Tangled By Fate

"Actually, I know a group of people. They are gathering people to make a fake Master of the Magic Tower."

Zinnia stared at him. Her expression didn't show her thoughts. "Are they only making fake Arthur? I have some men in my hands. If I ask that group to make me some fake Arthur, will they help me?"

The guy licked his lip. "You can ask them but you cannot meet them personally."

"That won't do. I'm ready to pay them. If they are making fake Arthur, it's guaranteed that they are his enemy. I'm not a fan of him either. In fact, after he betrayed me, I'm seeking revenge. Tell that group that I'm willing to give them half of my fortune if they are ready to meet me. I'll give them some of my men. If they are ready for negotiation, seek me through Max. I go to his bar every night."

After that, Zinnia waited patiently.

Two weeks later, Max served her drink. "Miss, you are persistent."

"When there is revenge in your head, you cannot just give up. Any news from them?" Zinnia picked up the beer glass and chugged down half of it.

"Yes, they are ready to negotiate with you."

"Finally," Zinnia relaxed her shoulders. "Tell them to come to my house in three days." She left her address.

"All right."

The next day, a group of men visited Zinnia. Zinnia already bought a house near Arthur's library. The group went there.

After negotiating the amount of money she would give them, they agreed to take her men.

"Wait," Zinnia interrupted them. "I cannot just leave my servants to you. I need to see in what process you are going to turn my people into fake Arthur."

The men exchange glances. One of them replied, "Mam, we must let you know that our place and our work are confidential. We can't let you know the whereabouts."

Zinnia shook her head. "I'm not telling you to tell me the whereabouts. I'm not interested in where you work. I want to know if the process of the operation is safe or not. I don't want my servants to lose their lives in the process. I want to see with my own eyes."

The men talked among them and then finally agreed to take her.

They took Zinnia and her servants to the secret cave where they do their work. Those men didn't forget to cover Zinnia and her men's eyes with black cloth.

Once they reached the cave, they took off the black clothes covering the guests' eyes.

Zinnia looked around. It was just the fake Arthurs described. Everything seemed advanced, which she had never seen before.

Several shaped knives were lying on the table. They had recently taken care of a person. His face was covered in a white bandage.

"What will happen to him?" Zinnia asked.

One of their people answered, "He will recover soon. We are using witches to help us recover these people faster. Your servants will get better in four days as well."

"Four days?" Zinnia frowned. "That's a lot of time."

"It's a quick recovery. We are shaping their whole faces. It means even their eyes, lips, and nose shapes are being changed. No place will go unscathed."

"I see. I think I've seen enough," Zinnia stated.

It was a signal. The moment she said that the servants she brought with her attacked the people who were involved with the face-changing mission.

"Spare their leader. Kill the rest," Zinnia ordered.

She always worked alone. However, to fool these people, she hired Felix's trained men.

Felix trained his men well. Just with her order, they mercilessly killed everyone and just left the leader. Everything happened so quickly that the enemy didn't have the time to react.

The leader was shocked when he saw his men were being killed one by one. "What is the meaning of this?!" he shouted.

Zinnia raised an eyebrow, not a bit affected by his accusation. "You still have the energy to ask? Can't you understand what's going on? Who told you to go after Arthur? You should have picked an enemy of your size."

Later, she went to Max's place. She killed everyone including the witches and the information brokers. Before leaving, she grabbed Max's collar and teleported to the Magic Tower.

When she came back and tried to go to Ovior's office, she noticed that there was a huge notice hanging on the door.

The notice said – On vacation. Coming back in three days.

'What's this? I do all the hard work and they go for fun. How should I punish them?' Zinnia wondered.

Flashback ends –

"Did you manage to get Max?" Veronica asked Zinnia.

"Not only Max but also the leader of the group who was making fake Arthur," Zinnia narrated everything shortly, skipping the part of witches.

"Where are the criminals?" Arthur asked.

"They are in the dungeon. I made sure they cause no harm," Zinnia replied.

"Looks like I will get to do something fun." Darius grinned, cracking his fingers.

Arthur was pleased with the work. "Good job, Zinnia. Take a week's rest."

"I'll go on a vacation then. Don't call for me in the meantime." Zinnia waved her hand and left.

"She seemed tired. She needed the rest. I'll go fresh up. Let me know what you find out," Veronica told Arthur before leaving.

Arthur instructed Darius and Sebastian, "I'll leave the interrogation to you."

"Leave it to us. We will find everything by tonight," Darius promised.

However, something unexpected came out of the interrogation.

Darius shook his head. "Sebastian, you do this. I don't think I can rely on either Arthur or Veronica."

Sebastian gulped. He didn't want to be part of this either. "Don't shove me the hardest duty."

"But this is serious. I don't want to suffer from black smoke again. What if Arthur starts another black magic ritual?" Darius was worried.

"Don't ask me. I'll just leave this place if that happens."

"Bastard! Go and call Arthur. I had enough of this pressure."

After being scolded by Darius, Sebastian went to look for Arthur.

As if Arthur was waiting for his arrival. "Did they confess?"

Sebastian gulped and yet, his throat was dry. "Yes… they did but… it's related to you."

"How so? I don't think I've ever harmed them in any way."

"That leader… his sister fought with a woman over you and died. As for Max, the woman he loved, she slept with you a week and then got pregnant. She was taken to the red-light district for being an immoral woman."

Sebastian breathed deeply after finishing his report.

"Zinnia's report says they used Louses' science and witches all together to come up with the mission. I should praise their motivation and talent." Arthur dropped the report.

"Kill them," he coldly ordered. "No need to tell Veronica anything. I will tell her what I can."

"Yes, master." Sebastian bowed and left.

After he left, Arthur rubbed his head. His head was throbbing after Sebastian reported him.

'Just when things got better between me and Nica. What should I tell her?' Arthur pondered hard.

Veronica was sitting beside the window. She was reading a book.

Knock! Knock!

"Come in."

With her approval, Arthur came inside. Without saying anything, he pulled the chair and sat beside her.

Veronica noticed his timid gesture and shut her book. "What's wrong? Weren't you interrogating Max and the leader?"

"It's done," Arthur replied. His voice was hardly audible.

"Did they confess? What did they say their purpose was?" Veronica was curious.

Arthur sighed. "It's because of me. Some women I got attached to before I met you. They were just seeking revenge." His face looked solemn and filled with guilt.

Veronica didn't seem to be bothered by what he just said. She rather exclaimed, "By making fake you everywhere?! What kind of revenge is that?"

"They thought this way it will tear us apart and I will never be happy."

"They sure used the process to show off their talent."

"And, Max knew witchcraft."

"Did he?" Veronica gasped after learning something unexpected. "I had no clue. But did he perform magic inside the capital city?"

Arthur naturally replied, "I don't think so. From Zinnia's report, the cave was outside the capital city. So, it's fine."

Veronica nodded. "Yes, I thought so too. It would be impossible to do it in the capital. After all, it's protected by divine power."

Arthur hesitantly called out, "Nica…"

"What is it? You look restless even though the problem has been solved."

"Aren't you upset?"

"About what?" Veronica couldn't get what he meant.

"Don't play dumb. This incident wouldn't happen if I didn't have a lousy character."

Only then did she understand what was bothering her husband. She asked, "Arthur, are you reflecting on your action?"

"I am!"

"Will you do it again, even if women come after you?"

"No way! I already have you. I don't need anyone else."

"Then I don't see the problem.. You have been with me since the day we met. After that, you hadn't been with others, did you?"