The weapons I forge are absolutely flawless.

Knowing that His Highness still needed his help, Schuster could only offer Venere a forced smile.

He hadn't smiled in a long time, and this smile was even uglier than a cry.

What did I say wrong again?

Wiener felt a chill run down his spine from Schuster's laughter.

"Well, we shouldn't keep Her Highness Edel waiting," Vena whispered a reminder.

"Look, I've forgotten the important matter," Schuster said, clapping his hands.

Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning the previous content.

“Where shall we go to see Princess Edel?” Venere asked.

"Right here."

Schuster pointed to the table.

He had already drawn a magic circle in the tea bowl, and as magic essence was injected, a spatial fluctuation instantly swept through the workshop.

"Should I say it's been a long time, Venus?"

Adele stepped onto the table, bathed in the glow of the portal. The pocket watch hanging from her waist gave Venus a familiar feeling.

“That’s certainly a unique way to make an entrance,” Viner said, waving his hand.

"I've been waiting impatiently for a long time."

Edel stepped forward and then slid down onto the edge of the table, so that even though she was sitting, she was able to look Venus in the eye.

"The Demon-Seeking Set is extremely effective. In just two months, it has uncovered more than twenty high-ranking demons lurking in the empire."

"This achievement has even made the kingdom uneasy. Even Dimir came to me personally to ask for my advice and how I did it."

"Tell me, how should I reward you?"

Having eliminated the hidden dangers within the empire and made her longtime rival bow down to her, Adele was naturally in a very good mood.

"I would be so grateful if you could help me get my bills from the Valentine Chamber of Commerce reimbursed."

Although it was a misunderstanding, with Schuster's warning beforehand, Vener didn't dare to ask for more.

"bill?"

Edel was slightly taken aback, and Schuster immediately leaned over and said something.

"So much?" Adele was somewhat surprised upon hearing the number. "May I ask, are these materials of any use to the people of the kingdom?"

"Does that include myself?"

"Of course not."

“Then that’s all,” Viner replied decisively.

If Felix had accepted the Seven Star Sword, he probably wouldn't have been able to answer so readily.

"Shuster, remember to propose a research grant for the Demon Seeker Set tomorrow, and then settle Venere's bill with Miss Anna," Edel instructed.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Schuster bowed.

"Are you satisfied with this solution?" Edel asked Vina.

"You're so generous, senior." Viner gave a thumbs up.

“You smooth-talking rascal,” Adele chuckled and shook her head. “I’m here today because I have an important favor to ask of you.”

“But what about the murder weapon?” Wiener guessed.

"Since you remember, why did you make me wait so long?" Adele glanced at him.

"I'm sorry!" Viner apologized promptly.

“It’s alright,” Adele waved her hand. “If you can find out who is behind this dagger, I will forgive you.”

"What if we can't find it?" Wiener asked cautiously.

"That would be the crime of deceiving the emperor."

With a smile, Edel pulled out a small square box and handed it to Venus.

"Serving a ruler is truly like serving a tiger."

Wiener remarked with a sigh, then opened the box.

Beneath the square box was a cloth bag, and behind the cloth bag was a scabbard.

Just as Venus was about to draw his dagger from its sheath, Edel grabbed his hand.

"Are you really sure?"

Adele's expression was no longer as relaxed as before.

Viner felt a slight tremor in her arm, which she responded with a confident smile.

"Who do you think I am?"

Chapter 522 Edel's Decision

"The blade of this dagger contains a highly poisonous substance. I hope Your Excellency Venus will be careful when using it," Schuster kindly reminded him.

"Well, I'll pay attention."

Wiener nodded, indicating that he understood, and then suddenly drew his dagger.

The chill emanating from the hilt seeped into his bones, and a silver glint appeared deep within Vina's pupils.

The dark red rust on the dagger's surface peeled off under Gondoraf's force, revealing the cold blade.

The cold light seemed to be alive, creeping up her arm and into the back of Venus's hand.

Countless fragments of memory suddenly exploded in the nerve endings.

The dust in the treasure vault was stirred up by the crimson skirt, and a beautiful figure walked up to her, carefully taking out the box containing the poisoned dagger.

The scene shifts rapidly, revealing that the most trusted guard has plunged a deadly snake-shaped dagger into the chest of the person he was protecting, causing blackish-red venomous blood to seep from the silk dress.

"No...it needs to be even earlier."

Wiener frowned slightly, but those bloody memories played on a loop as if stuck in a rut.

