MIDV | Chapter 9
by Angry BirdLudger’s fine eyebrows rose slightly before dropping down calmly. It seemed the momentary astonishment that had grasped him went away quickly.2eaa073c00a5aa39
“That’s quite an unexpected profiling.”0f421244a73f5c9a
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Is that so?”da5936902f07a5a3
“You must have never heard of such a criminal before being debriefed by the Security Forces. Then, what could be the reason for you to think that?”f6fe60c2fa8f9dc0
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
While checking the c5e3229e5f location of the a7f8a2952d chimney and windows eb4cd2d267 of the mansion a03cf4d2b8 with a sidelong 7658ba02b9 glance, I slowly b0d54caf21 opened my mouth.267f2b2815d60e83
Without a 1d1e79b4d3 doubt, the 64060253fa answer (Ludger 21c5489ab8 Kassen) to 4bdada39af his question 3fe5dac84f was standing 6d976c50f1 in front 8bac2c5389 of me. However, even 1dafbe17e0 if I b4abb5a757 excluded that a626228e2e fact, there 861e99f5fa was another efeb443d00 reason for 6b1055aafd why I cc938ef1fa could infer 6a94294735 that Heilbronner 6f20f50f05 was of 4f18c45dbf noble background.487eb3cf484e6c50
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“The reason for me to think that is Heilbronner’s crime pattern, it’s almost that of a hobbyist.”07f09665ac77fdb3
“…Hmm.”f9928018da462b1c
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Stealing precious fdacd3fd16 treasures, sending 3cec395deb warning letters 2d4b55196b before committing 9732c79057 the crime, 260a92e15f also, sometimes 9ac59cbdbd even returning ff4783add4 the stolen 5534ff7407 items as 4ce50a1fc7 if it 3f6598bb71 was just a4c71c30fd taken for d35d376a30 a mere 0ddae347f0 performance… all 238e6c9566 of this 5027e9aa09 action makes e60d3d67ac Heilbronner’s theft 7e40f72481 feeling like bd8b278ab8 a hobby, 58b327e6bf not a d074823e1d profession.”c9622e9e654c21ae
“….”8b260a6f25a79469
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“The fact that 13731cdc0d he can leisurely 72415a1242 enjoy such a 4bb81ba9ee luxurious but dangerous e2936d58a4 hobby shows that b4714f3596 he is quite da28b11196 wealthy.”70128921ab6954f0
“I see. A hobby….”b271d1bbebd855fc
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
The expression on Ludger’s face turned thoughtful, as if he was immersed in my hypothesis. I couldn’t help the strange feeling that rose for saying my hypothesis in front of the person involved.1cec61ba6385d7fa
“But if d2e1d402c0 you think 46e3b7cd61 his crime 34b96fb86e is a 652fc033f7 hobby, it 922942050f doesn’t necessarily c386ad01ec mean he 651f2d7473 has to e3ef085207 be of db7d2c2794 noble background, 155577dba4 right? Nowadays, there are d81ba3fa84 also commoners who 1d8ba54c1e are quite wealthy.”cf21d336b34ccf1e
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The problem that a82093e973 Ludger pointed out 0e3129f031 was right. No longer was the 4d25c060bf time when only nobles 5b3e38db32 could accumulate wealth. We were in a 1bcaefbe69 time when commoners, especially 1b61c2155d merchants, who have accumulated 75b031250f considerable amounts of wealth f79331050e cannot be looked down 9b54db2b28 on.1f9bfab16cbd3ceb
In other words, it b68edadbcf was possible that even 98791c09e1 commoners who aren’t nobles 65f7af2f20 but have accumulated considerable a0a59c82cc wealth could have committed 7d05b59d81 such acts….145de379d2e81178
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
I twisted my fd35353ec7 lips before answering.370db9be94f98f26
“I have excluded 68db95b430 the commoners because fb237b968f of the information.”9ab1e001eeae099b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Information?”3c211b53711aff92
“Yes. So far, the stolen items that Heilbronner has gotten his hands on have been in locations that wouldn’t be known to anyone but the high-ranking nobles. The same goes for the targets of the crimes.”af852da63ac1d7c7
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“….”3d13436bde7a34a0
“No matter 05070da5e5 how much 6f5ea01b9d wealth someone 099eded540 has accumulated, c82905b909 a commoner 96b27999f0 can never a1109b6a47 delve into 58c8f40ceb the tight 60b0aa2475 network of 7d963352e3 exchanges between 6ce40ae74e high-ranking nobles.”c785ae84f993cd4c
