Mystery: The Witch of Desire

Livre smiled and said she understood, but inwardly she was quite pleased with herself.

"Not strange at all, just the jealousy of an ordinary woman. After all, I am so beautiful and so charming... cough cough, what am I thinking? Don't be complacent about something as trivial as beauty. Courage and wisdom are what a man like me should pursue!"

Under Coleman's direction, the troupe continued rehearsals. Livre, with her exceptional acting skills, delivered flawless and captivating performances in multiple roles, earning the admiration of everyone present. Even the eccentric old musician Fitch was moved, and the eerie melodies emanating from his lute seemed to carry a hint of appreciation.

Before they knew it, it was evening and time to leave work. Coleman took Livre to Bright's office to report on 'Miss Monroe's' first day on the job.

"How is our apprentice doing, settling into life with the theater troupe?"

Bright sat in his chair, smiling as he looked at the two of them.

However, Coleman's subsequent report turned his smile into shock:

“Mr. Bright, Miss Marilyn Monroe is simply the most talented acting genius I have ever seen in my career! She adapts perfectly to every role, and her performances are precise and vivid. I guarantee that even if she were to play the lead role on stage tomorrow, she would do a flawless job!”

Bright's eyes widened, filled with the joy of finding a treasure:

"Are you telling the truth? Was Miss Marilyn really that outstanding?"

Coleman patted his chest, his tone incredibly firm:

"I swear on my more than ten years of acting career that Miss Marilyn Monroe will become another rising star on the Backlund stage!"

Bright was extremely excited, repeatedly saying "good" and looking at Livre with eyes full of admiration:

"I was originally planning to wait until you had adapted for a while and mastered the basic performance skills before inviting Miss Fors over. Since you have already done so well, I will write to Miss Fors now and ask her to come over so that she can provide an in-depth interpretation of the entire script from the author's perspective."

Livre didn't seem to care much about these things at the moment, and simply smiled slightly:

"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Bright. When will I receive my first paycheck?"

Bright laughed heartily:

"Now's the time! Since Coleman believes you're up to the task of performing on stage, I'll pay you four pounds a month. I'll pay you on the 15th of every month thereafter. Once you have performance income, I'll give you a satisfactory share. Oh, and remember to bring your identification tomorrow to sign the employment contract."

As he spoke, he counted out four pounds of cash, still smelling of ink, from the ticket price and handed it to Livre.

Livre accepted the gold pound, concealing the joy flickering in her eyes, and curtsied, lifting her skirt as she did so.

"Thank you, Mr. Bright, you are a very generous gentleman."

Amidst her joy, Livre couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia: back in the mutual aid society, under Ms. B's care, she never hesitated to spend £10 notes...

"The Tingen City Women Teachers' Mutual Aid Association... I guess it's a subordinate organization of the Witch Cult? I wonder if there's a similar organization in Backlund. I have a pretty good relationship with Chik, so I guess I'm one of Chik's followers? Shouldn't the Witch Cult be more friendly towards me?"

As Livre pondered this, she headed to the Brave Ones Bar and went straight to the front desk.

"I'm looking for Redbeard."

Chapter 108 Mr. Landlord, don't you miss your wife?

"I'm looking for Redbeard."

She handed the bartender a penny as a tip, without ordering any drinks—she didn't really like the strong taste of those liquids anyway.

The bartender accepted the tip and said expressionlessly:

"Redbeard isn't here today, but he left something for you."

"Oh?"

Livril raised an eyebrow and took the small package from the bartender.

Upon opening the package, a piece of identification was found casually wrapped in soft oil paper.

[Monroe Bello. Female, 20 years old, from Bochronel, Middle Sea County...]

The identification document did not have a portrait or photograph on it, but it was stamped with the seal of the Backlund Police Department.

"Wow, that's really fast. But this kind of thing can't withstand proper scrutiny. When I have money, I'll try to get a copy of it from the Central Archives."

Liviel carefully put away her identification, humming a cheerful tune as she walked into a small restaurant on the street for dinner.

She spent 11 pence on a fairly luxurious set meal: potato pie and beef offal soup. The soup, made with tripe, intestines, lungs, and bits of beef, along with tomatoes and onions, was thick and sprinkled with white pepper. Served with a rich, crispy potato pie, it was incredibly delicious and satisfying.

After a delicious meal, Livre let out a burp that seemed somewhat incongruous with her beautiful appearance. With a languid and satisfied air, she headed to a newsstand and bought a copy of the "Breckland Workers' Daily," hailed as the "best value newspaper in all of Backlund," for a penny.

This is the assessment of the future Mushroom King, Mr. Valentine.

The Backlund Workers newspaper, with its low prices, has a certain influence among workers and ordinary citizens, and to some extent, it deserves this assessment.