With a heavy heart, he switched the dagger to his right hand and lightly brushed the blade with his fingertips.

After this action, Venere finally saw clearly the hand holding the dagger behind the shadow.

He was a middle-aged man with a short beard and a light blue snake tattoo on his wrist. He was entrusting a dagger to a guard in armor.

The middle-aged man's lips moved as he squeezed out a name.

"call--"

As Viner awoke from her reverie, the dagger slipped from her hand.

Immediately afterwards, two healing spells were cast on him.

"Are you OK?!"

Adele rushed forward to check on her immediately, fearing that something might have happened to Venus.

"It's alright, I'm not going to get hurt by the weapon in my hand."

Wiener picked up the dagger, sheathed it, and placed it back on the table.

"However, I did see it, the person who handed the dagger to the assassin."

"Who is it?" Adeline's expression hardened.

"A middle-aged man with long hair, a small beard, and black hair and blue eyes."

Fearing that her description was not accurate enough, Wiener then used the image of the person in the mirror to create a reflection of him.

"Is this the person you saw?" Adel asked again to confirm.

“He’s the furthest I can see,” Viner nodded, then pointed to his joint. “He also has a snake tattoo on his wrist. With these clues, it shouldn’t be difficult to find out who he is.”

"Do you know who this person is?" Schuster couldn't help but interject.

“That’s really putting me in a difficult position. I can only see a few fragments; it’s not like I can actually make the dagger speak.” Vena showed a helpless expression.

"He is—"

“Lucien von Asterian, the first Grand Duke of the Empire, and also my father’s elder brother.”

Edel interrupted Schuster and began to introduce Venus herself.

"That's definitely the most suspicious one," Wiener muttered.

“Insolence! Do you know that he is Princess Edel’s uncle?” Schuster rebuked.

Following the attack on Isnia IX, undercurrents surged within the empire.

If it weren't for Lucien's intervention and protection, young Edel would likely have become a victim of court intrigue long ago.

"Shuster, wait for me outside," Edel commanded.

"...Yes, Lady Edel."

Schuster dared not disobey his lord's orders, but gave Venere a warning look before retreating outside the workshop.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't know you two had this kind of relationship." Vina looked at the princess with a slightly apologetic expression.

"What would happen if they found out?" Adele asked, somewhat curious.

“Nothing will happen, I still believe what I see,” Wiener said frankly.

I am only responsible for providing information; whether or not to believe it is up to the other party to decide.

"Hehe, Vena is indeed extraordinary."

Adele scrutinized the young man before her once more, her eyes filled with admiration.

He can switch between being flexible and assertive, and being neither arrogant nor humble, with such ease.

“If someone else had said such divisive things, I would probably have had Schuster deal with them and then send them to my uncle as a gift.”

"But if it's about Wiener, even I would feel a little reluctant to part with her."

"Senior, please don't scare me." Viner sighed.

If Adele truly intended this, she wouldn't have kicked Schuster out and left him alone.

Few people were aware of Wiener's true strength, but Feld was one of them.

He didn't believe that Feld hadn't relayed his and Felix's performance to Edel.

"We agreed to call each other by our first names in private—"

"Vina, I'm hungry. When are we going to eat?"

Felix, who had seen Schuster leave from the window, pushed open the door with a "whoosh," only to find the two staring at each other.

"...When did this guy get here?" Felix asked in surprise, looking at Edel who had appeared out of nowhere.

"You get out too."

Wiener simply kicked the troublemaking Felix out of the house.

"Now that no one is bothering you, Edel, you can say what you have to say."

“Since my father fell seriously ill and was unable to manage state affairs, Uncle Lucien has taken on the heavy responsibility of supporting the crumbling empire. Based on this alone, I cannot easily condemn him based on one side of the story,” Adele declared.

“I understand,” Wiener nodded.

It's easy to say "a brave man cuts off his own arm," but how many people can actually make up their minds to do it?

“You can’t understand,” Edel shook her head, then revealed another secret, “If his crest awakening level wasn’t lower than my father’s, the throne of the empire should rightfully belong to him.”

The imperial family is the most ruthless.

No matter how outstanding your knowledge and talent are, if you cannot awaken your emblem, all your value will be negated.

To compete for the supreme imperial throne, one must possess a complete coat of arms at the level of a great emblem in order to prove the purity of one's bloodline.

It was through her near-perfect awakening of her crest that Edel stood out among her many brothers and sisters and became the first in line to the throne.