Resetting Lady - Chapter 61

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

02. Her and His Wager

“This is troublesome.”

The police openly showed their discomfort at Raymond’s visit. He was famous in many ways, and still belonged to the military. The Police Department found his interference unpleasant. They considered it an invasion of authority.

“Just accept it as a report from an ordinary citizen.”

“Sir, if you really do this…”

“Do your job.”

“Look, if he were an ordinary citizen, he would have written a statement and left already.”

Raymond looked up at the sharp voice. And he saw the face of someone who had reason to treat him that way.

“Albert.”

“It’s been a while. How long has it been?”

A young man with stylish brown hair and mustache came out and shook hands with Raymond. It was Inspector Albert Strider, who had attended the same school. He was the schoolmate who had given Raymond advice mixed with curses, saying that if he didn’t control his temper, he would die immediately.

He had graduated from military school but was assigned to the Police Department instead of the military. He had followed his father’s path. Thinking he should have met him earlier if he had known this would happen, Raymond grasped Albert’s outstretched hand and shook it.

“You’re still alive, remarkably.”

Albert laughs while placing his hand on Raymond’s shoulder.

“I thought you’d lose your temper and get shot in the head right away. In the back of the head, that is.”

“Sorry I couldn’t meet your expectations. I didn’t get a bullet in the back of my head, but I’ve seen all sorts of things, so you can take comfort in that.”

“…Can’t you take a joke?”

Raymond felt a bit uncomfortable with his attitude of acting friendly. This kind of attempt at appeasement often implied rejection. Raymond cut off the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

“Albert, are you in charge here? I have some questions about the corpse discovered this morning.”

“Why would you?”

When Raymond brought up the main topic without exchanging proper greetings, Albert showed signs of discomfort. Raymond pointed to himself and replied.

“I’m the one who reported it. I sent a servant first, but it wasn’t properly received.”

Albert’s eyes widened and he turned his head toward the subordinate who had been struggling with Raymond until just moments ago.

“No, we received it. Hey, you there. That woman’s corpse with the split belly on 7th Street. Yes, we did, right?”

“What? Yes, yes, of course.”

When Albert asked, Raymond could see the police officer answering hastily. Raymond immediately objected to that insincere response.

“What I mentioned was the corpse found in the forest that I sent word about this morning. And the woman discovered recently was in the sewer. Who is this one on 7th Street?”

Albert openly frowned and raised his hand to show his displeasure. A grumbling sound flowed out.

“Look, Raymond. This is overstepping your authority. You can’t pressure us like this. Leave it to us now and step back. First, calm down… You’re now… almost delusional. What you mentioned is now that previous… what was it, anyway that woman and.”

“Are you talking about the dead person? The newspapers were full of irrelevant stories. That she sold her body from age thirteen, that she died at eighteen, that it was problematic because she was wearing red clothes when she died.”

“Isn’t that a normal newspaper article? It’s adequately satisfying the citizens’ curiosity.”

“Then you can’t even inform a witness who discovered a corpse and is trembling with anxiety?”

“Damn it, cut it out.”

“Albert.”

“I know my own name too, Raymond.”

The air in the room suddenly became hostile. The two men came close enough to almost headbutt each other, and the people around them looked like they would do anything to get out of this space immediately.

“Damn it, don’t claim it’s a serial murder over just that much. There are more differences than similarities. And prostitutes die regularly in the city. You’re a soldier, not a police officer. Don’t try to stir up trouble unnecessarily.”

“Show me.”

“You’re not listening.”

“I want to check the records left by the coroner. There will be connections with the sketch I sent. Habits remain when making cuts. I want to cooperate.”

“Stop it. I learned what you learned too, and I know this place better. You can’t solve cases with just such habits. There need to be witnesses.”

“Albert.”

Albert groaned and rubbed his forehead.

And he glared at Raymond.

“Honestly speaking, if you were an ordinary person, you’d be the prime suspect.”

“…Ha.”

“Be grateful you’re a noble. It’s thanks to your reputation and position.”

“I’m dying of gratitude.”

“This isn’t the military where you have subordinates crawling around who you can boss around as you please. This is a city. There are procedures. We have expertise built up over time too.”

Albert forced a smile while gripping Raymond’s shoulders tightly.

After raising his voice once, he seemed to feel a bit better.

