Chapter 768: The Lost Wallet

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 cost him his waiter position in the VIP area, forcing him to stand at the door greeting guests—if another identical mishap happened just one day later, he'd likely lose even that job, and if this ill-tempered duke insisted on pursuing it, getting fired outright wasn't out of the question!

Damn it! These damn guests, can't they just keep track of their own wallets?

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

After taking two deep breaths to suppress his heart, which threatened to leap from his chest, Jacob forced a smile and said:

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

"Are you seriously asking that?"

Switching on the 【Master of Performance】, Leon stomped his foot, face flushed with agitation, and snapped:

"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 carry it to me in its mouth?"

Was that true?

Straining to recall the moment he entered, Jacob realized—it seemed… probably… yes, that was indeed how it was. Beads of sweat broke on his forehead as he bit his lip and spoke, voice trembling:

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

"You led me here the whole time—why are you asking me?"

After barking out a few more words, the wallet-less Leon growled:

"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 somewhere—I'll help you look!"

Though his mouth 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 waiter, would he?

If so, the wallet most likely fell after he retrieved his badge, or was set down casually on the main counter during signing—if he searched quickly enough, maybe no one had picked it up yet…

…

"Wait!"

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

Startled, he turned back and, with growing dread, saw the Duke, wallet lost, squinting at him with sharp suspicion, scanning him up and down.

"Why are you running?"

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

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

In the dim room, Leon's piercing black eyes glowed like two dark lanterns, greedily swallowing 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 in such a hurry 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 didn't take anything! I've never stolen from anyone! Never!"

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

Observing Jacob's soul-fire—turbulent and terrified, yet showing 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, waitstaff usually avoid offending guests.

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

"No! No! I wouldn't! I… I wouldn't!" "Hmm? Why did you hesitate just now?"

Seeing Jacob's soul-fire flicker slightly, unstable but far from lying, Leon frowned, then switched from "Skeptical Duke" to "Furious Duke," his eyes glacial:

"Speak! What are you hesitating about?"

"I… I…"

"I've been patient enough."

Leon, the Duke with no patience, raised one finger, his expression dark:

"Last chance. Tell me honestly what you're hiding—or I'll have you dragged off. Hope you still have that mouth when the Secret Investigation Bureau's agents get hold of you!"

"No! I'll tell! I'll tell now!"

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 someone taking it, and I even studied their face, trying to memorize it.

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

Couldn't recall the face…

So… an anomaly that erases memory? Or one that reduces 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 witnesses' memories also be one of the Sheep's Tail's effects?

Without the 【List of Fallen Ones】, it might've been uncertain—but with signs of Twin Branch activity in a place known for Twin Branch anomalies, the coincidence was far too suspicious…

"So that's it…"

Muttering under his breath, Leon's tense expression eased slightly. He looked up at the terrified waiter and spoke calmly:

"I'll temporarily accept 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 abandon the matter, Jacob exhaled sharply and hurried after him down the stairs, then rushed back to the main counter for paper and ink, his face eager:

"If you don't mind, could you describe your wallet? And what might be inside?"

"Hmm."

Considering he needed to play the part thoroughly—losing a wallet but not rushing to find it would seem suspicious—Leon made up a story:

"My wallet… naturally has the Lyon family's lion crest embroidered on it, stitched with precious gold thread, my name on it, a portrait of me inside, and quite a bit of money…"

"I forget exactly how much—I'm the sort who just remembers to bring cash when going out; who has time to count it? As long as it's enough, right?"

"Yes! Absolutely right!"

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

Meanwhile, Leon, seated on the sofa in the waiting area, narrowed his eyes and pondered: what was the Twin Branch journalist trying to do? And did she even know the Water Bearer Director had been sent to the Dead Realm?

"Your Grace!"

As Leon frowned in thought, a joyful voice suddenly reached his ears.

Leon looked up in surprise to see Jacob sprinting toward him, clutching a luxurious gold-threaded wallet, beaming as he reported:

"Your Grace, your wallet has been found!"

"…"

(｀Д)?!

Huh???????

(End of Chapter)