Chapter 1952: Chapter 1952

"The game of numbers is a game for the clever. We are a part of this era..."

Miss Fabry, having snatched the light source, declared loudly, forcefully twisting Jenkins's words.

Jenkins reached out and took the light back again.

"You are only a part of this era. Lies will never be its protagonist, and your scams will not always succeed."

"But as long as we succeed once, there will always be a next time."

The woman's voice emerged directly from the shadows this time, instead of fighting him for the light again. Jenkins turned, aiming the kerosene lamp behind him. Miss Fabry stood there, watching him.

The Miss Fabry standing there was a wooden carving. With both of them at the edge of the light, any attempt at a more substantial illusion could be exposed. Psychography was enough to give the wooden carving the texture of a living person, especially in such poor lighting. The hardest part was simulating a woman's voice with his own, like a puppeteer performing with a life-sized doll, but it seemed he was pulling it off rather well.

He gazed at Miss Fabry, and Miss Fabry gazed back at him.

Jenkins placed the kerosene lamp on the lectern. Since they were both standing some distance from it, they appeared to be poised on the very edge of the light.

"Miss Fabry, a lie is ultimately not the truth."

"Viscount Williamette, people can never reach the truth."

"Miss Fabry, honesty is a quality one should possess."

"Viscount Williamette, lies are the essence of humanity."

"Whether in banking or the kingdom's finances, I will prove to you that I am the one who is right."

"Whether in the mining business or with tulips, we have already proven that we are the ones leading the era."

"I will be your enemy for life, if only to keep more people away from your scams."

"And we hope to be your enemy, Viscount. Lies can never be eradicated."

Jenkins silently used Ice Solidification, carefully controlling its range. Suppressed by the cold air, the flame of the kerosene lamp wavered and trembled.

The massive shadows of a man and a woman were cast upon the blackboard, and within those flickering silhouettes were dense charts and data.

"From the west coast of the continent to the east, no matter where you go, I will see through your identity."

"Then we shall see, Viscount Williamette. I hope you have such luck next time as well."

"Then, do you admit to the crimes you committed in the tulip incident?"

"No. I admit that I did it, but it was not a crime. It was a heroic feat."

Once again, he influenced the kerosene lamp's light. The flame dwindled to a mere ember on the wick, plunging Jenkins and Miss Fabry completely into darkness.

"Viscount Williamette, let us part ways here. The next time we meet, we shall present an even more exquisite deception."

"No, there won't be a next deception. Listening to us here are most of the human elites of this age. The tulip scam is enough to make them wary."

"Wary is never enough, just as there will always be fools in this world."

"But I am still here. The tulip scam has shown me your tricks. Next, I will take charge of the kingdom's finances, and I look forward to our next meeting, Miss Fabry."

In that instant, a tremor ran through his heart. The ultimate goal of the tulip scam was not to swindle money; what Jenkins wanted was to use it to influence the course of civilization.

It sounded like an exaggeration, but for a civilization at the crossroads of an era, even the slightest correct glimpse into the future could have a lasting impact on its direction.

At this moment, standing before most of the political elites of the material world's human civilization, playing two roles by himself, embodying all the characters in the scam, elevating a single flower to the level of a historical tide.

Jenkins felt a certain power gestating, felt the Lie Godhood tremble within his soul. He was just one final step away, one small, final step.

In front of everyone, he grabbed "Miss Fabry's" hand, as if to restrain her.

"Madam, I know you are all masterful swindlers. So before you leave, could you tell me how you plan to disappear before my very eyes while I have you in my grasp?"

The sole light source had dimmed and was about to go out. In the flickering candlelight, the man and woman seemed to be pressed against each other. Hathaway, who had rushed back from her club, moved through the opera house as if fumbling in the dark. After excitedly taking her seat, she grabbed Briny's hand, much to her friend's surprise.

"What's wrong with you?"

Briny asked the red-haired girl in a low voice.

"The opera is wonderful."

Hathaway replied, her eyes seeming to glow as she stared at the stage—no, the lectern.

"Oh, Briny, quiet down. This is the best part."

"Soon, the lights here will come back on. When they do, you and your companions will be beyond comprehension." Thıs content belongs to noveⅼfire.net

"Viscount, since we are confident that we can continue to compete with you for a long time to come, we certainly won't fall in a place ."

