Chapter 8
"You've been acting suspicious for a while now. Not just for a while, actually."
His added words made my heart sink.
'Did he think I was suspicious? Is he suspecting me of being the Thieving Crow?'
In front of those icy blue eyes, Gemma's courage faltered, and a chill ran down her spine. Her lips felt parched, but she suppressed the urge to moisten them, afraid of revealing her anxiety.
"Kent, you're hiding something from me."
He noticed even though I held back. That police-dog-like intuition.
"Just tell me honestly."
"Captain, I, I actually..."
I needed a way to dispel his suspicion and achieve the mission simultaneously. At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
"Captain, I like you!"
Confess and get rejected.
Get rejected.
That phrase has multiple meanings. The system didn't specify how or why one would get rejected.
"What... did you just say?"
"I like you, Captain."
Look at his expression.
Hunt truly looked as if he'd been ambushed by my sudden confession.
His eyes flickered with confusion. His face was frozen in shock.
He didn't even make that face when he first saw me escape using an umbrella.
"I've liked you for a long time."
Even saying that, it was out of the blue. I had acted nothing like someone who liked Hunt until now.
I needed to create an opportunity for Claire to make a bold confession.
"The cat food, you gave it to me, didn't you?"
"That was me, but..."
"..."
Now it was my turn to be shocked.
'Is it true? No, what if it's true?'
I had planned to make it seem like Claire was just jumping to conclusions, but it seemed like that plan had failed. Still, I had no time, so I pushed forward.
"So I thought you liked me..."
Huh? Did he really buy it for me for that reason?
It's not uncommon for someone to keep an eye on a clumsy person out of concern, and as they keep watching, their feelings develop. And I do have some charm, after all.
'Hoo... Hmph?'
Wait. What if I don't get rejected?
It felt like I'd been hit on the head. Before I could think of a way to salvage the situation, Hunt spoke first.
"Miss Kent, to think you'd like a man like me..."
Gratitude. Are we dating from today? No!
"I'm truly grateful, and..."
No! That's not it!
"I'm truly sorry, but that's a misunderstanding."
Sigh.
Don't let your lips curve up so carelessly. I pulled down the corners of my mouth, which defied gravity, and asked.
"So, am I being rejected right now?"
"..."
Answer quickly! Ten seconds left!
"So, am I being rejected, right?"
Why is he acting like this?
Hunt didn't answer but looked at me and took a step back. My heart raced, and I followed, asking.
"I asked if I'm being rejected!"
Five seconds. Hurry!
"What?"
"Ah..."
Four seconds!
"Yeeees?"
"W-well, technically, yes, but that expression..."
[Time Limit 00:01]
Beep.
[Sudden Mission Cleared!]
I achieved the mission with just one second to spare. Ah, I really felt like I'd aged ten years.
[You have acquired 20 Spiny Feathers of the Engmu Bird.]
I got the reward, so now all that's left is the aftermath.
"Miss Kent and I are colleagues, specifically a superior and subordinate, so I believe this is inappropriate. I don't want to lose a diligent and good subordinate like you, Miss Kent. Do you understand what I mean?"
But it was Hunt, not me, who was trying to clean up the situation.
He held up both palms as if to calm a rampaging criminal. He even lied, calling me a diligent and good subordinate.
Well, I should play along.
"...Yes, I understand."
I nodded with an expression that looked like I was about to cry. My acting skill level 7, my performance of resignation, was perfect.
"I think I've made things difficult for you, Captain. I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize. When people spend a long time together, feelings can develop. You can't help that."
His words flowed smoothly, suggesting he had experience receiving many confessions.
"Thank you for your kind words. Then, I'll be going back to work now."
I bowed my head and turned away. Hunt didn't follow, seemingly waiting for a moment before descending. Now, I didn't have to hold back my smile.
'Ah, it feels liberating to be rejected.'
I stopped smiling and turned serious.
'No, it doesn't feel liberating.'
Being rejected hurt my pride.
Raven Hunt, who do you think you are!
Foreword
This Friday night, I will steal Mrs. Doris Hunt's Emerald necklace.
A penthouse in a high-rise building located in the affluent district of Eden City.
"I am not moving an inch from this spot."
At the Hunt family residence, the person facing Raven in a tense standoff was not the thief who sent the foreword, but the future victim.
The elderly woman, her radiant white hair pinned up to her ears, sat unmoving behind an antique desk.
The only thing moving was the long, thin cigarette holder clutched between her fingers. With it, Doris Hunt gestured towards the unwelcome guests—the police officers.
"There are others who need to leave here."
The flamboyant Engmu Bird perched on Mrs. Hunt's shoulder seemed to share its owner's sentiment, its spiny feathers bristling as it eyed the officers surrounding the study.
"All of you, get out of my house immediately."
There was a sharpness to the lady's voice, much like thorns.
The Hunt family was a prestigious lineage that had produced distinguished talents in the judiciary and politics. Thus, they had deep ties with the Police Bureau, but the elder of the family, Mrs. Hunt, detested police officers.
Raven, who knew better than anyone why, could not back down.
"Today is the day the Thieving Crow has announced its visit."
"I know. I'm not an old woman whose mind is wandering, contrary to public rumor."
"..."
Rumors had spread that Mrs. Doris Hunt had dementia. Or perhaps she had lost her mind.
Raven, who knew the reason behind those malicious rumors, let out a quiet sigh instead of speaking.
Mrs. Hunt was a master at silencing people with her words.
"Everyone, please step out for a moment."
As the officers who had accompanied him left and the door closed, the Engmu Bird lowered its quills. There were no strangers in the room now.
"If you dislike the sight of police officers, how about leaving the house just for tonight?"
"Inspector Hunt."
Tap.
The elderly woman deliberately placed her cigarette holder down and glared at the young investigator standing across the desk with displeasure.
The butler and the lady's secretary stood in the corner, sweating profusely, but the Engmu Bird hopped excitedly on the desk.
After all, the bird couldn't possibly sense that the demeanor of the two people was different from usual.
"I am not a coward who runs away from petty thieves."
"Yes, I know. Everyone in Eden City knows."
They also knew she was stubborn, not a coward.
"If your pride won't allow you to run away, how about attending any party happening tonight? You might enjoy yourself so much that you forget about the foreword and only return tomorrow morning."
"Then I'll be hearing about the foreword all night at the party."
"It would be quite something to be known as someone with the nerve to enjoy a party, even when a thief is coming to steal."
The elderly woman looked intently at Raven and let out a small laugh.
"That was a good attempt."
It was a good attempt. The words meant it hadn't worked.
"Everyone else has been robbed. Even if they put it in a triple-locked vault, or swapped it with a replica and moved it elsewhere. Do you think running, hiding, and guarding will work?"
It wasn't a wrong assessment. But telling me not to do what had failed so far was the same as telling me to give up and do nothing.
"I apologize for saying this to the very person who has been doing all these futile things, but your approach is wrong."
"Then what do you intend to do?"
"I intend to resolve it my way, as always."
Mrs. Hunt put the cigarette holder back in her mouth, seemingly unwilling to elaborate.
"Then I will proceed my way as well. I'll inform you that the police can deploy forces if even one resident of this house agrees."