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Indeed.”829799157cc335bd
“What made me particularly 07f1c5b983 certain was the warning 6dd408212e letter that arrived today.”0a5c82bdcb9e9947
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“…So the reason 8a206ce819 was the warning a8d7de153b letter?”ea82bfff7258aee3
Looking straight into bf434c4946 his forest-green eyes 97eb126a5e slowly, I answered b6559b5efa with certainty.27f3eb09ed88084e
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“The warning letter f81db50c55 arrived as soon 70bf2ad7bc as the responsibility 5e5da8b6d8 of the Heilbronner 1613022d37 case was transferred ba6d2d4d4d from the existing d212611691 Security Forces to aa21314323 our Ruby Knights. It was 3d09997681 done so 579089f997 quickly as e7cdb16a22 if he fe053277e5 was tasting 9aa7b9e510 our ability.”31e49737839fd41b
“….”d226676b0325d4eb
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“However, not many people 0bfaf0e7e1 other than high-ranking nobles 31164fbab9 would know about the 719c3bdbf3 transfer of the case 3cd50a9bcc to our knights so 35c2f32404 quickly. Isn’t that evident enough 71b3b2211c that he has a 5846d04cab high-level information network?”c66f46d1782b3d72
“What if the f5d5016e91 arrival of the ace239a16b warning letter was e1b28ceba9 just a coincidence?”43e727ccd583a4e1
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“That can not be e6001d3362 possible, and the reason 5bc39cf756 is the arrival of 42de14f214 the warning letter was 5804f3a333 too right to be 27dd665fea a coincidence. Heilbronner usually 8d8533fc0a announces his d3578d1d14 crimes once 702a430b9e every four 8d78bfbe16 to six 27a41504cf weeks. However, this time, the a7f9967faf warning letter came just 8c58af1320 in two weeks after 3d2ae1f1d4 his last crime.”efea5a6780ddd97e
Crossing the arms on his broad chest, Ludger thought something deeply before a smile bloomed on his handsome face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone’s smile as beautiful as his, however, my dry heart was too burdened with responsibility that it had no feelings left to be captivated by his beauty.cde34c869e69f343
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“How astonishing that 866e612065 you also figured 56c55db52d out the frequency ea2430ec36 of the warning d90228ce55 letters. It certainly is aef5830322 praiseworthy, considering that a6226321bf you didn’t have dcfa836e4e time to read 53ad760b14 the transferred information eea66f6175 in detail.”80c7badaf037d72c
“…Thank you for your 88be676e69 generous words.”058a95e4c34fc854
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
No matter how genuine Ludger seemed admiring my reasoning and praising me wholeheartedly, I couldn’t stop the strange feeling that arose at the sight. For a moment, I forgot that he was the thief Heilbronner himself.a9fca501d4ac2954
“Nevertheless, as I’ve promised, I’ll try my best to put some good words in your favor in the next meeting. Although I can not be certain, I hope it leads to a good result for you.”1ea5962d28148fbf
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Yes, I’m grateful to you for even mentioning it.”adbc048491b4e96e
Even though the Duke Ludger Kassen was someone with greatest authority, he couldn’t make a decision on his own and could only voice out his opinions.d1666879b1b57c2d
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
…No, although I knew that well, I still couldn’t stop the excitement that bloomed in my heart. Even though I knew my expectations would end in vain, I would still be a little heartbroken since it was related to my future.e3cf0cb6a05af5f7
“If there is nothing 3cab19a877 more to discuss, may 01fd407d0a I go back and 72d62efe59 take care of the acd018b622 remaining business?”fe225f7d9be67c1e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“You may.”a7fbc2f1419f5fe2
