I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 138

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 138

The woman smiled brightly, and Morkan’s heart sank.
“But I didn’t come looking for you on behalf of the Trabel Family. I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
“A f-favor?”
“By midnight today, spread this rumor through the Black Market in Belodia.”
“That is, I have urgent business I need to attend to right now….”
“Want to visit the Investigation Bureau?”
“Y-yes, I’ll do it…!”
The man accompanying the woman was overwhelmingly skilled. Morkan had to back down now. He asked the woman.
“What kind of rumor should I spread?”
“By midnight tomorrow, bring the Jewel of the Sun to the address I give you, and you’ll get 10 billion Cona.”
“What?! T-ten billion Cona?”
“Don’t like it?”
“Well, you see, miss.”
Morkan swallowed hard at the woman’s composed voice.
The Jewel of the Sun. It was true that rumors had been quietly spreading through the underworld that those who had stolen the national treasure of the Edencia Kingdom were staying in this city, Belodia. But—.
“You want the treasure, don’t you? People in this business… they won’t move unless there’s a guarantee of payment….”
10 billion Cona. Given that she was going to the Black Market, this was a cash transaction. Was there anyone in the Heishal Empire besides Count Trabel who could carry that much cash?
“If you name such an exorbitant price….”
Snap.
With the sound of a finger flick, a rectangular business card fell to the ground. As Morkan felt the man’s scabbard leave his waist, he cautiously reached out to check the paper.
A single business card. Upon seeing the name engraved on it, Morkan’s eyes widened, then he looked at the woman, then back at the card—he repeated this cycle three times.
“A-ah, miss. No, then, does this mean the lord—.”
At the sight of Morkan stammering, the woman moved her refreshing lips and let out a soft laugh. Then, escorted by the man, she left the shop.
“By midnight today.”
She left the warning hanging in the air.
Left alone, Morkan stared down at the business card and wet his dry lips. Anyone in the Heishal Empire with an interest in the flow of money would know this person.

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Rich Platinum Oldman
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Baron Oldman, called the God of the Mines.

