ITIWAFRBIAHS Chapter 20

5. New Discovery

The long-awaited next morning had arrived. As soon as my fiancé arrived in the busy district, he recommended some snacks to me, who hadn't eaten breakfast and was on an empty stomach. Hmm, how admirable.

"Once you finish eating, we'll arrive at the gun shop shortly."

It was an unfamiliar term, but I could roughly understand from context that it was a place that sold guns.

Sure enough, our destination was a place displaying various firearms and weapons. I looked rather distastefully at the massive deer head mounted on the door as if showing off. The interior was somewhere between luxury and rustic barbarism.

The staff and what appeared to be the middle-aged male owner had been waiting since our car entered, rushing over to take our order as soon as we entered. And what followed was...

It was a repeat of the department store from the day before yesterday.

No, I mean... you know. In Korean fantasy novels, when you go to a weapon shop, don't you often see some old building where a veteran blacksmith is showing off his skills, tempering something? And after a few probing questions and gaining his acknowledgment, such a person would deliver lines like "It's been ten years since this one found its master. I thought it would never find one" while giving you a legendary weapon... I'd been imagining something like that.

This was completely at the extreme end of commercialism.

"Speaking of this pistol, its effective shooting range is particularly notable..."

"Next. Show me something lighter, please."

My fiancé, who kept shouting "next" endlessly, played a significant role in this.

Honestly, the owner seemed to try to create atmosphere by talking about the guns' histories several times, but my fiancé had heard the conditions for the gun I wanted to buy beforehand, and if he felt they weren't met, he would cut off the explanation without hesitation.

Wow, if I went shopping with a friend like this, I could probably get refunds in 15 seconds flat...

Anyway, through that process, we quickly narrowed down the candidates and purchased two firearms I wanted. One was for me to use, and the other was a gift for Jeril, who seemed stressed because of the dragon. It would be good to have self-defense items when things are unsettled.

"This revolver is very recent in terms of year, and reloading is quick. Moreover, it's light and has excellent safety features, so it's really good to use..."

The owner enthusiastically explained its advantages while processing the payment. But honestly, it didn't really register in my ears. Huha huha, living in a country where firearms were illegal and now actually possessing firearms myself. Who would have thought I'd experience such a spectacular thing? Holding it directly made it feel more real.

But at the same time, the fact that it was a revolver made me oddly excited. That Indiana someone-or-other also used a revolver!

Learning how to operate it with a few practice shots at the shooting range behind the building, somehow my Dragon Heart adventure experience overlapped, making me feel like I'd become Indiana.

Good, I feel like I could even hunt dragons somehow...!

Of course, that was just how I felt - if I actually fought, I'd become Rose-flavored meat slices in five seconds, and fortunately the plot development wouldn't lead to that, but anyway, that's how I felt.

"We have some time left before lunch."

"Ah. Then would it be alright to visit somewhere to develop photos?"

I'm glad I brought my camera thinking I might develop them if there was spare time!

"Of course it's fine."

My fiancé agreed with a smile.

"After you leave them, it will take time for development, so you can have lunch and pick them up in the afternoon or the next day."

My fiancé guided me to a small but quite professional-looking photo studio, and I left the entire film roll. The elderly man wearing a hat who had been going in and out of the darkroom just nodded curtly, almost gruffly.

...Was it my imagination that I felt the weapon shop owner cliché that I hadn't felt at the gun shop here instead? Anyway, he seemed like he'd develop them well, so I had high expectations.

After stopping by the photo studio as well, it was nearly noon, our appointed time.

My fiancé offered to take me to the meeting place, but I declined. Since the photo studio was on the outskirts of the city, it was quite close to the restaurant the detective had told me about. There were many people around and many women walking alone, so I should be fine too.

Moreover, this time I hadn't dressed up tremendously like last time, but had worn appropriate going-out clothes. If I went to the restaurant the detective was introducing dressed like last time, it would have been the height of discord, but compared to the people on the street, there didn't seem to be much difference.

