The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: The Prince

Over a hundred years ago, a civil war broke out in the vampires’ homeland. Several defeated Princes were forced into eternal slumber. One of them whether weary of the war or forced to retreat after being disadvantaged led her clan away from their ancestral home.

Shortly thereafter, she found this scenic place called Hai City. It remains unknown what bargain she struck with the government, but she secured not only the right to reside here but also protection. As long as she does not leave Hai City, the victors of that war across the ocean can do nothing to her.

“Since the case in my hands is related to vampires, this might be a chance to infiltrate the enemy’s headquarters.”

“This is also a child of the house; she’s coming with us later.” Noreen did not ask for An Yu’s opinion. She was a Prince, after all; while friendlier than the other vampire Princes across the ocean, she was arrogant to her core.

An Yu did not immediately voice her stance. Instead, she found an excuse to follow Noreen to Jiang Zitan’s office. Jiang Zitan was a key lead in the cannibal case and the Captain’s sister; whatever this vampire Prince intended, An Yu had to stay close to prevent an accident.

The reason that butler had betrayed Noreen was her non-confrontational nature. To him, that was weakness; he felt there was no future in following this Prince. The other Princes fought so viciously that the clans of the losers would be turned into slaves. Thus, after Noreen fell into her heavy, wounded slumber, he began scouting for a new master.

While picking out “wood” (targets), Noreen saw the list sent by Tao Yitong. She was aware of most people on the list, but it was her first time seeing such a comprehensive roster; some clansmen were beyond her expectations.

After sitting outside for a long while, Noreen went to the hospital to pick someone up. Naturally, she wasn’t picking up Tao Yitong; she wasn’t so sociopathic as to drag an injured person along for such errands. She went to pick up An Yu. Over this period, that young girl had studied the clan’s affairs more clearly than Noreen herself, so Noreen wanted her along.

“Don’t be too sad. It’s their problem that they betrayed you. You did your best to protect them; if they want to seek their own deaths, no one can stop them.” An Yu comforted Noreen, noticing her dark expression.

“It’s not just their problem…” Noreen sighed. “I want to select a successor, but looking around, none of the clan members are fit for the stage.”

“You… would you consider it?” Noreen didn’t have many demands regarding bloodline; as long as the person was of her lineage and capable, it sufficed.

“Weren’t you going to make my Xiao Yu a Marquis? Now she’s being listed as the successor?” Tao Yitong joked from her hospital bed.

“This child is far more excellent than those troublesome things in the clan. How could I not be tempted?” Seeing that An Yu had organized the clan’s situation perfectly in just a few months, Noreen admitted she might not have done better herself.

“That’s true. Xiao Yu, you should think about it. After becoming her successor, your power, bloodline, and lifespan will undergo qualitative changes. Your strength would be a guaranteed S-class, and your lifespan would be as long as these vampires…” Tao Yitong listed various benefits of being Noreen’s heir.

An Yu’s expression turned somewhat somber upon hearing about lifespan. A long life… is that really a good thing for me?

“…There’s no rush, take your time to think.” Tao Yitong noticed the change in An Yu’s mood and immediately said to Noreen, “If you really want to choose a successor, look around more. If all else fails, grab some kids and train them yourself.”

Tao Yitong didn’t want to pressure An Yu, so she shifted the pressure to Noreen.

“If I actually knew how to raise children, things wouldn’t be as they are now.” Noreen had a realistic view of her own abilities, but she had time to wait. “You have one or two hundred years to consider. You don’t have to decide now.”

An Yu nodded, indicating she would think about it. However, this vampire Prince exerted double pressure on her via bloodline and power; An Yu felt that if anything went wrong, she wouldn’t be of much help. Thus, she hoped the Captain would arrive soon to hold down the fort.

After heading downstairs, Tao Yitong didn’t linger in the villa. She walked outside partly for fresh air and partly to see if there were any residual combat traces. However, the night was vast; aside from the system whispering that there were energy fluctuations, she saw nothing.

Her aunt, who had been “offline” like an invisible person for a long time, finally appeared. “Tao Yitong, so you’re here.”

She walked over with a look of gloom mixed with apology. “I only just found out your sister didn’t come. The ones attending the banquet today were Jiang Zitan and Tao Yue. Do you think she’s avoiding us on purpose?”

Tao Yitong applied what she had learned immediately, frowning. “Is that so? Sister sure has a lot of schemes.”

System:

Although the aunt felt her wording was a bit subtle, she was satisfied with Yitong’s dissatisfaction toward her sister. She added, “I ran into an acquaintance and chatted for a bit, then lost track of you. No one bullied you, did they?”

The aunt likely knew Tao Wei hadn’t come before arriving; even if she didn’t, she would have known afterward. Leaving Yitong at the banquet was intended to let her endure cold looks and mockery, fueling her resentment toward the Tao family. However, in Yitong’s memory, there wasn’t a single hint of an underlying grudge between her aunt and adoptive mother.

Tao Yitong thought this through, her tone becoming meaningful. “Who could bully me? Two people came looking for trouble, and I beat them back.”

