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Chapter 31: Janice Wanted Raymond to Live

Garren told the Emperor that the deaths of Janice's adoptive parents, the Bakers, were suspicious, and that those suspected of killing them had been watching Janice and the Ducal residence for quite some time. He also mentioned that odd traces had been found in the children's movements on the day they disappeared.

After hearing Garren's report, the Emperor spoke in a grim voice.

"The possibility that they kidnapped them... no, you wouldn't be telling me this if it were unlikely. You must be certain they're the culprits. Am I right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor seemed to flare with anger at Garren's answer.

"Then why are you reporting this only now? From what you're saying, it sounds like you've known of their existence for some time! So where are they now? Have you found any leads? Are the children safe? And—who the hell are these people!"

The Emperor fired questions like a rapid volley, demanding Garren spill everything he knew.

Garren handed over a prepared report. The Emperor skimmed it urgently, his face showing growing confusion.

According to the report, the suspects Garren suspected were grave robbers or treasure hunters seeking ruins, of unknown scale. More importantly, their suspicious behavior on the day Raymond and Janice disappeared lasted only five minutes. And they were still lurking around the Bakers' house and lab—a far cry from what the Emperor had expected.

"I'm not trying to doubt you, but are these truly the culprits? If they kidnapped the children, why would they still be around the Bakers' house and lab? And it seems a bit much to think a mere band of grave robbers would kidnap Raymond and your daughter..."

"Actually, that's why I made a misjudgment at first. I thought the same as Your Majesty."

They were overly cautious, overly vigilant. Usually, common criminals flee the scene immediately after achieving their goal. But these people insisted on their innocence by maintaining their presence around the Bakers' house—not changing their usual patterns.

That's why Garren had briefly misjudged—thinking that despite the children's disappearance at the Bakers' house, the culprits weren't the ones who killed the Bakers, but rather a hostile faction of the Empire.

He'd even tried to start the investigation from scratch. But this time, they'd made a critical mistake. Garren asked the Emperor to check Chapter 9 of the report.

"If they were just a simple band of grave robbers, my orders wouldn't have gone missing."

In an attempt to cover their tracks, they had manipulated things—and that very action convinced Garren they were the culprits.

"Moreover, unlike my initial assumption, I suspect their scale and influence are not small."

Someone with enough power to omit and delete orders from Garren—one of the heads of the Police Agency—was no ordinary grave robber. Garren cautiously offered his deduction.

The Emperor seemed shocked. With a deeply darkened expression, he asked in a low voice:

"I understand. And... the personnel you wish to reassign—can they be trusted?"

"I've selected only those whose identities, backgrounds, and skills are beyond doubt."

"Do as you see fit. For now, let's find the children first, as you said. And then—annihilate that group. No matter what!"

The Emperor ordered him to use any means necessary. Garren bowed his head with an expression of eager compliance.

That afternoon, a sudden reorganization took place within the special investigative team, and several investigators deemed the best in the Agency disappeared discreetly.

---

Day ten of the kidnapping.

After the first round of questioning, the kidnappers, who had been judging the truth by Janice's expressions and reactions, changed their approach a few days ago.

They threw piles of books at Janice and told her to pick out the ones the Bakers had frequently read or valued.

"These are all books I've never seen before."

"Surely there are some you saw at your parents' house or lab? Let me pick a few for you. That red-covered book was on your father's study desk. That maroon-covered one was on the nightstand beside your parents' bed. And the one next to it was probably on the second shelf of your father's lab, fifth section."

"..."

Listening to them, Janice realized that all the books they'd thrown at her were connected to her adoptive parents.

Unable to bear it, Janice randomly picked a book and handed it to them. They took her to the old man they called "Elder."

"This one. It was my mom and dad's favorite book."

"My dear, this is a book I own—a one-of-a-kind edition. There's no way it could have been in your parents' lab or house."

"...!"

To prevent her from lying, they had apparently planted "traps" here and there.

The "Elder" stroked Janice's stiff cheek and said kindly:

"You'll go without dinner tonight. That's your punishment for lying."

Despite his gentle tone, his eyes were ice-cold.

And so Janice went hungry several times. On some days, she wasn't allowed even a drop of water.

But even so, she didn't want to comply with their demands. These people were connected to those who had killed the Bakers. They had never been innocent, and Janice didn't want to help her parents' murderers.

But...

"Raymond!"

When she saw Raymond burning with fever, Janice had no choice but to compromise.

Seeing Janice's stubborn refusal to cooperate, the kidnappers stripped Raymond and threw him outside the next day. Exposed to the cold, Raymond naturally caught a fever.

His violent coughing, as if he might vomit blood, continued relentlessly, and his temperature soared endlessly.

"Medicine—please give him medicine. Raymond is sick."

"What books did your parents frequently read?"

"I don't know that! Please give him medicine. Take him to a hospital!"

"What did your parents tell you about the 'ruins'?"

It was then that Janice truly realized these "kidnappers" had no concern for their lives. The thought that Raymond might die terrified her.

And to Janice, the kidnappers made an offer:

"Remember. The stories your parents told you about the 'ruins.' Bring us the books and materials they often read. Then we'll trade you medicine. We'll give you bread and soup too—as long as you don't lie."

"..."

Janice didn't want to accept their offer.

But when Raymond's coughing grew weaker, his breathing shallower, his face paler than white paper—looking as if his breath might stop at any moment—Janice finally surrendered.

They tossed her piles of books and documents. Janice searched among them for what the Bakers had frequently read or treasured.

Lies didn't work. They knew too much about the Bakers, and Janice didn't want to gamble with Raymond's life.

Even now, the thought that they had killed—or were connected to those who killed—the Bakers made her stomach burn. But despite that, Janice wanted Raymond to live.

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