Chapter 147 : Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Cha ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yeri demanded, one hand braced on her hip.

“You ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍look rather idle. Someone, on the other hand, is having a truly miserable time.”

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sounded as though she were venting her frustration.

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍faint trace of resentment… and what was this, exactly? That slightly sulky air?

Pretending ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I had no idea what had just happened, I spoke.

“What ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is this all of a sudden? I do not think I have done anything wrong.”

“Wrong? Anyone would think I hound you every single day.”

“…”

“What is with that expression? You look like you have a great deal to say.”

“It is nothing. Nothing at all.”

Cha Yeri tilted her head and stared at me with suspicious eyes.

To evade the situation, I immediately continued.

“By the way, why did you come out of the banquet hall? Are you trying to find the Phantom Thief?”

“Of course. Rather than letting foolish people wear me down, it is better if I find him myself.”

“Judging by your reaction, it seems your grandfather’s declaration was not discussed beforehand.”

“A declaration? What sort of person puts his own granddaughter up as a prize in a game?”

“There he is. Your grandfather, right over there.”

“Enough. Let us stop talking.”

The hand on her hip turned into folded arms.

After silently studying me for a moment, she spoke again, watching my face as though gauging my reaction.

“So, what were you doing up here? Choi Suhyuk was there as well.”

“Thanks to being singled out by your grandfather, I am searching for the Phantom Thief. For now, at least.”

“For now? That is an extremely irritating phrase.”

“Well, even if I do not, you said you would find him yourself.”

“That is true, but….”

For an instant, she looked genuinely pouty.

Her expressions were endlessly changeable.

Avoiding my gaze slightly, she continued.

“Since it has come to this, it might not matter if you find him instead….”

“Is that a request?”

“I only said it might not matter.”

Words she did not truly mean.

Mischief rose in me.

“Hmm? If you asked sincerely, I might consider it.”

“...!”

“In fact, quite remarkably, I have just found a hint.”

“What? Really?”

“But it might be presumptuous for me to step in. If I accidentally end up earning the chance to become your partner, we will both be exhausted, will we not? In that case, it is better for you to find him yourself.”

“…”

Had I teased her too much?

Cha Yeri lowered her chin slightly and looked up at me.

She seemed to want to rely on me, yet could not bring herself to say it aloud.

“Since I attended the banquet as payment for Evergreen Mercy, I cannot really help for that reason…. Still, should I at least share the hint I found?”

She offered neither a clear affirmation nor a refusal.

For someone as proud as Cha Yeri to hesitate this much meant she was genuinely conflicted.

Whether I helped her or not did not particularly matter to me…

In truth, there was a place I had always wanted to visit, should I ever come to the Hyeonseong estate.

The study once used by Hyeonseong’s founder, the Phantom Thief Cha Jaehee.

Because a single hidden stroke of fortune lay concealed there.

A stroke of fortune from a setting collection that never appeared in the original story.

If the price was entry into her great-grandfather’s study, perhaps even Cha Yeri’s pride would allow it.

“Ah. Then how about you grant one request of mine? In return, I will present the Phantom Thief and the Red Mana Stone before the Chairman.”

“...W-What?”

“I want to see the study that Hyeonseong’s founder used.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

Cha Yeri looked incredulous.

That was understandable. Within this estate, Cha Jaehee’s study was treated almost like a secret chamber.

When he died, he left a will instructing his son, Cha Myeonghan, to preserve the study as it was. The building housing it was guarded so tightly that only servants who had served since Cha Jaehee’s time were allowed to enter.

Of course, if she, as direct family, entered the building, the servants could not stop her. Still, the fact that she essentially needed Cha Myeonghan’s permission—a man with whom she had a poor relationship—made this a difficult request.

Even so, this condition should be tempting enough for a proud person like Cha Yeri.

As expected, she nodded first.

As if she were in a hurry.

“I do not know what you are thinking, but if it is only that, I suppose it cannot be helped. But… are you really fine with it?”

“With what?”

“Well… that is…. People might start rumors that you and I are in that sort of relationship.”

Was that what she was worried about?

Normally, she would have complained as though she were the one at a disadvantage.

“It is fine. He only said he would grant an opportunity, so what more can he do than make me share a meal with him? If necessary, I can even stroll around a bustling district with you. Besides, if a scandal spreads, Hyeonseong will step in and deny it.”

“That was not what I was asking….”

What?

“Enough. I will accept your condition. Neither of us has anything to lose.”

Something about this left a faintly unpleasant aftertaste.

Had there been a different answer she wanted from me?

Cha Yeri continued in a calm voice.

“More importantly, tell me the hint you said you found.”

***

Song Beomsin ground his teeth.

He could not stand the sight of Cha Yeri turning her back on him and walking away.

The youths gathered around him each chimed in.

“She looks gentle, but she has a bold side.”

“She is probably just playing hard to get. Do not worry about it.”

“Until she entered Hero Preparatory School, I thought she could only smile vacantly. Is this what they call unexpected charm?”

All of them were children of families in the production industry, people who had watched Cha Yeri since childhood.

They were too close to be mere neighbors who exchanged greetings, yet too distant to call childhood friends.

Especially Song Beomsin, the center of their group, had often been linked with Cha Yeri since they were young.

Until she took up a gun and declared she would become a hunter.

“More than that, does it not seem strange that she kept her hair long her whole life and then suddenly cut it short?”

“And why would that matter?”

“They say women cut their hair whenever they make an important decision.”

“So Cha Yeri went through something important at Hero Preparatory School?”

