AnimeMan: The 13th Princess’s Overpowered Servant

 :0: 

Chapter : 299

Princess Iris sat across the wooden table. Her violet eyes looked very tired. She stared at the scattered papers. "We need a new plan. We cannot catch the mastermind without a money trail."

Naomi leaned against the wall near the window. She crossed her arms. Her green eyes looked thoughtful. She did not look angry or strict today. She just looked determined.

"We can stop looking at the money," Naomi suggested. She offered a confident smile. "I know some people in the outer districts. Underground contacts. We can track the plant itself. Someone had to grow the Devil Flour before it went extinct."

Laxmi sat on the edge of the table. She tossed a tiny orange flame between her hands. "That sounds way better than reading boring books. Let's go find some plant experts. I am tired of sitting in this room."

Luna was fast asleep on the couch. Zinia gently patted Luna's shoulder to wake her up. Ira stood by the door. Her face was completely blank. She simply nodded in agreement with Naomi's plan.

Ken Eliot slouched in his chair at the end of the table. He was eating a chocolate biscuit. His dark blue suit jacket was totally wrinkled. His shirt hung untucked over his belt. He took a loud, crunchy bite and chewed happily.

"I vote we just stay here," Ken mumbled with his mouth full. "Walking outside requires energy. Energy requires naps. We should just order a pizza and call it a day."

Naomi walked over to him. She did not yell. She just playfully nudged his shoulder. She treated him exactly like a naughty friend who never knew when to stop joking.

"Swallow your food, Ken," Naomi scolded gently with a small smirk. "We are going out. Get up."

"You are a very demanding boss," Ken complained. He took another bite of his biscuit.

Suddenly, a polite knock came from the front gate. Zinia walked out to the courtyard to open it. A moment later, a visitor stepped into the strategy room.

It was Elma again. The blonde servant from the 16th Unit wore her spotless white and gold uniform. She looked completely out of place in the dusty room. She held a small, neatly wrapped pastry box in her hands.

"Elma?" Princess Iris asked with a welcoming smile. "What brings you here today?"

Elma’s cheeks instantly turned a bright shade of pink. She refused to look toward the end of the table where Ken sat. She kept her blue eyes fixed firmly on Sayma.

"Princess Hestia sent me," Elma lied. Her voice pitched up just a tiny bit. "She wanted me to check on your investigation. And she told me to bring these extra pastries. Our kitchen made too many. We were just going to throw them away."

Naomi smirked. She leaned against the table. "Princess Hestia sent you? She cares about our snacks now?"

Elma crossed her arms defensively. She hugged the pastry box to her chest. "Yes! Exactly! I am just following orders! Do not look at me like that!"

Ken slouched forward and pointed at the box. "Hey, Elma! Do those pastries have vanilla cream in them? Because if they are lemon-flavored, I am officially passing. I only eat the good stuff."

Elma finally turned her head to look at him. Her face turned even redder. The blush reached all the way to her ears.

"They are premium vanilla cream, you ungrateful slacker!" Elma shouted quickly. "You should feel honored to even look at them!"

"Awesome," Ken cheered. He gave her a goofy thumbs-up. "You are the best delivery service ever. Leave them right here."

Elma huffed loudly. She quickly set the box on the edge of the table. She turned around and almost sprinted toward the door. "I have to go back to my mansion now! Do not eat them all at once!"

She disappeared down the hallway. Her polished boots clicked fast against the floor.

Laxmi laughed out loud. The flame in her hand danced. "She totally likes you, Ken. It is so obvious."

"I am very charming," Ken agreed lazily. He opened the box and grabbed a pastry. "It is a blessing and a curse."

Naomi shook her head and smiled. "Finish your snack, Ken. We are leaving."

The 13th Unit left the estate. They followed Naomi's lead into the murky outer districts of the capital. The streets here were uneven and cracked. Dark clouds blocked the sun. The air smelled like wet dirt and old garbage. It was not a nice place.

Ken dragged his feet. His cheap shoes made a loud scuffing sound against the cobblestones. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff.

"My shoes are getting ruined," Ken whined. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "This mud is going to stain my pants. Why do the contacts always live in the worst parts of the city? Can't we meet them at a nice coffee shop?"

"Stop complaining," Naomi said playfully. She bumped her shoulder against his arm as they walked. "We are almost there. My contact gave me an exact address."

Sayma pushed her glasses up. "We are looking for a man named Dr. Panthor. He is a retired botanical researcher. He pioneered the early studies on Devil Flour decades ago."

They turned down a narrow, hidden alleyway. At the very end of the path stood a secluded greenhouse. It looked completely overgrown. Wild, tangled vines covered the glass walls. Thick moss grew over the roof. It looked like the jungle was trying to swallow the building whole.

Zinia stepped forward and knocked on the glass door.

A few moments later, the door slowly opened. An incredibly elderly man stood in the doorway. Dr. Panthor looked very frail. His white hair was thin and messy. He wore a faded, stained lab coat. His face was covered in deep wrinkles. He had sad, weary eyes.

"Yes?" Dr. Panthor asked softly. His voice trembled slightly.

Princess Iris stepped forward. She offered a polite, respectful bow. "Dr. Panthor. I am Princess Iris Belmontia. We are investigating a murder connected to the Devil Flour plant. We need your help."

The old man flinched. He looked terrified for a brief second. Then, he simply slumped his shoulders. He looked incredibly defeated.

"Devil Flour," Dr. Panthor whispered. He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. "I hoped I would never hear that name again. Please. Come inside."

He moved aside to let them pass. The 13th Unit stepped into the greenhouse.

The air inside was hot and humid. It smelled strongly of wet soil and exotic flowers. Rows of strange, colorful plants lined the wooden tables. Risa looked around with wide, fascinated green eyes. She loved plants. She reached out to touch a bright purple flower.

"Be careful, child," Dr. Panthor warned gently. "Some of these are quite sharp."

Ken wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead. He slouched against a nearby wooden table. "It feels like an oven in here. My suit is going to shrink. Do you have a fan?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!