Work Prophet
Chapter 99 - 15: Want to Compete?

Angela’s two maids also said they didn’t smell anything strange.

However, Angela still covered her mouth and nose, taking a step back away from Ireya. Then she lowered her hand and said contentedly, "There, much better. It seems some people just reek of poverty."

This angered Miss Rabbit, who, despite Fosto’s discouraging look, dropped her forced smile and retorted sarcastically, "Being poor still smells better than stinking outright."

Angela burst into laughter. "Only those without money would find money smelly."

"I’m not talking about money. Just remember to hold in your farts when you enter my castle later... otherwise, I’m afraid everyone will be knocked out by the stench."

This time, it was Angela’s turn to look mortified.

The Immanuel family crest features a weasel, and it’s well known that, when threatened, weasels protect themselves by farting.

Their farts are incredibly foul, often disorienting their enemies and, in severe cases, even threatening their lives. Hence, people say the Immanuels themselves have stinky farts.

But anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t believe such a thing, as it’s clearly just a smear against the Immanuel family.

Yet, such malicious rumors could be surprisingly damaging.

For a young female member of the Immanuel family like Angela, nothing was more detestable than hearing such gossip.

Once, a maid who sneezed a couple of times while making Angela’s bed was caught and scolded harshly by her; a few days later, the maid was sent to the laundry room.

This country bumpkin, Miss Rabbit, not only brought up this taboo subject of the Immanuels but did it right in front of Angela, causing her to lose her composure and point at Ireya, cursing loudly.

"You! You! You fart!!!"

"That’s right, I do fart," Miss Rabbit admitted openly, then glanced mischievously at a certain noble girl’s buttocks, "What about you, don’t you dare to fart... I guess not, given how your farts are so foul, it would bring shame to the entire Immanuel family."

Angela was trembling with anger, completely losing her composure and started spouting nonsense, blurting out, "Of course I fart too! My farts smell way better than yours!"

Her bold declaration made many nearby people furrow their brows.

Angela immediately realized the impropriety of her words.

Trapped! She was unwittingly led astray by this rural Miss Rabbit. As a member of the ancient and noble Immanuel family, especially an unmarried woman, she was supposed to maintain her elegance at all times. How could she speak such vulgar words?

Calm down, she must calm down immediately and end this crude and vulgar topic, Angela reminded herself internally.

The other lady seemed to be unmarried too, continuing this way would do neither of their reputations any good.

As Angela was thinking this, she saw Ireya put her hands on her hips and say haughtily, "How about we compete? But if it’s just the two of us smelling, we’ll surely disagree, so we need an impartial judge. Let me think..."

"Hmm, let’s just turn to Sir Ferdinand of the Batoris Family, for he is famously honest and reliable and can surely make the fairest decision."

"..."

Angela realized she might have overestimated some people’s moral boundaries and no longer wanted to linger on this issue, so she vaguely responded.

"Who doesn’t know that the Batoris Family and the Arias Family have been good allies for generations? If you go to Ferdinand, he will definitely side with you."

Then, without giving Miss Rabbit the chance to continue, she raised her voice again in complaint.

"Ah, I have been standing outside for a long time, and my ankles are sore. Is this how the Arias Family treats their guests? Not letting guests into the castle for such a long time."

"You have legs, don’t you? Can’t you walk in by yourself?" Ireya retorted.

Angela clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails almost piercing her skin.

The insults she had endured her whole life combined were not as numerous as today’s; she felt she might explode from anger soon and was about to turn around and head back to the carriage.

However, she ultimately held back, frowned at the two maids beside her, and said, "Did you hear that? Do you not have legs? Hurry up and walk!"

The two maids dared not defy Angela’s orders and quickly started moving.

Seeing this, Yago, not wanting to delay, quickly came forward to lead the way, guiding the Immanuel Family and their entourage toward the castle.

After they had walked away, Fosto finally sighed and said, "Miss, was it really necessary to go that far?"

"You saw it too, she was the one who provoked first, starting this whole issue."

"Indeed, but why couldn’t you show a little patience?" the old advisor said, "Black Stone City is right next to Green Field, and we have always purchased various materials from there. If such trivial matters lead to bad blood between us, in the future, if we need to buy anything, we will have to go much further, which means more time and higher transportation costs."

"Do you think she would have let me off if I had backed down from the start?" the girl countered.

Stunned by the question, Fosto paused, then as if he had realized something, said, "You mean..."

"Exactly, it has been discovered, our secret dealings with the pepper."

Miss Rabbit, watching Angela’s retreating figure, also shed her previously frivolous demeanor, showing a reflective expression.

"These things were inevitable. Black Stone City is owned by the Immanuel Family, and no matter how carefully we act, if they want to investigate, they are sure to find some clues. Moreover, the pepper we sold was of such high quality that only the truly wealthy could afford it, and the wealthiest in the entire West Territory is the Immanuel Family. It is likely that most of the pepper was purchased by the Immanuel Family, and they must have been curious about the origin of the pepper, and then traced it back to me."

"Are they trying to recoup the taxes we owe?"

"It’s probably not that simple. Several hundred gold coins are a lot for us, but the Immanuel Family might not think much of it." When it came to money, the girl’s mind became extremely clear.

"Angela, after being mocked by me and not being driven away, haha, she must have had her motives. Fosto, have someone keep an eye on the Immanuel Family, see if they have any other moves up their sleeves."