Chapter 365

Another lost wallet? Seriously?

Looking at the Lionheart Duke frantically patting himself down, Jacob's heart, which had just settled, leapt wildly again.

The last guest who lost a wallet already cost him his VIP server job—he'd been demoted to greeting guests at the door—and if another identical mishap happened just one day later, he'd likely lose even that job. If this ill-tempered duke insisted on pursuing it, getting fired outright wasn't out of the question!

Damn it! Why can't these damn guests just keep track of their own wallets?

"Y-Your Grace, please don't panic—I'll help you recall!"

Taking two deep breaths to suppress the heart threatening to leap from his chest, Jacob forced a nervous smile.

"You're certain your wallet was still with you before entering our beverage area, correct?"

"Are you kidding me?"

Switching to his 【Master of Performance】 persona, Leon stomped his foot, face flushed with agitation.

"Didn't I already show you my identity badge? If I hadn't had a wallet, where did I pull it from? Did some stray dog on the street pick it up and hand it to me?"

Was that true?

Straining to recall the moment he entered, Jacob realized—it seemed… almost certainly… yes, that was exactly how it was. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead as he swallowed hard, voice trembling:

"Then… after you entered, where did you go?"

"You led me everywhere on this route—why are you asking me?"

After barking out two more shouts, Leon's face twisted with frustration.

"The entrance, the main stage, the stairs, the bar, and this private room! Only these places! Damn it! How could my wallet just vanish?"

"Your Grace, please don't panic! Don't panic! Maybe it just fell along the way—I'll help you look!"

Even as he kept repeating "don't panic," Jacob's heart was in freefall. He spun around instantly, eager to retrace his steps, never once doubting that Leon had truly lost his wallet.

After all, the man was a genuine noble—even if gossip mocked him for living off the princess's wealth, he wouldn't fake losing a wallet just to prank a lowly server like him, would he?

If so, the wallet most likely fell after he retrieved his badge, or was set down carelessly on the main counter. If he searched fast enough, maybe no one had picked it up yet…

…

"Wait!"

As Jacob turned to leave, his wrist suddenly burned with pain—as if yanked hard.

Startled, he turned back—and froze in dread. The duke, wallet lost, was squinting at him, eyes sharp with suspicion, scanning him from head to toe.

"Why are you running?"

"Huh? I'm going to look for your wallet!"

"Looking for the wallet is fine—but why are you rushing away from me?"

In the dim room, Leon's piercing black eyes glowed like twin dark lanterns, greedily devouring the surrounding light—and with it, every last shred of Jacob's courage.

"If you're looking for the wallet, why not wait for me? Why are you so desperate to leave my side?"

"I… I was afraid someone else might pick it up…"

"Afraid someone else might pick it up—or afraid you won't have time to hide what you stole?"

"You think… No! It wasn't me! I didn't take it!"

Seeing Leon suspect him of stealing the wallet, Jacob shuddered violently, eyes wide with terror as he frantically shook his head.

"I swear—I never took anything from anyone! Never! I swear!"

He was telling the truth—he really hadn't taken it…

Watching Jacob's soul-fire, though panicked and terrified, show no signs of contradiction or conflict, Leon gave a slight nod, then narrowed his eyes and pressed further:

"I'll temporarily believe you didn't take it… but do you really know nothing?"

"W-What do you mean?"

"I mean, servers usually avoid offending guests.

For example—if you saw someone take my wallet off the bar, but recognized them as someone important, and feared trouble, you'd pretend you saw nothing, or couldn't recall their face… wouldn't you?"

For example, if my wallet fell on the bar counter, you saw someone take it, but realized that person had a special identity, so you feared trouble and pretended to know nothing—or claim you didn't see their face… would you do that?"

"Hmm? Why did you hesitate when you said that?"

Observing Jacob's soul-fire flicker slightly, unstable but far from lying, Leon frowned, then switched from "Skeptical Duke" to "Furious Duke," his gaze chilling.