“Give me a break here.”

“…”

“This isn’t a battlefield either, and you’ll soon be taking a parliamentary seat, won’t you? Wait a bit, prostitutes’ corpses come in about once a month. Most of them are beaten to death by men. And we don’t catch the culprits. This time will be obvious too. Probably got involved with some eccentric gentleman.”

“So it’s okay for prostitutes to die?”

“Don’t nitpick my words. There’s no end to it. I’m saying we can’t suddenly focus intensively and specially on just this case because a noble like you discovered it. If you want that, try working to get more budget allocated to our side later.”

“…”

“The parliamentary election is in two months? Please, just a bit.”

No real gain. Just wasted time.

Raymond adjusted his clothes and pushed the door. Albert shouted loudly from behind.

“Stop with the boring stuff and let’s meet when you have time. Father said he wants to see you. That would be good for you too, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

“Got it?”

“Where are you going?”

“A pitiful citizen is going to lock himself in his room and cry while trembling with fear.”

“I’ll send a telegram, so make time! Got it?”

“…Yeah.”

Raymond reluctantly answered and came out onto the street. Xenon was sitting on a bench across the street and raised his hand when he spotted Raymond.

“Sir Raymond, how did it go?”

“No real gain.”

“What did they say?”

“Exactly that. They hadn’t heard anything either. They told me not to interfere unnecessarily.”

“Well… they must have their own circumstances.”

“…You seem to understand the circumstances better than I do.”

Xenon scratched his head and asked.

“Um, I think this might be excessive meddling, but… when you discovered the corpse, you were… as calm as I expected, but now you seem very flustered. May I ask why?”

Raymond thought for a moment.

What should he answer? Actually, my fiancée seems to be connected to serial murders. So I’m going crazy right now. Should he answer like that? Raymond suppressed a bitter smile and dismissed it with one phrase.

“You’re right, it’s excessive meddling.”

“…Yes.”

Raymond ruffled his hair and sighed. What good would it do to tell him? He doesn’t even believe it himself. He finds himself ridiculous for being swayed by her words.

“I came from outside the book.”

Believing such absurd words would be impossible unless one got shot in the head. But ignoring her words was also difficult. Raymond had initially tried to comfort Karen, then was dumbfounded, and finally fell into confusion. Raymond had no choice but to visit the Police Station.

“In the end, there’s nothing I found out, but…”

“Sir Raymond did your best to try.”

“Thanks for the comfort.”

Though I gained nothing.

Raymond pressed his fingers against his eyes. He was tired. Even if he didn’t believe it, if there were clues, if murders were going to happen, he couldn’t just stand by. Even if it wasn’t his business. Especially if it was something he could have prevented.

“Even though this isn’t a battlefield, corpses keep catching my eye.”

“…Indeed. Why don’t you go back and rest? Sir Raymond has done enough.”

Clang.

The bell announcing evening rang.

“Oh my, the time is already… Will you have dinner after returning?”

The sun was setting on the street. The sunset street had an unsettled atmosphere unlike summer. At least on this main road with shops, people could be seen here and there, but if you turned into the alleys even a little, there was literally no one.

Following the main road led to the Cathedral. All roads lead to the cathedral. God’s power remained strong even in this age when miracles don’t occur. Raymond made the sign of the cross out of habit.

“Sir Raymond?”

“The next corpse is on 7th, then the next on 17th.”

“Where is 17th Street?”

“What? …If you go down that way, you’ll find it.”

“You know it well.”

“…The Evans Household is so inconvenient. The maids are so picky that you can’t even drink a beer comfortably.”

“Oh my.”

“So I often go out to eat. It’s not too far, so it’s walkable.”

“What about the other servants besides you?”

Raymond and Xenon talked as they walked to 17th Street. Xenon poured out his complaints about the Evans Family. It was a chattiness unbecoming of a middle-aged man.

“Yes. Well… some of the young servants and maid girls slip out on weekends to eat elsewhere. Thanks to them, I got many recommendations. Around here, the chicken dishes in that inner alley are amazing. The chicken skin is crispy but the inside is tender and the sauce is just…”

Raymond looked up to find a place where he could get a good view of 17th Street.

“Let’s just go there.”

“…Why did you ask?”

Grumbling, Xenon followed Raymond into the tavern.

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