Chapter 73

### Heroine's Side: Florina Tez

I can't believe I forgot the memory device containing important research data... Was it because I was flustered by the rain? No, that's just an excuse. Still, the ship I'm on now is steadier than the cargo ship we took back earlier. Part of that is because the rain and wind have weakened, but it's also because this is John Uzoss's personal ship. As a mercenary, he's very familiar with this ship, and it's like an extension of his own body. The flight was even smoother than our return trip, and we arrived at the excavation site in no time.

"I'll go get it right away, so please wait here."

Uzoss is an excellent pilot. He even docked the ship near the hut for my convenience. I wish I could hire him as a dedicated pilot, but I already have someone on a full-time contract, and his main job is being a mercenary. It wouldn't be right to force him. I entered the hut and found the memory device in less than a minute. Forgetting things is such a hassle. Because of my negligence, a task that should have taken less than a minute ended up costing me ten times the time and effort.

As I returned to the ship, a sudden beam of light shone down from above.

"What the...?!"

"Ships. There are about two of them."

Did they forget something too? But why would they come to the area I'm in charge of? At that moment, a short-range communication request came through on Uzoss's ship.

"Should I connect it?"

I nodded, and Uzoss flipped the switch. A thin, hawk-nosed man with a malicious face appeared on the screen.

"Dr. Dazbrowt..."

"Good evening, Professor Florina Tez. What a coincidence to meet you here."

Harold Dazbrowt. An imperial viscount, a distinguished professor at the Imperial University, and a doctor of archaeology. He's devious and cunning, a coward who can't give a decent lecture but has an insatiable desire for recognition. He often tries to one-up me at every turn.

"What do you want?"

I responded with a polite but cold demeanor. Whenever he initiates a conversation, it's usually for something unpleasant. Dazbrowt's face twisted in frustration.

"You are young, beautiful, and capable. The excavation site you are currently investigating has yielded many artifacts, and your reputation is growing."

He threw me a reluctant compliment, but his expression quickly turned to anger.

"But such honor belongs to me, a viscount and a doctor of archaeology!"

I was exasperated, and a long-standing suspicion resurfaced. Does this man really have a doctorate in archaeology?

"You insisted that nothing would be found at the site I'm in charge of and pressured me to switch to the site you were handling, claiming it would yield a great discovery, right?"

The excavation sites were originally decided by a lottery. However, as I mentioned, Dazbrowt disliked the site I was assigned and used his position and noble status to force a switch. But in the end, the site he took from me yielded no significant artifacts, while the site I was pushed to revealed memory devices, Pla-paper documents, and an underground facility.

In archaeology, it's common to draw a blank, and the fact that "nothing was found here" is also valuable information. Despite this,

"But if I report to the society that you are my subordinate and I instructed you to investigate this site, all the credit will be mine."

Dazbrowt made an unbelievable proposal, as if it were a good idea.

"Do you really think I would agree to that?"

I dropped all pretense of politeness and glared at Dazbrowt. He grimaced for a moment but then smirked.

"If you don't agree, your entire research team might have to leave the city in this storm and could end up in a disaster."

He immediately started stroking his chin with a sly smile. He's taken my subordinates and students hostage!

I tried to contact them, but no one responded. Uzoss whispered,

"It sounds like a bluff. The communication might be jammed by one of their ships."

But I know Dazbrowt's character. He's capable of doing this...

"Fine... I'll follow your instructions. First, ensure the safety of my research team. And the pilot of this ship is a temporary hire, not a researcher. Please guarantee his safety as well..."

Dazbrowt seemed satisfied with my submissive attitude and smirked again.

"Very well. First, shut down the ship's engine and come out with the pilot. Bring the ignition key."

### Heroine's Side: End

The professor is often portrayed as a strong-willed female researcher in foreign films.

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