full use of it.
‘Whew, fortunate to get through this time. I still haven’t recovered the money I lost at the gambling house…’
Baron Ruslan was addicted to gambling.
‘I was going to ask Lord Osdel to arrange more funds, but what should I do now?’
‘If the accounting fraud in the magic railway is discovered, won’t I be done for, too?’
Baron Günter and Count Valens were Osdel’s people.
‘This family meeting was truly terrifying. It seems several heads will roll!’
‘The personnel restructuring doesn’t sound good at all.’
It wasn’t extraordinary information, but she could filter out some people who were connected to Osdel or had something to hide.
“Miss Liria, it’s crowded and complicated here, shall we go wait over there?”
“Yes.”
When Classid didn’t come out right away, Marit guided Liria to a corridor with a gallery.
While gently stroking Kiki and looking around, she suddenly made direct eye contact with Osdel, walking toward her from the front.
‘This is a chance to examine Osdel’s inner thoughts. Don’t avoid him, look straight at him.’
“Hello, Uncle.”
Liria gathered her courage and greeted Osde,l who was about to pass by, while staring directly into his blood-colored eyes.
‘Is this Classid’s daughter? …The power of the key is somewhat irritating. D*mn, and now the investment funds I was counting on have been ruined because of suspicions of accounting fraud… That damned old man. His intuition is annoyingly good. But why haven’t I heard from Matilda?’
Osdel’s inner thoughts were heard clearly.
Not realizing his thoughts could be heard, Osdel looked Liria over with a dismissive gaze and ignored her greeting as he walked away.
While he was wary of Liria’s power, he didn’t seem to consider her particularly threatening yet.
That was somewhat fortunate.
‘It seems grandfather caught him manipulating the books. It’s satisfying that he failed to get the investment funds.’
Osdel turned and exited through the entrance leading to the garden.
He was holding a communication device in his hand.
Matilda was Osdel’s wife and a professor of magical medicine at the Imperial Academy.
In the original work, it was mentioned that she would eventually divorce Osdel, so there wasn’t much information about her.
But since she was in a favorable position to help with Osdel’s plans, Liria considered her a potential threat.
When she told Jiana about this, the head of the information guild already knew.
‘Could Matilda have already found Theo Railes? I should follow him.’
Liria smiled at the escort knight who was following her and said.
“Um, I’ll quickly go to the restroom. Just 5 minutes, no, 3 minutes!”
After temporarily evading the escort knight, Liria stealthily followed Osdel.
Osdel, who had gone to a gazebo deep in the garden, was stroking the nape of his neck while anxiously communicating through the device.
“…Tsk, not answering even once. I need to find a useful tool quickly.”
The sound of his boot stomping the floor and his irritated voice could be heard.
‘He hasn’t found him yet. But it seems he’s already contacted someone to search. I hope Jiana meets Theo Railes before it’s too late. For now, let’s wait for contact.’
Liria hid herself behind the bushes and rolled her eyes.

***

“Let’s end today’s lesson here. For the next class, prepare for a discussion on the correlation between mana and physical responses. That’s all!”
Professor Matilda, having finished her lecture, left the classroom and strode down the academy corridor.
Her golden bob hair elegantly swept to one side.
Her neatly arranged blouse and green skirt that emphasized her slender waist fluttered.
Despite her beautiful appearance, she was nicknamed the “H*ll Witch” among students due to the terrible assignments and endless discussions she assigned.
Matilda quickly moved to the adjacent building, entered her professor’s office, and sprawled in her chair.
After her exhausted body recovered somewhat, she opened the communication device she had kept in her drawer and found her husband’s messages piled up.
“What’s the matter?”
It was strange.
“I won’t contact you during academy hours as it would be disruptive.”
Normally, he was gentlemanly and a man who kept his word.
He had kept his pre-marriage promise that if she became a professor at the academy, she could prioritize academy work over her duties as a member of the Roberg ducal family.
Come to think of it, the favor he recently asked was vague.
He asked her to recommend a few talented individuals skilled in magical engineering or magical medicine to collaborate on research, while saying the project was still undetermined.
She had been looking primarily for students with good grades and excellent mana application skills, but they were all already overwhelmed with their departmental courses.
Matilda looked up from the documents she was reviewing when she heard a knock.
“Who is it?”
“Hello, Professor. I saw on the campus bulletin board that you’re recruiting talented individuals for research, so I came to apply.”
“I see. Your name?”
“Theo Railes.”
“That’s a name I haven’t heard before. You’ve never taken my class?”
“No, I just have a low presence. But I’ve been attending well.”
“Your major?”
“Magical medicine. But I’m also interested in magical engineering.”
“Those are completely different fields?”
“I think they’re similar. Magical engineering is the magical study for people’s convenience… And magical medicine is the magical study for the lives of those who use mana. Both enrich human life.”