Everyone saw her suddenly lean forward, as if to kiss Jenkins. He immediately dodged backward, but in that brief moment, Miss Fabry "escaped" from his grasp.

Briny felt the girl beside her was about to explode with excitement. She seriously suspected that Hathaway had awakened some rather unsavory interests.

The woman on the lectern took a step back and waved a hand toward the massive window behind her. The curtains flew apart as if slashed down the middle, and the window swung open with a resounding crack.

A howling wind immediately rushed in from the opening, and the thick fog made the sky, which should have been bright with sunlight, appear unusually dim. The curtains, split in two, flapped wildly around Miss Fabry in the wind, while the dim light from outside gave the solitary lady a strange, almost divine aura.

Exposing her to the light would have surely revealed the painted dummy for what it was, so the one standing there now was a real person. However, he had once again used Psychography and the World Tree Seedling to cover his face with a layer of false skin, and the clothes were freshly drawn. Jenkins's own build was certainly very different from a woman's, so in specific places, sprouting vines provided support.

In the dim light before, no one could really see her features clearly anyway. Now, fully exposed to the light, Miss Fabry was nearly flawless, save for the one vulnerability of being the exact same height as Jenkins.

As for the dummy, Jenkins had kicked it toward a side door, where Magic Miss was waiting outside to handle it, just as he had instructed her beforehand.

"Everyone, I believe it is time for us to part."

Jenkins—that is, Miss Fabry—announced. The fierce wind whipped her hair, sending it flying along with the curtains in the dim daylight. And at the edge of that light, the kingdom's nobles and dignitaries all watched her as if gazing upon a savior descended from the heavens.

In the darkness, Hathaway's body began to tremble. She suddenly hugged Briny, and as the other girl blushed slightly, she whispered in her ear:

"Let's go to Jenkins's place together tonight. And don't make any excuses this time."

"What are you talking about, Hath?"

Briny was genuinely worried about Hathaway now. Her emotional state was clearly far from normal.

"Everyone, the next time we meet, I trust we will present an even more brilliant contest. I love this era. I am truly grateful to have been born in this age, to face its momentous changes alongside all of you.

Your Majesty, Queen Isabella~"

She called out the old woman's name, and the queen responded proactively.

"Miss Fabry, perhaps your talents could be..."

"Next time, we will once again use the Fidektri Kingdom as our stage. The people here are too interesting, and the descendant of Middleton is too interesting. Only he can be called a worthy opponent."

"Then we shall wait and see."

The old woman spoke gently, as if addressing a member of a younger generation. Such an attitude was a reflection of her magnanimity as a queen; Miss Fabry had already proven her worth before them all. Though she was, in every respect, a thorough villain, her charisma had already won over the audience.

The current situation was a sort of unique romanticism. Queen Isabella believed that among everyone present, besides Jenkins, no one else truly wanted to capture this outstanding lady. Therefore, despite her being an enemy of the kingdom, Queen Isabella could still treat her with courtesy. It was absolutely the most fitting response.

"Your Majesty, Salsi II."

"Miss Fabry" then addressed Dolores's father. Salsi II's thoughts were similar to Queen Isabella's. Besides, she had just made it clear that she wouldn't cause trouble on his northern kingdom's soil, so Salsi II also displayed an impeccable attitude.

"Miss Fabry, you are perhaps the most brilliant woman of this age. Would you be interested in being a guest in Hamparvo? Perhaps you and my daughter could become friends."

As he spoke, he patted Dolores, who was beside him. Dolores, who was desperately suppressing her laughter to keep from making a strange expression, nearly burst out laughing from the pat.

But she was a proper princess, trained in royal etiquette since childhood. In the end, she managed to restrain her body's instinct and, at her father's prompting, gave Jenkins a very friendly nod.

"Perhaps there will be a chance in the future. But I wish to tell you, Your Majesty, that the storm we stir up may directly affect the entire world. You too should prepare."

"Of course. The last 'Fabry Fraud' also involved citizens of my country. I agree with you, madam, that some lessons are indeed necessary. But I also agree with Viscount Williamette's view that if one wishes to guide the era, another method is required."