My older sister is a villainous rich girl

For a moment, Wayne was at a loss for how to react.

He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with such stories.

This is what is meant by "killing innocent people and claiming credit for them."

However, how can a fleeting glimpse of words in history books compare to the profound impact of firsthand accounts from those involved?

"After the kingdom's army left, I was taken in by a rebel scout. At the time, I just thought that if I joined them, I would have food and wouldn't have to work so hard to scavenge for other people's discarded food."

"But."

"They told me... that I can be a human being, and that I can pursue what I want."

Under the pure, flawless moonlight, Bulwer looked up and spread his hands, as if wanting to feel the dazzling, cool light.

"When I was twelve years old, I unexpectedly awakened a good aptitude for magic."

He concluded the story in a calm tone.

"Therefore, I volunteered to become an undercover agent. I am willing to give everything for the cause of the rebels... including my life."

Wayne reached out and clapped for him.

“Congratulations, Mr. Bulwer,” he said without a trace of emotion.

"Now that you possess powerful magical abilities, you can finally escape that precarious life forever."

Upon hearing this, Bulwer frowned.

“Yes, I can live a very good life,” he said. “But only by myself.”

"Behind me, there are many more people like me, unable to escape that tragic fate..."

Wayne suddenly asked, "Then, how did such a compassionate and merciful Lord Bulwer manage to gain His Majesty the King's trust?"

Bulwer's eloquent speech came to an abrupt end.

Wayne's eyes were like those of an eagle.

He hadn't forgotten why the previous Commander-in-Chief had been able to hold onto his position so securely.

Fabricating charges.

Human trafficking.

Acting as the king's white glove...

Given its already significant disadvantages in terms of background compared to its competitors, is it possible for Bulwer to succeed without making some other sacrifices?

Under his sharp gaze, the commander broke out in a fine sweat.

After a long silence, Bulwer finally spoke:

"For a greater cause, those sacrifices are worthwhile."

Upon hearing his answer, Wayne suddenly laughed.

Norman Laird, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but ask, "What are you laughing at?"

"Ah, I've thought of an interesting question."

If you have to kill an innocent person, but it could save another hundred people, should you kill them or not?

However, for the rebels who already have little room for maneuver, they probably can't handle such a situation so elegantly.

Having blood on one's hands is perhaps a necessary but unavoidable way of development.

Unexpectedly, the reformers he had longed for were not in the imperial court, but in the countryside.

No… more accurately, perhaps they were revolutionaries.

"So, your ultimate goal as a rebel army is to overthrow the existing aristocratic system?"

"Not bad!"

Bulwer said, "These nobles indulge in pleasure, luxury, and do nothing of substance... They are all parasites clinging to the people! Their lives are of no benefit to the country!"

...I always feel like you're pointing your finger at me and cursing me.

"Ahem." He coughed lightly twice, subtly defending himself, "Among the nobles, there are also some very good and reliable people."

"If you really want things to succeed..."

He said meaningfully, "We can't just shut out all the potential forces that can be won over. Understand?"

Bulwer asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"We must unite all forces that can be united."

What he really wanted to say was, "Send someone to the Duke of Winchester's mansion to seduce me as soon as possible."

However, we can't be so explicit.

After all, he is still Echoes and should not have any special connection with the Winchester family.

Moreover, standing next to him was a Laird family descendant who wanted revenge against the Winchester family.

Chapter 172 Where will Wayne's path lead?

Is a society where everyone is equal truly achievable?

Wayne felt that even if it couldn't be completely achieved, it would be good to get closer to it.

Putting aside everything else, the ability to change one's fate through education, and the fact that people wouldn't die from cold or hunger, is something that could be achieved even in a feudal society.

However, these things that are most commonplace in later generations are now considered nothing more than daydreams even when spoken to ordinary people at the bottom of society.

Such happy days have never occurred on this land.

They couldn't even imagine it.

Commoners are playthings, stray dogs, and weeds.

They are a group of people who have no voice in this era, and whose voices will not be heard even if they make them.

Thinking about it carefully, in the highest-level magic academy in the capital, the only topics you hear about "commoners" are almost all related to Tasia.

Apart from that, no one cares about their situation.

