<>
Ethefelis, Alice, Christina, and Mira arrived at the police station, but they waited until 10:35 before going inside to file a report.
Ethefelis, however, didn't enter with them. She quietly split off and headed somewhere else.
Christina noticed, but chose not to ask. Right now, her only concern was getting the police to the tavern as quickly as possible.
As if she were walking through her own home, Christina confidently made her way through the station to the front desk, where a lazy officer was sitting with his feet propped up, idly picking his nose.
"Officer, I'd like to report an incident."
The moment the officer recognized Christina, he jumped in surprise. He hurriedly put his feet down, wiped his booger onto his uniform, stood up, and greeted her with a polite smile.
"Lady Fenlbia, the chief has already made it clear. Without evidence, we won't be mobilizing."
"This time, my friend has food poisoning. I'd like to file a complaint about the sanitation at the establishment."
Christina gave the prepared reason, but the officer assumed she meant something unrelated and asked,
"Which establishment?"
"The Skoda Tavern."
The instant Christina mentioned the Skoda Tavern, the officer wore an expression that practically screamed *this again*. Looking at her with barely concealed contempt, he said,
"Miss Fenelbia, your intentions are far too obvious. We police officers aren't fools."
His attitude immediately irritated Christina. As a noble, she took immense pride in her status, and she would never tolerate anyone looking down on that honor.
The officer was much older than she was, but he was still a commoner. By the rules of their society, he had no right to treat a noble like Christina with such disrespect.
Her sharp eyes narrowed instinctively, and in a voice colder than the harshest winter, she said,
"You've become rather insolent."
Anyone with a guilty conscience would instinctively fear those piercing eyes.
This officer was no exception.
"I-I'll report this to the chief immediately!"
He hurried off, and before long, the pot-bellied police chief appeared. Speaking in the lazy tone of someone eager to get rid of an annoyance, he asked,
"Miss Fenelbia, what brings you here this time?"
"My friend suffered food poisoning at the Skoda Tavern. I'd like to report their unsanitary conditions."
"Miss Fenelbia, the police aren't here to deal with trivial matters. There's no need to make such a fuss over restaurant hygiene."
"But it falls within the police's jurisdiction."
In this world, the police handled nearly everything besides defending against foreign enemies and monsters. Only cases involving heavily armed criminals or serial murders were turned over to the knights.
The chief sighed, looking tired of arguing.
"Let's stop dancing around the issue. I know you still suspect that tavern is connected to the phosphorus powder case, but we've already searched it thoroughly. There was nothing. Without evidence, you're simply wasting everyone's time."
"Then send a few officers with me."
Christina wasn't expecting a massive search party. She only needed a few officers who could verify she was right.
The chief still refused.
"No. If we come back empty-handed again, how do you expect us to recover the public's trust? People will think we're abusing our authority—searching one shop simply because we suspect it, then another, and another. Who would trust the police after that?"
"So the words of the Fenelbia family no longer carry any weight?"
Christina knew she was losing the argument. Left with no alternatives, she finally resorted to invoking the authority of her family—the very thing she had stubbornly refused to use.
But after brushing her off once before, the chief had become convinced she wouldn't actually do anything to him. With a rather casual smile, he replied,
"My deepest apologies. I have no intention of disrespecting the Fenelbia family. I'm merely protecting the reputation of the police."
Reputation.
To every noble, reputation was a source of pride and social standing that could never be tarnished.
The moment Christina heard that word, she fell silent.
Mira understood exactly why.
But one person didn't.
In fact, she found it utterly ridiculous.
Alice had been silently watching the chief's disrespectful attitude toward Christina, and she'd finally had enough. She exploded in anger.
"Is your reputation really more important than arresting criminals?! If you're police officers sworn to protect the people, then you shouldn't ignore anything related to crime!"
"And who are you?" the chief scoffed. "Ah, you're the so-called key witness Miss Fenelbia claims can tell whether people are lying. Don't make me laugh! That's no key witness—it's complete nonsense!"
"You're the one who's talking nonsense! While innocent people are suffering, all you care about is your precious reputation! What kind of police officer are you?! You're a complete failure! You're nothing but a coward hiding behind your badge!"
"Do you want me to arrest you for insulting an officer?!"
"Someone like you will never receive Fatelis's blessing!"
"What does the Goddess of Fate's blessing have to do with you?!"
Alice and the chief began shouting at each other, their argument drawing officers from all over the station to watch.
Christina frowned slightly, gently patted Alice on the shoulder, and said,
"That's enough, Miss Alice. Let's go speak with Viscount Helaoi instead."
If the police refused to cooperate, then the only option left was to seek help from the noble who governed this territory. Noble to noble, he would surely be more reasonable.
Just as Christina turned to leave, the chief's attitude changed faster than flipping a page.
"Wait! Wait... Miss Fenelbia, let's discuss this calmly. There's no need to trouble Lord Viscount."
The chief knew that if Viscount Helaoi heard about this, he'd almost certainly conclude that the police chief was incompetent—and his position would be in serious danger.
Just then, a man burst into the station, panting heavily.
He stumbled to the front desk, collapsed onto his knees, and gasped,
"...Police...! Police...! I-I need to report something! ...There's a fight... at the Skoda Tavern... It's really bad..."
"The Skoda Tavern again? Are you telling the truth?"
"I-I am! It's true! A whole bunch of people have been beaten unconscious..."
The chief wasn't eager to believe him. He suspected the man might be working with Christina.
But Christina herself looked genuinely confused by the man's sudden appearance.
The chief hadn't earned his position through connections alone—he possessed decent judgment.
Seeing Christina's reaction, he concluded the report was probably genuine.
He immediately barked,
"Gather everyone! Prepare to move!"
"Yes, sir!"
The entire station sprang into action.
Alice looked worriedly at Christina.
"Isn't the Skoda Tavern where Miss Grace and Mr. Jacob went? They'll be okay, won't they?"
"They should be. Let's hurry back and find out what's happened. Mira."
"Please."
The moment Christina called her name, Mira instantly turned around and lowered herself into a carrying position.
Without another word, Christina climbed onto Mira's back.
Alice stared blankly at the scene, completely unable to understand why Christina was suddenly being carried.
Once Christina was securely on her back, Mira dashed out of the station toward the Skoda Tavern.
Alice hesitated for a second before chasing after them.
"Wait for me!"