Chapter 60

Benny Galinne.

Costance recited that name silently. It was a name his father, the Marquis, often mentioned.

It was 14 years ago when Costance was about 10 years old. To Marquis Orsi, Benny Galinne was a point of comparison to Costance Orsi.

In fact, it was ambiguous to even call it a comparison. Marquis Orsi would often say, “Benny Galinne is much more pitiful than you,” while looking at Costance.

In other words, Benny Galinne was more accurately seen as a tool used by Marquis Orsi to shake Costance’s psyche.

“…….”

The call with Marquis Orsi ended.

Costance stared blankly out the window. He heard that Benny Galinne was alive, but it wasn’t particularly important news to him.

What mattered to Costance now was the letter Vivi left behind and Alonso, who was left alone.

“We’ll arrive at the estate soon, Young Master.”

He noticed the light on in Marquis Orsi’s study. His mood quickly soured.

Before the man could open the door, Costance got out himself. Ignoring the greetings of the waiting servants, he strode into the estate.

The chandelier hanging in the entrance hall cast a bright light. On the wall was a large photograph of Marquis Orsi taken when he was the Fleet Commander. Next to it were portraits of the Orsi family members, along with a navy photograph of Costance Orsi.

“Is the Marquis in the study?”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Costance went to the door and opened it without knocking. He met the eyes of Marquis Orsi, who was sitting with a serious expression at his desk. Father and son glared at each other instead of exchanging greetings.

“You are spitting on the Orsi family.”

“…….”

“Consider yourself lucky to be my only son.”

“You’ve already abandoned one.”

Costance walked right up to Marquis Orsi and blatantly looked down at him. Marquis Orsi, his face contorting, exhaled a long breath instead of raising his hand.

“Go to the agency.”

“I’m not going.”

“The agency is understaffed. Go and help to clear your head.”

“It’s not my job.”

“It’s no different from what you’re doing now.”

“I’m telling you it’s not my job.”

He meant it didn’t matter whether the work was difficult or easy.

“Benny Galinne is currently a top-secret directive. Since you know about it, you have no choice but to cooperate with the agency.”

“Father, watch your mouth first.”

Costance was so angry that he couldn’t see anything in front of him.

“Alonso.”

Marquis Orsi, knowing the reason well, used it.

“I made a concession. Sending Alonso to another family as an adopted son.”

“That’s in the past.”

Costance replied immediately.

“Back then, you promised to come whenever I called. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“…….”

“I promise. If you go to the agency and help this time, I won’t interfere with Alonso’s matters in the future.”

“Then, write a contract.”

Costance seized the opportunity without missing a beat. As Costance immediately responded, Marquis Orsi cursed roughly but took out a piece of paper.

Marquis Orsi instructed his aide behind him to draft the contract, and Costance and the Marquis silently watched until the pen stopped.

The contract indeed stated that there would be no interference regarding Alonso.

With fairly favorable terms, Costance decided to compromise appropriately.

‘If she’s a woman who knows about the destructive weapon, the government must be in an uproar.’

Marquis Orsi intended to gain favor with the government by deploying Costance, a high-quality asset, to the agency. Considering the relationship between Marquis Orsi and the current head, Isca Luson, it was understandable.

In any case, there was nothing detrimental to Costance. Costance always wished for Marquis Orsi to lose interest in Alonso, and the agency work would end once he caught that woman, Benny Galinne.

‘Benny Galinne.’

Costance always felt sorry for the woman he had never met. It might be because of what he heard from Marquis Orsi since he was young, but Costance had felt a sense of kinship with Benny Galinne for a long time.

However, if Alonso was involved, that sense of kinship didn’t matter at all.

After finishing his signature, Costance received Marquis Orsi’s signature and tucked the contract inside his clothes.

“Here is the information on Benny Galinne.”

Marquis Orsi handed a thick stack of documents to Costance.

On the front of the documents was a blurry black-and-white photo of a girl estimated to be about 9 years old. It wasn’t taken from the front, and the full-body picture taken from afar made it difficult to recognize her appearance.

Costance quickly grabbed the pile of documents and left the study.

