6:55 PM.
There were only five minutes left until the academic seminar began.
Seated in the auditorium where the seminar was to be held, Mari started to feel a growing sense of unease.
'Why isn't Theo here yet?'
Theo, as the co-author of the research paper for this seminar, needed to join her on stage.
Of course, she could go up alone in case of an emergency, but it would undoubtedly invite whispers and rumors.
It wouldn't be favorable for either her or Theo.
She always knew Theo to be punctual and never one to miss such opportunities.
Even if he got overly excited about leaving the academy after a long time, something felt off.
Could something have happened?
'There's still some time left... but this is odd.'
Their presentation was scheduled last, so they had some time to spare.
However, it wasn’t much. They had, at most, about an hour and a half.
'I need to act fast.'
With a worried tone, Mari whispered to Natasha, who was sitting beside her.
"Natasha, I have a favor to ask. Can you please find Theo?"
"I understand, Professor Mari."
Natasha rummaged through her belongings and pulled out a round object - an emergency communication crystal.
"If I find anything unusual, I'll contact you immediately."
"If there's no word in 30 minutes, I'll start searching as well."
Nodding in acknowledgment, Natasha swiftly left the auditorium.
Smith returned precisely 2 minutes and 37 seconds after he had left.
Screech—
I spoke to Smith, who had just re-entered the room.
"2 minutes and 37 seconds. You're quite punctual."
"...As per your request, I have arranged a meeting with the head. Given that there isn't much time left until the academic seminar begins, we should depart immediately."
"Fine. And mind your words, Smith. It almost sounds like you're doing me a favor. Remember, I'm merely exercising my rightful privileges."
"My apologies. Let us be on our way."
With a stoic expression on his face, Smith, accompanied by his three nervous subordinates, and I stepped out of my room.
About ten minutes had passed since Smith led me on our way.
Even though we'd only moved one floor, the vastness of the Hero Association building meant our journey took this long.
Smith, who had been leading the way, turned to face me.
"...Ahead is the room where Duke Chalon awaits. I trust you'll maintain decorum."
"I probably know more about manners than you do. First, let me check on Amy."
"A Duke's time is more precious than gold."
"So is mine."
I shot back, looking pointedly at a flustered Smith.
"How can I trust you all? I've been incredibly patient. You've confined a member of the Waldeurk family without cause and denied me even a simple check on her... I find that deeply suspicious. I have no idea what you might have done to Amy."
I stopped my steps, standing tall and facing them with icy eyes.
"...We did nothing of the sort. We merely restrained her a bit to prevent any potential suspicious behavior."
"Huh, I'm curious about how you 'restrained' her. I'll have Piel collect on this debt. If I tell her to repay the debt owed by Smith, the chief of security, she'll understand, right?"
A sardonic smile graced my lips, mirroring the one Smith had given me when we first met.
The middle-aged man looked like he was on the brink of tears.
With a face contorted in distress, Smith spoke up.
"...I'll let you check on her. But please, be brief. We truly only limited her movements slightly. The Duke doesn't have much time. I beseech you, as a noble of the esteemed Waldeurk family, to show us some mercy."
"Please."
Smith dropped to his knees.
The three lackeys with him did the same, their eyes full of desperation as they looked up at me.
"Well, I'll decide after I see for myself."
I replied in an even tone.
Opportunities to meet a legendary hero like Maximin aren't easy.
His time is indeed worth more than gold.
I'd acted tough, mainly to instill fear in the youths who had ganged up on me.
Considering their reactions, it seems I'd done enough.
It's lucky Amy gave me such a good excuse.
"...Thank you for your mercy. Your maid, Amy, is in this room."
Smith hurriedly rose and opened a nearby door.
I walked straight in.
In a guest room of the Hero Association, illuminated by soft, ambient light, Amy opened her eyes.
She found herself seated in a chair, her arms and legs bound tightly with ropes.
A cloth gagged her mouth, and another cloth blinded her eyes.
Amy immediately assessed her situation, wondering,
'How much time has passed since I lost consciousness?'
She felt no physical pain.
The person who knocked her out was certainly a professional.
There were probably no external injuries either.
When she exerted strength, the ropes binding her showed no signs of loosening.
Even in this state, Amy's anxiety wasn't about her physical confinement but the failure of her mission.
'I failed the task Theo gave me. Worse, I got captured.'
She was supposed to gather information on the room of Maximin but got overpowered and captured by an unknown skilled individual.
Theo was an extremely pragmatic person.
If she were no longer useful, he would certainly discard her.
If Theo abandoned her, her chances of saving her younger sister, Selena, who was being held hostage, would diminish.
She had hoped that, in time, Theo would rise to a leadership position within the organization and rescue Selena.
She knew she needed to avoid upsetting him.
Yet, she failed to meet Theo's expectations.
'When will I be able to save Selena?'
In five years? Ten? Or perhaps, never?
Bitterly reflecting on her own incompetence, Amy teared up.
Soft sobs, muffled by the gag, escaped her lips.
The tears dampened the cloth over her eyes.
But that didn't matter to her.
She could endure the worst, as long as she could save Selena.
'Sorry, Selena...'
From what she knew of Theo, he'd likely show her no mercy.
As Amy was lost in despair, staring blankly at what she imagined was the door—
A creaking noise echoed. The door opened.
Measured footsteps approached.
"...Amy."
A familiar voice reached her ears.
A voice void of emotion, utterly neutral.
A pleasant fragrance filled the room.
Swish.
The cloth blinding her was removed.
However, she couldn't muster the courage to open her eyes fully.
She couldn't bear to directly face the silver-haired man with piercing red eyes standing before her.
Amy was at a loss for words.
She hadn't completed her mission and now she was a captive.
She would likely be discarded soon.
Even if not, he would certainly no longer regard her with the same importance.
Looking at the man before her felt like confronting a bleak future.
Softly, the cloth that had gagged Amy's mouth was removed.
Silence.
Amy couldn't raise her eyes.
She cast a trembling gaze only at the man's chest.
Though she wanted to take a deep breath and open her mouth after feeling stifled for so long, she couldn't.
"Close the door."
"Understood."
Following Theo's instruction, Smith closed the door.
Now, only Theo and Amy remained in the spacious room.
Silence enveloped them.
Theo was the first to break it.
"Are you hurt anywhere, Amy?"
"No, young master."
Amy replied, her voice subdued, her gaze still fixed on Theo's collarbone.
Her voice held a tremor of emotion.
"I apologize, young master. My abilities were insufficient... I failed the task you entrusted me with. I'm truly sorry."
"It's fine."
Theo untied the ropes binding Amy's arms and legs, appearing completely indifferent.
His nonchalance only heightened Amy's anxiety.
"Please give me another chance, young master. I will accept any punishment you see fit."
"It's fine. Everyone fails at some point. You've done your best. After leaving this room, wait in yours."
'What had happened with those men? They definitely weren’t pushovers.’
Only then could she muster the courage to look at Theo with trembling eyes.
"Please don't abandon me. I'll take any punishment you deem necessary."
"I have no intention of abandoning or punishing you,"
Theo replied with the same calm tone.
That unchanging demeanor sent shivers down Amy’s spine.
After all, Theo was the ruthless kind of man who could discard her without batting an eyelid.
"May I ask why, young master?"
Silence.
Theo paused for a moment before locking eyes with Amy and stating,
"You are my secretary. No reasons needed."
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