When Did I Become An Artifact Dealer?!
Chapter 66: Chairman’s Rebellious Daughter

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Chairman’s Rebellious Daughter

Cail’s head spun around like a toy the moment Sellene pointed at something.

To Cail’s relief, it was a piece of luggage.

But what is a piece of luggage doing here in the mines?

Showing no sense of crisis, Sellene was quick to rush towards the bag. Seeing that someone was willing to test the waters, Cail was happy to let her be the first to check the bag.

Sellene first nudged the luggage with her foot. Sensing that there wasn’t any living being inside, she happily squatted down and opened the luggage.

Cail walked beside her. His eyes were glued to the contents inside the bag.

Inside was an album, awards, and a notebook.

Cail’s breath hitched the moment Sellene’s hand touched the album. He managed to stop himself from grabbing her hand, but when she finally opened it, Cail almost threw himself at the album.

Inside was a picture of Virehn when he was a child. It looked similar to Cail’s childhood photos.

Considering that he was still weak and the gap in strength, Cail just stood there silently while he cringed inside.

Piano, violin, horseback riding, fencing and other hobbies that only the rich could afford. Cail was a bit unnerved at first, but as he looked more at the photos, he was shown another life of someone who looked just like him.

Unlike Cail, the child in the photo looked like a little prince. Cail’s memory flashed back to the skeleton-thin child that faded from his memory; he compared it to the child on the album and his desire to burn the Eldreth down increased.

The smile, the proud look, the carefree environment... yet all Cail could sense was the darkness, the smell of gunpowder, and the pain from injuries.

Cail bent down silently, "What do you think about the child in these pictures?"

Sellene was a bit startled at the sudden voice beside her. "The child in these pictures?"

Just as Cail thought she would say something about the investigation of this rift or maybe a serious opinion, what he got was this response—

"I was thinking, he would have been a handsome young man when he grew up." Sellene’s eyes narrowed as she smiled. She seemed to be free from any negativity. Just as pure as her physical traits.

Seeing that Cail was silent, she continued, "Well, he’s probably a catch! Look at these awards, he’s a talented child! On the pictures, despite still young, he already exuded a calm atmosphere. He will probably grow up to be a gentleman!"

Cail didn’t feel flustered or shy. He was clear-minded that Virehn and him were two different people.

"Yeah right, a gentleman." Cail said absentmindedly as he thought about the clouds hovering above his head and the suspected culprit of this world getting swallowed.

Cail touched Sellene’s hair. He had always been curious if this was really hair not silk. "This place. It’s very easy for us to find this mine. Why are we the first people to discover this luggage?"

Sellene didn’t mind him playing with her hair, "I’m not sure... I heard that this rift is constantly shifting. Like, places that didn’t exist before the last opening are now here."

"I thought you’re an expert, but it seems like you’re not that knowledgeable about the expedition here?" Cail asked. He noticed that she seemed to be clueless at the same time full of useful information.

"My father is the Chairman of VRA. While I’m not allowed to run around unsupervised, he doesn’t limit my access to information." Sellene was quick to drop her privileged daughter status.

Cail’s fingers, which were playing with her hair, paused then he tugged it hard!

"Awww! What was that?!" Sellene pulled her hair back. She saw strands hanging from Cail’s fingers. "You— why did you suddenly pull my hair?!"

Cail looked down. He dropped the strands onto the ground and patted his hands, "I lost control of my hand."

Sellene felt skeptical about that excuse, but she couldn’t think of any reason why he would do that.

"So, what will you do with that?" He pointed at the luggage.

"I—I’m going to give this to father..." Sellene’s voice was a bit uncertain at the end.

Cail sat down. "But your father probably wants you to be betrothed to that Tyrant, right?" Cail stroked her hair. It was similar to what he would do to Veyr whenever he wanted him to do something. "You giving it to him that easily... You’re not doing yourself any favor."

Cail’s voice was usually cold, but once he camouflaged it into something gentler. It was deadly sweet.

"Like a shadow that smiles... harmless at first glance, but waiting to consume."

The validation, the temptation. Everything you want to hear comes out of his mouth. Cail is dull when it comes to empathy, but whenever manipulation is involved, he can read a person like a book.

"You don’t like the Tyrant, right?" Cail said, his voice as deadly as a poisonous wine, "Your father..." He sighed. "You must be a sweet daughter, right? Always following what father wants, but father won’t consider your likes?"

Sellene was a bit defensive, "Father protects me all the time. I don’t think it’s too much to follow his rules a bit." She pulled her hair away from Cail, but Cail grabbed her wrist.

Cail’s grip was firm. Not enough to restrain her, but just enough to make her pause.

"Protects you?" His voice still held that soft hum, almost like a lullaby, but the words that were spewing out were pure venom. "Is that what you call it?"

Sellene narrowed her eyes. "Let go."

Cail didn’t flinch. "Does protecting you mean isolating you? You said it yourself... he gives you information, but not freedom."

Sellene tried to pull away, but his thumb brushed over her wrist like a comforting lie. It was gentle. As if it meant no harm. "You think you’re free, Sellene, but you’re just a little bird kept inside a cage. He feeds you enough to keep you loyal... but not enough to let you fly."

"You—!" What Cail said struck a chord. Her pearl eyes looked at him. She knew that something was off, but the comfort and validation of someone understanding her feeling is something she could not describe.

All the people she talked to always say that she is a lucky one. They never seemed to understand how she felt.

"You’re smart. Curious." Cail said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You can do it. You can fly high without him."

"Be careful, Missy. Love makes a perfect blindfold."

Did Cail follow the philosophy he was preaching? It’s unknown. But inside his mind, he had a plan.

Dear Chairman, as powerful as you are, how will you react facing a rebellious daughter?

One could say that Cail held a grudge towards the Chairman.

Oh sweet Missy... How long will she remain innocent?