"Rose, I hope you have a pleasant lunch time."

"Yes. I hope everything Lucas Moore has to do today goes well too."

"Yes. I really hope so."

My fiancé seemed to have a lunch appointment with someone business-related. And since he planned to handle business in this town all afternoon, he suggested we return to the mansion together if our timing worked out.

I probably would have called someone from the mansion to return without bothering to contact him out of politeness, but I agreed for now.

I waved to my fiancé getting in the car and quickly headed to the meeting place.

"He's late."

Late. I was already looking gloomily at the clock that had passed 15 minutes, muttering darkly.

For someone who used to send messages saying "I'm here, where are you?" if even 5 minutes late, this waiting without any news was too harsh. Smartphone withdrawal symptoms are about to kick in...!

"Miss, looks like your boyfriend is running late. Have some of this while you wait!"

"Wow, uh, thank you!"

Thud. A middle-aged woman with a hearty impression placed some snacks in front of me. It was several pieces of bread covered with cream and seasoning powder. She's certainly a very kind person. He's not my boyfriend, but thank you.

Feeling pleased, I put the bread in my mouth and felt a crispy crunchy texture and intense spice flavor. Very good!

I thought that even if that detective fellow didn't show up, I should at least eat a meal before leaving, and finished all the bread. Just as I was pushing the last piece into my mouth, the young detective came rushing through the entrance.

"Huff, pant... Sorry. Did you wait long?"

"Somewhat, yes."

The detective collapsed into the seat across from me. His rolled-up sleeves and completely soaked neck seemed to indicate the intensity of exercise the detective had endured. From his condition, it looked like he'd been running at full speed.

I decided to lower the intensity of my questioning about his tardiness by one level. At least he has some shame.

"Why were you so late?"

"Don't even ask. What I just discovered at the library... Ah, let's order first. You suffered waiting. You can order a lot."

"Yes, yes."

I won't be modest. I enthusiastically ordered food with the thought of boosting sales for the owner, who was silently mouthing things like "Your boyfriend is very handsome! Nice body too!"

The detective grabbed his stomach and laughed. He seemed to have achieved enlightenment regarding wallet worries.

After that, about ten minutes of silent, combative eating time passed. The taste was excellent. So it was only after putting the last piece of meat pie on my plate that I remembered the purpose of this meeting.

"So what did you discover?"

"Ah, this."

The detective pushed his nearly finished plate to one side of the table and pulled out files from the large briefcase he'd brought. They just looked like some old document transcripts.

"While looking into the Aubert family in more detail, I found quite an interesting fact."

The detective grinned.

"I thought that family hadn't been settled in this region for very long, but that wasn't the case."

"...Really?"

"Yes. It was originally a family that started in this region. When I got excited during my research and dug back to before the monarchical period, there were traces. They seemed to have had quite a reputation."

The detective pulled out another transcript.

"But about two hundred years ago, they suddenly disappeared from this region as if fleeing. At that time, they left behind servants and all their property, causing ownership disputes among the landowners."

"Hmm..."

It's a somewhat speculative guess, but narratively, this definitely seems... like a scenario involving dragons, right?

For instance, maybe they fled this region quickly, worried about the backlash after the blessing disappeared when the dragon that had been bestowing blessings showed signs of entering dormancy... Or maybe they ran away because their son or daughter was chosen as the dragon's companion and they didn't want to give them up.

"Then suddenly 21 years ago - ta-da! They suddenly returned. Why do you think that was?"

Well. Because the dragon was about to wake up?

"Because it was revealed that an enormous amount of oil was buried in the land that originally belonged to the Aubert family!"

"Jackpot!"

Suddenly the focus shifts from fantasy to modern capitalism! The capitalist brain in my head kindly interprets the detective's words.

'The dream of becoming an oil king might not be far away.'

