Investing in the Three Villainesses Gives Me Infinite Returns

Elias walked out of his manor with Benjamin following close behind, and his gaze immediately settled on the carriage waiting near the gates.

It was neither particularly grand nor embarrassingly plain, occupying a middle ground that made it far less ostentatious than the carriage sent by the City Lord during his inauguration.

As Elias and Benjamin approached, the driver quickly stepped down from the front seat, straightened his tunic, and bowed respectfully.

”Lord Olide wishes to meet you, my lord,” he said.

Elias studied the man without returning the greeting. The driver appeared to be in his late thirties, and although his tunic and trousers were simple, neither looked cheaply made. Such clothing suggested that he earned a comfortable living, but that wasn’t enough for Elias.

”I see,” he replied, narrowing his eyes. ”And why should I trust your words?”

The driver raised his head, revealing a troubled expression. ”I-I am telling the truth, my lord.”

Benjamin’s gaze sharpened as he examined the man, and the driver’s uneasiness only seemed to deepen his suspicion.

”What proof do you have?” Elias asked.

The driver’s face paled slightly.

Olide had instructed him to bring Elias Crimson to the hideout, but the nobleman’s distrust had placed him in an unpleasant position. If he failed to complete the task, his master would undoubtedly punish him.

”I-I do not really have any proof,” he admitted, lowering his head again. ”But please trust me!”

Elias frowned as he observed him.

The man seemed genuinely worried, but he was not truly frightened of Elias. His concern appeared to come from the possibility of failing his master rather than from any fear of the nobleman standing before him.

’This is not enough.’

Elias needed a clearer reaction, something that would reveal whether the driver was lying or simply desperate to complete his task.

”What should I do?’ he wondered inwardly.

A few seconds passed, and the driver remained bowed while waiting for an answer. However, the silence continued until he finally lifted his head in confusion.

The moment his eyes met Elias’s, he froze.

Elias’s expression had become utterly impassive, and the warmth that usually lingered in his eyes had vanished. He stared down at the driver as though the man’s life held no value to him, his face resembling a cold mask carved from stone.

The driver’s knees weakened.

”P-Please do not kill me!” he begged, his voice trembling. ”I am telling you the truth! Please trust me!”

Elias almost felt impressed with himself.

’That was rather easy... All I did was imitate Natasha.’

He stepped forward, allowing his shadow to fall over the driver, and spoke in a cold, sharp tone.

”If it turns out that you have lied to me, your head will roll before you can take another step.”

The driver immediately lowered himself even further, nearly pressing his forehead against the ground. Dust stirred around his face as the air escaped his mouth.

”Nothing of the sort would happen,” he muttered hurriedly.

”I can swear on my life!”

”Then get up; I do not have time to waste.”

The driver rose at once, although he kept his head lowered, evidently afraid of seeing that chilling expression again. Elias ignored him and proceeded toward the carriage while Benjamin followed with a faintly impressed look.

”Have you done this before, my lord?” the butler asked as they reached the carriage.

Elias shook his head. ”No.”

”It seems like you have,” Benjamin remarked.

Elias paused while boarding the carriage, then glanced back at him with a frown.

”What is so difficult about it anyway?” he questioned.

Benjamin halted for a moment, struck by a strange sense of déjà vu, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside and stepped into the carriage after his master.

The two men sat facing each other, and once the carriage began moving, Benjamin folded his hands over his knees.

”If you do not mind, my lord, what do you intend to do?” he asked.

Elias looked at him and smiled.

”I do mind.”

Benjamin let out a quiet cough before lowering his head. ”My apologies.”

Elias shook his head and leaned back against the seat, allowing his gaze to drift toward the window.

Although he had agreed to meet Olide, he remained wary of the possibility that the merchant’s invitation was part of a scheme arranged by Berlic or someone else.

Soon, the carriage picked up speed, and the rhythmic thudding of the horse’s hooves echoed through the streets.

Elias looked outside.

The streets were noticeably emptier than they had been before the murders, and guards continued searching for the killer.

Several shops had also closed their doors, their owners apparently unwilling or unable to continue normal business while the city gates remained sealed.

The atmosphere of Kilmir had changed considerably as fear seemed to linger within the air.

After several minutes, the carriage slowed and eventually came to a stop before a wooden house that looked so ordinary it was almost forgettable.

Its walls were plain, its windows narrow, and nothing about the building suggested that an important merchant might be using it.

The driver climbed down and opened the carriage door.

”We have reached the place, my lord,” he announced.

Elias looked at the house, then narrowed his eyes.

”Olide is in there?”

The driver nodded. ”Yes, my lord. Please follow me.”

Elias and Benjamin stepped out of the carriage and followed him toward the entrance. The driver pushed open the wooden door, revealing a small, empty interior.

As Elias stepped inside, his frown deepened.

He slowly turned toward the driver.

”There is nothing here,” he muttered.

His hand lifted slightly, prepared to summon Lastbane at the first sign of danger.

Instead of answering, the driver walked toward the center of the room. Then he stomped his foot against the wooden floor.

A dull click echoed beneath them.

The next instant, several wooden planks shifted aside, revealing a concealed opening and a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

Elias stared at the hidden passage, his expression growing colder. Then he turned toward the driver.

”Do you know how suspicious this looks to me?” he asked.

The driver lowered his head.

”I do...” he mumbled.

”Go down and tell him to come up,” Elias ordered.

The driver hesitated only briefly before nodding. With no other choice, he stepped through the opening and began descending the stairs into the underground hideout.