Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 111

Even inside the building, I could feel the pleasant night air, but tonight was truly perfect for a stroll. The gentle breeze carried a subtle warmth, hinting at the approaching spring.

Of course, such a sentiment felt inappropriate given the current situation. Vanessa simply wanted to distance herself from Gideon and the Intelligence Bureau.

But it wasn’t easy, especially with a man named Baras taking such an interest in her.

“You share the same spelling as my name.”

“Yes… I suppose so. What a coincidence.”

Despite her indifferent tone, Baras smiled, undeterred.

“Are you settling into life in the Special Task Force? It must have been quite a change transferring departments mid-career. Ah, but I’m sure the Captain has been taking good care of you.”

It was a mystery how he managed to make such subtly grating remarks. Were all Intelligence Bureau people like this?

Vanessa raised a skeptical gaze, meeting Gideon’s quiet eyes beneath his brow, and made an aggrieved expression.

*This is really not what I wanted! I don’t even like working that much anymore!*

Whether he understood her silent plea or not, he faintly curved his lips before looking forward again.

“Everyone has been very kind to me, not just the Captain, so I’ve adapted quickly.”

“Oh, so the Captain *has* been taking good care of you. I suppose he’s affectionate towards those he cherishes—”

“Baras of the Intelligence Bureau.”

The voice flowed like the wind, cutting him off.

“Is your mouth running a little too freely?”

“Haha, how could it be, working in the Intelligence Bureau? I’m simply curious.”

“There’s a saying that curiosity killed the cat, so I think you should be careful. Ah, this is, of course, me just worrying about you.”

Gideon said languidly, arching his eyes. Baras patted down his hair and cleared his throat.

“Ahem, no, I was merely curious about the mage chosen by His Majesty.”

“I see. But I’ve been a little curious about something lately too.”

“Yes?”

“I heard there’s a charming little two-story house on Malpir Street. I hear it’s very popular with newlyweds these days. So much so that I’d like to buy it with a premium.”

*What kind of story is this?*

While Vanessa looked bewildered, Baras, who knew that his fiancée desperately wanted a house on Malpir Street, replied in a very serious tone.

“My lips are so heavy that people say they sink when I fall into the water” [meaning he keeps secrets well].

“I see, that’s a relief….”

The chilling undertone of his words made Baras turn his head and slap his own mouth.

One day, a piece of information too ridiculous to be considered intelligence had surfaced. It had been dismissed even within the Intelligence Bureau, which collected all sorts of stories, but Baras found the content very interesting.

The king had assigned a certain mage to the Special Task Force, and the Duke had protested the order.

Most people would have brushed it off, but Baras was strangely intrigued. No matter how famous the Duke was for being cold-blooded, he was still human. There had to be something hidden! Something very interesting.

When a person who has lived a righteous life deviates from the norm, it is highly likely to be related to affection. This was a philosophy that had never failed him in his thirty years of life.

Baras, who was obsessed with interesting stories, regrettably unfolded the pieces he had been keeping tucked away for the lucky moment he encountered them—the mage and the Duke together!—but then neatly folded them again and threw them in the trash.

He didn’t know why the Duke was even aware of the personal details of a mere Intelligence Bureau official, but if it meant not losing his dream honeymoon home, he could immediately stop collecting information for fun.

What did it matter who that handsome man liked?

It was a rather quick change of heart.

Vanessa, who couldn’t understand their conversation at all, paused for a moment before asking timidly.

“By the way.”

“Yes.”

“Where are we going anyway?”

Vanessa tried not to look too stupid. Of course, it wasn’t easy when she was completely in the dark.

“Ah, you were suddenly dragged here. We are currently heading to Count Jenyata’s mansion. He contacted Captain Gideon, saying he had something to say.”

Despite the nonchalant answer, her question wasn’t really answered.

Vanessa was only in charge of locating and protecting the magic circle of the Night Bandallu [a criminal organization] and deliberately avoided paying attention to other information. Chasing the nobles hiding behind the scenes was the job of other members.

So the name wasn’t very familiar to her.

*Wasn’t Count Jenyata the head of a famous family listed in the Joint Council [a governing body]? Had his hidden relationship with the temple been revealed?*

“It’s natural that you don’t know, Lieutenant. It will be easier to understand if you hear the details from the other members on the way.”

Gideon’s indifferent voice came like a lifeline. Vanessa quickly seized the opportunity and moved to the back. Baras simply smiled and didn’t try to stop her.

Having created enough distance, Vanessa spoke to the member next to her in a relieved voice.

“Captain, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while. I’ve been good! I heard from Lieutenant Hisop that you were here, but I couldn’t say hello because I was on a mission.”

Captain Anna, whom she had met during her academy internship, greeted her with a smile. Her neatly tied-up hair was the same as ever, making her feel like she had returned to the past.

The red-haired man next to her chimed in.

“You know each other?”

“Ah, she was a student who came to the Special Task Force during her academy internship. This is Captain Janz Garou. This is Lieutenant Vanessa Rose.”

The man with striking blue eyes that seemed as thin and cold as ice winked. Vanessa bowed her head.

“A little unlucky?”

At the sudden remark, Vanessa sullenly kicked the floor lightly. Captain Garou chuckled.

“Why were you still there instead of going home? You just took on more work.”

“I had reports to write…. I was just going to look at them one more time.”

“I swear, you’re probably the first member of the Special Task Force to stay late to write reports. Everyone else is busy scribbling something down and leaving.”

Vanessa sighed deeply at the playful voice.

“No one told me, so I didn’t know. By the way, can you tell me why we’re going to Count Jenyata’s mansion now? I don’t know anything about this situation.”

