After finishing Ellen's instruction, Lycaon straightened his composure and addressed Geno.
"Mr. Geno, allow me, Lycaon, to brief you on tomorrow's operation."
Hearing this, Geno finally understood—so the people Jane had mentioned were Victoria Housekeeping.
"I never expected you to be working together with Jane."
"Miss Jane serves as an external operative for Public Security while also being one of Victoria Housekeeping's most outstanding partners. The two roles are by no means in conflict."
As an organization directly under the Mayor of New Eridu, Victoria Housekeeping's scope of business was extremely broad—including, but not limited to, everyday housekeeping and cleaning, private butler commissions, intelligence gathering, and the protection of designated targets.
Lycaon then continued with his briefing for Geno.
"Regarding tomorrow's operation, Mr. Geno, do you have any further questions?"
After hearing out the entire plan Lycaon had laid out, Geno nodded. He had to admit they had thought everything through quite thoroughly—yet he still had one small doubt.
"Your plan may be flawless, but how can you be so certain the other party will take the bait?"
"On that point, please rest assured. We have a most reliable friend who can lend a hand; he will reveal the answer to you at the appropriate moment."
A reliable friend? The appropriate moment?
Geno was a little curious, but considering that Victoria Housekeeping's work involved no shortage of confidential matters, he reined in his curiosity.
"In that case, I'll leave tomorrow in your hands."
Bidding Lycaon farewell, Geno prepared to head home and make some arrangements for tomorrow's little performance.
Meanwhile, within the Ravenlock manor, the family head, Hartman, was receiving a most special guest.
Or rather, receiving him back.
"I truly never imagined you'd still have the nerve to appear before me."
The speaker was a neatly dressed, impeccably courteous blond youth.
The air he carried, together with his handsome features, made him look like a collector who moved freely through high society.
"Why not? After all, compared to you—the man who usurped the head's seat—I am the legitimate heir of the Ravenlock family, my dear uncle~"
At these words, the corner of Hartman's brow creased with a barely perceptible flicker of displeasure, but recalling that he would still have need of this man, he suppressed the emotion once more.
"Family ought not speak to family like strangers, Hugo. If you wish to return to the household, you must first prove your worth."
"Oh? And since when did I hold any so-called worth in the eyes of you old fogeys?"
Faced with Hugo's cold sarcasm, Hartman closed his eyes and once again set to work at the art of calming his temper.
"I know about the organization you run—Mockingbird, isn't it? I need that exceptional phantom-thief talent of yours to help me retrieve a certain item. Bring it back, and I'll let you return to the Ravenlock family."
At this, Hugo couldn't help letting slip a faint sneer. This man was as foolish and arrogant as ever.
Just as, after killing his own elder brother to seize the position, he had never managed to wield the same commanding strength his brother once had—able only to watch the Ravenlock family fall into decline.
Still, for the sake of his own plan, Hugo had to put on the appearance of someone desperate to return to this family that sickened him.
Those who sat high above always assumed, by default, that anything they desired already belonged to them—never once caring how others felt.
Arrogance!
Hugo buried his loathing for Hartman deep in his heart, doing his utmost to control himself so that nothing out of place would slip into his words.
"And what exactly is it you want me to retrieve?"
At Hugo's reply, a trace of contempt flashed in the depths of Hartman's eyes—in the end, even this youth who had tasted the hardships of the world had bowed before power.
"It's simple—a gemstone. Tomorrow, at the Public Security lecture, it will be presented to the public as a symbol of Public Security's honor. I want you to bring it back without a single soul noticing."
"You're asking me to play the common thief? That hardly suits my phantom-thief aesthetic."
Hugo made a show of distaste. Even if he was a thief, he was a thief with aspirations; he would never stoop to so inelegant an act.
Nevertheless, Hugo took the job.
"I'll bring the thing back—but in my own way."
"I'm warning you—do nothing unnecessary."
"Look at you, getting all worked up again, Uncle. It's precisely because of this that you lost to my father in the heir selection back then, isn't it?"
Watching Hugo, who had dropped all pretense of acting, Hartman's face instantly turned an ashen, livid green.
This bastard! Just as infuriating as that dead father of his.
Never mind—he'd put up with him for now. There would be plenty of chances to deal with him later.
"Do it however you please. So long as I get to see what I want, that's enough. If you can pull it off, then you'll be the next head of the Ravenlock family."
Hartman was still dangling empty promises, and Hugo took none of it to heart; with a casual wave of his hand, he left the Ravenlock manor.
With that, his objective had already been accomplished.
After Hugo had gone, Hartman's bootlicking butler was left somewhat puzzled.
"Master, do you really trust him that much?"
"Hmph. Of course I don't trust him. But I understand human nature—and I understand the Ravenlocks."
Hartman cast off his pretense entirely, putting his arrogance and contempt on full, unabashed display.
"Bloodline is a chain far sturdier than mere self-interest, and it's for that very reason that I feel utterly at ease about his baseness and his treachery."
Hartman might not understand Hugo—but how could he not understand the Ravenlocks?
What sort of people this family bred, he knew all too well.
"Bastard or not, the Ravenlock blood running through his veins will, in the end, lead him down the very same road as the rest of us."
Meanwhile, on his way back to his own gallery, Hugo turned into a narrow alley, where an old acquaintance stood waiting for him.
"How are things?"
"How else would they be? These types are all cut from the same cloth—though compared to you, at least they're barely tolerable. Couldn't you send someone else to make contact with me next time?"
Stepping out from the shadows, Lycaon heard Hugo's words; though a flicker of displeasure crossed his expression, he still restrained himself with great effort.
"These are the Mayor's orders."
"Ohhh~ what a loyal, faithful hound you are."
"Hugo!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk—don't get angry now, little puppy. Run back and tell your master that I'll carry out the task he's entrusted to me—in my own way."
Lycaon looked at Hugo, still wearing that hypocritical smile plastered across his face, and simply shut his eyes, vanishing once more from Hugo's sight.
Out of sight, out of mind. They couldn't come to blows at a moment like this—the Mayor's task was not yet finished.
At the very least, he had to wait until Hugo had finished the job!!
Watching Lycaon depart, a flicker of something complicated passed through Hugo's eyes, only to be swallowed up the next instant by amusement and madness.
"Things are growing more and more interesting. New Eridu—a city brimming with sin and hope—just where will your future lead?"
Hugo set his hat back atop his head, took up his briefcase, and left the place behind.
____
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