The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 168

“If they do this… won’t they be able to directly mine your mines nearby after building the railway, process the gems at your gem processing factory, and then transport them to Ansu?”

Ciel didn’t know much about business operations. This was all she could think of at the moment.

“Roughly… They did leave the processing factory for me, and signed a contract guaranteeing the monthly order quantity…”

Saying this, Avena seemed listless.

In that case, the profit would be too small, completely unable to satisfy Avena’s desire to save more money.

“How low is the acquisition price?” Ciel asked, a little curious.

In her opinion, generally small amounts of money shouldn’t make Avena this angry.

“Per Ansu acre… 220 Su Pounds.”

Avena uttered this number almost through gritted teeth.

“Remote, barren mining areas are usually acquired at 200 Su Pounds per Ansu acre. Normal coal and iron mines are 500-2000 Su Pounds. 220 Su Pounds… Farmland is 100 Su Pounds.”

“My three mines are all gem mines, two crystal mines and one fluorite mine. The price they offered is 60,000 Su Pounds.”

After hearing Avena’s explanation, Ciel realized why Avena was so angry.

The price they offered was clearly far, far below market price.

But this price still made Ciel slightly widen her eyes… She had never seen such a large sum of money before.

Avena noticed Ciel’s expression, thought Ciel just found the amount too small, and helplessly shook her head.

“Most of the areas around Berren City are coal and iron mines. There are basically no suitable resources that can form high-value gem mines. So I only have some low-grade gem mining areas in my hands. Even if I fight for it, I can’t get much more.”

Moreover, what upset Avena the most wasn’t this.

It was the council’s appropriation.

Even after selling these three mining areas at a low price, heaven knows how long they would delay the appropriation—this was the real reason Avena felt she would go bankrupt.

After telling Ciel all this, Avena felt a little sad.

Originally, all her efforts these days were to earn enough money for herself and Ciel to live carefree for a lifetime, at least enough to weather the chain reactions caused by the manifestation of “Uniqueness.” But now, before the plan even began, it was almost ruined, which made her feel quite stifled.

But Ciel didn’t seem to think so.

She just reached out and rubbed Avena’s head, asking, “Then do you have a plan for what’s next?”

Ciel knew that with Avena’s strong personality, comforting her, saying things like “I’ll take care of you,” would only make Avena feel worse.

“Mm.”

Avena nodded and said, “At least in gem production and processing, my factory is the best in all of Berren City. I plan to import some high-quality precious gems and specialize in making high-value added jewelry. This way, I can bypass the problem of not having my own mining areas.”

Seeing that Avena was not overwhelmed by setbacks, Ciel smiled slightly, knowing that she didn’t need to do anything more for her.

After thinking for a moment, Ciel began to ask about the main business. She asked, “Do you know about the lakeside banquet at Manor No. 5 on July 7th?”

“Oh… that? I received an invitation, but haven’t decided whether to go,”

Avena looked at Ciel with some confusion and asked, “Do you want to go?”

“Want to learn a bit about it.”

Ciel nodded and asked, “Do you know who is on the invitation list?”

“Not sure.”

Avena shook her head. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Do you want to get the list? Openly? Or secretly?”

Ciel: “Preferably not known to others.”

Avena took a deep breath, sat up straight, turned towards Ciel, and asked cautiously, “Is this… your intelligence network asking you to ask?”

She seemed to recall the “fear” she felt when she heard Ciel mention “intelligence network” before.

“More or less,” Ciel nodded, “A certain person at the banquet needs special attention, and I must be present.”

“Is it dangerous?” Avena directly asked the question she was most concerned about.

“Temporarily, no danger.” Ciel shook her head.

A Tier 3 who was defeated by her, indeed not much danger.

“I don’t believe it.” Avena didn’t believe a word Ciel said at this moment.

This matter indeed required Avena’s help. Ciel directly took Avena’s hand and began writing on it with her finger.

“Tier 3,” “Society of Merriment,” “Subverter.”

She wrote these words on Avena’s palm.

Avena took a deep breath.

A Tier 3 “Subverter” from the Society of Merriment?!

You call this not dangerous?

They are all a bunch of cunning and vicious anti-social elements. You can basically see their shadows behind major historical events. You call this not dangerous?

A Tier 3 “Subverter” from the Society of Merriment appearing in Berren City already indicated a significant problem.

Moreover…

“Subverters” usually hide extremely well. How did Ciel know…

Alright, sigh… Intelligence network again.

Avena had thought she could remain calm and composed, but every time she heard information from Ciel’s mouth, she couldn’t help but want to just leave Berren City.

What exactly does the Society of Merriment want to do…

“If you hadn’t heard this news, would you have chosen to go to that banquet?” Ciel asked.

This was very important. They couldn’t let the Society of Merriment see that Avena, their primary target, was acting abnormally.

“Yes.”

Avena nodded and said, “Basically, if the invitation is handed to me personally, I will go.”

“Then just proceed as usual… But I cannot go with you by your side.”

After Ciel thought for a moment, she asked, “Is there any other way for me to attend that banquet? Without going with you?”

Hearing Ciel’s question, Avena thought for a moment, and an unrefined plan surged into her mind.

“I know a way…”

Avena looked at Ciel before her, sizing her up. Her dark purple eyes twinkled with light, as if she was thinking of something mischievous.

“What way?” Ciel felt a chill down her spine from Avena’s gaze.

“Generally speaking, when hosting such a large banquet, the manor will usually be short of manpower. They usually temporarily borrow some male or female servants from familiar nobles to work for a day…”

“Do you want to wear a maid outfit, Ciel?”

Avena finally spoke these words, revealing her intention.

It seemed she had been contemplating this for a long time.