Chapter 102: The Big Girl Falls into the Net

"Huh?"

"Helena wants me to find evidence that woman's up to something. But I'm not a detective—I don't have the skills. So I thought, if that woman really is suspicious, maybe if something like a sudden kidnapping happened, she'd slip up somehow?"

After making up this explanation, Audrey felt an inexplicable glee rise in her chest. Good job, Audrey! Not only can you lie without batting an eye now, but you can also make it sound perfectly logical!

Viscount Glaint scratched his head in confusion. Audrey's reasoning seemed…sort of reasonable? But not really. "Is… that so?"

"Come on, don't overthink it. Edessak didn't pursue the matter anyway."

She suddenly took a step forward and, standing on tiptoe, gave Viscount Glaint a hard pat on the shoulder.

With a serious tone, she said, "Grelint, you're the one who insisted I meet Helena. And Helena's the one who begged for my help. So if anything really goes wrong, the ones who'll take the blame are you two. So, don't go blabbing anything you shouldn't, okay?"

"..."

Viscount Glaint stared at the girl before him in stunned silence. For a moment, he had the illusion that Audrey was also an imposter. Wasn't she supposed to be a dignified and elegant noble lady? The brightest jewel of Backlund? Why did she suddenly seem so…

He couldn't even think of a proper word for it.

"Alright, I'm heading home."

Audrey lifted her skirts and stepped into the carriage. Just before entering the compartment, she suddenly turned her head with a small smile.

"Oh, by the way, Glaint. You didn't hide anything from me, did you?"

"N-No…"

Viscount Grelint forced himself not to avert his gaze and squeezed out a strained smile. "What would I possibly have to hide from you?"

"Remember, you're one of my best friends."

With that, she bent down and entered the carriage—only to come face-to-face with Annie, who was staring straight at her.

"W-What is it, Annie?"

"Miss, why does being knocked out this time feel…kinda like the time I fell asleep before?"

"Ah, well, you lost consciousness both times, of course they feel similar."

"But why did my head hurt when I woke up that time too? Miss, are you hiding something from me?"

"I am not!"

"Really?"

Audrey snapped, flushed with embarrassment. "Annie! I'm the young lady of the Hall family!"

"…"

———

After instructing the servants to clean the courtyard and the villa, Viscount Glaint went upstairs alone. He casually loosened his cravat and took off the formal clothes that made him uncomfortable.

Pushing open the bedroom door, he quickly scanned the room and called out in a low voice, "Mr. Danitz?"

No response.

"Did he escape when the Third Prince's men were searching, or…did he follow Audrey's friend?"

He let out a tired sigh and flopped onto the bed, closing his eyes as he murmured softly:

"No matter which it is, I hope he never comes back…"

"…I'm sorry, Audrey."

———

9:00 P.M. 

The Empress Borough's wealthy community was gradually falling into darkness and silence.

Inside Audrey's suitcase space—

After hearing Edward's explanation, Audrey suddenly understood.

"So you were worried Annie might get hurt because of that woman, so you deliberately exposed your disguise to create a scene?"

"Yeah. It was the only idea I could come up with at the time. But I still wasn't sure whether Edessak—or whoever is behind this—would rather kill the wrong person than let one go. It's best if Annie doesn't leave the villa for now."

"Got it. I understand."

Annie had grown up with her, a personal maid who'd become more like family over the years. Though there was technically a master-servant distinction, their bond was real. When the day came for Audrey to officially move out of the Hall estate, Annie would likely become her housekeeper.

Thinking of this, Audrey fumed.

"That witch is so despicable! Just to save herself, she didn't care if others lived or died!"

"In the world of the Beyonders, witches are often harbingers of disaster. Their promotions are accompanied by death, slaughter, and catastrophe. So if you ever run into one, stay as far away as you can!"

"What about the lock of hair she gave you?"

"I tossed it into a random sewer. She said it only worked if burned, but I don't trust her. What about you? Did the princess say anything else?"

"Hmm, she's dead set on exposing the witch's 'true face' and driving her out. But like you said, the missing maid was probably Edessak's doing, so it's all a waste of effort."

"Yeah…there's something really deep and dark behind that witch Trissy. My advice? From this moment on, forget everything she said. And don't meet with Helena again."

Audrey hesitated for a few seconds, then said:

"But…she's offering 30,000 pounds."

"Thirty thousand pounds?"

Edward swallowed hard. He did have a fair amount of money at the moment, but thirty thousand pounds was still a considerable fortune to him.

Thirty thousand pounds...just to find evidence that Trissy is suspicious and get her kicked out?

Edward knew very well that all that talk about 'evidence' was nonsense. Whether it was the infatuated Prince Edsac or the upper echelons of Loen and the Demoness Sect, none of them would drive Trissy away just because a few maids died. But if Helena's real goal was to have Triss expelled from the estate, then there was definitely room to maneuver.

