The Culprit was the Man in the Silver Mask!

Morning arrived.

Sunlight landed on the cheek of a woman who was sound asleep in an inn room. She slowly opened her eyes, feeling the piercing light.

She groaned lazily, squinting, and observed the unwelcome sunlight seeping through the gaps in the window curtains.

"Mmmm~"

The woman, Cherry, rolled from side to side, searching for a comfortable position to continue her sleep.

Unfortunately, the more she moved, the more her body felt stiff and sore.

Eventually, she sat up on the bed, stretching her muscles by arching her back. It resembled a yoga pose, but there was no yoga in the continent of Kastia. So, this position could be considered a unique form of stretching.

Her body arched so far backward that it resembled a donut shape.

At that moment, the door to the room opened, and Cien entered, encountering an absurd sight before him.

To Cien, it didn't look like a stretch or yoga at all. It appeared more of the pose of someone who was possessed by a ghost, making it resemble a scene from a certain horror movie.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Hmm? Ah, Grand Master, you're back!"

Upon hearing Cien's voice, Cherry returned to a normal position, sitting on the bed. With a wide smile, she continued, "I was just stretching."

"Stretching?" Cien felt his eyes twitching.

"Hm!" Cherry nodded with a radiant smile and enthusiasm.

'What did Ethel actually teach at C-Owl?!'

Right now, Cien only just met two girls from C-Owl. And it must be said, they were quite unique. Or perhaps more accurately, eccentric.

Honestly, after this, Cien wasn't sure if he wanted to meet any more C-Owl children. If they were all the same type, that dizzying affliction would come knocking on his head again.

Cien no longer pondered the terrifying stretch. He placed his carrying coffin on the floor. Then he took off his cloak and scarf.

"How's it going, Grand Master? Did your merchandise sell well? If not, you can use C-Owl's power to find customers."

"No need. Everything has been sold out."

"Well, that's a shame. We wanted to help too."

Cien looked at Cherry's disappointed face. But...

'Who are 'we'? Did you forget your situation?'

Cien wanted to retort by asking that. He swallowed back the question that hadn't yet come out. He shook his head, then thought it would be better to bring out the person he had brought along.

As Cien began to open the coffin, the curious Cherry asked,

"Did Grand Master bring something?"

"Hm, a souvenir."

"A souvenir?"

Cherry grew even more curious about the souvenir Cien meant, leaning closer to get a glimpse of it behind Cien's back.

In an instant, Cherry caught sight of the souvenir. Her expression froze immediately. She wore a vacant look on her face and spoke in a monotone voice.

"Wow, yay. A doll! Grand Master brought a doll!"

Cien, listening to her tone, replied in an equally flat voice.

"Ha ha ha. Of course. It's a limited edition."

"..."

"..."

Both fell silent. The air grew still.

They stared blankly at a woman inside a box, who had been observing their interaction without showing any emotions. Only empty gazes that seemed to be looking elsewhere.

"Milord, did you kidnap her?"

"Hmm, no. I asked Casey for permission."

"...um, can that really be considered not kidnapping?"

"Maybe not. Hey, Lily. Are you going to stay silent there? Come out!"

Lilinette, hearing the command, slowly emerged.

She glanced around at her new surroundings, then tilted her head slightly, slightly confused. With that flat expression, she turned towards Cien.

"Is this Death Valley? This is far from my expectations..."

"Of course, this place isn't Death Valley. It's an inn room in Ashur. I still have some business here. We'll leave after it's finished. For now, you'll stay here temporarily."

"Oh."

Lilinette nodded. She then shifted her attention to the coffin, glancing down to where her belongings were piled.

Lilinette squatted down and rummaged through the items, picking up a book. She then sat on a chair and began reading quietly.

"..."

The other two people in the room watched Lilinette's behavior with disbelief. The girl did whatever she pleased, disregarding the atmosphere around her.

"I always read reports about her. But... seeing her like this... is there something wrong with her brain?"

"I don't think so. Lily is still slightly better than Casey. That girl... is completely unpredictable."

"Ah, Casey is a bit strange, but she is competent."

'A bit strange… really?'

Observing Lilinette, who seemed to consider the inn room as her own home, Cien then turned to Cherry.

He handed her a bag of bread and skewered meat that he had bought on the way back.

He then mentioned that he wanted to take a short nap and asked Cherry to wake him up in the afternoon. Cien lay down on the bed and soon drifted into the world of dreams.

***

In the afternoon.

Cien felt his body shaking. His closed eyes opened slightly, seeing a girl shaking him, trying to wake him up.

"Grand Master, it's already noon!"

"Mmmm..."

His eyes still felt heavy and hot, making it difficult for him to wake up. But Cien knew that he still had to do something, so he forced himself to sit up in bed.

He looked around with narrowed eyes, gazing at Cherry who was looking at him with a wide smile, then turned to Lilinette who was still engrossed in her book, ignoring the situation around her.

