One Day, My Dad Disappeared - Chapter 17

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

Episode 17
The Orchard was quite substantial in size. The fruit vendors throughout the nearby villages apparently all sourced from this man, and the place lived up to that reputation.
Then again, the Seg Region enjoyed abundant sunlight, and though situated in the south, the inland basin was ringed by mountains—ideal conditions for cultivating fruit.
“You’ve come looking for me?”
The man wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat had flushed deeply from the sun; he wiped his brow with a pristine white towel draped around his neck.
He’d apparently come straight from work—a pair of pruning shears dangled from one hand.
“We’re from the Imperial Capital…….”
Aidan immediately produced the Imperial Mark again.
“You’re Chase, aren’t you? We’d like to ask you something. We heard that recently you recommended a jeweler in the Wis Region to Collin, a fisherman.”
“Ah, so you’ve come because of Collin.”
Chase removed his crooked hat as he dabbed at his perspiration, bowing his head slightly.
“Yes, I’m Chase, the owner of this orchard. What brings you here?”
His tone suggested he’d been expecting someone to come asking questions.
“We heard you recommended a jeweler to Collin. Could you tell us which one it was?”
“Since the Wis Region is a tourist destination, there are several large jewelers there. I recommended one that specializes in gemstone appraisal.”
In total, Chase had directed Collin toward three jewelers.
“Among them, I suggested he visit Cloba first—it’s a large establishment that doesn’t just deal in gems but also collects fine Crystals and Lapis Lazuli and fashions them into decorative pieces.”
“Did you ever mention to anyone else that Collin had come into possession of a rather valuable Mineral?”
Aidan cut straight to the heart of the matter, as expected.
“Of course not.”
Chase shook his head vigorously.
“You don’t know how much Collin insisted on secrecy. Even told me to keep it from my wife. That part did strike me as odd, but I figured we could discuss it after he’d sold the thing.”
Chase went on to answer our questions faithfully. He hadn’t met Collin again since then, and he emphasized that he’d never mentioned the matter to anyone.
“But according to Collin’s wife, the moment you asked about jewelers in the Wis Region, this jeweler Oracle appeared at their door.”
“I have no idea how that happened! Maybe Oracle has been watching Collin all along. Honestly, I don’t even know what that Mineral is or what it looks like—why would I break in at dawn to steal something I can’t even identify?”
Chase practically leaped to his feet, vehemently insisting on his innocence.
“And frankly, does that man strike you as someone with a discerning eye for valuable objects? He probably just picked up some nice-looking stone somewhere and got too greedy, that’s all.”
It seemed the two of them weren’t exactly on good terms.
“Honestly, how would someone of our station recognize precious goods? Only those who’ve seen many valuable things can spot them. Still, the fact that Oracle was willing to pay 100,000 Gold for it suggests the Mineral is indeed worth something. But that’s what he gets for his own foolishness.”
“This Oracle fellow—is he someone trustworthy?”
Aidan asked, and Chase nodded.
“Well, aside from the Lord, he’s the richest man in this town, and he conducts business with the Lord himself.”
“Business?”
“Yes. The Lord owns a small mine. The Rubies that come from there are quite fine, so Oracle processes and sells them. I don’t know the details myself, but I’ve heard he exports quite a bit to overseas markets. I’ve even seen the Lord’s carriage coming and going from Oracle’s warehouse late at night.”
“Late at night?”
“Yes. Ah, but that’s because I meet with merchants at night for fruit sales! During the evening, the merchants inspect the fruit I’ve harvested, settle payment, and then move on to other regions at dawn.”
Chase seemed eager to establish his alibi, emphasizing his lack of involvement.
“Fresh fruit is all about maintaining quality, after all. As for jewels—well, perhaps they’re transported at night to avoid drawing attention?”
Wouldn’t traveling at night actually be more dangerous?
It seemed there was nothing more to gain from Chase, so I glanced at Aidan. He gave a brief nod.
“If any other questions come up, we’ll be back.”
“Of course. I’ve nothing to hide.”
We left the Orchard and climbed into the carriage to head straight for the jeweler.
“What’s your impression of this Chase character?”
Aidan spoke quietly as soon as the carriage began moving.
“Chase seemed uninvolved in this affair. Though he appeared nervous when defending himself, his eyes didn’t waver and he didn’t avoid my gaze.”
There were no signs of dishonesty.
If anything, Oracle seemed far more suspicious.
“But there’s something that doesn’t add up.”
“What is it?”
“It doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t valuable items be transported during the day? Broad daylight would be far safer.”
Aidan agreed with my observation.
“Actually, something’s been nagging at me as well. Since the Wis Region is a tourist destination, precious gems should sell abundantly in the domestic market alone. Export isn’t illegal, but why bother, you know?”
We locked eyes.
“I think we should visit the Library here before going to the jeweler.”
“I’m going to need to look into international matters. I’ll call Father and then join you.”
“How about we each take care of our business and meet in front of the jeweler’s shop?”
“Sounds good.”
We parted ways at the entrance to the Library. I worried finding the information might take time, but fortunately it came easily.

[Geological Features of the South]

If my memory served me right, the geology around this area favored fruit cultivation. The abundance of sunlight and the wide diurnal temperature range from being an inland basin certainly helped, but it was the geological characteristics above all that made the difference.
“My instincts were correct.”
I traced through the features of the Seg Region, reading carefully, and felt a surge of certainty.
“So shall we head to the jeweler’s shop now?”
I imagined Aidan must have gathered enough of what he needed by this point.
Thud—
“Oh!”
The moment I rushed out in my excitement, I collided with someone. I’d bolted through the door thoughtlessly enough, but I never expected to actually stumble backward.
“Ow.”
“I’m so sorry—I was hurrying in—”
“No, no, I wasn’t watching where I was going either—”
Golden hair bright as sunlight swayed in the breeze. Eyes that seemed to hold the clear, cloudless blue of the sky gazed down at me with an apologetic expression.
If Aidan was a handsome man carved from ice—cold-blooded and impeccable—then this man was as though someone had gathered all the sunlight streaming through an attic window and shaped it into a handsome face.
Even setting aside the expensive fabric draped across his broad shoulders, he didn’t seem like a person of ordinary station. The hand he extended, the courteous bow of his waist—all spoke of a grace and consideration so deeply ingrained it had become second nature.
It occurred to me that this might be what Aidan always meant by ‘nobility of bearing.’
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
His voice carried genuine concern, and a subtle floral fragrance drifted from the hand he offered me.
“Are you in pain somewhere?”
I’d been too dazed to answer, but I recovered quickly.
“I’m fine! There’s nothing wrong with me at all.”
“That’s a relief.”
When the man smiled, his eyes crinkling warmly at the corners, I found myself smiling back without thinking, almost as if enchanted. That smile was so radiant that for a moment, the drab entrance of the library seemed to shine as brightly as the grand halls of the Imperial Capital.
“Well then, I should be going. The library will be closing soon.”
“Of course, please go ahead.”
The man maintained his perfect courtesy to the very end, offering a slight bow before turning to step into the library. As he passed, it seemed as though a halo trailed behind him.
“Wait, I shouldn’t be standing here like this.”
Reality snapped back into focus. I’d been so captivated by his handsome face that I’d forgotten my purpose entirely, lost in a daze.
“Aidan will be here soon anyway. I need to hurry.”
I gave my cheek a sharp pat to shake off the reverie, then quickened my pace toward Oracle’s jewelry shop.

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