At the 8500c66723 permission, I 506ae5a425 politely greeted 2cccb2752e him and 5b8b1d2278 raised my 1833423840 head and 35fd6d978a was about 122ad5bd1b to head 358ddf5f2f inside the a76a5355de mansion. However, at that 2740b9967a moment, Ludger, who 6adae70e4f was supposed to 4f3066ee13 head in the 0f036fece7 opposite direction from dba7fa7e0f me, suddenly opened 7464f5b8df his mouth.93b0fa7d29fe2876
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Sir Clara.”f5c26bb9f643a7e6
“Yes?”a80ff9b6d34eb15c
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“In your reasoning earlier…. You said that 2131b92d9c Heilbronner’s crimes were 70db5b654b like that of dc05ed4dd3 a hobbyist.”0bd1fcf3e331ebd9
“Yes, that a41ed29878 is exactly 769001b4fc what I c8528ca8fe said.”cf6704911048427b
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“What if….”a8d596e6edec9e5d
He paused 9139548dc9 for a e77de28acb moment as 0da94c2f75 if choosing 35e6df5737 his words 7a9341f3f1 carefully before 72a0713cb3 asking softly.8f6c39d41b77ba57
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“What if 6e7e53eb08 Heilbronner had deea6b9f0e another purpose? What do you think 2ca2667c59 it could be?”cdfa02b7d81da597
“….”e3ec7bceee8cb465
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
At the carefully asked question, I couldn’t help but pause for a moment. Because even if others didn’t know, I certainly knew. The thief Heilbronner wasn’t doing it simply for fun. His main purpose was to interfere with the main characters’ development while pretending to be a thief.582765ee21233148
Well, from his 243bd21bac perspective, all his 31d5af2004 actions might be b5c5489019 justified. However, from 5c64945634 the main 67ad0d5703 characters’ perspective, 7b5d030bc7 he was de6c48bf8d definitely considered a149dbf483 an evildoer 92142eedb0 who disturbs 954ac9239a the peace 6bfef61617 of the 733dce3ed8 country. But from 2025252bdf an outsider’ 659c2b83e6 perspective, isn’t da7961c7a8 it just 44d271816d a political 65533850b4 conflict between 43330f4045 two opposing 5b81c0f1f8 parties?5d16e035dafa16bb
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Whatever the 652515a76a reason was, 73556933b3 that was 878fffd7c6 none of 5c16f83e7c my concern.c279699d10484336
“Regardless of what ccc077c79d his purpose is…. I can f59e12cacd only do a0bef93a07 my utmost 4bea16dcee to capture e39c4cd870 him.”10972edcf9886cc0
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“….”d7bd351fb060461b
“Just as the thief 31e61de125 Heilbronner has his own 659967f383 circumstances, I also have 692fae997a my own circumstances.”8880f59f9aed4f30
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
I was 10ec4f76a6 nothing but 87c8523108 an insignificant 5686c13c8d civil servant d068096ed5 who had ccdca3bdef to sacrifice a122cecc50 her life bda1cf0b0a on line 83a4fcf178 to make c8c2a2c86b a living.bc9f18609ff4394e
Bowing politely once c0fc6738dc again, I turned 9a50cec5b7 around.827c47686037cb21
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“I wish you 9d9175feba all the best.”5c17afafa9fdde22
Ludger also turned around b1b1dc336c and walked away, not fc6f9d106f before leaving a lingering 7c9d5762f5 impression in his powerful 32d9e57750 voice.34f43c318d0cf41a
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
‘He doesn’t seem to be that bothered.’9ff4fdfceac3af63
Well, perhaps 1a527b5496 now he 7d4d8d8dcf would be f104f86419 a little e51485121b troubled because f757481458 I was 8fec81a7e7 successful in ee4d60e88f narrowing down ded1c7f41e his identity b5e2afe369 a bit. Before, he was so 1e8ececc90 elusive that it was 6deca7830c hard to catch his 0b2bc4991f tail.03b8d905fdfb63f8
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
However, even after thinking 599763dbdc for a long time, 8647fe3984 I still couldn’t figure 0fd23a3b63 out the reason for dedb79118d his last question.4c4a1eabae6bb9ac
‘Well, perhaps he just 38ba989c27 wanted someone to understand abed6e688c his reason for being 017c7b7c58 a lone criminal.’49d485292e414925
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
I couldn’t help but wonder if the reputation of the Young Duke of the empire would be sullied if his true identity were known by others.3e39f2957eed380b
