“Ah, there you are, Monsieur Linton. The snow has stopped, so we are about to depart… Are you alright?” inquired the Marchioness, observing the detective’s furrowed brow as he was jostled by a passerby. The detective offered a faint smile in response to her concern and remarked,
“Oh, I’m fine. It puzzles me why that fellow shouldered me so aggressively. Such belligerent individuals seem to seek conflict at every opportunity. Tsk tsk. Nevertheless, let us make haste.”
“…….”
Feeling that something was off, Shan lifted his junior’s frock coat and searched the inside pockets.
“Excuse me, senior. What are you doing?”
“…Look!”
He pulled out a piece of hard-textured paper from the pocket, along with a few coins, a ballpoint pen, and some scraps of toilet paper.
I will claim Auguste’s Turquoise Wings before you reach the western lands.
-Phantom Thief Astar
“Eek! When did this get here?”
“That snake…!”
Chloe, incognito as a detective, left the quivering Shan behind and concealed his grin.
Now, the play starts. Shall we have some fun?
***
“We must leave immediately,” Shan declared to Madame Auguste, her eyes trembling. Shan had returned fruitlessly from chasing the fictitious character Chloe had mentioned offhandedly.
“Right now? Since we’ve received a notice, wouldn’t it be wiser to seek assistance from the police department?”
Madame Auguste had sought minimal police intervention to prevent information leaks. The more people knew, the faster it would reach Astar’s ears. But with Astar now informed, there was no longer a need to limit their numbers.
The lady had meticulously planned this meeting. Her determination to conceal her identity was evident in her shabby clothes, uncharacteristic of a Marchioness. She even went as far as meeting Shan at a cafe on the ever-crowded 2nd Street—a forest is the best place to hide leaves, as the saying goes.
Under normal circumstances, Chloe would not have suspected this location, but the heavy winter snowfall brought the Marchioness unexpected misfortune.
Despite her trembling voice, Shan, fixated on the notice, resolutely shook his head.
“No. Madame, you told me only today the tale of Turquoise Wings. You mentioned earlier that no one besides the Marquis was privy to this scheme, which implies Astar too learned of it just now. That is, unless the Marquis and Astar have been in contact.”
Shan, still brandishing the notice, grabbed his notepad and the cane he had left behind, and hastened towards the exit. Chloe and the Marchioness trailed after him.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“He seems to have inadvertently exposed himself, with little forethought. We cannot afford to allow him preparation time. We must act with greater urgency, and the last thing we should do is provide him the opportunity to board the airship.”
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Since they were going to spend some time preparing anyway, he considered picking up the tools during that period, but Shan quickly highlighted that fact. The lady appeared convinced by Shan’s argument, nodding in agreement and firming up her resolve.
The determination etched on her face suggested she was serious about boarding the airship in such a state. Chloe pondered over this as he caressed the pocket watch in his pocket.
Was I too hasty in giving the notice? Yet should Fog of the Western Kingdom, also dubbed the Vault of Hell, swallow the Turquoise Wings whole, I might never again lay eyes on them. For a chance at the Turquoise Wings, the risk seems justifiable. After all, what’s the fun in something that’s too easy?
With a carefree spirit, Chloe pushed open the cafe door, silently hoping Vivianne wouldn’t catch wind of his rebellious thoughts.
***
“If you don’t come here by the count of three, I’m going to kill you! One, two…”
“Ah, you were the one who tried to take my bed first! Go away, big brother!”
“Hey, kids, I told you all to be quiet!”
At the airship’s entrance, a queue of people formed, with some children squabbling over a framed insect specimen as a woman, perspiring, attempted to intervene.
“…Madame. Who are they?” Shan inquired, eyeing the frolicking children with bewilderment due to the unforeseen commotion.
“They’re friends of my husband and his associates. You might say they’re business partners.” Madame Auguste responded to Shan’s queries with kindness, while Chloe, standing beside her, shared the same perplexity.
Chloe’s panic stemmed from three reasons.
Firstly, the airship was a grand vessel, accessible only with the Marquis’s permission. Passing the checkpoint signified that they were to accompany them on the journey.
Secondly, the flight’s crew was comprised solely of individuals who had undergone covert screening to elude Astar. The exceptions were Shan, from the police force, and Chloe, incognito as Ronald. Chloe fleetingly considered if the children were also covertly chosen to thwart Astar and safeguard the treasure, but dismissed the thought with a shake of his head.
Lastly, there was a duo Chloe recognized: an elderly woman and a man, the same individuals he had encountered just two hours prior—Dorothy, her two grandsons, and Aeon.
Shan, more so than Chloe, was startled by the unforeseen addition. The presence of children on the battlefield, where the confrontation with Astar was imminent, was an unwelcome distraction, especially since they lacked proper clearance. In such a scenario, Shan, cognizant of Astar’s talent for disguise, had to remain vigilant.
“Surely they aren’t boarding this flight with us?”
“Oh, don’t worry, Detective. Those outsiders owe me a favor, and they insisted that I make your stay in the West Kingdom as comfortable as possible. They have no connection to Astar, by the way.”
