Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 952: Familiar Tactics

Chapter 952: Chapter 952: Familiar Tactics

As for Arabella, she also did her tasks regarding the construction projects.

She also gathered every information she could from the Marquess family, including the blueprints of the old watchtowers, the walls, and the territory layout.

The Marquess was also able to provide them with an updated version of their resource and economic maps.

The one at the Imperial Palace was from a few years ago.

Even gives way to many changes. Thus, there had been a lot of changes in that time, so the updated maps were helpful.

The Former Marquess had made mistakes, but it seems his family still did work on the important things they should do.

It was sunset by the time everyone was gathered once again, and they returned to the Imperial Palace.

Once Arabella parted with her assistants, she headed to her study with Alwin.

They still had matters to discuss.

"Alwin, I’d like to join you when you interrogate the prisoners caught today," Arabella said.

Her skill would be useful in times like this, since even if they do not talk, she would know the answer from their thoughts.

"Unfortunately, that won’t be possible," Alwin replied.

Arabella frowned.

"What?! Why? Did Ferdinand forbid it? I can talk to him."

"No. That’s not it. It’s because there’s no one left to interrogate," Alwin sighed heavily.

The creases on Arabella’s forehead worsened.

"What do you mean? You caught them, right? Did they somehow escape?"

"I did catch everyone you told me to catch. But all of them are dead now. I added an immobilizing spell when I caught them, but it seems they had cast a spell in advance that would kill them once they were caught."

Alwin looked frustrated and pissed as he explained it.

Arabella gulped silently.

They finally caught some people who could reveal the possible culprits in spreading the pests and plant diseases, but their chance vanished so quickly.

Arabella took a deep breath and sighed heavily.

"It’s alright. We can just catch some more. There may be more of them lurking in Sibruh or the other territories," Arabella said to cheer up Alwin.

"I know. It’s just so annoying. What use is it reporting that we caught some spies when we got nothing from them?!"

"It’s not nothing. I already heard some things from their thoughts, so we at least have something to report," Arabella retorted.

"Then, what exactly did you hear?" Alwin asked, wanting their visit to be worthwhile.

He was a perfectionist, so not getting any information on his first task since he woke up made him feel like he had failed his mission.

"Our visit to Sibruh today is already very fruitful, so you need not fret.

Thanks to you for teleporting us there, my assistants and I gathered a lot of information we needed for the projects.

The people’s view of the knights and magicians also changed thanks to your magic, allowing us to speak to the people.

The people were also pleased with the tables and chairs you made for them when they ate.

And everyone returned here safely, thanks to you.

You don’t need to beat yourself up too much.

Today is just the first day," Arabella enumerated.

"Whatever. What did you hear from the butler and the instigators?"

Alwin was embarrassed by getting praised so directly, so he changed the topic.

"First, the instigators intentionally triggered the people by heightening their fears and frustrations.

They spread rumors by talking to the locals and prompting the locals to doubt Ferdinand’s motive in the lockdown and in all the burning.

They spoke where people pretended they were among the locals and quickly left before attention was on them.

They repeated this tactic a lot, just like they did while I was speaking with the people.

Their goal was to sow distrust of the Empire.

They were the ones who triggered the people here to revolt against the Sibruh family, even though the Former Marquess was already replaced," Arabella explained.

"I see... That was also their doing... They seem to be disposable pieces, though, since they were killed by the spell on them once it was clear they could not escape my prison."

"Indeed. Whoever is making them do this clearly wants to do something more," Arabella felt uneasy at the thought that this may be bigger than it looks.

This tactic seemed familiar to her, and it was making her uneasy.

In her past life, she knew exactly one organization that specialized in doing these kinds of distractions little by little and in various locations, so it won’t seem unrelated.

Until one day, before they knew it, Valeria was in chaos.

"They surely do. What else did you hear?"

"For the butler, just like I told you earlier, he wanted to kill Ivan when he heard from the conversations that it was he who discovered an irregularity in the disease pathogens during his experiments.

He had second thoughts since he could tell Ivan was not a magician.

But he concluded it was better to eliminate him to avoid risks.

He also knows that the irregularity could only be further studied with a magician who has attention to detail.

And he seems to have a higher status than the instigators in whatever their organization was, since he had more information.

However, he was also a disposable piece.

He thought of killing Ivan and going after me next, even if he got caught.

He knew his chances of escape were low with the barrier placed around Sibruh that prevented anyone or anything from leaving without permission."

"What else? You seem to be holding back something," Alwin noticed.

"I’m not sure about it yet, so I don’t want to talk recklessly," Arabella clarified.

"I’m the only one who hears it anyway. Who knows, it might be helpful," Alwin encouraged her to talk.

"Are you familiar with all the actions I did against Ferdinand and Valeria in my past life?"

"Mostly, I think. But not all, since not all my memories have returned yet. It comes piece by piece. So, what is it? Tell me."

Alwin eyed her seriously, urging her to spill it.