Waaah, a delusional dream I've never had is suddenly getting closer!

I tried to stay calm and waited for the detective's remaining words. The detective seemed to think I shouted "jackpot" simply because of his research content, and continued without much reaction, grinning.

"Ah, of course they didn't get back all their former land. Due to issues like occupation rights, they only recovered about half through quite complex lawsuits."

That's fine. I don't even know how much the total land area was in the first place, so whether it's half or a quarter, what does that matter? The important thing is that there's oil-producing land!

"Still, that's impressive."

"Well, it is."

The detective shrugged. Then he added in a mischievous tone.

"Of course, you're probably a great rich person too, but perhaps purchasing the Aubert family's mansion might be impossible?"

"There's nothing to lose by trying."

"What a spirited statement. I like it."

The detective downed a glass of water in one gulp and continued.

"Ah, regarding the mansion investigation, you can contact me tomorrow evening. Anyway, it's definitely a mansion with a very long history."

"Could it possibly be the mansion where the Aubert family used to live?"

"I actually considered that possibility first, but no. The place where the Aubert family lived was in the city center and was completely demolished during town development construction."

How disappointing. If this current house had been the family's old mansion, the dragon-related narrative would have connected more clearly. For now, the deduction doesn't seem to connect. I'll have to think more after hearing tomorrow's investigation results.

Oh, speaking of deduction, I remembered the investigation of the two people I'd separately commissioned.

"How is the investigation progressing on the two people I additionally requested?"

"Ah, Emma Sawyer and Hazel White."

The detective frowned.

"First, Emma Sawyer seems to need more precise tracking of how she lived before coming to this region. It's concerning that there are only testimonies confirming her degree, but no materials about where she graduated or when she graduated. I plan to investigate with the possibility of a name change in mind."

"Mm, yes."

A name change... In romance novels, when it comes to name changes, various scandalous developments come to mind. Stories of appearing as someone else and taking revenge on people around them began to occupy my mind without warning.

"And for Hazel White, I'm checking from her employment records. Similarly, I plan to investigate intensively today and tomorrow, and if I can't do it within the promised period, there will be a refund, so don't worry."

The detective seemed quite confident. And I decided to definitely carry out the schedule I'd planned to go to the police station while I was out today.

"Ah, lastly... there was an investigation about Rose Aubert's fiancé."

"Yes, yes."

The detective said simply.

"There isn't one."

"Pardon?"

But there is.

"There was no official fiancé. At least in this region's high society community, there was no news or sign of it."

"Ah. Yes."

Come to think of it, Lucas Moore said he was the heir of a major landowner from another region. In this family that already lives in seclusion, an engagement to someone from another region might very well not have spread as rumors. Eh, I wasted money commissioning this for nothing.

But perhaps because I'd just learned that my dream of becoming an oil king was coming true, it didn't seem that wasteful. Oil is the best!

"You have a fiancé, right? How is he? Does he treat you well?"

"Yes."

Face, personality, and wealth. He has all three virtues that are the standard for romance novel male leads. But even at my firm short answer, the detective winked.

"Don't you sometimes want to have an extremely personal romance with a lover rather than a fiancé?"

He's making dialogue that sounds like he's applying to be a second male lead.

"Not really. Not particularly."

"Oh, what a shame. I prefer rich girlfriends to rich friends."

The detective replied cheekily. Yes, yes. But you still won't become a second male lead, let's just be friends.

After that, we had a comfortable silence while eating the generous dessert that was served. After enjoying the food sufficiently in comfortable silence, I thought while leisurely drinking a beverage at the end. Still, this detective friend seems to have similar eating tastes to mine. I suddenly like him.

Rather than becoming drowsy after lunch, the detective became even more energetic and lively. Is it because sugar was supplied to his brain?

"This is originally why we arranged to meet. These are the materials from the previous investigation. I've transcribed all the recording records too."