***

That evening.
Theon and I were about to leave the Inn to have dinner.
“…Baron Oldman?”
“Shh. Keep it down.”
The name “Baron Oldman” drifted from a group on the First Floor. Our eyes met at the sound. Theon gave me a knowing smile.
‘Word is already spreading, it seems.’
Ten billion cona was certainly no sum to ignore. As I hummed contentedly to myself, a fluffy bundle crouching near a potted plant nearby caught my eye as it shifted.
‘It’s Tory.’
I met those black sunflower-seed eyes. The First Floor was too crowded to have a conversation with Tory. I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at Theon.
“Oh, Theon. I left something in the room.”
“Sure. Want to go back up?”
He caught on instantly. Theon had clearly spotted Tory as well.
We spoke loudly enough for those around us to hear our excuse about forgotten items, then headed up to the guest room. Not long after, Tory scurried through the slightly open door.
“Good evening, Miss Berry Quartz Trabel, Young Master Theon….”
He looked utterly dejected.
“What’s wrong, Tory?”
I could guess the reason well enough. With Tory’s excellent information-gathering skills, he must have heard the rumors about Baron Oldman searching for the Jewel of the Sun.
It was only natural he’d be disheartened to learn that information he’d kept hidden even from Theon and me—people he was quite close to—had spread outside.
‘I feel bad for Tory. We’re interfering with his mission.’
But I had no intention of abandoning our plan.
To cheer him up, I handed Tory an almond. Despite his gloom, he tucked it into the pouch slung over his shoulder.
“Thank you, Miss Berry Quartz Trabel.”
“You look dispirited. Didn’t the investigation you were supposed to conduct go well?”
“That couldn’t possibly be. Investigation is my specialty.”
Tory puffed out his fur with pride, then drooped his shoulders and muttered.
“I’m dispirited because of that money-loving baron who cheats the captain so badly…. No, never mind. It’s not important, so please don’t worry about it. You and the young master have more pressing matters. The swindlers are still within Belodia. I’ve confirmed it myself.”
“Still?”
“Yes, I’ll write down their locations for you. I’ve identified a total of four. They were planning to leave the city, but apparently they’ve decided to stay a few more days. I’m not certain of the exact duration, but they should definitely be in Belodia until the day after tomorrow.”
Theon and I exchanged a meaningful glance.
The day after tomorrow. That was the deadline Baron Oldman had set for bringing him the Jewel of the Sun. Theon’s prediction had been correct—men greedy enough to target the Trabel Family wouldn’t let ten billion cona slip through their fingers.
Our objective was to force both the Jewel of the Sun and the swindlers into the same space by the day after tomorrow. Then, by pure coincidence, I—Berry Quartz Trabel—would stumble upon the scene and apprehend them.
“Let’s go capture them now. With your skills and mine, Young Master Theon, it should be more than sufficient.”
Tory tapped the hilt of the sword at his waist with his front paw as he spoke. Then he scurried toward the door as if to lead the way, but stopped and tilted his head in confusion.
“Huh? Aren’t you coming?”
Tory asked, staring blankly at Theon and me.
“Um, yes!”
“Why, why not? We can catch them right now!”
Squeak squeak. Tory cried out in bewilderment at my response. I shrugged and sat down in a nearby tea table chair.
“If we catch them now, we’d have to head straight to the Trabel Estate.”
“…That’s true, isn’t it? Wouldn’t that be better for you and the young master?”
On the tea table sat a plate of pastries with a lid. When I lifted the white porcelain cover adorned with delicately painted flower petals in soft hues, an array of bite-sized cookies revealed themselves in an artfully arranged display.
I picked up an Earl Grey cookie between my thumb and forefinger, examining it carefully. Theon chuckled softly as he approached and settled into the seat across from me, crossing one leg over the other.
Tory blinked as he observed us. I spoke in an untroubled tone.
“I prefer it here. The Trabel Estate is cold, but this place is warm. And I won’t get scolded by my grandfather.”
At my words, Tory’s mouth fell open in shock before he collected himself and rushed toward the tea table. Standing beside the pastry plate, he protested to us.
“Miss Berry, what you’re pursuing isn’t inanimate! You can change your residence whenever you wish. Right now, this instant—”
“Has Tory eaten dinner? I’ve made a reservation at a famous restaurant nearby. Why don’t you join us?”
“No, that’s not—!”
I felt sorry for Tory, practically bursting with agitation, but he couldn’t discover our true intentions. In the Edencia Kingdom, we needed to remain nothing more than benefactors who had recovered their national treasure.
‘Once Jack Jack arrives, we’ll need to begin in earnest.’
Coordinating with my arrival in Belodia, Zena Chaser and Jack Jack had also scheduled a visit to the Mines in the regions near Belodia. It was a precaution in case we needed a proxy.
I had contacted them this morning, and since Jack Jack traveled faster than Zena Chaser, he was expected to arrive tonight.
A strategy to corner the swindlers in one place. In other words—
‘A trap.’
I smiled darkly to myself. It would be soon now.

***

Tory said he couldn’t join us at the restaurant and needed to return to his duties. Before leaving the Inn’s guest room, Tory, with cookie crumbs clinging to the corner of his mouth, offered one final reminder.
“Then if I notice any signs of the culprits moving, I’ll contact you. At that point… you will apprehend them, won’t you?”
“Yes. We must.”
“…”
As I nodded and Theon remained silent, suspicion flickered unmistakably in Tory’s dark bean-like eyes. He clearly thought it would ease his mind more if he were the one taking action.
“I’ll be in touch.”
After Tory left, Theon and I descended to the first floor once more. As the reservation time was pressing, we were walking straight toward the Inn’s entrance when the door swung open from the outside before Theon could even grasp the handle.
“What’s this? Why are you blocking the door? Move aside, would you? I need to get in.”
A scarred eyebrow marked his rough, menacing face. He was the Mercenary who had shouted yesterday at the counter, demanding the reserved room be surrendered. And standing behind him was…
“Yuraha?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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