So, my villainous adventures begin.

The next morning, I locked myself in my room after putting on street clothes. It's good that at least this function has worked so far. Otherwise, it would be difficult for me to get to the capital alone. Besides, come up with an adequate reason for this.

Now, thanks to the system, my journey will take place in secret from prying eyes.

I sighed and turned to the task column. The timer on it suggested that I had a few hours left to successfully complete the mission. After that, the quest will close automatically, and I will be able to resume it again only for a fee.

When I thought about it, the triangle with the system appeared right in front of my eyes.

System: The Spider Legion Quest. Would you like to continue?

[Yes.No]

— yes.

System: Accepted! You will be moved to the location [Ternovy Lane].

Then, just like in a real game, the download percentages went. When everything was ready, I jerked sharply and the next moment I opened my eyes on the right street. Surprisingly, after this, I felt quite normal, and I wasn't even dizzy.

The place I was in really looked suspicious. It's sparsely populated and dark. The perfect expanse for criminals. Oh well… There was an old building opposite me. Looks like that's where I need to go.

I looked around once more before going inside.

Without hesitation, she pulled the door handle and got into the so-called shelter of the «Spider Legion». At first glance, the situation seemed quite ordinary. Apparently, the owner disguised the building as a weapons stall. There was no one at the main counter.

— …Excuse me?

I tried to call the owner. Maybe he's gone somewhere? I waited a few minutes before the door rustled and creaked in the room.

— Miss?

I turned around and saw a young man behind me. Her silver hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Violet eyes and scarlet lips contrasting with white skin. He was a really handsome man, more like an angel.

But that's not what struck me at all.

— Lionel?!

My lips trembled when I said that name. A womanizer-a womanizer, for whom all the young girls of the empire were pining. The imperial tutor, who was assigned to the heroine to teach her etiquette and rules of conduct in the palace. And also… One of her love interests.

It seemed to me that the game was playing me.

— What are you doing here? — I couldn't stand it and cried out.

The man stared at me in surprise.

— I don't know what you mean.

— Don't pretend! I shouted and stuck out my finger at him, «I'm asking, what are you doing here?»

He was even more stunned, and looked as if I had gone mad. But it seemed to me that the whole world was just breeding me. Otherwise, how could such nonsense come out? Not only that, this guy looked exactly like the heroine's love interest. So also his age did not correspond to the stated one.

Lionel was twenty-two years old in the game. And there are only twelve in the current time interval. So why does he look so grown up now?

Meanwhile, the guy reacted to my prank extremely calmly. The name I used to address him seemed to annoy him.

«You've got me confused with someone else,» he said confidently.

— What…?

— I'm not Lionel,» he said softly, «my name is Serpence Strange.

I was stunned.

— It seems that I am very similar to your friend, since you have such a reaction.

I blinked.

— You're not kidding me…?

Sigh.

— Miss, let's get down to business, please, — the guy turned to the counter, — You see, I'm busy. I don't have much free time. Would you like to buy a gun?

This guy was really different from the Lionel I knew in the game. The «real» Nel was extremely cheeky and didn't miss a single skirt. All because of the trauma received in childhood: his mother worked as a prostitute in a brothel. Because of this, the man did not believe in a serious relationship and only used women. At least until I met Angela Stone… A kind girl with a sympathetic heart conquered him and forced him to reconsider his attitude to love and marriage.

But this guy was completely different. He didn't even look at Grace Weinstein's pretty face. Really weird…

Did I really make a mistake?

— What do you need? — the man repeated his question.

— I am…

I finally remembered why I actually came here.

— I came to meet the owner of this place.

I showed him the badge of the head of the «Spider Legion» left by my father. Serpens' gaze changed at the sight of him. A couple of times he turned his eyes from me to the relic and back again, after which he bowed respectfully.

— I apologize for not recognizing you right away, Lady Weinstein.

— And…?

— Master, it's me.

Another unexpected discovery for the evening.

— But… I faltered.

«You must be surprised that I'm so young,» Serpens grinned, «but don't doubt it. I was personally acquainted with the former gentleman.

I swallowed. However, I had no choice to trust this man or not. Anyway, the quest has already begun. I could only hope that at least this time the system would not give me a pig.

— …

«Follow me.»

Serpens turned to the door leading to the utility room. Then he clicked on one brick. The door opened with a loud noise and the secret passage showed itself in all its glory.

The guy and I went in.

Behind the wall was a wide dark corridor, which was impossible to guess at first glance. At that moment, I felt like the heroine of a movie that I often watched on TV as a child.

Serpens and I continued on our way for a while, until finally I saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

Voices followed almost immediately.

I saw a huge room the size of a podium. Several hundred men in dark clothes trained here. It was a little awkward for me to stand and look at them stupidly.

«So this is my army…?»

Serpens called out to them.

— Show respect to the new mistress.

The guy showed them the badge of the head of the legion, which I brought with me. The men recognized him immediately.

When the warriors realized who was standing in front of them, they immediately threw down their swords and knelt before me.

— Greetings, Lady Weinstein!

I cleared my throat.

«From now on, our people will obey you,» Serpens announced, «tell me if you have any instructions.

— …

— Mistress?

— I really have something.

I saw a blinking announcement that the quest was successfully completed. Plus ten points to reputation among the dark Legion. The more of them there are, the more likely it is that these people will help me or sacrifice their lives. But now I didn't pay attention to it.

I smiled, thinking that I had already come up with a plan. If I want to form an alliance with Duke Dickens, I have to identify his weak spot. And it so happened that I was already aware of all the details of this family.

Roger's father's main weakness is the emperor.