As if realizing only then that he had been holding on, his expression became even more contorted. Then he flung her hand away.

"But you were the one holding on."

Leila rubbed her slightly chilled hand. Anyway, she had a damn rotten personality.

"Then we should just keep receiving the waves continuously."

She spoke to the researcher to change the subject.

Without expecting that it would be a wrong choice at all.

"Yes. Then that's what we'll do. However, there is one big problem with this."

"What problem?"

"That only the wavelength that was injected when the toxin was first put to sleep has any effect. From now on, continuously."

"...... What?"

For a moment, Leila didn't understand what the researcher was saying. More accurately, she didn't want to understand it.

But damn it, she wasn't that stupid, and soon she could pick up the implication of what he said. But she hoped it wasn't just that.

"Does that mean...?"

"Detective Casilla needs to continue to inject waves into Detective Urseau's body until the 121st antidote is created."

"Well, it probably won't come to that, but what if a complication arises that can't be solved with simple contact?"

"Do I need to make a bolder move?"

Leila's face contorted strangely. Unspoken words swirled within her, with the presence of a stranger, Detective Urseau, whose face she had not seen before.

"Are they all in their right minds...?" she wondered.

Her vision turned dark.

It was her future.

* * *

Many things had happened despite her initial intentions. Leila ended up staying at Arcangelo Urseau’s mansion. She also received an indefinite vacation along with a seven-day recovery period. Since yesterday, she had counted six days left.

“Is everything okay?”

“...Do you think the Commissioner sees this as the behavior of a decent person?”

“Well, I guess. It can't be helped.”

Leila followed Robert to the Commissioner's office. She had something to say before moving her luggage.

“So, what did you want to talk about? I think I need to hurry home and pack my things. Thanks to you, I’ve been staying elsewhere for a while.”

“Leila, there's no one here but us. You can speak freely.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Freely? If I speak freely now, can you handle it?”

Leila's eyes were already half-filled with anger. Robert decided to stay silent.

Leila sighed and sat on the couch after seeing his reaction.

“...Sorry. I know it can't be helped, but I'm frustrated.”

Her words were more relaxed than before. Robert felt a bit relieved.

“I understand. I'm sorry.”

“It's okay. You couldn't help it. It's work-related.”

“You can hate me if you want. It's my fault.”

Leila looked at his face and sighed again.

Leila Cassilia and Robert Pandeia were close in private. They lived next door when they were young, and their connection went back even before she was born.

Moreover, since their family situations were somewhat complicated, they grew up like one family. That's why, when they were very young, she thought of him as her big brother.

“Even my becoming a detective was partly because of you, big brother.”

Leila rolled her eyes playfully.

"That's right. If my older brother hadn't asked me to help as a detective , this wouldn't have happened."

"Ugh."

"I had a solid body, you know. But because I refused that and took the exam to become a detective , they treat me like this... Sob, it hurts."

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

Leila giggled. Even though he still couldn't say anything when this topic was brought up, she felt a heaviness in his heart, but found it funny.

"It's really alright. It's an inevitable situation. I don't want to act meanly to sensitive issues related to people's lives."

She shrugged.

"It's not an easy task though."

"You don't have to bear it all."

"Even if I get angry with my older brother, nothing will change. It's just a waste of energy."

She stretched out on the sofa.

"So, let's get to the point. What do you want me to do?"

"Ugh... did you notice?"

"Does my older brother have any other reason to call me to the detective 's office, besides having something to ask me?"

She shrugged her shoulders up and down.

"My older brother isn't the type of person to call me this far just to comfort me."

"I ain't that mean."

"I'm just busy. It's hard to focus on the work of a single detective ."

Robert's face twitched slightly. Actually, the statement wasn't wrong when he thought about it.

Moreover, all those cases were not trivial matters.

"Is it my mistake to think that your words have a bone in them?"

"That's right, so you don't have to ask, Chief of Detective"

Robert furrowed his brow with his hand.

"Stop teasing...I already know you're doing this on purpose to make me feel at ease."

"Haha. Do you really think that's the only reason?"

"For real, stop it."

Leila smiled slightly and closed her mouth. Robert sighed.

"Right. Nothing's going to change no matter what I do, so it's better to say it in advance so I can rest a little. I'm already tired."

Robert closed and opened his eyes. The light atmosphere of the chief's office slowly became heavy.

Leila sat up straight and returned to the position of a detective and the chief of detective’s, not as a friendly acquaintance.

“Detective Leila Cassilia, I want to hear your thoughts on the mission you just completed."

"Yes."

"Although it's not in the report, did you feel anything strange while performing this mission?"

"Something strange?"

Leila's face was filled with doubt at the sudden question. Since he asked her to speak, she had to say something.