Report her to the Church? Or use that lock of hair?

He coughed twice. "I'll think about it. Even if it has to be done, I'll be the one to do it. You absolutely cannot take that risk!"

Audrey puffed up her cheeks, feeling slightly underestimated. Still, she knew Edward only said it out of concern for her safety. Quietly clenching her delicate fists, she gave herself a mental pep talk:

"I really need to find a way to improve my strength as soon as possible!"

———

By the time she got home, it was already dark.

Lilith wasn't around—probably out hunting. Still, Edward couldn't help but feel a bit empty inside.

Even though he knew the little one would only come home after a full meal, he still filled her bowl with cat food and dried fish. Then, after turning off the gas lamp in the living room, he yawned and prepared to head upstairs.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the darkness.

"Good evening, sir."

A figure leaned lazily against the window. The head cocked to the side wore a black pirate hat, and on his face was a half-smile, half-smirk. His right hand tightly gripped a revolver, aimed directly at Edward.

Blazing Danitz!

Edward slowly raised both hands. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon, Mr. Danitz."

Danitz stepped forward with a bit of force, giving his revolver a shake and chuckling darkly. "You must be wondering how I found you again, and how I bypassed your danger-sensing abilities."

No, I wasn't, actually.

From his pocket, he pulled out a small, delicate-looking compass, like he was intentionally offering an explanation.

"It's all thanks to this compass. Once it locks onto a target, it'll lead me right to them within three hours—no matter where they are—and without triggering their senses. The damned side effect is just that, after every use, I'm forced to explain its ability and drawback to the target!"

"…."

That has to be a Seer-pathway mystical item!

With a 'snap', Danitz stowed the compass and strode quickly toward Edward, the revolver still aimed and his expression turning ferocious.

"Lecture time's over. Now it's time to settle our score, you bastard!!"

"I have to say," Edward replied calmly, a coin suddenly appearing between his fingers, "for a Hunter-path Beyonder, your vocabulary is really quite…limited."

"I bet there's no bullet in your gun."

Danitz froze.

In the next second, all the furniture in the room—tables, chairs, cabinets—flew toward him from both sides.

"Dogsh*t!"

Panicked, Danitz fired off several shots—every single one jammed. He was instantly buried under an avalanche of household debris.

"You son of a—!!"

With a furious roar, searing flames erupted. Splinters and sparks filled the air as Danitz emerged from the blaze, one hand clutching a concentrated, crimson fireball, the other still holding the revolver. He looked livid and imposing.

"I'm going to kill—"

He suddenly froze, sensing something cold and hard press against the back of his head. His words caught in his throat, his entire body stiffened.

That touch…he knew it too well. He used to sleep holding it.

Yes. Pressed to the back of his head was none other than his beloved revolver.

"…My apologies. I admit I was a little too loud just now."

Edward smiled. "Oh? Personally, I quite liked your smug and arrogant tone from earlier."

"You must be joking. That was just me…trying to lighten the mood."

"Lighten the mood? And that's how you ended up wrecking my entire room?"

Danitz was stunned, instinctively about to retort, but quickly shifted: "Wasn't that yours—I mean, my fault! My fault entirely! I'll pay for the damages."

Edward smoothly changed the topic.

"So, did you come back just to take revenge on me?"

"N-No. This is all a misunderstanding—there's no bad blood between us!"

"Then what are you here for?"

"I…I just wanted to retrieve my revolver."

The revolver at the back of his head was finally withdrawn, but he still didn't dare move a muscle.

"Flavie Dote."

The clothes on Danitz suddenly came to life, slithering around him like serpents before transforming into iron chains that tightly bound him in place.

Edward strolled leisurely to stand before him.

"I've heard of your captain—Vice Admiral Iceberg, Edwina Edwards. A very wise woman. I'd imagine she wouldn't allow you to come back to Backlund for revenge, knowing what happened to you here."

"After all, that would be no different from suicide."

Danitz's face flushed slightly. He muttered defensively, "My strength isn't as bad as you make it sound. Both times were just…unlucky."

"And your companions?"

"I…I don't have any."

"That Vice Admiral Iceberg, perhaps?"

He hastily denied it. "No! Definitely not!"

Edward chuckled. "Ah, then I see."

"….."

Edward raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Even now, with you captured, she's still not making an appearance?"

"I believe Captain has her reasons."

Tsk. The number one simp of Edwina, through and through.

Knock, knock, knock.

A series of knocks rang from the front door, followed by a woman's voice:

"I am Edwina Edwards, captain of the Golden Dream—Danitz's captain. Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Edward."

Edward's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Vice Admiral Iceberg actually came?

———

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