Taming the Protagonist

Chapter 47: The Clever Ones

Hitana, stealthily trailing the man and woman, was startled but not overly panicked.

Both groups had the same goal, so in theory, there was no conflict—though she couldn’t trust them either.

A hunter didn’t just focus on prey but also watched for other hunters.

So she stayed hidden in the darkness, behind a large statue by the wall, silent.

“I don’t know what faction you’re with, but even with the mansion’s restrictions temporarily blocked, the outside guards aren’t pushovers.”

The man in the duo continued: “Since you dare target the Chishuang family, you’re at least no friend of theirs, right? Neither are we. So… even if we can’t cooperate, how about a temporary truce?”

Wanderer deliberately gave Hitana the choice.

If Ironstone’s agent wanted to pin the theft of the Chishuang assets on them, they’d need to strike covertly or at least leave traces of the rebels’ presence.

Otherwise, it’d just be a race to escape, rendering Ironstone’s scheme pointless.

Thus… the other side would surely try to get close. If he offered this chance and they took it, it would mean—

“…Fine.”

A deliberately hushed girl’s voice came from the darkness: “I won’t bother you. Not interested.”

“That’s for the best,” Wanderer smiled. “Then let’s each rely on our skills, and—”

“Wait.”

As Wanderer expected, she wasn’t willing to let this chance slip.

In an environment where both sides shared a goal but didn’t know each other, trust was hard to come by.

So, the girl sent by Count Ironstone would find it nearly impossible to approach them otherwise—how could she pass up such an opportunity?

In their mental link, Wanderer scoffed to his teammates: “Nobles always look down on us commoners.

They think those who raise the rebel flag are illiterate fools… Can’t they see through such a plot?”

“Ironstone’s too confident, or rather, too cautious.”

Snowhawk, rechecking the perimeter, confirmed Hitana left no traces: “He didn’t want Gray Tower to find his agent’s tracks, but he didn’t consider… What third party in Chishuang City could clean up so perfectly? Outsmarted by his own cleverness. Laughable.”

“Indeed. If there were some flaws, we might’ve doubted her identity, but now… it’s beyond question.”

Wanderer said this in their mental link, while aloud he asked: “What’s up, friend?”

“You…” Hitana hesitated, then steeled herself: “Are you familiar with this place?”

Wanderer paused, then realized she was setting up an excuse to stick close, so he answered simply: “It’s necessary preparation.”

“Oh, so… you know where the treasury is?”

“…”

Her words left the rebel trio in stunned silence.

“What kind of excuse is that?” Stinger’s eyelid twitched. “She doesn’t know the way?”

“…It fits the profile of a mysterious third party. Poorly prepared, maybe even acting on a whim. She’s playing it well.”

The Wanderer responded as such, displaying an appropriate level of caution: “This friend, from what you’re saying... Do you want to join us? That doesn’t seem quite right, does it?”

Hitana also felt rather exasperated, knowing her words sounded somewhat absurd, but she had no other choice—after all, according to those two, she had at most fifteen minutes before she had to make a run for it.

Fifteen minutes to find a hidden treasury in such a massive mansion? Hitana had no confidence in that.

“I... I can help you deal with obstacles along the way, like... traps or something?”

“No need,” the woman in the duo suddenly spoke. “We’re prepared. Let’s keep some distance between us. Time’s short, goodbye.”

The Wanderer and his group knew they couldn’t agree too easily, as it would arouse suspicion.

Naturally, this girl, unwilling to miss such an opportunity, would surely try to throw out some bait... though they didn’t know what it was, as long as they feigned hesitation and eventually agreed, it would suffice.

Hitana, standing in the basement, didn’t think too much.

Seeing them about to leave, she immediately panicked:

“Wait, don’t go! What do you mean you’re at odds with the Chishuang family? Are you people sent by other nobles?”

Before the Wanderer could respond, Stinger’s tone shifted instantly, her voice cold and sharp as she snapped: “Don’t lump us in with those beasts!”

“...Beasts? You guys hate nobles too?”

Hitana froze for two seconds, then a spark of inspiration flashed through her mind:

“Wait, I can make a deal with you!”

The young wolf’s eyes lit up: “I can give you a major piece of intel! Something that can seriously hit Count Ironstone and the Hydra hard!”

Since they also despised nobles, there was no way they wouldn’t be interested in this information.

Not only could she use this to get into the Chishuang Mansion’s treasury with them, but she might even squeeze out a bit more.

On top of that... the Hydra’s hypocritical facade wouldn’t even need her to spread it herself.

This group, who seemed capable and harbored a hatred for nobles, would surely spread it on their own!

She wouldn’t even risk exposure, all while collecting the Hydra’s money and watching him squirm, unable to find someone to retaliate against!

I, Hitana, am practically a genius among geniuses!

As for the reaction of the rebel trio...

Well, well, picking the thing we care about most as your bargaining chip? How could you not be one of Count Ironstone’s lackeys?

To the “rebels,” this was indeed an offer they couldn’t refuse.

“Words alone aren’t proof, friend,” the Wanderer made his final pushback. “With just that, I can’t trust you.”

“Count Ironstone is holding a meeting with nobles tomorrow, about policies the Hydra is preparing... I can’t say more, but I can get you the details of their discussions. How about that?”

Hitana’s negotiation tactics came from what Marina had taught her—well, haggling tactics, not exactly sophisticated, but good enough.

At this point, the Wanderer knew he’d pushed back enough and said: “If that’s the case, leading you along wouldn’t be an issue, but only that. I hope you can keep your distance from us, agreed?”

“No problem! And I won’t take much, nor will I compete with you for anything.”

Hitana agreed readily, even making such a promise to put them at ease.

And so, both sides, each thinking themselves clever, began their plunder of Chishuang Mansion

under the watchful eyes of the Hydra, who never claimed to be clever.