The aunt wasn’t surprised by the answer, assuming “beat” was a figure of speech rather than literal. She said with a hint of helplessness, “That temper of yours. Fine, it’s no big deal anyway. But next time you see your sister, be a bit more obedient in front of her.”

Since Tao Wei wasn’t there, but the aunt had achieved her goals for the banquet, there was no need to stay. After a few words, the aunt offered to drive her home.

Upon arriving, the aunt didn’t get out or intend to come in. She offered some comfort and instruction: “You’re tired, get some rest. I’ll take you out to relax in a couple of days.”

“When your sister returns, I’ll take you to see her. Remember not to just be spiteful; call your mom and grandmother more often. They dote on you. If they soften and let you move back, even your sister can’t stop it.”

Tao Yitong nodded repeatedly as if taking the words to heart.

“Go on in,” her aunt finally said.

Tao Yitong waved and turned into the courtyard. As the aunt started the car, she couldn’t help but steal one last glance at Yitong’s retreating figure. Her expression slowly turned somber.

Previously, this non-biological niece was easy to read shallow, selfish, and arrogant. But seeing her again after this return, she found her somewhat unreadable. Was the blow of being kicked out so great that she actually grew up?

But… I don’t need her to grow up.

As the car moved, the two rows of streetlights flashed by. Her face was reflected in a cold, stern white, her eyes full of malice.

Tao Yitong walked through the flowers under the moonlight to the entrance of the hall. Hearing the sound of the car fading into the distance until silence returned, she exhaled slowly, feeling a genuine sense of relief.

She hadn’t thought much of it, but until this moment, she realized that no matter how skillfully she handled them, these people and these matters exhausted her. Opening the door, she stepped inside, wanting only to collapse onto the soft sofa. However, her foot tripped on the threshold; losing her balance, she stumbled to the floor.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a hard fall, though her hand pressed against the cold floor stung. Feeling the chill emanating from her palm, she suddenly felt a surge of annoyance at her currently weak state.

The system, thinking she had fallen hard since she didn’t get up, asked worriedly: Host, are you okay?

Tao Yitong had just said she was fine when she felt the familiar cool, fragrant aura approaching. Looking up, she saw Jiang Zitan crouching before her. The lightless night perfectly hid her expression, leaving only the silver-rimmed glasses gleaming like cold moonlight.

“Can you stand?” she asked.

Seeing her in this identity, the gloom in Tao Yitong’s heart vanished. She asked lazily, “If I say I can’t, will you carry me to my room?”

Jiang Zitan looked at her silently for a few seconds, then braced her arm. Her soft palm touched her skin directly without the barrier of clothing, providing a touch of real warmth that made her feel like a living human rather than a lonely moon hanging in the sky.

“If you wish.”

This time, Tao Yitong wanted to shrink back. She said to the system, I feel like she’s evolved too.

In the past, Jiang Zitan likely wouldn’t have entertained her, unlike now where she countered directly.

System: Too?

Tao Yitong thought: Yes, after all, you aren’t the same honest system from when we first met.

“That would be too much trouble.” She clapped her hands, wanting to rise. Jiang Zitan lightly placed her palm against Yitong’s chest over her clothes. A faint blue shimmer flashed in the air, as beautiful as a hallucination.

Tao Yitong recognized this as the esper ability Jiang Zitan used to save her that night; a color so cold, yet so burning and warm when close.

After a brief daze, she pressed down on Jiang Zitan’s hand and said seriously, “I’m fine, I just tripped because it was too dark.” She added, “My injuries will heal very soon.”

With the system’s “family certification,” she would be completely recovered in a week at most.

Jiang Zitan could also judge that her current state wasn’t bad and she would recover soon but it was exactly the fact that she was recovering too fast. She gazed at Tao Yitong with eyes like black jade. Even if she were an esper with enhanced physical fitness or had professional training, she was recovering too quickly.

Especially since she isn’t.

It wasn’t the first time Tao Yitong was scrutinized by Jiang Zitan’s questioning gaze. She was likely comparing her current self to her previous impression, filled with confusion and suspicion about her recovery speed. But Yitong couldn’t explain the “cheat” of the system, so she could only ignore the scrutiny.

Regardless, they were only traveling this path together for a short while. Once the hunter business ended, they would each return to their proper places. As this thought floated by, her complex emotions hadn’t even had time to surge when she belatedly realized they were standing too close.

Close enough to distinguish every tiny expression on Jiang Zitan’s porcelain face; close enough for the warmth of the palm against her clothes and the wrist she held to seep through. Tao Yitong suddenly realized she was still holding Jiang Zitan’s wrist and quickly let go. “Sorry.”

Jiang Zitan froze for a moment and withdrew her hand. She said nothing, her butterfly-wing eyelashes trembling slightly, hiding her emotions.

Tao Yitong stood up and turned around, brushing off non-existent dust and the inexplicable unease. “I’ll go upstairs to change. Um… are you hungry? Should we order takeout?”

It was impossible to have eaten her fill at a banquet like tonight’s.

Speaking of clothes, Jiang Zitan was reminded. She looked at Tao Yitong’s back. The clothes Yitong was wearing weren’t a perfect fit, especially the T-shirt, which was wide at the shoulders, making her look thin.