Whether they live or die, or how they live, is none of the business of these noble children.

The nobles were only concerned with what kind of clothing and accessories were currently popular in the capital, who was involved in the most sensational rumors, or how to indulge in pleasure even more freely.

It was not only the deeply ingrained concept of hierarchy that influenced people, but also the solid barrier created by the powerful tool of "magic".

—Those who possess magic must be nobles.

This is a criterion that everyone agrees on.

In the original storyline, Tasia was even suspected of being a descendant of nobility because she possessed light magic.

Even in textbooks, the origins of magic are clearly recorded:

The King of Kings made an eternal pact with the elves, and in return, the elves agreed to lend their power to the King of Kings' followers.

But is that really the case?

……

Inside the city guard headquarters building in the darkness.

After speaking with Echoes, Bulwer sincerely invited him to join the rebels.

A powerful individual like Ekos is probably one of the top performers on the entire continent.

If they could be persuaded to join the rebels, it would certainly give their high-end combat capabilities a breakthrough boost.

However, in response to his invitation, Wayne simply said, "I need to observe further... to see if you are qualified to work with me."

In short, they adopted a very high-handed attitude and their stance was ambiguous.

He stared at the two of them and said coldly, "Besides, the damage to my reputation is not something that can be brushed aside with a flimsy apology."

Norman Laird was taken aback, then forced a smile.

“Your reputation is certainly a very valuable thing,” he probed. “How about I transfer a shop that I secretly control to you as compensation?”

"Do you think I'm stupid? The opening and transfer of all shops in the capital must undergo qualification review. Even if I get your shop, I can't possibly run it myself," Wayne sneered.

"What... are you trying to probe my background?"

The shadows moving around the room grew even darker, as if they were about to leap out from the walls or the floor at any moment, ready to devour anyone who might approach them.

"No, no, no, I absolutely did not mean that." His strong will to survive saved him.

Norman then took a bill out of his pocket—

An anonymous contract issued by the Edgeworth Family Chamber of Commerce.

"This is all the sentiment I have on me." He presented the contract. "If you ever need my help, you are welcome to visit me anytime."

Echoes sat in the main seat and slightly raised her hand.

Seeing this, Norman was about to step forward, but the contract in his hand floated up first and flew into Echoes' hand.

It's like being manipulated by invisible threads.

Even with his dark magic, he couldn't sense any magical fluctuations when they were face to face.

—What precise and profound magical manipulation this is.

He dared not say more.

"I heard that your current target is the Wenche family?" A voice came from under the cloak.

Norman paused slightly.

"No... I don't have that idea yet," he denied. "The previous failed operation was because my subordinates acted on their own, and they have already been punished."

“From now on, I will leave the capital with my subordinates for a while to avoid trouble.”

Hmm, so you're using taking a life as punishment?

Wayne casually stood up from behind his desk and slowly walked to the window.

He placed the anonymous contract in front of him and glanced at it discreetly.

The impressive string of numbers on it gleamed under the moonlight.

On the other side, unseen by the two people behind him, a smile appeared on his lips beneath the hood.

"Gentlemen, it's getting late, so I won't keep you company any longer."

He said, "I'll come visit you guys again when we have the chance to meet next time."

Before the two could even respond, in the blink of an eye, the moonlight had completely vanished.

The room's originally rich colors instantly returned to their original normal state.

After Echoes left, Norman and Bulwer exchanged a puzzled look.

"Just who is this person?"

……

Wayne, whose identity was being racked to guess, was in a very good mood.

Even the sound of the night wind seemed to become joyful.

The trip was quite fruitful.

They basically figured out the background of several villain leaders and even made a lot of money, so it wasn't a bad deal.

Using that bearer contract, one can easily withdraw the money that the other party has pre-deposited from the Chamber of Commerce.

Furthermore, there is no need to verify identity.

This is practically free money! It seems I should get closer to these people more often in the future.

He had just learned that the Laird family and the rebels were currently in a deep cooperative relationship, and they had reached an agreement on many important goals.

However, the reason they can unite against a common enemy is because the entire rebel camp is too weak.

Once it truly develops, things could get complicated.

Wayne has witnessed far too many uprisings that, due to their own limitations, started strong but quickly disintegrated.