Seeing Jacob's demeanor slightly wavering and conflicted—but far from the level of soul-flame deception—Li Ang frowned, then shifted from "Duke of Suspicion" to "Duke of Fury," his eyes chilling as he spoke:

"Speak quickly! What are you hesitating about!"

"I've been patient enough."

Lord Leon raised one finger, his expression dark.

"Last chance. Tell me honestly what you're hiding—or I'll call someone to drag you off. Hope you still have the same mouth when the Secret Investigation Bureau's agents get hold of you."

"Final chance: tell me honestly what you're hesitating over, or don't blame me for calling someone to drag you away! I hope you still have this much grit when the Secret Investigation Bureau's secret police get hold of you!"

Seeing the duke's genuine fury, Jacob panicked and blurted everything out.

"I hesitated because yesterday, another guest lost a wallet—just like you. I clearly remembered seeing someone take it, and I even studied their face to memorize it.

But… but when the guest recovered her wallet, I couldn't recall the thief's face at all—only that someone had taken it. I couldn't even remember if it was a man or a woman…"

But… but when the wallet's owner returned, I couldn't recall the face of the person who took it at all—I only remembered someone took the wallet, not even whether it was a man or a woman…"

So… a memory-erasing anomaly? Or something that lowers presence?

Locking the information firmly in mind, Leon's expression shifted slightly. He recalled the 【List of Fallen Ones】 from the Twin Branch, and with it, a certain woman from that branch—the journalist named Nicole.

If he remembered correctly, she carried something that erased traces. Could erasing one's face from memory also be one of the Sheep's Tail's effects?

Without the 【List of Fallen Ones】, he couldn't be sure—but in a place where Twin Branch anomalies were present, signs of a Twin Branch member's activity were highly suspicious…

Without the 【List of Fallen Ones】, it might not have been certain—but with an anomaly from the Twin Branches present, and signs suggesting activity by Twin Branches members, it becomes highly suspicious…"

Murmuring to himself, Leon's tense expression eased slightly. He looked up at the terrified server, voice calm.

"I'll accept for now that you didn't take my wallet… Sigh… I came here hoping for a good drink, but now I can't even check in, and I've lost my wallet!"

With a dismissive wave, Leon rose, clearly disappointed.

"Forget it. I'm not drinking."

"I'm so sorry! So terribly sorry!"

Seeing Leon seemed to drop the matter, Jacob exhaled sharply, then hurried after him down the stairs. He rushed back to the main counter, grabbed paper and pen, and pleaded eagerly:

"If it's not too much trouble, could you describe your wallet? And what might be inside?"

"If it's not too much trouble, could you describe your wallet's appearance? And anything inside that you can reveal?"

Knowing he needed to play the part fully—losing a wallet but not rushing to find it would seem suspicious—Leon made up a story on the spot:

"My wallet… naturally bears the Lion family crest embroidered on it, stitched with precious gold thread, my name on it, my portrait inside, and plenty of money…"

"I forget exactly how much—I'm the sort who just remembers to bring cash at all.

Who has time to count it? As long as I've enough to spend, right?"

"Yes! Yes! Absolutely right!"

Silently cursing the damn noble to be crushed by a steam-powered cart, Jacob forced a smile and led Leon to the waiting area. He then rushed back to the main counter with the notes.

Meanwhile, Leon sat on the sofa in the waiting area, eyes half-lidded, pondering: What did the Twin Branch journalist want? And did she even know the Water Bearer Director had been sent to the Dead Realm?

Meanwhile, Li Ang, seated on the sofa in the waiting area, narrowed his eyes and pondered: what exactly did the Twin Branches' female journalist intend? And did she even know the Water Bearer Director had been sent to the Dead Realm…?

As Leon frowned in thought, a joyful voice suddenly rang out.

He looked up in surprise to see Jacob sprinting toward him, clutching a lavish gold-threaded wallet, beaming.

"Your Grace! Your wallet has been found!"

"My Lord Duke, your wallet has been found!"

(｀Д)？！

Huh???????

Huh???????