Time Healer Ceres - Chapter 27

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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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“Your preferences in food, I’m afraid…. Well.”
At the head chef’s question, the Grand Duke’s aide Dave’s expression hardened.
For all the years he’d served Kainel, he realized anew that he scarcely knew what the man liked or disliked.
‘He’s never been one to express such things.’
A long sigh escaped from both Dave and the head chef simultaneously.
“Um… excuse me.”
Just then, a maid who had been standing quietly to one side spoke up hesitantly.
“My younger brother has a regular shop he frequents.”
“A regular shop?”
While Dave tilted his head in confusion, the head chef’s brow furrowed slightly.
Was she suggesting they bring outside food for the Grand Duke?
The maid, noticing his expression, pressed on urgently.
“The thing is, my brother was in poor health once, and after eating the stew from that place, he recovered his strength right away… I’m so sorry.”
“Even so, how could we serve street food to the Grand Duke….”
“Did you say stew?”
“Dave?”
The head chef’s eyes widened in surprise.
Regardless, Dave stepped closer to the maid and smiled warmly at her.
“It helps restore one’s strength, you say?”
“Yes. My brother was trapped in the Black Forest once and barely made it out. The ordeal left him quite weakened, though he had no injuries.”
“I see.”
“Surely you’re not actually planning to bring street food, are you, Dave?”
“Yes.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If he’ll eat it, what does it matter?”
Street food or cheap fare — it mattered little. If they could find something that pleased his palate, he could procure anything at all.
“Where is this shop located?”
* * *
“Thank you for your patience, customer.”
The insurance company clerk, her smile fixed in place, handed the Bracelet to Seres, who sat across from her.
“Your Medical Insurance Payout of 879 Gold and 95 Silver has been processed and deposited.”
What the woman returned was Seres’s Bracelet — more precisely, the one linked to House Drau’s bank account. This single Bracelet conducted all their banking transactions.
‘879 Gold.’
Not a bad sum.
Though she had to admit it rankled slightly that this money had come through Agni’s scheming.
‘Insurance, no less.’
An insurance policy taken out under Yulia’s name.
Neither Seres nor any of the family had known a thing about it.
She’d learned only recently that Agni had taken out the insurance in secret before Yulia’s illness became serious — before the child was even given medicine, in other words.
‘So she meant to cash that in eventually.’
Agni had even taken out a Death Insurance policy under Yulia’s name.
Upon learning this, Seres had genuinely entertained the thought of breaking into the prison and beating Agni senseless.
‘It’s blood money, in a sense.’
But it wasn’t as though she were receiving it directly from a criminal, and refusing an Insurance Statement from the company would be absurd.
She’d uncovered this scheme thanks entirely to Colin’s diligence.
He’d reasoned that a woman of Agni’s character wouldn’t stop at this alone, and had methodically dug through the expenditure records.
‘Agni once took Yulia’s personal seal, if you recall. With your permission, I’d like to investigate further.’
When Seres agreed, Colin had unearthed this hidden insurance.
‘Do secure it at once!’
With the Insurance Statement pressed firmly into her hand and Colin’s fierce gaze demanding she collect Yulia’s treatment funds immediately, Seres had done nothing but nod earnestly.
“Is there anything else you require, customer?”
“No, nothing further.”
“Then please do come again. We look forward to seeing you.”
Seres rose slowly from her seat, leaving the perpetually cordial clerk behind her.
‘Hm?’
Her gaze came to an abrupt halt as she moved toward the exit.
In the moment before leaving the insurance office, she’d spotted a familiar face.
‘That person….’
Wasn’t that Dave’s father?
The man she’d seen that day at the bookstore with Yulia.
The one whose wife ran off with their son, wasn’t it?
“Here is the insurance statement registered under your son and your wife’s names.”
“Yes. Um, but……”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m asking just in case, but how long after someone goes missing can they be declared dead?”
“If the missing person vanished in the Black Forest region, it’s one year. Otherwise, it’s typically five years. In either case, we dispatch our own investigators to look into the matter.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
Insurance?
Catching fragments of the conversation, Seres’s eyes narrowed in confusion.
Why was Dave’s father suddenly checking the insurance details of a wife and son who’d abandoned him?
Seres watched Dave’s father exchange more pleasantries with the insurance agent for a moment longer, then dismissed the matter and left.
* * *
“Ugh, how long has it been?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“Damn, those bastards should wolf it down and get out if they know what’s good for them.”
“Should we go drag them out?”
“Hold off. If the boss finds out, we’re done for.”
Delaci 1st Avenue was alive with its usual energy today.
Yet one spot stood out for the unusually long line of people waiting—before a ramshackle little building.

Passersby glanced curiously at the stream of customers with their rough speech, but they all simply shrugged and moved on.
It wasn’t a new sight.
Thud.
“Huh?”
That was when it happened.
Someone strode past the line of waiting people and headed directly toward the entrance.
“What’s with this guy?”
“No idea. Is he insane?”
The eyes of those standing casually in line hardened in an instant.
Some lunatic was actually attempting to cut—and with such brazen confidence, no less!
“Hey, you.”
“…? Me?”
Chaeyon, walking lightly toward the shop, turned at the sharp call from the waiting customers.
“Don’t you see people in line here?”
“You cutting in?”
“Get in line before you get beaten.”
Chaeyon shook his head, as if there’d been some misunderstanding.
“I happen to know the owner here.”
“So?”
“Sir?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We know the owner well too.”
At that, the crowd let out a scoffing laugh.
“Regular here for five years straight. You obviously just showed up—where do you get off talking about connections?”
“No, I’m not here as a customer……”
“If you’re not a customer, you won’t be eating stew either, will you?”
“……”
Well, that wasn’t quite right.
He could still hear the rapid thunk-thunk-thunk of a knife and the warm aroma of simmering food.
He was genuinely curious what kind of food was served here.
When Chaeyon stammered and failed to respond properly, the customers all raised their hands at once and pointed behind him.
Get in line!
“……”
In the end, Chaeyon trudged toward the back of the line.
‘Should’ve just used magic to slip in.’
Watching the never-ending queue, Chaeyon pouted.
“These people, aren’t they eating way too slowly?”
“Tell me about it.”
“Oh! Did you see that? Placing another order? Eating two bowls at the same time—that’s cheating!”
“Wow, there he goes again.”
“Where’d you sell your conscience? Don’t you see all those people waiting outside?”
“That guy does this every time. Sometimes he orders three bowls, I hear.”
“Want me to go slip him a punch for you?”
Before long, Chaeyon had found common ground with the other patrons and was passing the time cursing the man along with them.
“Do I join the queue here?”
Just then, a figure approached quietly from behind Chaeyon and spoke.
“Yes.”
Del, Kainel’s aide, smiled softly as he watched Chaeyon answer without even turning around.
This shop—the one a maidservant had recommended not long ago—was where his lord’s steps had led him.
‘Quite a crowd.’
On the surface, it was a shabby little place.
Perhaps the surrounding shops were so ostentatious that it made this one seem even more dingy.
Yet as Del watched the people eating inside, a warm smile spread across his face unbidden.
‘They all look so content.’
You could see the happiness written plainly on their faces.
A single bowl of stew, and their expressions overflowed with joy.
That alone seemed worth waiting in this long line for.
If the food here pleased Kainel’s palate even a little, then perhaps that same smile would grace his lips as well…….
‘Kainel’s smile…….’
The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.
He needed to stop thinking about that.
Patter-patter-patter-patter.
At that moment, a small figure weaved swiftly through the crowd and rushed toward the shop entrance.

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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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