The young detective pulled out files and bundles of notes from his briefcase and placed them on the table with a thunk. Oh, this is my first time seeing something like this in real life. Interesting, right? When I picked it up to flip through it, the detective grinned.

"You can take it and read it slowly. The remaining investigation will proceed satisfactorily, so feel at ease."

"Alright, alright."

This is him saying to wrap up the meeting. I gathered the bundle of papers the detective handed over and stood up from my seat without regret. The detective hurriedly followed suit after tucking money into the receipt.

"You're in quite a hurry. Do you have another appointment?"

"Something like that."

"So you really aren't just a rich person for nothing."

The detective shrugged. No, it's completely unrelated to earning money... Somehow I'm embarrassed. The blonde, hearty handsome man quickly caught up to my steps toward the door and kept talking beside me.

"But when you come out like this, is it okay not to have an attendant? I heard that rich people have employees who even wipe their feet for them."

"...They do help a lot."

To what extent - when I first possessed this body, I thought it was a class-based society. But it turned out to be the rule of capital, more frightening than class. I hope they're taking home good salaries. If not, I'll give them generous raises as soon as this body becomes an adult.

...Thinking like that suddenly gives me a bad feeling.

Starting with a misunderstanding, I've been using informal speech until now - is this okay? Didn't I suddenly start using informal speech from the moment I possessed this body? Eek, I need to observe how I talk to the people Jeril works with as soon as I get home today.

Unaware of my confused feelings, the detective continued asking me questions.

"Then do you do the hiring directly too?"

"No. Someone else does it for me."

Probably my adoptive mother or the butler. Ah, but the detective doesn't know this body isn't an adult yet, so it's understandable he'd misunderstand.

"But you're still the employer, aren't you?"

"I suppose so, probably?"

For now, since Madam Sawyer manages Rose Aubert's assets, ultimately this body is the employer. It's not particularly important, so I'm not sure. I answered roughly, but the detective seemed satisfied.

"Mm, I understand well. Then I hope your next appointment goes substantively well too."

"Have a good day too."

I added kind words in return for introducing me to the good restaurant. The detective made an appropriately stylish farewell gesture and quickly left the shop. He's fast too. I wouldn't acknowledge him as a second male lead, but he might be okay as a rich friend for restaurant exploration.

I raised my evaluation of the young detective and requested to use the phone at the counter by the door. Let me have the mansion send a car so I can travel to the police station in that car.

And as soon as I arrived at the police station in the car that came to pick me up, shocking news struck like a bolt from the blue.

"Pardon?"

"We're quite troubled to have to tell you this... but that's how things turned out."

I felt like I wanted to break out in cold sweat along with the burly police officer who was sweating in front of me.

"Missing?"

"Yes. Hazel White suddenly... disappeared at dawn."

Uhhhhh.

"No, to be precise, the suspect and witness is on the run. Don't take this matter lightly."

Another officer with a stern expression interjected and snapped at the burly officer. Then he looked at me and continued in a calm but gloomy tone.

"We're ashamed. Everyone let their guard down when the suspect moved far from the suspicious points. She complained of a sudden headache at dawn, and when we moved her to the medical room, she seems to have escaped through the window. Everyone is searching with their best efforts without rest, so she'll be found soon."

No. With an escape happening and the protagonist finding out, there's no way this will lead to nothing and be resolved anticlimactically. So no matter how I think about it, this seems like foreshadowing for me to be kidnapped or attacked before the police find her...

Stop, stop. Stay calm. Let me try running the happiness circuit.

Maybe Hazel White (former maid Sunset) ran away for some other reason, and I'll discover her first, calm her down, and listen to her story! We'll become closer to each other, clear up misunderstandings, and work together to find the real culprit...

No, looking again, this seems like a narrative to build with the male lead...? Or is it a typical possession novel cliché where you cooperate with a character who was originally a villain?

I don't know anymore. I'll just have to trust my pistol. I'm glad I bought the gun.