Chapter 63

“Don’t worry. The Knight Commander has gone to capture the pickpocket gang, so he’ll be back soon. You’ll also be able to retrieve your stolen belongings.”

At last, Masetike’s expression brightened considerably.

Not long after, the security forces became noisy. True to his word about returning quickly, it was an early hour when he came back.

The pickpockets dragged in by the soldiers numbered three in total, and they were young men who appeared quite juvenile. Compared to the large number of soldiers who had rushed out, the culprits were a small group.

“We were just hungry.”

“That’s right! We haven’t eaten anything for two days!”

The pickpockets claimed to be from the slums and pleaded their hunger as the reason for their crimes.

The second-largest budget allocation of the Welfare Department was for aiding the slums. Certified residents of the slums could receive one meal a day at designated restaurants for six months from the date of application. Afterward, they would be assisted in finding employment.

In other words, there was no reason for anyone to starve to the point of resorting to theft.

This brought back the suspicion from earlier.

Embezzlement by intermediaries.

A sigh escaped at the thought that corruption might have already infiltrated the newly established Welfare Department.

‘Even though it’s not my department, I can’t just ignore it since I’m somewhat involved…’

At the very least, Sevji needed to be informed about this situation.

“Thank you, Commander. Thanks to you, I was able to recover my precious item.”

During that time, Masetike, who had retrieved his pendant, expressed his gratitude to Eched.

Eched, showing no sign of surprise at seeing Masetike in the capital, nodded calmly and then turned to look at her.

“Let’s return to the ducal residence.”

“Wait. Come to think of it, why did you come to the capital?”

She finally asked what she hadn’t been able to earlier due to the rush of events.

Masetike shook his head with a light-hearted smile.

“I had some business to attend to. I’ll explain properly later.”

Later?

It was spoken in a tone that confidently assumed they would meet again.

Before she could ask when that would be, Masetike left the security forces and disappeared.

And the “later” that Masetike mentioned turned out to be just a few days later.

***

As soon as dawn broke, she set out with renewed determination to uncover the embezzlement by intermediaries. To be exact, she was more motivated by the desire to thoroughly punish whoever had increased her workload.

She headed to the Welfare Department early in the morning.

Sevji, surprised by her explanation, actively cooperated.

Anger is remarkably effective at boosting efficiency.

In no time, she had reviewed all the accounting records of the Welfare Department and couldn’t hide her disheartened feelings.

“Even you, Boss, seem to have found nothing.”

Ser, who had been specially invited, also appeared to have no leads.

“It seems we’ll have to conduct an on-site inspection.”

Although everything was meticulously recorded in the ledgers, embezzlement always happens on the ground.

Thus began a covert operation that resembled a spy mission.

The first place they visited was a restaurant run by commoners that provided meals to the impoverished.

They hid in an alley with a clear view of the restaurant’s entrance, watching from the shadows, occasionally peeking out and surveying the surroundings.

“……You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“……No?!”

Oops. Denying it made her voice crack at the end. Embarrassed, she pulled the hood of her robe tighter to cover her face.

Ser’s gaze from beside her was subtly piercing. She grumbled, saying that wasn’t how one should look at someone they respect.

“We won’t know just by watching. Unless we go inside and try the food ourselves.”

“Wait.”

She stopped Ser, who was about to head toward the restaurant. Silencing his puzzled question, she pulled him back into the alley.

“What is it?”

“The people entering the restaurant—they’re the pickpockets from yesterday.”

“What?”

Though the distance was considerable, she was certain. The three individuals entering the restaurant were the same pickpockets who had been apprehended by the security forces yesterday.

It was puzzling why these criminals, who should have been detained, were freely roaming outside.

This called for a visit to the security force.

“Let’s go to the security force.”

They had to ask why these obvious criminals had been released.

When they arrived at the security forces’ station:

“Well, they weren’t acting as part of an organized group, and it was their first offense, plus their circumstances were pitiful……”

The soldier’s feeble excuse made her pinch her forehead. If she had seen the smirking faces of those scoundrels, she would have been outraged.

There was no need to listen further. She frowned and ended the conversation.

“No matter how pitiful their circumstances or how minor their crimes, a crime is still a crime. It’s the law, not personal sentiment, that determines guilt. If you release criminals at your discretion again, you’ll find yourself on trial.”

“Y-Yes! I’ll keep that in mind!”

Leaving the soldier with a stern warning, she turned and left.

She and Ser returned to the restaurant. The pickpockets were quietly eating in a corner.