* * *

As soon as he entered the room, the first thing Costance did was call the Canary Cathedral.

Before dialing the last number, Costance paused. He was fine with calling the Canary Cathedral, but he couldn’t figure out what to say.

Costance placed the phone back in its cradle and sat down at the desk. A letter was better than a phone call.

Costance began writing the letter meticulously, sentence by sentence. He consoled Alonso, assured him that he was fine, and filled the remaining half with stories about Vivi.

I miss Vivi, too, Eugene.

I still love her.

Vivi left this town because of me, but I’ll do my best to meet her again.

Costance himself didn’t know how he would try. Overwhelmed by the hopelessness, Costance bowed his head deeply.

Then the pile of documents given by Marquis Orsi came into Costance’s view. After hesitating, Costance pulled the documents in front of him. The sooner he caught Benny Galinne, the shorter the separation time with Alonso would be.

A small-framed girl. Her hair was long, and her exposed arms and legs were thin. Costance slowly examined the information on Benny Galinne behind the photo.

Developer of NOK One, daughter of Nergal Galinne (deceased at age 32).

14 years ago, Benny Galinne was 8 years old and stayed at the NOK One Laboratory with her father.

Benny Galinne was presumed to have maintained amicable relationships with other researchers. On the other hand, her relationship with Nergal Galinne was unknown.

Galinne seemed like someone lacking something. I’ve never seen him have a friendly conversation with others. — Testimony of Nergal Galinne’s college classmate.

Before Benny Galinne came to the NOK One Laboratory, Nergal Galinne and Benny Galinne were almost strangers. Before that, the girl lived with her mother in an upper-floor hotel with the money Nergal Galinne had accumulated.

Ire. Last name unknown. Occupation unemployed.

Abandoned Benny Galinne and fled with a young man.

Later lived with the young man and started a family, but died of a heart attack five years ago.

After fleeing, it was determined there was no contact with Nergal Galinne or Benny Galinne.

Costance Orsi absorbed the information about Benny Galinne one by one. The girl had been a target of the government to this day because of her perfect memory ability.

What could be the crime of such a girl?

Being born as Nergal’s daughter? Or possessing a perfect memory ability?

“…….”

As Marquis Orsi said, the girl had a rather tragic fate.

Costance dryly flipped through her information sheet by sheet, then paused on one page.

It was the record of the day the laboratory exploded. There was evidence of a child, presumed to be the girl, captured by someone’s camera. Although not clearly visible, the long hair and build were similar to the girl.

However, there was one peculiar point: the girl’s shoulder. Costance’s body stiffened at the sight of the girl’s shoulder, darkened by burn marks.

“…….”

He squinted and examined the girl’s shoulder.

Among the people Costance knew, there was only one person with a scar in that location.

No way.

Costance felt an inexplicable strange feeling.

“…….”

Soon, Costance’s heart sank heavily.

He had embraced Vivi several times.

He left marks and kissed places she couldn’t see. His eyes scanned and touched every small mole on Vivi’s body. Each of those trivial marks was still vivid in Costance’s memory…

Costance turned to the previous page to look at the girl’s face.

“…….”

The photo was blurry, making it hard to see the girl’s face. Nonetheless, Costance, who stared intently at the photo, confirmed the girl’s blurry eyes.

“…….Vivi?”

Vivi…

〈You mean Galinne tried to hand over NOK One’s weapon to Rando!〉

Costance recalled the Peace Love Contest day at the Canary National Library. When a professor gave a lecture, Vivi was sitting as an assistant.

Costance pretended to listen to the lecture while examining Vivi’s face, realizing she was in her usual condition. That was until the professor mentioned Galinne.

〈I’m not originally this hair color, and my parents’ surname isn’t Ferren. My age is different from what you know.〉

Costance shifted his gaze back to the documents.

Name: Benny Galinne.

Current age: 22 years old.

Appearance: Silver hair and blue eyes. Known to resemble her mother in appearance.

(Photo of Ire attached below.)

Costance’s face stiffened.

Really…?

〈I’m not Vivi Ferren.〉

Costance wanted to ask. 

Then tell me your real name and real age.

And now, he felt like he had found that answer.