However, as it came suddenly, Leila couldn't think of anything specific.

"Even if you ask me that suddenly, there's nothing I can say. I wrote everything in the report."

"Just a feeling is enough."

"Well then, let's start by summarizing what happened."

Leila started organizing what happened to sense any discomfort.

"I investigated two out of the five locations with Detective Urseau. Afterwards, he went to a mansion that is believed to be a laboratory a bit further away, and I went to an apartment-type mansion believed to be a hiding place."

"Why did you decide to investigate separately?"

"I thought it would be more efficient. Prosecutor Urse kept telling me that the way I do my job doesn't fit with his."

As she spoke, she realized where her discomfort came from.

Leila's eyes widened.

"Wait, are you suspecting Arcangelo Urseau now?"

"Detective Leila Cassilia."

"Why now, all of a sudden?"

She was so surprised that she discarded her respect and got up from her seat.

"You know he's the child of a politician right? So he can't be excluded from politics. That's why the test took two whole years."

"Calm down, Leila."

"Brother, you're no longer the unstable head of the investigative department when I first arrived. There's no one here who can ignore your authority."

Without realizing it, Leila clenched her fists.

"Surely you know what it means to be suspected by such an older brother...."

The investigation bureau was a rather nondescript place. Their work was in a similar area as the police, but sometimes even darker. Thus, this place was very closed off.

In this situation, being suspected by the leader of that group could not be a small matter. Merely being suspected was no different from death for his career as a detective.

"...We are not suspecting without any evidence."

Robert let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face with his hand.

"Actually, the order for this mission came from the assembly. They specifically included a Urseau investigator to capture the maker of 121."

Leila's eyes widened.

In this country, the country of the Suin people, there is no king, but rather 10 hereditary members gather in the assembly to rule the country. And one of them was Arcangelo Urseau's father, Gaju Urseau.

"And Arcangelo Urseau tried to take on the mission alone without you. It was different from usual."

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Several thoughts came to her mind as well. He kept trying to separate her from the mission. She thought it was simply because he didn't like her.

"But what if it wasn't?"

Leila shook her head.

"That's just a suspicion. There is no evidence that Detective Arcangelo Urseau acted for his family's benefit."

"...."

"Besides, even if he had left me behind, what could he have done? He wouldn't have known that I would catch up with him soon."

She tried to find a valid reason.

"Moreover, he is objectively the best investigator. It's not strange for the assembly to designate him. The members want to get their hands on the maker rather than kill them."

To obtain a way to attack the wave. She swallowed her words.

Meanwhile, Robert spoke up.

"There's another strange thing, Leila. What was the situation like when you found Detective Urseau?"

"There were signs of a struggle, and he was slumped against the wall, poisoned by 121."

"And no one attacked you when you left with Urseau?"

"...No."

Leila ran her hand through her hair, her thoughts racing.

"If we think about it that way, everything seems suspicious!"

She slumped into her seat, overcome with exhaustion. After the emergency situation yesterday, she now found herself in a situation where she had to suspect her own colleague. Even worse, Ursei was someone she had personally rescued.

Leila bowed her head low.

"The creator of 121 must be affiliated with some group or at least has some accomplices. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to find someone to test the poison."

"...Yes."

"And the people who attacked me yesterday could be evidence of that."

It was a puzzle with no clear answer. Leila was concerned about the current state of Arcangelo, given the possibility of a collusion between the Urseau family and the creators of 121.

But it wasn't a straightforward hostile relationship, as the state of Arcangelo's survival was at stake.

It was a dilemma.

Robert broke the tension and spoke again.

"So I'll secretly assign a mission to Detective Cassilia."

"...Yes."

"Monitor Detective Arcangelo Urseau closely as you decode his poison. Report to me immediately if anything suspicious arises."

"I understand," said Leila. She wanted to believe in Archangelo. Though she disliked him, she still wanted to see him as a fellow investigator.

"Should we investigate the Urseaui mansion while we stay there?"

"No. It's best not to touch that place."

"Because of the Ouiwon family?"

"Yes. It's too big of a target for only Detective Cassilia to handle."

It was good to accept this mission for his sake.

Leila nodded her head, letting go of her uneasy heart.

"Is this all you wanted to say?"

"Yes, Detective Cassilia."

"Then I'll step back now."

She stood up and bowed towards him. Robert watched her leave towards the door and cautiously spoke up.

"Leila, are you still haunted by the nightmares of the night?"

It was not a remark from the chief investigator but rather from Robert himself as a friend. Leila replied as a friend, not an investigator.

"As always, you know."

"I always say this, Leila, but your way of relieving stress isn't very good. It'll ultimately ruin you. Stop trying to be free."

"It's not like I think this is the right thing to do either. If becoming free was possible, I would have done it sooner."

Robert hesitated for a moment before apologizing.

"I'm sorry."

Unlike the previous apologies, Leila only gave a bitter smile before opening the door and leaving.

* * *