"Shajin, quit dawdling already! Move those legs—we're in a hurry and need to find the key clue as soon as possible!"
As the words left her mouth, she darted forward like an arrow released from the bowstring, swiftly descending the tall steps ahead of them.
Left behind, Shajin could only sigh and shake his head, muttering under his breath.
"She's in such a rush…"
He trudged after her, steps heavy but close behind.
After a while, he finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Lady Furina, are you really that sure Lyney is the culprit?"
Furina walked ahead, arms akimbo and full of confidence. "Hmph! Isn't it obvious? He was the only one present who could've done it. Who else could it possibly be?"
Before Shajin could respond, Furina continued, "Besides… if I recall correctly, he and his siblings are all from Snezhnaya's House of the Hearth, right?"
Shajin didn't dodge the question. He nodded calmly. "That's right. It's true."
Furina paused for a moment, then gave him a rare look of approval.
"Hmph. Didn't expect you to know that much. Not bad—you've got some brains after all."
But then, as if a critical realization had suddenly struck her, her expression turned serious.
"Wait… if what you're saying is true, then could it be that Lyney isn't the real culprit behind the serial cases?"
Her eyes widened as she stared intently at Shajin.
He raised his hands and began to explain slowly, "If my memory serves me right, this string of missing girls started twenty years ago."
"And Lyney is only sixteen this year…"
Furina: "…"
"Eh?! Then what are we supposed to do?!"
Shajin looked at her steadily, thoughts whirling beneath his calm surface. He was beginning to suspect that Furina carried some kind of deep, unspoken burden—something that compelled her to uphold her flawless image as the so-called 'God' in the eyes of Fontaine's citizens.
"Lady Furina, forgive my boldness, but perhaps the reason you insisted on accusing him… is because you had no choice?"
"Could it be… that you're trying to use this case to lure out the true mastermind pulling strings from the shadows?"
Shajin's eyes gleamed with sharp perception as he tested her with his words.
Furina's body trembled slightly at that. Wait, am I that good?!
But she quickly composed herself and cleared her throat to mask the panic rising inside.
"Ahem… As expected of my ever-loyal bodyguard. You saw through my intentions in an instant. Yes, you're absolutely right. That's exactly what I'm doing."
She lifted her chin proudly, flashing a smug expression.
Shajin chuckled and clapped lightly. "Brilliant. As expected of Lady Furina, the God of Justice—wise and cunning as ever. In that case, let's get moving!"
"Oh! Right!"
Furina answered with renewed energy, and the two walked lightly down the steps together.
But once they reached the foot of the staircase, they were surprised to see Lyney and Lynette not far away, chatting cheerfully with a woman they didn't recognize.
The woman's long, golden hair flowed like a waterfall and danced in the breeze like waves of sunlight. Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with brilliance and wit, as if she could see through the very fabric of the world.
She wore a tailor-made luxurious outfit—a seamless blend of black and gold that highlighted her graceful curves while radiating elegance and impeccable taste.
A large black hat adorned with a yellow rose and white feathers completed her look, enhancing her air of sophistication. Two bodyguards in suits stood at her side.
The three of them turned as Furina and Shajin approached.
"Lady Furina?!"
Lyney, Lynette, and the mysterious woman all looked visibly startled.
Furina approached with grace.
"Hello, Lyney. Lynette. And you must be Miss Navia, president of the Spina di Rosula, correct?"
"I came today to offer my apologies to you, Lyney. I know full well that you're not the true culprit. You're only sixteen, and the serial disappearances began twenty years ago."
"I accused you because I hoped it would draw out the real criminal behind the scenes."
Lyney and Lynette exchanged glances and both let out a breath of relief.
"You always think ahead…"
But their eyes kept drifting toward the man behind Furina—Shajin.
Shajin shrugged. "No need to hide it. Lady Furina already knows about your identities."
Now they were truly shocked.
"Wait… are you that 'Gambler'—Shajin?"
The blonde woman—Navia—stepped forward.
"I am. Do you need something from me, Miss Navia?"
Navia clenched her hands slightly. "Mr. Shajin, I… I'd like to apply for a loan from Snezhnaya's Northland Bank."
"A loan?" Shajin raised a brow.
"What, Fontaine's Northland Bank rejected you?"
Navia looked a bit embarrassed. "Haha… Not exactly. It's just… our Spina di Rosula headquarters was hit by a flood recently. There are too many infrastructure projects, and the loan we need is significant. But we don't have enough assets to offer as collateral…"
Shajin was about to refuse outright—but after a brief thought, he flipped a token toward her. It gleamed with the word Gamble engraved upon it.
Everyone present looked stunned by the gesture.
Navia's eyes widened, clearly not expecting such a response.
"This… what is this?"
She looked down at the token in her hand in confusion.
"It's my personal token. It can be used as a special loan credential for the Northland Bank," Shajin explained.
"It represents trust. You won't need any collateral. But it's also a gamble. If you repay on time, the interest will be extremely low. But if you default… the cost will be steep."
Navia smiled, her eyes brimming with gratitude. She gripped the token tightly—holding it as if it were the hope of the entire Spina di Rosula.
"I understand, Mr. Shajin. I promise—I'll repay it on time."
_
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