Furina blinked her dazzling, gem-like eyes, a trace of curiosity and anticipation on her face.
"Just the two of us going together?" she asked, puffing out her cheeks slightly.
Beside her, Shajin tilted his head and replied.
"From where I stand, I think just the two of us are more than enough."
"But, well, if you'd rather bring a few more people along, I don't mind either."
After hearing this, Furina lowered her head in thought for a moment. Then she looked up, eyes resolute.
"Hmm… I think it's better if we ask Clorinde and Navia to come too. Strength in numbers, right? That way, we'll have a better shot at success."
Shajin rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then casually spread his arms with a shrug.
"Fine by me~"
Furina beamed and raised her arms high with a cheerful cheer.
"Perfect!"
But just as she finished cheering, a sudden thought seemed to strike her. She rushed over to Shajin's side, questioning urgently.
"Right—Shajin, um, what exactly did She say to you back then?"
Shajin gently shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Oh, just some stuff about prophecies. Honestly, from my perspective, that so-called prophecy really isn't worth mentioning."
Furina immediately tensed up. She grabbed tightly onto the hem of Shajin's coat, her voice anxious.
"Wait… you mean… Fontaine won't be submerged, and the people here won't suffer that fate of being dissolved, right?"
Seeing the panic on Furina's face, Shajin sighed softly in his heart.
He raised his right hand solemnly and made a vow to her.
"Don't worry, Furina. Even if that prophecy claims disaster is coming, I swear to you—I won't let Fontaine suffer a single scratch!"
Furina stared blankly at Shajin's serious expression. Her eyes slowly welled up with tears.
And then, without warning, she flung her arms open and threw herself into Shajin's arms.
"Shajin… I'm so tired…"
"Mm."
"I really can't take it anymore…"
"Mm."
"Thank you…"
"Mm."
...
"Lady Furina! I heard you've found the culprit behind the missing girls case?!"
Furina and Navia sat across from each other in the reception hall of the Palais Mermonia.
Furina glanced back at Shajin.
He gave her a nod.
Furina caught on immediately.
"Ahem, of course. Even though that security officer ended up dissolved, we still followed the clues and uncovered the hideout of the mastermind behind it all."
Navia's face lit up with excitement, her cheeks flushed with color.
Shajin rested a finger thoughtfully on his chin.
"Miss Navia, may I ask—why are you so determined to uncover the truth behind this string of disappearances?"
Mileus, who stood behind Navia, stepped forward and said,
"Miss Navia, allow me to explain to Mr. Shajin…"
Silver nodded as well.
"Yes, Miss Navia…"
But Navia shook her head.
"No, there's no need to avoid this anymore. Since we'll be working together, this is something I'd like all of you to understand. I'll say it myself."
Mileus and Silver exchanged glances.
"We understand."
"My father's name was Callas—the same 'Callas the Unjust' that people whisper about now…"
"Three years ago, he was accused of murdering a close friend. He refused to stand trial and eventually died in a duel."
"But I never believed he was the murderer. I've always felt there was something terribly wrong about the case…"
"I believe if he had accepted the trial and let the authorities investigate properly, something would've come to light. He could've been proven innocent."
"But strangely, not only did he insist on a duel…"
"…even after being gravely wounded—when he had clearly lost—he refused to surrender. He was determined to die there, in that arena."
"It's been three years, and I still can't understand why…"
"To die like that… it meant giving up the one chance to defend his own name…"
"The only connection I can see… is that my father was investigating the 'Serial Disappearances of Young Girls' at the time."
Furina nodded.
"Ah, so that's why you've also been investigating this case?"
"Yes. I've looked into my father's murder trial too, but I've gone through every record and file over and over again. There's nothing new left to find."
"But I believe—if this case is connected to the forces behind the disappearances, then they must know something."
"Whether my father was coerced or framed, or even if he did commit the crime—I have to uncover the truth…"
Sigh "That man… even when he was alive, he never spoke plainly to me."
"Even when my mother died during childbirth, he tried to hide it from me…"
"And now, even in death, I'm the one left to dig through the pieces."
"You really are a pain, Dad…"
Silver adjusted his hat.
"Miss Navia… if there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."
Mileus nodded as well.
"Both Callas and you are people I've always respected. I absolutely refuse to believe Callas was a murderer!"
"He did so much good while he was alive, but as soon as that murder case happened, they branded him 'Callas the Unjust'…"
"Even public support for the Spina di Rosula collapsed. That's when our finances really started going under."
Navia shook her head helplessly.
"Maybe people just crave drama…"
"It's not just a Fontaine thing—people everywhere are the same."
"They love to watch villains turn over a new leaf… but they love it just as much when the righteous fall from grace."
Shajin glanced at Furina, who had gone silent.
"Navia, who did your father duel against…?"
When she didn't answer, Mileus stepped forward.
"Callas's opponent at the time… was none other than Miss Clorinde."
_
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