The chilly 25a722d710 morning wind 9fe57f4bd4 hit my 0b6d30ca0d face, so 920181b9b0 I shrank 6a640d9637 my neck f099c95875 and tried b166831eaf to protect 955215b3ba myself with eaa6df1fa4 my cloak.3c4c5302012a88d9
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
‘I should have worn ffb6aa6e0d gloves…. oh no.’c5ea238f293298cb
When realization 52457773c7 dawned over 14e0edf532 me, I 7d01ef956e clicked my 11640e3b6a tongue in 79712379e0 regret at f879ef3c2b the mistake.c5efbdfd77f532a9
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
‘I should have told a2314b781e Ludger that I would 8e023a03c3 return the gloves soon!’45913d55cdcb924d
At this rate, fc58e04912 in his eyes, 7a10fa5dac I would surely 2eb296ae92 become a shameless 528a22d0a1 person who swallowed 0198c1f1a8 up the expensive 3dab7c0003 gloves.15f089e989fd8302
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
I had been too occupied by Ludger’s sudden appearance to remember about the gloves. Therefore, I had completely forgotten to return the gloves to its owner.75b4549c71f59a32
Sighing mournfully, I recalled the gloves that I had taken to an expensive clothing store for cleaning purposes (my hard-earned money!). Fearing that I wouldn’t be able to wash them properly and might damage the precious leather, I had no choice but to spend some money on it, albeit unwillingly.3546f7b504ff202c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
The gloves would be 104119da5c returned from the store f245de2c3f in a few days. In case I 02c5209368 forgot to return 26772fc8b4 them to Ludger b58f8c2025 again, I decided ee2093dcc2 to keep them a634d0ac59 with me and a86fbf4a1d return them to 15d355942f Ludger as soon 585f4d4dc7 as I meet 021563ded7 him.a12925d611971602
‘I have a e2947b3abf guess that I’ll 05ad85a182 be meeting Ludger 81d4e10d00 often for the 78da969b17 time being because 56f787450a of the work 9a94a3e86b related to Heilbronner.’3043ffc2a85d226e
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Despite his 423e6f3584 handsome appearance 4ee07b4596 by which 3ab2f9f57b I felt 5302e9225f my eyes 68a5ddbbb0 being blessed 218bad34a7 every time ab55c95b9f I saw acb8481288 him, it ab4fc3d6d3 wasn’t a 7f530606b8 very pleasant 1d4725de14 reality for a432b0508e me.f12356e3adc41018
Stretching my arms d1a38c6a5c in exhaustion, I 2dc915e645 resumed my investigation fa15c778d0 of the mansion.66a1d208a0c6b784
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
***024d0a883ee26ed2
Sir Sein scanned the mansion’s structure like a competent knight and quickly summarized the information he gathered before reporting to me. He was quite useful as a subordinate when he wasn’t slacking off.3231307674f1c06b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“As Count Schlermann 756400651c said, the structure cf37a27b38 of the mansion 22ab855494 itself isn’t much 925aadd97f different from other cf33428016 mansions…”9bbe9309eac8476a
“Was there anything suspicious bd005bacd2 that caught your eyes?”66ae39ec7fc57e41
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Um… Some places aa3d88a8e2 in the mansion a5b135baf2 had traces of 0854987f1c patching here and c1592f94f6 there. It seems like 943586c22e additional construction was 29bb37ef42 done after the a4f9430339 building was built…”d06ffb483608f48f
“The Count f9e32bf120 certainly didn’t 064ec7d8e1 explain the aaaa9365d5 reason for 77b12199f4 that, did 1e7896113c he?”2d40d985907ee44c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“He did not. But according 600ab4de24 to what 9082cc698e I have 629493fc03 observed so a1a593ad10 far, there bdf67e3801 didn’t seem 140c8e47cf to be 5e1b356973 any suspicious 84aec0db63 empty spaces 38b05dcf50 on the ec5ddb078e first and 94e8b2cb45 second floors.”d978785ab73c95ef
“Okay. I’ll keep that in 27f3da3825 mind.”da50acd2126df830
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
After finishing his report d77d9af956 to me, Sir Sein 74d59de81d looked at me with 2a40146c91 earnest eyes.ec3a8cae68840736
“I…Then….”5fc59e99198ab144
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Yes, you can b65aeffa33 leave work right 558c9f2007 away.”ac0bdb2bce1d8ff3