Cien was certain that even if doomsday arrived, his niece would remain in her reading pose, completely unfazed.

Truly, since he had gone to sleep, there had been no change in Lilinette's posture.

'Perhaps it's just my imagination,' Cien thought, rubbing his eyes.

He stretched his neck and got up from the bed.

He told Cherry that he would go downstairs to get food for both Cherry and Lilinette.

It didn't take long for Cien to return with the food.

Cherry happily devoured the meal she had received, while Lilinette, no matter how many times Cien called her, showed no response, as if she were a statue. In the end, Cien placed the food directly in front of Lilinette's face.

This made the girl pause for a moment, then she looked up at Cien with an expression that seemed to say, "What?"

"Eat or I'll burn that book if you don't finish this," Cien said.

Lilinette fell silent, processing Cien's words. After a moment, she closed her book, took the food from Cien's hand, and started eating silently.

Cien smiled faintly at that. At least for him, his niece was not difficult to handle.

He then turned to Cherry, who was devouring her lunch greedily.

"Cherry, after you finish eating, I'll take you somewhere."

"Hm? ... Where to?"

"Niles."

Cien replied briefly. Cherry knew who Niles was, as mentioned by Cien.

She just didn't know why she had to meet with the wealthy businessman. But because it was an order from her hero, Cherry wouldn't refuse.

After the meal, Cherry entered the coffin, just like Lilinette earlier in the morning. Cien returned in his mysterious attire.

Actually, Cien was somewhat worried. He realized that he had just made a blunder.

He came to the tower wearing a cloak and carrying a coffin. It made him afraid that the identity of the merchant with the coffin might already be sought after by Bahman or Millard's party.

Fortunately, when he went to get the food earlier, the rumors circulating were different from his assumptions.

The daughter of Baron Millard, who was also engaged to Dion Bahman, had indeed been reported kidnapped by a mysterious person.

At first, Cien thought that the mysterious person would be directed towards him. The person in a cloak carrying a large coffin.

But unexpectedly, he wasn't the mysterious person they were looking for.

The mysterious person was reported to be wearing a silver mask with a dark red turban tied around his head.

He wielded a spear and water magic to disable the three individuals who were awake at the time of the incident.

Two guards testified that they didn't see the figure that attacked them. Meanwhile, the servant testified that after hearing a suspicious sound from the ground floor, she went to check.

When she arrived, she suddenly encountered the suspicious person who immediately attacked her. After that, the servant didn't know what happened next. But at least, she saw the culprit.

Now, several sketch paintings of the attacker have started circulating. Based on the testimony of the tower servant.

Bahman and Millard believe that the masked figure is also the person who attacked Millard's residence. Because his action (kidnapping Lilinette) is also connected to Millard.

Cien, who heard the rumors or news while at the inn's restaurant, felt relieved.

He had to admit that Casey was a bit unique, but the girl was very competent and meticulous. Somehow, it seemed that the girl had convinced both guards.

'Bribed? Hmm, I don't know, but thank you, Casey.'

Therefore, Cien was able to move freely again, with his cloak on and his coffin on the streets of Ashur City.

Time passed, and Cien arrived in front of Niles' large store building. He entered and asked the shopkeeper who was on duty to call his master.

The shopkeeper looked trembling at Cien. But he didn't ask about Cien's identity, because this morning he had been told by some of the night shift workers that the person carrying the coffin was a friend of Mr. Niles.

The shopkeeper instructed Cien to wait and then ran to call his boss.

Before long, an old man arrived with the shopkeeper following behind.

"I thought you would visit again before leaving, Little C."

"Hahaha, that was my plan. But there's been a change. There's something I'd like to ask for your help with, Old Man."

Niles observed Cien carefully. Then, he glanced at the shopkeeper behind him.

"Keep an eye on the store as usual. Don't tell anyone that this person is here."

The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. Niles then instructed Cien to follow him to his office.

Upon arriving at the office, as he walked towards the chair behind the desk, Niles began to inquire.

"What can I assist you with, Little C?"

"Have you heard the news about Lilinette's kidnapping?" Cien asked in return, lowering the scarf covering his mouth.

Niles nodded and then turned to Cien, noticing a small smile on the face of the white-haired individual. He realized something.

"You don't mean to say that..."

"Yes, it's me."

"Sigh... You, of all people. So, you want me to help you with the situation involving the Daughter of Millard?"

Cien shook his head. "No. Lilinette will accompany me to Death Valley. That's why I had to cancel my order yesterday. Except for the plant and vegetable seeds, cancel the rest, I apologize. And for the assistance I seek is this..."

Cien placed his coffin on the floor. He opened it, revealing an unfamiliar girl inside to Niles.

The girl, who didn't expect to see an old man when the door opened, attempted to smile as best as she could, although it still appeared forced.

"Hel-looo..."

Niles stared blankly.

"Little C... Have you now changed professions to become a kidnapper?"