“What? B-boss?”
“The boss isn’t like that. He only goes after truly bad people. Why call him a villain when you don’t even know him? And he doesn’t just bring in scary people. He brings in talented people!”
When Rodi glared with her cheeks puffed out, the boy who had been talking back wilted even further under her intensity.
“Ow, that hurts. Anyway… why is a noble kid like you here?”
“I’m not a noble. Didn’t you hear earlier? They said I’m a rookie.”
The boy hesitated, then his eyes gradually grew wider.
As if suddenly remembering the earlier events, he recoiled in shock.
“What? But you have nice clothes and you’re cute!”
Then with a start!
He covered his mouth with his arm, and his face flushed bright red.
“No, cute, pretty, I mean—you’re wearing jewels! And how can someone like you be in Cheiles? You’re too young.”
Rodi’s expression grew even more sullen.
“Why not? It doesn’t matter. These are gifts I received for doing good work.”
Some were bought by Jin when he returned from outings, but most were gifts received as rewards for helping with favors or for doing good work.
And the small brooch on her left chest was crafted by Bender using a jewel the boss had casually pulled from his pocket and tossed her way.
Rodi stopped mid-sentence and glared again, getting heated once more.
“Is someone bad for liking money?”
“What?”
“Do you hate money?”
“Hey, who hates money?”
“Then never badmouth our boss again. I’ll hit you again.”
When Rodi threatened him while fuming, the boy’s expression soured, but he nodded.
“…Fine.”
“Apologize.”
“…I’m sorry. Happy now?”
“Hmm, good.”
Hmph, still not completely appeased, Rodi finally sat back down while still fuming.
Just try badmouthing our boss again.
She was ready to make his nose bleed on top of his dirty face.
“Are you really part of the Cheiles Guild?”
“Yes.”
“No way…”
The boy muttered in disbelief.
Just then, they sensed movement.
“Let’s move it quickly.”
“Why did he suddenly come?”
“Don’t know. We need to get this out first.”
From the end of the corridor, two men were approaching with quick steps, carrying a box that looked visibly heavy.
Even while struggling, they kept glancing back and looking at the door where Ekision had entered earlier.
“……”
Rodi stared at the approaching pair without blinking.
The box was filled with documents covered in thick black covers.
“How bad was it?”
“Seems like his favorite little brother messed with the ledgers.”
“Ledgers? What are those?”
“They’re the most important documents we use, recording information about money coming and going. The headquarters’ ledgers have every bit of money our rookie has earned written down without missing anything.”
“Wow. What do they look like?”
“They look similar to regular documents. Oh, you know those documents Padrid looks at, with black leather covers on both sides? Those.”
The documents the men were moving were boxes full of exactly those kinds of documents.
Two whole boxes at that!
“Ah, I remember. The boss was writing in something like that, too, right?”
“Rookie should know this, too. You might handle them when you grow up. Whatever else you do, you must never mess around with those. Other things might be forgiven, but that never will be.”
“By whom?”
“Who else? Lord Eclise. It gets really bad!”
“The boss’s hand is really painful.”
“Huh? How would you know that, rookie?”
“Last time the boss flicked my forehead with his finger, like this.”
“Puhaha! While playing around?”
“Because I gave him a bad-tasting jelly.”
“Hahaha! Well done, rookie. Do it when I’m around next time?”
Rodi’s eyebrows twitched.
Those looked like the ledgers Ekision was looking for, but why were those ugly men moving them?
And while Ekision was in the room!
Moreover, the way they kept looking around nervously and saying they should move quickly seemed suspicious, like thieves having a conversation.
It was just like when her friends at the orphanage secretly shared bread behind the director’s back.
That feeling of hurrying to hide something.
“Rookie, if you see anything suspicious while you’re here, scream. Got it? That’s allowed. No one can touch you here.”
“I just need to scream?”
“Yes, I’ll come out. So just wait a little bit. Understand?”
This feels fishy.
Suspicious.
Rodi trusted her instincts very much.
Glancing at the door, it was firmly closed, and somehow it seemed like busy things were still happening inside.
It hadn’t been long since they went in.
“Hmm…”
Rodi pressed her fingers against her brow.
The men carrying the boxes were getting closer.
Counting one, two, three in her mind, Rodi made up her mind.
I’ve decided!
Rustle.
Rodi crumpled the empty snack bag with both hands and placed it down beside the sofa with a thud.
Whew, being a rookie is so busy every day!
First, I need to catch them.
“You, get up and follow me.”
Former leader.
Distraction rookie, deploying!
*** 
“Pay your respects.”
Upturned, elongated eyes and crimson pupils that seemed to glow like lamps were directed at Lexiard.
The mighty power holder known as the Empire’s Second Sun or the Empire’s real power.
Empress, Cecil Chevia Aros.
“…I greet Your Majesty, the Empire’s Second Sun.”
As Lexiard bowed, interest seeped into his previously dry eyes, and the Empress burst into laughter.
“Hahah! So this child is Katiron’s son. He truly resembles the Duke exactly. I think I saw him as a newborn, but he’s grown so much already—the Duke must feel satisfied just looking at him. I’m really looking forward to his future.”
“You flatter us. He still has much to learn.”
Lexiard looked at his grandfather with bored eyes as he displayed him to the Empress like an exhibition.
There was only one way to lift the ban on going out without consequences.
Meeting his grandfather’s demands.
He thought it would be like last time, just attending all his lessons with the tutors, but it wasn’t.
From morning, Akitez had Lexiard busily prepare various things and then headed straight to the Imperial Palace.
“Still, isn’t it fortunate? The Duke suffered greatly after what happened to Katiron.”
At those words, Akitez’s expression darkened somewhat.
A somewhat bitter smile appeared.
“If he were alive, wouldn’t he have gotten along better with you than this old man?”
“Where would I find someone as good as you?”
“You’re saying many nice things today. What’s the use of being tied to past events? These days, just looking after that boy is overwhelming enough.”
As he said this, he glanced subtly at Lexiard.
Seeing the tender emotion beneath his rough gaze, the Empress smiled slightly.
“Hoho, even the great Hikkerman finds raising a child difficult. By the way, I heard you brought me good news.”
Akitez smiled as if he had been waiting for this.
“Now that I’m here, I fear you might be disappointed.”
“You wouldn’t disappoint me. Tell me quickly. I’m dying of curiosity.”
Akitez paused for a moment before speaking.
“I would like to find the Heart of the Sun for Your Majesty.”
“What did you just say?”
“I said I would like to find the owner of the Heart of the Sun for you, Your Majesty.”
The Empress, who rarely showed surprise, couldn’t control her body and shifted slightly.
“How will you do that?”
“You’ve heard the news about the sunken ship being salvaged, haven’t you?”
“Yes. But it was only partial, wasn’t it? I heard that even that much had been so ransacked by pirates that only a few pieces were recovered.”
“That’s right.”
As Akitez paused again, the Empress urged him by calling, “Duke.”
“My son currently has the Heart of the Sun.”
The Empress’s eyes widened once more.
“Your son…”
At that moment, Lexiard, who had been quiet all along, flinched and grabbed Akitez’s arm, but he didn’t budge.
“Yes, though he’s a rascal, he’s still my son, I suppose. Seeing how he wants to please Your Majesty like this.”
A deep smile spread across the Empress’s lips.
“This is incredible. I want to see it with my own eyes right away.”
“Haha, then—”
As Akitez lowered his voice, leaving room for negotiation, the Empress laughed again, “Hoho.”