Chapter 52
52
*
On Sunday, Viktor Dampfelt's appearance at the capital's cathedral drew everyone's attention.
"Is that... is that Viktor Dampfelt?"
"He's nothing like I imagined!"
"He's exactly as I thought. Truly... devilish."
As Viktor walked across the carpet, a navy officer guided him to a seat.
He sat in a spot close to the priest.
People were desperate to get a glimpse of him, but no one valued their life so little as to stare directly at the infamous Viktor Dampfelt.
His sleek figure was perfectly adorned in a jet-black suit, his hair slicked back even darker with pomade. A watch encrusted with countless diamonds, narrow-toed shoes, and a tie completed the impeccable ensemble.
Viktor sat down, and the priest entered.
The news of Viktor's attendance at a religious event sparked explosive interest among the public. The fact spread through the mouths of those who came and went, and by the time Viktor emerged from the cathedral, reporters were already requesting interviews from Viktor's servants.
As soon as Viktor came out, the servants reported to Blight, and all requests were rejected at that level.
In any case, no reporter actually believed they could get an interview with him. The mere fact that Viktor had appeared at the cathedral was news enough.
Religious faith was a duty of the royal family. However, Viktor never participated in any religious events. He disliked attending religious ceremonies and being told he was acting like royalty when he wasn't even a member of the royal family. Therefore, newspapers were filled with articles asserting that his attendance at a religious event must have some hidden political implication.
As Viktor got into the carriage after leaving the cathedral, Evan said, "We've identified the person working at the lady's watch shop."
Evan continued, sounding incredulous, "He went to the police station and revealed that he's a Royal Police officer. I wouldn't have thought he'd be so careless."
"Why the police station?"
"Ah, well. It seems Scarlett asked him to help find watchmakers."
Evan chuckled as if it were a ridiculous story.
"It's nothing new for spies to be swayed by the enemy... Ah, his name is Hiram Pete, and he's a Level 2 Royal Police officer."
"..."
As Evan spoke, he noticed Viktor's brow furrow briefly before returning to normal. Knowing that he was displeased, Evan immediately asked, "What should we do?"
"If he's a spy, we should arrest him."
"Yes, sir."
Evan bowed and got out of the carriage again. Viktor's carriage left the cathedral.
*
Lost in her work, Scarlett didn't even notice the passage of time until Andrei's knock made her look up.
Andrei was smiling for once, and Scarlett eyed him suspiciously.
"Why that expression?"
Andrei was usually so prickly that his smiling face was suspicious. He was a maverick, so he ignored her and said what he wanted to say.
"They're here."
"Who?"
Then Andrei grinned.
"The four artisans Evil Crimson fired."
"W-what?"
At the words she had been waiting for, Scarlett immediately stood up, but she felt dizzy from sitting for too long and staggered. Andrei quickly grabbed her arm.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay."
Scarlett smiled and headed for the stairs. When she went downstairs, there they were, the elderly artisans.
The artisans, who had been wearing stiff expressions, gradually began to relax when they saw Scarlett. One of them, Turner, said, "Goodness, to think that little girl has grown up so much..."
"She looks like she has both of the owners' faces mixed together. In the best way!"
Joanna's words were met with nods of agreement.
Scarlett smiled sheepishly and opened her mouth.
"Did you see the advertisement?"
"Yes! All four of us live outside the capital, so we don't get the capital newspaper... Someone who knows us must have brought it, because there was a newspaper in each of your mailboxes."
Only then did Scarlett realize why they hadn't shown up for over two weeks, and she nodded vigorously.
"I see. I didn't think that all four of you would be outside the capital. That's amazing. I wonder who it was."
While she was marveling, the four former colleagues, who had reunited after a long time, were already chattering like excited children.
"Indeed, I'm so grateful to whoever it was."
"Maybe someone who knew the previous owners?"
"More than that, Evil caused the problem, but our little lady is trying to solve it!"
"We can't just stand by and watch. It's been a while since I've shown off my skills, so I'm nervous."
"Hey, I'm the one who should be showing off my skills. You just watch."