Livre sat on a bench by the street, unfolded a newspaper, and browsed the information that interested her:

[Lord Charles of the New Party introduced a bill in the House of Commons to improve workers' benefits, and Lord Hall, a member of the House of Lords, expressed his support at a banquet.]

"Mr. Valentine said that Earl Hall is a famous banker in the kingdom, and his wealth is immeasurable. However, his political leanings seem to be neutral, so why would he publicly make such remarks that favor the New Party?"

Livre pondered, glancing at the other news items:

[A bumper rubber harvest in the Southern Continent has led the Backlund Academy of Sciences to develop rubber softening technology, potentially sparking a new revolution in production capacity.]

"Speaking of which, this world is really similar to the world before I transmigrated. There are 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year, and all kinds of technologies have the shadow of the Industrial Revolution era. If it weren't for my strange and extraordinary abilities, I would really think that I had transmigrated to 19th-century Great Britain!"

Livre's mind wandered with interest, and she didn't take the news too seriously.

According to a survey by the Backlund Charitable Relief Association, 30% of residents in the eastern district are starving, and 10% are teetering on the brink of death.

As Livre read through the shocking details listed below the news article, her heart grew heavier.

She looked up at the bustling street and couldn't help but sigh deeply.

“Even in Backlund, the capital of all cities, the situation in the slums is still far from optimistic. In this respect, there is no difference between the capital and Tingen… The investigation by the Backlund Charitable Relief Association is indeed detailed, and the Workers’ Daily’s report hits the nail on the head. But which of the nobles and royalty in power would deign to read such cheap newspapers?”

Livre's desire to change the miserable lives of the lower classes did not change because of her gender transformation. On the contrary, after experiencing many life-and-death trials, she felt the preciousness of life and freedom even more.

"However, I cannot change this situation right now, and I need to plan for the long term."

Beyond seeking revenge against the Night Watchers and repaying Chick's kindness, Livr has found an even grander goal in life.

She calmed herself down and looked at some small news items on the back of the newspaper.

"Fors Wall's serialized novel, 'The Woman of Desire'? Sounds interesting."

Livre recalled that Mr. Bright had mentioned that his painstakingly crafted new play, "The Trial of the Witches," was written by Fors Wall, a rising literary star from Backlund who had recently been the subject of much discussion. Her masterpiece, "Stormy Heights," though slow to update, had sold well, and even Mr. Valentine, who was not interested in literature, had heard of it.

Even her new book, "Woman of Desire," was reprinted in several newspapers with considerable circulation, including the Backlund Workers' Daily.

Livre watched with great interest, and after a few minutes, she let out a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

"Hmm... It's really well written. The style is fresh and not pretentious, and the emotions are described very delicately. However, it seems that both main characters are women. Could it be that this female author has some strange tendencies?"

As Liviel pondered, she couldn't help but chuckle. Then, she suddenly remembered that she seemed to have known a beautiful woman with lesbian tendencies before, but she couldn't quite picture her face in her mind.

"Uh... what's going on? I'm still so young, and my memory isn't very good."

Livre smiled wryly at herself and turned her gaze to the advertising section on the very last page of the newspaper.

Here, she found the core purpose of her newspaper purchase: rental advertisements!

152 Commercial Street, Joewood, a well-prepared two-story detached house. The ground floor includes a living room, dining room, guest rooms, bathroom, kitchen, and basement; the second floor includes bedrooms, a family room, a study, bathroom, and a balcony. Weekly rent is £18 sulph, plus £1 sulph per week for furniture. Annual rent is £25. Minimum lease term is six months.

Small, detached two-story house at 27 Minsk Street, Joewood district. Fully furnished with a living room, dining room, multiple bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen. Rent is $15 per week, furniture included. Short-term weekly rentals are available; discounts available for longer stays.

52 Third Avenue, Backlundbridge, two-bedroom apartment with bathroom, kitchen and basic furniture. 6 sulphurs per week, minimum six-month lease.

……

Liviel quickly browsed through the list; even the cheapest place here cost 5 or 6 soules per week.

There are certainly many cheaper houses in Backlund, but their landlords certainly wouldn't be willing to spend money to advertise their properties in the newspaper.

Looking to rent a place with a private bathroom outside the eastern suburbs, 5 Sullahs seems to be the lowest price. For a beautiful young woman living alone, a private bathroom is quite important. Otherwise, her neighbors might frequently see her in the communal bathroom after her shower, feeling a burning desire.

After comparing several options, Livre settled on a small, two-story detached house at 27 Minsk Street in the Joewood district.

This house is fully equipped to ensure a basic quality of life. Moreover, it is a detached house, which is undoubtedly the safest choice for someone like Livr who is hiding many secrets. And this is already the most affordable detached house.

In addition, Minsk Street is very close to the commercial street where Baria is located, making commuting convenient; it only takes about ten minutes to walk there.