“No matter how you slice it…”
Shan, caught off guard by this situation, timidly voiced his dissatisfaction, but the lady stood her ground and shared her perspective.
“The detective couldn’t have foreseen this, so it’s unlikely Astar could have anticipated these people boarding together either. Then how could he have disguised himself as one of them?”
“So, all the individuals Madame intended to invite to the airship are accounted for, with no sudden additions?”
“Of course.”
He sensed Shan’s resolve weakening in the face of her stubbornness. In the Marchioness’ mind, she was justified. With a soft sigh, Shan whispered to Chloe and moved to stand in front of Aeon.
“That gentleman, I spotted him in the Count’s study during the previous investigation. How does he come to be acquainted with so many nobles?”
“‘I know, right?”
“You’re also unaware of his identity?”
Are you asking if I know him? In response to Shan’s query, Chloe offered a smile and a nod. Actually, I’m the one who’s more curious about his identity.
“Do you recall, during the last investigation, how he stood out because he was alone in the study while everyone else was incapacitated by Astar? Yet the Count was adamant that this gentleman was not the culprit, allowing him to evade scrutiny. It’s probable that this man is Astar. He’s the one we need to be most cautious of. Keep your eyes peeled.”
“Of course. Whether he is or isn’t, I will.”
Chloe replied with trust to Shan, who was causing quite a stir. Shan, after issuing a firm warning to his junior, quickly adjusted his expression to a bright one just as he made eye contact with Aeon. His stern expression thawed like snow in the warmth of spring.
Shan slightly raised the hat he was wearing and greeted Aeon with a cheerful demeanor. It was a countenance devoid of any suspicion.
“Greetings, Your Grace. It seems we haven’t met before.”
Wow. Look at this social butterfly. Chloe briefly considered that perhaps members of society possessed superior acting skills compared to his own.
“…You must be a detective. What brings you here?”
In contrast to Shan’s warm smile, Aeon appeared to lack a smile for public display.
Well, given his numerous scars, it’s clear he isn’t someone engaged in ordinary societal work.
Leaving Chloe behind, who could switch from narrow-minded to insightful in an instant, Shan proceeded with his business, which meant questioning Aeon with gusto.
“Your Grace, if you intend to board this airship, I believe it would be wise for you to join us.”
At Shan’s suggestion, the typically deadpan Aeon raised an eyebrow in a rare display of astonishment. Naturally, the change was so slight that only Chloe, adept at reading facial expressions, would have caught it.
“Is it concerning Astar?”
“Exactly. Were you anticipating this?”
“…It has only been a few days since that incident, yet you’re already so thorough.”
“Indeed. Without being a close associate of the Marquis, how else could you be so adept at gathering information that isn’t common knowledge before a notice is issued? By the way, I’ve heard you’re acquainted with the Marquis.”
“…….”
Aeon, who had been providing somewhat inconsistent answers, fell silent at Shan’s question and turned away to ponder, revealing his self-absorbed nature. While Aeon’s silence left Shan waiting patiently for a response, someone collided with Chloe’s knee at full speed.
“Ugh.”
“Ouch!”
Chloe, nearly stumbling, steadied himself and spun around to see Seth, Dorothy’s young grandson, holding a picture frame tightly against his side. Dorothy, absorbed in a discussion with the Marchioness, seemed unaware of the mishap.
Subsequently, Chloe noticed the boy’s older brother sprinting towards them, apparently running heedlessly, which led to the collision. Acting swiftly, Chloe supported the child by the armpit, lifted him to his feet, and dusted off his trousers.
“Oh, hey there, little one. You need to watch where you’re going when you run. Otherwise, you might have an accident. And with the coachmen driving their horses so recklessly these days, it could be quite dangerous on the streets. You have to be more careful, okay?”
“…….”
Seth’s eyes widened like full moons as he gazed at Chloe, who was disguised as Ronald. The charade continued until Chloe finished dusting off the child. This reaction was new to Chloe; the child had been so playful and friendly with him during their last meal.
Ronald’s face is a bit… It seems like something that might frighten children. I should probably wrap up the conversation quickly. At that moment, Chloe noticed the specimen plate the child was holding tightly. It was a winter dragonfly, a species found only in specific regions of the Empire.
“Huh? Winter dragonflies? We used to see many of them around my home.”
“…Have you ever seen a live winter dragonfly?”
“Many times. If you go near Kraksen now, you’ll likely see swarms of winter dragonflies mingling with the snowflakes. It’s quite a spectacle. Are you keeping that as a memento from your visit to the empire?”
The child nodded in affirmation. Suddenly, the older child sprinted forward and struck the younger child’s head with growing force.
“Take that!”
Thwack-!
The sound of the impact echoed across the airfield. Chloe was in a panic. He had never expected such a violent hit.
The younger child, clutching the struck area, began to cry, tears streaming down his face. Dorothy, alarmed by the ominous sound, halted her conversation and turned to look. The grandmother quickly understood what had happened.
“Bern! You really…!”
“Uwaaaaah!”
…It’s clear this is going to be a very long flight.
Thanks for the chapter! <33
Thanks for reading!! <33
Chloe’s gotten himself into quite the pickle…