“I remember you weren’t wearing this when you went out.”

Tao Yitong froze, then a bit of mischief rose. She turned her head and asked deliberately, “So you were protecting me in secret when I went out!”

Otherwise, how could she know she had changed?

A shimmer passed through Jiang Zitan’s dark pupils, but her expression remained unchanged. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re working far too hard.” Tao Yitong hadn’t intended to blow her cover; it was just that occasional “cat-claw” itch of wanting to tease her. Seeing that she should stop while ahead, and noticing Zitan still staring with those pure black eyes, she explained, “I ran into someone I offended before. We had a small conflict and my clothes got dirty. Fortunately, a kind-hearted friend helped me; these are hers.”

Jiang Zitan could easily imagine the conflict; it was an expected scenario. Yet, for some reason, a surge of discomfort rose within her. She couldn’t understand the origin of this emotion. Perhaps because Tao Yitong was her parents’ biological daughter; no matter how much she disliked or was disappointed by her, she didn’t want to see her trampled by others.

“You don’t seem angry at all.”

Tao Yitong knew this conversation would last a while. She walked a few steps to turn on the living room lights and smiled. “What is there to be angry about? You don’t understand what kind of person I am at all. I’m always the one bullying others; no one gets to bully me.”

There was no need to detail things like slapping someone’s face to Jiang Zitan, lest she add a “ferocious” label to an already poor impression.

Jiang Zitan thought she was right about one thing: she didn’t understand her at all.

Then she heard her say, “By the way, an accident happened halfway through the banquet.”

Jiang Zitan’s gaze changed instantly, yet she stood motionless.

Tao Yitong didn’t see the change in her expression. She asked with curiosity, “For about twenty minutes, everyone was like a puppet, unmoving. I guess that was the ‘Demon Invasion’ you mentioned, where ordinary people are protected and lose consciousness? Did you see that big white ship in the sky? Do you know what it was for?”

This time, Jiang Zitan scrutinized her without concealment. “You didn’t lose consciousness, and you saw the Heavenly Vessel.”

Tao Yitong had prepared to be suspected when she asked. A “man with many debts doesn’t worry”; she couldn’t explain her recovery speed anyway, so adding another anomaly didn’t matter.

Jiang Zitan looked at her for several moments, knowing she wouldn’t reveal her secrets. She didn’t press, but kept all her observations and confusion in mind.

“It’s not that ordinary people lose consciousness when encountering a Demon Invasion. Rather, the Heavenly Vessel isolates the spatial cracks from the area where ordinary people are during an invasion. That protective isolation barrier is called a Cordon.”

“Due to the influence of special energy within the Cordon, the bodies and wills of ordinary people find it hard to resist, causing their consciousness to fall into chaos. They won’t retain any related memories at all.”

Tao Yitong realized, “This must be a deliberate effect by the Heavenly Vessel’s designers, for the sake of secrecy.”

Jiang Zitan nodded slightly.

Tao Yitong thought the design was quite thorough. “Then it shouldn’t be just espers who are unaffected by the Cordon, right?”

Jiang Zitan looked at her again. “There are others who aren’t, such as specially trained official forces… and the martial artists of the Ancient Martial Alliance.”

Tao Yitong’s heart stirred. “Ancient Martial Alliance?”

The Interrogation

Do you know where your employer is now? Or where you were supposed to deliver the child after the kidnapping? Tao Yitong asked after mentally reminding herself several times to stay calm.

Giving up the location meant offending the other party to death. Long-ge hesitated out of panic.

You think you still have a way out? Or I can let you go right now and see how long you live. How about that?

“I’ve told you everything I know! My employer won’t let me go if he knows; you must protect me!”

Tao Yitong ignored his nonsense and just took the specific transaction location. she arranged for people to watch that spot while also dispatching personnel to protect the unlucky girl who had been targeted while walking on the main road.

What do you know about the auction the child was being taken to?

Long-ge, who hadn’t been addressed for a while, shuddered at the voice in the communicator. “I… I don’t know much. That place is mainly for monsters and the wealthy; I’m not qualified to enter.”

This wasn’t a lie; a small fry like him likely wouldn’t get an invitation to such an auction.

Xiao Zhao, take him away and lock him up.

“Yes!”

Long-ge didn’t struggle. For someone who had sold out his employer, staying here was a good thing; once outside, he had no means of self-protection.

“So the kidnapping is related to the auction tomorrow night?” Jiang Zitan sat beside Tao Yitong, having pieced together the gist of it.

The Meeting

“Hello, President Jiang.” Noreen squinted her eyes. The previously listless Prince suddenly became energetic upon entering the office. No wonder this ordinary person was at the center of the struggle between two factions; even while her blood was still flowing in her veins, it couldn’t hide that sweet fragrance.

“Hello.” Jiang Zitan looked inconspicuously at the people behind her; their faint looks of contempt were unpleasant. They prided themselves as noble vampires and looked down on “weak” ordinary people.

“Although our two companies have collaborated for several years, this is our first meeting, isn’t it? Eta, where is the gift I prepared?”

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