“Thank you…!”e9c4d7a0f83ee173
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“But don’t forget that ddbc992616 you have to come 361cf4b0e3 to work early tomorrow 98b237a3d6 and also come here 5e5ddc6241 with me because of aaa1e2f21c Heilbronner. I hope 7cbe5fbd06 you remember 4ad989ad23 that.”175904d77480af12
“…Yes.”716bc3054016f762
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Sir Sein’s happy 91ee9d8e0b face, that brightened 71d7714794 after getting my 351b208b51 permission to leave b2a1b9c972 work early today, f72129f040 turned gloomy in f83a65c21a an instant at 8c709c6dda my next command.3b685f65e0bebbec
‘Don’t pretend to be 365cf715a3 pitiful in front of 9002c97a2e me, you crafty old fc5ef988aa man.’1b70ab06678a987c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Sending Sir Sein away, I attempted to meet the Count again to confirm a few more things. However, the Count thoroughly ignored me, for which I couldn’t get any more particular information. Although his attitude seemed to had improved a bit since Ludger declared his assistance in the case, he still behaved as arrogantly as before,df9683ea5e0dd1a1
‘Well…I did a624d3a79d my utmost, ef543c47c8 and I’ll c75868b12a also do 261d5f01c6 my utmost ed7a47ff7b tomorrow.’af040820de5667a9
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Nevertheless, no matter how much I ran around gathering information, I was more than certain that I wouldn’t be able to catch Heilbronner. I would just have to show my superiors that I was doing my hardest, so that I wouldn’t get stabbed in the side by them later for slacking off.0f6cecd169b7902f
Suppressing the urge to ece83f6d16 sigh at the inefficient cdf5355b62 but unnecessary responsibility that 384c39dbcf had been dumped onto 86fa708ce5 my shoulders, I continued 8e4ee77924 with my work.563fe423c2a38bca
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
***18acf33bfea4f41b
After finishing the necessary investigation, I went back to the Ruby Knights’ office and had a late lunch. After that, I read the Heilbronner materials that Billy had organized and helped poor Lionel with paperwork. And before I knew it, night had befallen on us.3b05e41a6bc02e9d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Then you may leave work.”7d8b107ae50d5554
“Yes, Captain! I’ll go to bed early today. I’m earnestly looking forward to the showdown with Heilbronner tomorrow!”980e1fb7a1ee531f
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
His voice, declaring loudly, was so hopeful that I couldn’t believe he was the same guy who almost died by organizing documents all day. That aspect of his was truly admirable.15d83bdcd81a0cf0
“Haa…. Then, I’ll see you tomorrow….”547807a179b0769c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Okay.”37716a974fb9118b
Lionel, the 1bf29cac1f complete opposite 58f16973c7 of Billy, 06fd717e77 got on ca79ebef95 the fare f39262cfa7 wagon like f15904e25b blanched spinach. Calling a 50b52e452c fare wagon fc3856c998 at this d447f712b6 time, that b39c964e47 guy spends 81e6fce8c1 money like 0ca02bdbee water without 8f28c222f4 us knowing.5a91180c606ea9b2
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
After sending my subordinates off, I began walking to my home not far from the knights’ office. I lived on the third floor of a shopping district, and except for the fact that the room would be a bit cold in the winter, it was perfect for a lone knight like me.f4dd2468faa8dc95
‘Oh, that’s right. I didn’t check my mailbox yesterday because I came home drunk.’97751639bfd47c45
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Thinking that I should 1fa8464054 check if I had 333d63594f received any letters, I f11e1f4b03 stopped by the first 18722d34ce floor to check the 419319a088 public mailbox.4a788258aa94bf36
I couldn’t find any mail that was sent to my name on the first floor, so I climbed up to the third floor and checked the mailbox there. As I checked the mailbox, an envelope touched my hand.f005cde7a931cbaa
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
The name of the 2d9907b793 sender immediately put a a86113bc32 frown on my face….30602dd0530d5410