At the same time as her question, Vanessa subtly cut off the flow of air nearby [using magic to prevent eavesdropping]. She had to be careful because sounds could easily carry at night.

Anna looked around with interest and patted her on the back.

“I’ll just give you the gist. Count Jenyata donated a lot of money to the priests. Really suddenly.”

“He might not have known it was being used to create chimeras [monstrous creatures]. He could claim he’s been devout for a long time.”

The two members nodded at Vanessa’s rebuttal.

“That’s right. But Count Jenyata’s daughter suddenly got engaged to a relative of Marquis Rossini, and then the two families even started a new business together.”

“Marquis Rossini?”

It was a name she had never heard before. Vanessa tilted her head, and Captain Garou smiled at the sight.

“His Majesty’s brother, who is confined in the temple, is Marquis Rossini’s nephew.”

As always, her eyes cleared at the moment of realization. Vanessa finally understood the exact connection between the priests and the nobles. It was like completing a puzzle, revealing the part she had deliberately avoided because she knew it was dangerous.

“Count Jenyata said he would talk, so we’re expecting accurate testimony to bring down Marquis Rossini. Could Marquis Rossini have been trying to destabilize this country using His Majesty’s bloodline?”

Janz Garou asked casually. Vanessa released the magic. A cool breeze blew again.

Unlike Valder Castle, which was built alongside the royal palace from the beginning, Jenyata Mansion was newly expanded after the family’s name became prominent.

Because the buildings inside Phydom were already packed, it couldn’t be large in scale, but thanks to a generous budget, it was located in a fairly good spot.

The exterior was surprisingly extravagant. The abundance of expensive windows was noticeable, many being as large as an average wall.

However, a perceptive person would have noticed that some of the windows had been removed and replaced with wooden shutters. Many areas were unlit.

“I heard his circumstances haven’t been good lately due to successive business failures.”

“So he must have been easy prey.”

Gideon didn’t slow down and spread his hand in the empty air. Various lines were drawn and overlapped on his hand, and then a faint ray of light flew out like an arrow, spread out widely, and soon faded.

Everyone watched the scene with interest.

“What are you doing?”

“Assessing the surrounding personnel. The constabulary is already here. Is it the Bureau of Crime Management?”

“Yes, I got some help just in case.”

Gideon nodded lightly. At his gesture, two Special Task Force members who had been walking ahead moved to join the constabulary.

“Be careful not to get caught making unnecessary trouble.”

“Of course. We came here to escort the Captain and absolutely *never* came here to find any evidence.”

Captain Garou saluted playfully, but Gideon indifferently checked his pocket watch.

The entrance to Jenyata Mansion, where the magic stone lamps were half-extinguished, looked like the black maw of a monster.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

When the Special Task Force members politely laid down all their weapons, the mansion’s servant led them to the third floor.

“My master is not feeling well, so he is in the small room with the least draft. Please do not be offended that we are deliberately hosting you in a humble place.”

Gideon nodded indifferently at the cautious voice.

“This is sufficient. Thank you.”

As the servant said, the space they entered was more like a small study than a reception room.

Books and papers were scattered haphazardly on the desk by the window, and the bookshelf attached to the wall was also filled to the brim with something.

Count Jenyata, who had been wringing his hands anxiously, jumped up.

“Oh, you’ve come. Duke Valder. You’ve brought more guests than I expected….”

The Count, dressed in simple attire, wiped the sweat flowing down his forehead with a handkerchief. His plump face was almost gray.

“I specifically asked you to come alone, but how could this be….”

“I haven’t been feeling well lately, so I thought I needed an escort. I was worried I might collapse because I’ve been feeling dizzy.”

Despite everyone’s dumbfounded expressions—perhaps because of his well-fitting outerwear, he looked even more robust today—Gideon didn’t bat an eye and insisted on his frailty.

“I only hope you won’t be offended, as there is no other intention.”

Despite his polite conclusion, Gideon sat down opposite him without the owner’s permission and leaned back comfortably. His uninhibited attitude made this small space seem like his own.

Jenyata took out his handkerchief again and dabbed at his forehead.

“You asked me to come before dawn. What’s the matter?”

“C, Count. Duke Valder. Your father was a very good man. T, the many businesses I did with him in the past—”

Gideon raised his hand to stop him.

“It would be best to remove all the embellishments. You know how busy the Special Task Force is.”

His indifferent voice was so relaxed, as if he had come out for a walk, that it psychologically pressured Jenyata instead. It clearly showed who was in the superior position.

“Count, please speak freely. We are all His Majesty’s servants, so we want to help in any way we can.”

When Baras added a word in a quiet voice, Count Jenyata’s distorted face twitched.

Vanessa listened intently to their conversation and walked towards the bookshelf. Before entering, Gideon had given instructions to the members.

*’Unless he’s crazy, he wouldn’t cause trouble after calling the Special Task Force and the Intelligence Bureau… but just in case, check the inside thoroughly.’*

*’Yes, we will be fully vigilant.’*

Trying not to look like she was searching too much, Vanessa just appeared busy.

Of course, the other members were doing the same, even lifting the carpet with their toes to find something hidden.

“W, why are those members w, wandering around so much? This is m, my mansion. Without permission…”

“The Special Task Force members don’t know how to stay still no matter how much I teach them, so I apologize. Come to think of it, I seem to remember the Count criticizing them so much at the Joint Council.”

“That’s not it.”

As Jenyata glanced sideways while sweating profusely, Anna swept the dust off the table and smiled brightly. Of course, her eyes flashed fiercely.