Most importantly, it supports weekly payments, which is perfect for Livre, who is currently short of money.

It wasn't too late yet, and it was within a reasonable time for a visit. Without hesitation, Liver set off immediately for 26 Minsk Street—the homeowner, Mr. Waffle, owned both 26 and 27, and it was he who had placed the advertisement for the house in the newspaper.

About ten minutes later, Livre arrived at 26 Minsk Street, a spacious three-story detached house, much more impressive than the small two-story detached house at number 27 next to it.

Liviel looked at house number 27 from the outside. The exterior was clean and tidy, the paint was still fresh, and it looked like it had just been renovated. The house also had good lighting, making it a very suitable choice.

After looking around, Livre knocked on the door of number 26 with satisfaction.

A moment later, a glint flashed in the security cat's eyes, then the door opened, and a young maid peeked out, asking with some confusion:

Who are you looking for?

Livre smiled and said:

"Good evening, I'm here to see Mr. Waffle..."

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in elegant home clothes came down the stairs. Upon seeing Livia standing in the doorway, he rushed over in alarm, shouting:

"Nina, hurry up and make some black tea, I'll go greet the guests!"

The maid dared not delay and immediately left the room and went into the tea room. Only after she had gone did the middle-aged man complain to Livre:

"What's going on? I clearly told that bastard Arles that I would send people over tomorrow! My wife and maid are still at home! Do you want to ruin my family?"

Livre was stunned upon hearing this, and it took her a few seconds to realize that Mr. Waffle had booked a home service while his wife and servants were away the next day, and that her arrival made him think the home service had made a mistake with the date.

She said with a hint of helplessness:

“Mr. Waffle, actually, I saw your rental advertisement in the Backlund Workers’ newspaper and wanted to discuss the rental with you.”

Mr. Waffle was taken aback, then realized he had made a huge blunder. His stubble-covered face flushed red, and he immediately said firmly:

"Please leave immediately, I will not rent the house to you!"

"But……"

Before Livre could finish speaking, Mr. Waffle was about to close the door and see the guest out when an elegant lady came down the stairs and asked curiously:

"Honey, are we having guests?"

Mr. Waffle was taken aback, and his face immediately turned very awkward.

Livre quickly seized the opportunity to slip inside and bowed to the woman, lifting her skirt as she said:

“Hello, Mrs. Waffle, I saw your rental ad in the Backlund Workers’ newspaper and came here specifically to inquire about renting your property.”

After saying that, she gave Mr. Waffle a knowing look out of the corner of her eye, her expression seeming to say:

"Sir, you wouldn't want your wife to know you've been using in-home services, would you?"

Mr. Waffle saw her meaningful look and his body trembled for no reason. He could only force a smile and look miserable.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Waffle spoke gently:

“I see. My husband makes all the decisions in my family. You can discuss the price with him.”

She looked Livre up and down again, then turned to Mr. Waffle and said in a suggestive tone in a low voice:

"I think this young lady has an outstanding temperament and seems to come from a well-educated family. Renting to her might be a good choice."

Although her voice wasn't loud, it still didn't escape Liviel's ears, who was an extraordinary being. She chuckled softly and said:

“Mr. Waffle, Mrs. Waffle, I really love that house. Please rent it to me. I will cherish it as if it were my own home.”

Her words carried a hint of persuasive charm, and Mrs. Waffle was immediately won over, nodding slightly in agreement. Mr. Waffle, at that moment, dared not refuse Livre and could only reluctantly agree.

"Is there any further discount on the price? If you can give me a price of 13 sulphurs per week, I can pay two weeks' rent upfront."

Liviel smiled sweetly, like a pure and innocent young girl who had never experienced anything.

"Okay, that's settled then."

Mr. Waffle did not haggle. After glancing briefly at Livr's identification, he signed the rental agreement with a look of utter despair.

Mrs. Wah, who was standing to the side, was a little surprised: her husband had always been a miser, so why did he accept the bargaining of this young and beautiful lady so readily today?

However, she trusted her husband completely and did not have the idea that he was giving her a discount because he was attracted to the young lady's beauty.

"This is the key to room number 27. You can use all the rooms. There is no furniture usage fee, but please be careful not to damage the furniture. If you want to renew the lease, please inform me three days in advance. You are responsible for the cleanliness of the rooms, or you can hire my servants to clean them."

Mr. Waffle somewhat absentmindedly explained the rental arrangements to Livre. When Mrs. Waffle got up to go to the break room, a fierce glint appeared in his eyes, and he threatened:

“Ms. Monroe, I have already made a great concession. If my wife finds out anything she shouldn’t know, I guarantee you will bear my wrath!”

Upon hearing this, Livre smiled broadly without any hesitation:

"I will always remember your generosity. Rest assured, I will not say anything."