Galaxy's Only Triple-S: Five Lords Can't Hold Her novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258 The Reckoning

Chapter 258 The Reckoning

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In under five minutes, Tyrone ejected an encrypted data drive and handed it to Margaret, “Done. A decade’s worth of the Empire’s rotten ledgers, all in there.”

Margaret took the drive and slid it across the table to Irene.

“Eight a.m. sharp tomorrow. The main Cabinet conference room.” Margaret placed both hands on the table, leaning toward Irene. “That’s the mess the three late ‘gentlemen’ left behind. Untangle it tonight. By tomorrow, I want solid evidence of Darien and his crew looting the Treasury.”

Irene picked up the drive, her fingers tracing its cool metal casing. “One night is enough.”

“One more thing. Assign two shadow guards to her,” Margaret added, looking toward Quentin by the door.

Quentin gave a silent nod.

Irene glanced up, surprise flashing briefly in her eyes, but she asked no questions.

“Your brother has been transferred to Central Hospital. Mr. Jewett will oversee his treatment personally,” Margaret said matter-of-factly.

Irene’s grip on the data drive tightened. She was clever enough to understand exactly what that meant.

“Your Grace.” Irene stood, not offering thanks but tucking the drive securely into her jacket. “By tomorrow’s meeting, Prince Darien will regret ever taking his seat,”

With a dismissive wave, Margaret turned and walked out.

Tyrone fell into step beside her, a spark of interest in his gaze. “Ms. Greene, that one’s got teeth.”

“This stagnant pond of an Empire needs a few predators to stir the water,” Margaret replied.

*****

The next day, in the Imperial High Cabinet building, the air in the vast circular conference room was thick enough to choke on.

Darien sat to the left of the head seat, face like a thundercloud. The deaths of Howard and his two allies had been a severe blow to the old nobility, but they weren’t defeated. This meeting was their chance to counterattack.

“Is the Regent planning to grace us with her presence? Being late for a Cabinet session is unacceptable!” a bearded councilor grumbled, rapping his knuckles impatiently on the table,

As if on cue, the heavy doors swung open.

Margaret strode in, having deliberately left Cheiron behind. With Tyrone and Quentin flanking her, an aura of sheer dominance instantly filled the space.

The room fell dead silent.

Margaret walked straight to the head chair and sat down. Ignoring Darien, she turned her attention to the

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Chapter 258 The Reckoning

doorway.

“Come in.”

All eyes followed her gaze.

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Irene entered, clad in a sharp black suit, a stack of files in her arms. Her expression was impassive. She didn’t so much as glance at the assembled nobles as she took up a position at Margaret’s right side.

Margaret announced, leaning back in her chair and tapping a finger on the polished table, “One item on today’s agenda. Effective immediately, I am personally assuming the roles of Minister of Finance and Chief of Internal Affairs.”

A wave of uneasy glances swept the room. Darien’s expression eased slightly.

If she takes the titles herself, the power might be centralized, but her inexperience will inevitably lead to chaos. We can work around her, slowly neutering the positions.

Margaret then pointed to Irene beside her. “This is Irene Blair, my personal secretary. Henceforth, she will act with my full authority in managing all operational affairs for both departments.”

The room erupted.

Darien shot to his feet, finger jabbing toward Irene. “Margaret! Have you lost your mind? A commoner? Without a title? A female commoner? You’re letting her run Imperial finances and internal affairs? Is this some kind of joke?”

“What’s wrong with a commoner?” Margaret’s voice was ice. “Would you prefer another Howard? Someone to embezzle Treasury funds into private accounts and cook up bioweapons to wipe out planets? Are those the qualifications you admire?”

Darien flushed, momentarily speechless. “That’s not the point! You can’t just install some unknown female! Acting authority for these posts must be voted on by the Noble Assembly!”

“Voted?” Margaret almost laughed. She gave a slight nod. “Irene. Show them.”

Irene stepped forward and dropped the files onto the center of the table. A holographic projection bloomed overhead, flooding the air with dense columns of data and transaction records.

Irene stated, her voice calm and crystal clear, “This is a detailed flow analysis of Imperial Treasury disbursements over the past five years. Of the 70 billion credits allocated for infrastructure in the fringe galaxies, 30 billion were funneled into Prince Darien’s private mining conglomerate. Furthermore, annual procurement of military supplies by Internal Affairs Ministry was invoiced at three hundred percent above market value. The difference was deposited into the private accounts of several individuals present in this

room.”

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