Scarlett smiled at the sight of the four reliable artisans chattering away. She looked at Andrei as if to share her joy. He was lost in thought, as if something was bothering him.
*
The returning watchmakers generously shared their knowledge with Scarlett. And they promised to be witnesses to prove that Scarlett was right if Evil Crimson sued her.
In addition, Tom and Anna, the couple who had met Scarlett at Factory 1 last time, and Sten joined them. Scarlett couldn't have felt more secure.
Even after the watchmakers returned, the watch shop remained the same. Andrei managed the store, and Scarlett made watches.
Even in the midst of her busy schedule, Scarlett couldn't neglect her studies on airplanes. However, it was nearly impossible for her, who had not properly attended school, to research new devices. There was a limit to self-study.
Every time she encountered difficulties, Scarlett's desire to go to school grew stronger.
Scarlett, who had been staying up almost every night for the past few days due to her various ambitions, finished work early for once. It was almost the first time since opening the store that she had finished work before Andrei left.
These days, Andrei, who seemed to have no worries, had a look of concern that he didn't have before. So, she got up from her chair, intending to say goodbye to Andrei as he left and ask him if anything was wrong. But at the same time, a loud crash was heard from the first floor.
"Andrei! What's going on..."
Startled, Scarlett rushed down the stairs to the first floor, but stopped in her tracks.
On the first floor, a masked man was confronting Andrei. Andrei, hearing footsteps behind him, said, "Madam, please go back upstairs."
Scarlett covered her mouth with both hands in fear. Her feet wouldn't move, so she was frozen in place. Andrei clicked his tongue and said, "I told you it's okay."
She wanted to argue about what was okay. How could he say it was okay in this situation?
In the meantime, the masked man rushed in immediately. Andrei blocked the man's fist with a crisp motion and kicked his leg. But the opponent was not easy to deal with either.
Scarlett watched the two fighting to avoid breaking things with a dazed expression. She even had irrelevant thoughts that didn't fit the situation, wondering if all the men in the world were so good at fighting.
Since Andrei's strength was superior, the winner was determined from the moment the struggle turned into a power struggle.
Andrei strangled the man who had fallen to the floor. He pressed down lightly, and the masked man stopped struggling as he fainted. Andrei took off the man's mask and froze. It was a youthful young man from a noble family.
"Damn it."
Andrei immediately realized that the target of the person who sent this guy was not Scarlett but himself. As expected, Viktor, dressed in uniform, entered the store.
He strode over and unexpectedly struck Andrei in the face, then twisted his arm behind his back and slammed him against the wall. Even Andrei was taken aback by the overwhelming force. It was a difference in strength like that of an adult and a child.
Viktor took out the Royal Police notebook from Andrei's coat pocket, which he had been wearing to leave work, and opened it.
Scarlett, who had rushed over to stop him in surprise, asked in a trembling voice.
"What is that?"
"Do you have to ask?"
Viktor said, holding out the Royal Police ID card inserted in the notebook.
[Level 2 Royal Police Hiram Pete]
Scarlett looked up at Viktor.
"Who is Hiram Pete?"
"Are you asking me about an employee you hired and then fired?"
"He's a Royal Police officer. Andrei isn't a Royal Police officer."
Andrei leaned his forehead against the wall, as if in pain from his broken arm, and said, "That's right, Royal Police... Ugh!"
Viktor twisted his broken arm, and Andrei fainted from the terrible pain.
Scarlett quickly pushed Viktor away from Andrei.
"What are you doing!"
"You keep asking the questions I was going to ask."
"Something's wrong. Andrei really..."
If Isaac was the first person she trusted in the world, Andrei was the second. He was a good employee and the person she relied on the most.
Andrei always said that he wanted to grow her watch shop significantly. From the beginning, he said that her watches had such unlimited potential. So, it couldn't be.
"It really can't be..."
Scarlett muttered weakly.
A moment later, Viktor's men took Andrei and the fallen masked man away.
Thus, only Scarlett and Viktor remained in the watch shop.