They sat at a reasonable distance and ordered food.

The restaurant was moderately noisy, making it possible to overhear their conversation if one focused.

“……If they find out we were caught yesterday, it’s over. Keep it a secret.”

“It’s all because of that ring we stole. That’s what got us caught.”

“How was I supposed to know? From now on, let’s avoid stealing expensive items.”

Oh, really? Plotting another crime already?

“Boss, I don’t think this is something we should get involved in.”

Ser whispered. She agreed with him.

They were here to investigate embezzlement in the Welfare Department, not to catch pickpockets in the capital.

She assured him she had no intention of interfering and told him to focus on eating. Still, she planned to report them to the security forces after their meal as a humanitarian gesture.

“But why is that person making us do this?”

“I don’t know. They said they’d pay us, so I just agreed.”

“I think it’s clear they have a grudge against the Welfare Department.”

The hand that had been stirring the watery stew paused. Her attention, which had waned, refocused on their conversation.

“Think about it. The Welfare Department is pouring money into helping commoners, but instead of improving their lives, it’s causing trouble. Who would look favorably on the Welfare Department then? To the nobles funding it, it’s just a money pit. Eventually, it’ll be dismantled. Isn’t that what the person who hired us wants?”

“But if the Welfare Department disappears, it’s bad for us. Thanks to it, we get to eat here.”

“You fool. The meals from the Welfare Department only last six months. After that, we have to earn money to buy food ourselves. But if we succeed in this job, they’ll give us enough money to eat for the rest of our lives.”

“Really? Then we’d better work harder at stealing.”

Work harder at stealing? 

She was dumbfounded by the pickpocket’s enthusiasm.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she pondered what to do with them.

First, I needed to uncover who was behind this…….

“At least it’s somewhat fortunate, isn’t it?”

“What is?”

“That they’re immature youths who’ve only just had their coming-of-age ceremony.”

At Ser’s words, she scrutinized the pickpockets again. She had thought they looked young, but to think they had only just become adults.

“How did you know that?”

“When we visited the security forces earlier, I glanced at their records. Their document management was sloppy.”

His added remark was annoyingly casual.

‘This Ser…….’

Not only was he quick with paperwork and calculations, but his eyes were sharp too. His occasional impudent attitude reminded her of someone.

“Please don’t become like Pell……? Do you still respect me?”

“Pardon?”

Though she had already seen signs of Pell in Ser, she teased him anyway.

Ignoring Ser’s bewildered expression, she focused on the pickpockets as they rose from their seats.

Once they had completely left the restaurant, they approached the owner.

“Do those men come here every day?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Thanks to the Welfare Department, they never miss a meal.”

Satisfied with the answer, they left the restaurant with lighter steps.

If they came here daily, it made things easier. Being young, their movements were limited, and their lack of caution in discussing important matters anywhere was a stroke of luck.

Now, their task was to expose everything and catch the mastermind.

Although the original purpose of the Welfare Department had long been overshadowed, she couldn’t stand by and watch it collapse.

“Still, there’s no need for me to wield the sword myself.”

After all, this was the Welfare Department’s responsibility. Leisurely, she headed toward the Welfare Department where Sevji was waiting.

***

The emergency policy meeting was in chaos, resembling a bustling marketplace rather than a solemn gathering.

“What on earth is going on? Since the Welfare Department’s establishment, commoner crimes have surged!”

“Ungrateful scoundrels! Look at them, seizing the opportunity to rob as soon as their neighbors’ pockets swell.”

The ministers vented their intense anger. Furious that their donations had gone to waste, they clamored about the rise in crime since the Welfare Department’s creation.

She observed the loudest voices. They were all long-standing members of the aristocratic faction who had opposed the Welfare Department’s establishment.

And they were also the ones responsible for this situation.

“Well? Do you have anything to say for yourself, Welfare Director?”

One noble sneered openly at Sevji Luce, who had remained silent.

Sevji’s cold gaze landed on the noble.

They were mistaken about something…….

“Do you think I’ve been silent because I have nothing to say? If you want me to speak, you need to give me a chance to do so. It’s baffling to hear complaints about my silence when you’ve been monopolizing the conversation.”

Sevji wasn’t silent because she lacked words.

And Sevji…….

“And who exactly is ungrateful here? Viscount, you donated 50 gold coins and received tax benefits worth about 30 gold coins in return, didn’t you? The Baron did something similar. Yet you begrudge the remaining 20 coins so much that you hired criminals?”

She wasn’t someone to be underestimated either.