Then, he roughly ruffled the back of my hair and muttered.
“Such a waste. She seems like the perfect candidate. What on earth is Enrique thinking?”
I thought this time I could finally leave this damn Harland!
“Why did he throw away such a good opportunity himself?”
Alberie clicked his tongue several times.
He looked toward the closed door with eyes full of lingering regret, then clicked his tongue harshly—a very disrespectful attitude.
He soon turned sharply, causing a cold breeze, then stamped his heel on the floor as he hurried toward the stairs.
Thud, thud! Thud! Thud!
The noise was loud enough to disturb the innkeeper in the kitchen on the first floor, who was preparing to boil soup.
The innkeeper, holding a ladle covered in thick roux, opened the curtain and peered out.
“Hey! Alberie! If you keep this up, are you going to be responsible if the floorboards of my shop get all dug up? Can’t you walk quietly?!”
Alberie, just starting to climb the stairs, didn’t even glance at her but roughly stirred the air with his hand and raised his voice.
“I’ll pay for the damages! Just bill me!”
“Oh dear! You think money solves everything!”
The innkeeper’s voice followed him up the stairs, getting louder.
But after that, neither Alberie’s voice nor footsteps were heard, so she had no choice but to lower the ladle she had raised high.
Her nerves, which had been tense when Alberie said to just charge him, had already softened a lot.
“Well… money does solve everything, huh.”
Muttering in a gentler tone, the innkeeper softly hummed a tune and went back into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Alberie quickly reached the third floor and flung open the door to Enrique’s room without asking for permission.
“Enrique! Excuse me!”
Enrique furrowed his brows at the sudden intrusion, but he didn’t seem surprised as if he had anticipated Alberie’s visit.
He sat in a chair, crossed his long legs, and grumbled.
“Alberie, where on earth did you sell your manners?”
“Is this the time to be picky about manners?”
Alberie grumbled with a disrespectful attitude.
“Hoo.”
As if sensing the nagging was about to begin, Enrique pinched the bridge of his nose.
I thought it must be more exhausting and draining to deal with Alberie than with Eugenia.
“Aren’t you really going too far?”
As expected, Alberie’s nagging began.
He probably wouldn’t listen anyway, but he decided to speak anyway.
“Shut up, Alberie.”
Enrique hinted to be quiet, but Alberie showed no sign of backing down or losing momentum.
Eventually, Enrique was the one to give ground. He unfolded his crossed arms and pointed toward the door.
“If you’re going to continue, at least go close the door.”
“There’s only the two of us on this floor anyway, so what does it matter?”
Though grumbling, Alberie obediently followed Enrique’s command.
It was habitual obedience.
He quietly closed the door, stood before Enrique again.
By then, Enrique was ready to listen to the nagging.
He sat lazily in the chair, crossed his legs, and gestured with his chin to start.
Alberie opened his mouth with a very serious face.
“Why did you refuse?”
“There was a reason.”
“So, you have to tell me what that reason is.”
Alberie added as if giving a warning.
“I just hope the reason is understandable.”
Enrique stayed silent for a while, but Alberie didn’t press and waited calmly until he spoke.
Finally, the tightly sealed lips of Enrique relaxed.
“That woman had a wanted notice posted.”
“…What? A wanted notice?”
Alberie’s facial muscles slackened as if he’d heard the most absurd story ever.
After struggling to close his parted lips, he asked in a strained voice.
“Is that true?”
Enrique nodded with a serious expression.
“For now, yes. But there’s a pretty hefty bounty on her.”
“Hmm… she doesn’t look like it.”
Alberie muttered, frowning.
Of course, he also knew well that criminals don’t always look like criminals.
But both he and Enrique, due to their jobs, had often encountered evil people.
So they were better at sensing and distinguishing such people than ordinary folks.
However, Eugenia, whom they’d just met briefly, sincerely did not seem like that kind of criminal. Rather, she gave off a certain kindness.
“Well… anyway, if that’s true… hmm. She doesn’t look like that kind of person.”
Alberie scratched the side of his head awkwardly, repeating the same thing.
“So? What’s the charge?”
“…Child kidnapping.”
Alberie’s eyebrows knitted tightly, almost touching.
“That’s… really out of the blue.”
Enrique murmured quietly as if sharing the same thought.
“I don’t think she actually committed the crime.”
“Huh?”
Alberie’s expression grew more confused as he listened.
“If she didn’t commit any crime, why is she wanted?”
“To find her, I suppose.”
“That seems a bit extreme, though.”
“I agree.”
Enrique nodded slightly in a subtle motion.
After a moment, Alberie said hesitantly with a bewildered expression.
“But since that’s just a suspicion, shouldn’t we report it? She could be dangerous.”
Then Enrique lifted his buried face and looked at Alberie with a look of disbelief.
“I hope you’re not serious.”
“Why? I don’t think I’m wrong…”
Alberie’s voice grew quieter, looking uneasy.
Enrique pressed his temple with tiredness and answered.
“If we report her, then what? We have to go to the security forces and give a statement ourselves. Will I do it? Or you? Or do you have some brilliant plan I don’t know about?”
“Ah…”
Alberie faltered, apparently not having thought that far, and trailed off.
Enrique calmly pointed out more problems in a low voice.
“Say we hired her. What if someone recognizes her later and reports us? Wouldn’t we get involved too?”
Alberie clicked his tongue.
“So, we’re stuck either way.”
“Right. The bounty is unnecessary, but if we refuse to collect it, it looks suspicious. But if we accept it to avoid suspicion, we have to submit personal details.”
“Ah, true.”
Alberie clapped his hands and nodded.
“She’s a real headache in many ways. So there’s no choice but to let her go.”
The two men’s goal was to leave this country with as little trouble as possible.
Hiring Eugenia would create variables and could lead to serious trouble depending on the situation.
Alberie seemed to fully understand why Enrique had to make such a decision and discard such a good opportunity.
But a new curiosity seemed to spark in his mind. He spoke in a subtle tone.
“But still.”
Enrique raised an eyebrow as if saying, “What now?”
“You said Eugenia’s charge was child kidnapping, right?”
“Hmm.”
Alberie, acting like a detective, continued seriously, carefully, and sharply.
“Then, could the twins Eugenia mentioned be the kidnapped children?”
“…”
Enrique gave no answer.
After a moment, his lips opened and he said in a low voice.
“Could be, or could not be.”
