Reborn as the Psycho Villainess Who Ate Her Slave Beasts' Contracts

"The guard captain we suspected—the one with Khaviran connections—made contact with an unknown individual last night. One of our observers followed the contact to a merchant ship docked in the lower harbor. We’re investigating the ship’s cargo manifest now."

Elara swallowed another spoonful. "And the Third empress’s servant?"

"She’s been careful. No obvious contacts. But she’s changed her routine three times this week—different routes to the market, different shops. Classic counter-surveillance behavior."

"She knows she’s being watched."

"Most likely, Your Highness."

Elara tore off a piece of bread, thinking. "Increase surveillance but make it more obvious. Let her think we’re too incompetent to hide it properly."

Demerti’s pen paused. "Make her overconfident?"

"Make her relax. If she thinks we’re watching her clumsily, she’ll eventually assume she’s evaded us and make contact with her handler." Elara ate the bread. "People make mistakes when they think they’re smarter than their observers."

A small smile touched Demerti’s mouth. "This servant will arrange it." He made notes. "The suppressant shipment from Khavira is proceeding on schedule. Should arrive in seventeen days."

"After my next three episodes," Elara calculated.

"Yes, Your Highness." His expression tightened briefly. "This servant apologizes for the delay—"

"You’re procuring banned war compounds from a foreign kingdom through black market channels," Elara interrupted. "Seventeen days is faster than I expected. Well done."