Chapter 365: Wallet Mystery
Chapter 365: Wallet Mystery
Not another missing wallet!
As he watched the Lionheart Duke, Jacob, frantically searching his body, his heart, which had just settled down, began to race again.
The incident of the lost wallet from the previous day had already cost him his job as a VIP lounge waiter, and he was now relegated to greeting guests at the entrance. If he made the same mistake again within just one day, he might even lose this job too! And if this ill-tempered Duke insisted on pursuing the matter, he could be fired without a second thought!
Damn it! These damn guests, can't they just keep their wallets safe?
"Please, don't panic. I'll help you recall what happened."
Jacob took two deep breaths to calm himself, suppressing the heart that almost leaped out of his chest. With a forced smile, he said, "Are you sure your wallet was still with you before we entered the beverage zone?"
"Are you kidding me?" Lyon, who had activated his Performance Master ability, stomped his foot in frustration. "Didn't I show you my identity badge earlier? If I didn't have my wallet, where would I have gotten the badge from? Do you think a stray dog picked it up and brought it to me?"
Is that so?
Jacob tried to recall the situation when they entered, and it seemed... almost certain that it happened that way. He couldn't help but bite his lip as sweat formed on his forehead. "Then, where did you go after entering?"
"You led me all the way here. How would I know?" Lyon shouted, his face filled with anxiety.
After Lyon's outburst, he continued, his voice tense, "The entrance, the main counter, the stairs, the bar counter, and this private room. That's all! Damn it! How could my wallet go missing?"
"Please, don't panic! Don't worry! It might have just fallen on the way. I'll help you look for it!" Jacob said, trying to reassure Lyon, but his heart was already racing with anxiety. He quickly turned around, intending to retrace their steps, without the slightest doubt that Lyon had indeed lost his wallet.
After all, Lyon was a genuine noble, and even if he had been ridiculed by other nobles for seemingly living off the Princess's generosity, it was unlikely that he would pretend to lose his wallet to play a prank on a mere waiter like Jacob.
As Jacob considered the situation, the most likely explanation for the missing wallet was that Lyon had dropped it after taking something from the main counter, or perhaps he had placed it there while signing something, and if Jacob searched quickly enough, it might not have been picked up by someone else...
"Wait!"
Just as Jacob was about to leave, he felt a sharp pain in his arm, as if someone had grabbed him forcefully. He turned around in surprise and saw the Duke, his eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Jacob with suspicion.
"Where are you going?"
"I... I'm going to find your wallet!"
"There's no problem with finding the wallet, but why are you rushing off?"
In the dimly lit room, Lyon's jet-black eyes shone with intensity, like two dark fog lamps devouring the surrounding light. This unnerving gaze also devoured Jacob's remaining courage.
"If you're going to look for the wallet, why didn't you wait for me? Why are you in such a hurry to leave me?"
"I... I was worried someone might pick up your wallet..."
"Are you worried about someone finding your wallet, or are you worried about not having enough time to hide what you stole?"
"You think... No! It wasn't me! I swear it wasn't me!"
Seeing Lyon's suspicion that he had taken the wallet, Jacob shuddered and shook his head vigorously, his eyes wide with fear. "I didn't take it! I've never stolen anything from anyone! I swear! I'm telling the truth!"
He was telling the truth; he hadn't taken it...
Lyon noticed that Jacob's soul flame showed no signs of "contradiction" or "conflict," despite his panic and fear. He nodded slightly, then continued his interrogation with narrowed eyes. "I'll take your word that you didn't take it... but do you really know nothing?"
"What I mean is, waiters usually don't want to offend customers. For example, if my wallet was left on the bar counter and you saw someone take it, but you realized that person had a special status and feared getting into trouble, so you deliberately claimed to know nothing or not having seen their face... Would you do that?"
"No, no! I won't do it! I... I probably won't!"
"Hmm? Why do you hesitate when you say that?"
Jacob's expression wavered slightly, but it was far from the soul flame of lying, so Lyon couldn't help but frown. He then switched from "Suspicious Duke" to "Furious Duke," and said with a chilling gaze:
"Speak up! What are you hesitating about!"
"I... I..."
"I've been patient enough!"
Li, the impatient Duke, Ang, raised a finger and said sternly:
"Last chance. Tell me what you're hesitating about, or I'll have you arrested! I hope that when you fall into the hands of the Secret Investigation Bureau's secret police, you can still be as tough-mouthed as you are now!"
"Wait! I'll tell you! I'll tell you right now!"
Seeing that the Duke in front of him was genuinely angry, Jacob's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly blurted out like a bamboo tube spilling beans:
"The reason I hesitated is that yesterday, there was another guest who lost her wallet. She lost her wallet just like you, and I clearly remembered that her wallet was taken by someone. I even took a good look at that person, wanting to remember their appearance.
But... but when the guest who lost her wallet came back, I couldn't recall the face of the person who took her wallet. I only remembered that someone took the wallet, and I couldn't even remember if it was a man or a woman..."
Unable to remember the person's appearance...
So, is it an anomaly that erases features or one that reduces presence?
After committing this information to memory, Lyon's expression shifted slightly as he thought of the 'List of the Fallen' from the Gemini Bureau and, along with it, a certain person from the same bureau—the female journalist named Nicole.
If he remembered correctly, she possessed something that could erase a person's presence. Could making the witness forget his face be one of the effects of the 'Lamb's Tail' as well? Without the 'List of the Fallen,' it would be hard to be certain, but with an anomaly from the Gemini Bureau involved, it seemed highly suspicious...
"So that's how it is..."
After muttering to himself, Lyon's tense expression relaxed slightly. He then looked up at the terrified waiter in front of him and said calmly:
"I'll temporarily believe that you didn't take my wallet... Sigh... I wanted to have a good drink today, but I can't even register, and now I've lost my wallet!"
Lyon sighed, his enthusiasm waning, and stood up with a disappointed gaze.
"Forget it, I'm not drinking anymore!"
"I'm so sorry, truly sorry!"
Seeing that Lyon seemed to have given up on pursuing the lost wallet, Jacob heaved a sigh of relief. He quickly followed behind Lyon, matching his pace as they went downstairs. Then, from the main desk, he took paper and pen and asked eagerly:
"If it's not too much trouble, could you describe your wallet? And anything else you can tell me about its contents?"
"Hmm."
To make the act convincing, Lyon didn't rush to find his wallet but instead seemed eager to leave, which would seem suspicious. So, he casually made up a story:
"My wallet... of course, it's embroidered with the Lane family's lion crest. It has my portrait inside, and there's quite a bit of money in it...
I can't remember the exact amount because, for someone like me, just remembering to bring money when I go out is already impressive. Where would I find the energy to count how much I brought? Anyway, I always bring enough, don't you agree?"
"Yes, yes, you're right!"
Cursing the noble under his breath, wishing for the worst to befall him, Jacob escorted Lyon to the waiting area.
As Lyon sat on the waiting area sofa, he pondered the intentions of the female journalist from the Gemini Bureau and whether she knew about the Water Bearer Director's descent into the Dead Realm...
"Your Grace!"
Just as Lyon was deep in thought, a voice filled with delight called out to him.
Lyon looked up in surprise and saw Jacob rushing towards him, clutching a luxurious golden silk wallet with a look of joy on his face.
"Your Grace, we've found your wallet!"
"..."
(｀Д)？！
Huh? What?
(End of Chapter)
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