“Like being ostracized, for example.”

“Oh, please. Cha Yeri being ostracized? If you walk around the 4th Scholastic District, there are countless girls who would do anything just to speak with her.”

“Sometimes, when someone is too outstanding, people see them as prickly.”

“That can happen, but Cha Yeri is on a completely different level. In my opinion, she has definitely gotten herself a man. Some insignificant combat cadet is flattering his way into Hyeonseong. Hmph. This is why hunters have no pride.”

The group concluded that Cha Yeri must have a man.

Song Beomsin, who had stayed silent, narrowed his brow.

“So you are saying I lost to some insignificant hunter prospect?”

“N-No, that is not what we mean. We mean Cha Yeri is being bothered by some foolish fellow without the sense to know his place.”

“Hm….”

He did not like it, but it was at least worth considering.

If Cha Yeri had always been distant from men, it was possible she was being led around by someone pathetic.

Still staring in the direction she had disappeared, Song Beomsin spoke.

“Go back to the banquet hall for now.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“There is somewhere I need to check. If you find any clue about the Phantom Thief, contact me immediately.”

With that, he moved to follow Cha Yeri.

True to her nature as a combat cadet, she had vanished without leaving a trace.

Even so, it was not difficult to infer where she had gone.

Because she was up on the building with the red roof in the distance.

And she was there with a Special Affairs Division investigator—someone known to be a cadet of Hero Preparatory School as well.

Could it be that she had given her heart to that man?

He stopped at a position where he would not be noticed.

When he listened, however, he heard nothing at all.

It was as though the sound itself had been blocked by mana.

What were they talking about for so long?

As a production awakened, far from physically gifted, it was difficult to judge the situation in detail.

Yet he could tell that Cha Yeri was making unfamiliar expressions.

Faces he had never seen from her, despite knowing her since childhood…

It was clear. She had become infatuated with him.

He had heard that Hero Preparatory School was full of exceptional men, so why had she chosen a mere investigation cadet from the outskirts?

He knew the man was an investigator from the Special Affairs Division, but only as a probationary one.

A life as fragile as a fly’s, liable to be dismissed at any time.

Without that Special Affairs Division business card, he would be nothing more than a social care beneficiary.

For what reason, then, had Cha Yeri begun to feel something for him?

Soon, he saw Ji Seokhyeon and Cha Yeri move toward one side of the roof.

Then, at that spot, Ji Seokhyeon produced a small note.

A clue. That was it. Was the red of the numbers meant to point to this roof?

Song Beomsin’s lips twitched into a grin—until Ji Seokhyeon, replacing the note, glanced over and their eyes met.

No, “met” was not quite right. It felt more like their gazes merely brushed past by chance.

Had he been spotted?

A suspicious tension rose, and his throat bobbed involuntarily.

Ji Seokhyeon… that strange man who supposedly used the Demonic Eye.

Before long, the two on the roof moved elsewhere.

Song Beomsin hurried up onto the red roof and lifted the brick Ji Seokhyeon had touched.

As expected, the hidden hint was there.

However, it did not offer a clear lead.

Except that the writing was in green.

Green… a green object, or a place…

He naturally followed the direction Ji Seokhyeon had gone.

For now, it would be best to collect hints while tailing him.

In the end, it only mattered that he was the one to find the Phantom Thief.

What bothered him was that the man was the investigator in charge of the Phantom Thief.

Cha Yeri might share hints with him preferentially.

“I should just put our heads together.”

He turned on his smartphone.

Immediately, the call signal continued toward the banquet hall.

***

Cha Yeri and I arrived at the place that “green” led us to: the most striking evergreen tree on the Hyeonseong grounds.

A massive pine, seemingly as tall as an eight-story apartment building.

At a glance, it suited the oriental atmosphere of District 10 beautifully.

“This was the first place that came to mind. It is the most overwhelming shade of green in our home.”

“Then do we climb it and examine the needles?”

“Wait. Who said you could climb it? This tree is famous in its own way.”

“Then what do we do? Is there any other green here besides those pine needles?”

“If we truly have to go up, do it properly. Keep a meter of distance and use the ladder.”

Cha Yeri pointed to a ladder nearby.

Had it been left there for landscaping work?

The ladder was large enough, conveniently so.

I moved to take it, then stopped.

“We do not need the ladder.”

“Why not?”

“We are moving with the assumption that we are intruding as the Phantom Thief. Earlier, the first place we stepped was the red roof after jumping from the wall. So if the Phantom Thief hid himself among these dense pine needles….”

She finished my thought.

“Then from that height, he was watching something!”

“Exactly. And from this height, the place worth secretly observing is….”

Cha Yeri did not even let me finish. With absolute certainty, she sprinted toward a particular location.

Following her, I arrived at Hyeonseong’s central building—the one containing Cha Myeonghan’s study.

More precisely, we arrived at the back entrance, which coincidentally had no guards.

We focused on a green flowerpot placed right beside the door.

Its position was strangely out of place. I glanced at Cha Yeri, but she narrowed her eyes as if she was seeing it for the first time as well.

When we lifted it slightly, we found a note just like before.

This time, the letters were written in blue.

—One who did not receive an invitation.

“Did not receive an invitation… what does that mean?”

“Does it simply mean someone was not invited to this banquet?”

“…I am asking just in case, but did you send me an invitation?”

“No.”

In that instant, our eyes met.

It seemed we were thinking the same thing.

I immediately insisted on my innocence.

“I will say this clearly. It was not me.”

“…Yes, of course, former Phantom Thief.”

“It truly was not.”