Chapter 64: Being a Tuner Is No Easy Job

“I.”

The Tuner met Siloque’s gaze with cold eyes, but the brim of their hat cast a shadow, making their expression unreadable.

To the Tuner, the first impression at the scene was that Siloque and the others were the perpetrators.

However, there was also a pink-haired girl with a terrified and frightened expression.

If it really was attempted rape as the report claimed, they couldn’t jump to conclusions.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“I can.”

A bit troublesome.

Siloque’s face was streaked with dark lines.

The Tuner called in to wrap things up had instead become a nuisance, turning into Norius’s backer and giving him more time to stir up trouble.

Forget it. It’s still within the plan.

Siloque confirmed that Kersey was far enough away not to hear and, keeping his voice low, gave the Tuner a concise account of what happened.

Another Tuner colleague took notes while Norius kept interrupting to curse, but eventually, the explanation was completed.

Then they listened to Norius’s version, which was entirely different:

Norius and his companions were passing through when Cass and the others attacked them for money.

“Ma’am! You can’t believe him, that’s not what happened at all!”

Kersey shouted, agitated but trying to keep her voice under control.

“You’re just shameless.”

Cass supported Kersey, equally scornful.

“I’m telling the truth! They’re the ones who did it!”

Norius shouted, like a broken jar, his voice echoing through the entire street.

Siloque raised an eyebrow, looking amused.

“Quiet down.”

The Tuner checked the IDs and Ring Chart Skill Values of everyone present using the Terminal, including Norius’s four companions on the ground.

“You… LV14? So young, and already so accomplished.”

The Tuner saw Cass’s level, and a hint of admiration flickered in his cold eyes.

“We’re all from the National Explorers Academy.”

“Oh, the National Explorers Academy. That explains it.”

The Tuner glanced around, as if understanding something.

Of course, if Cass is with me, it’s natural his level is higher than ordinary people.

Siloque’s lips curled into a smile beneath his mask.

Hearing the Tuner praise Cass gave him a sense of pride, like seeing a son become successful.

After the Tuners and their colleagues finished a basic survey of the scene, she adjusted her hat and asked:

“So, these four tried to assault that girl, you fought back, and they ended up like this? So, it was excessive self-defense?”

“What nonsense!”

Norius was the first to object.

Perhaps the intense pain made it hard to control himself, his voice rising and falling.

At that moment, his severed hand was bandaged, but phantom pain kept his nose running.

His three companions, under another Tuner’s healing skill, were out of danger, but had all fallen asleep.

“They suddenly attacked us—we almost died! The injuries to me and my companions are proof!”

Norius waved his broken hand, insisting.

“So you just broke a hand, no need to make a big deal. And these weapons, did you pull them out in self-defense too?”

“Yeah! We’re students of the National Explorers Academy. Carrying weapons is normal.”

The Tuner stroked their chin thoughtfully.

“Liars!”

Kersey couldn’t take it anymore.

“You stole my Ring Chart, damaged the shop’s phone line and surveillance, and blamed it on us!?”

It was rare for Kersey to raise her voice so much, even though her body was trembling with fear.

“How can you say we did it? If you lost your Ring Chart yourself, how is that my fault, loser! We were just buying drinks on the street, and you attacked us! Medical fees, compensation!”

“This is too much, way too much! I won’t forget it, you said you’d—”

Because the words were too vile and disgusting, Kersey bit her pink lips in anger.

“Ha, say whatever you want! I trust the just Tuners will make the right judgment, right?!”

“You…”

Kersey’s eyes brimmed with tears at Norius’s shamelessness, and Cass patted her shoulder to comfort her.

“Hey, Siloque, is this enough?”

Cass leaned in to whisper to Siloque.

“No, I want to watch a bit longer. The longer it drags on, the more miserable Norius becomes.”

“Ugh!”

Norius, seeing Siloque’s gaze on him, hurriedly retreated behind the two Tuners, continuously accusing Siloque and the others.

Siloque watched silently, as if enjoying a poorly acted play.

He actually admired Norius’s cockroach-like tenacity a little.

And he was quick to adapt, instantly realizing how to use his miserable state to win the Tuners’ sympathy. Clearly arrogant before, he was surprisingly flexible.

It caused a deviation in Siloque’s plan.

On the other side, the Tuner was deep in thought.

She and her colleague had just checked the nearby surveillance, but this spot was coincidentally a blind zone, and the alley cameras had been destroyed.

Using tools for fingerprint checks also turned up nothing matching those present.

Honestly, it felt like a premeditated crime by the Fallen Magic Society.

The question was—who had premeditated it?

Both sides had their stories, but there was no direct evidence to prove who was right.

Although Norius’s file showed a prior disturbance in the library, and his three companions didn’t look like upstanding people, Tuners couldn’t judge by appearances.

Might as well take everyone back to the station for questioning.

“Anything on their social relations?”

“Nothing special, except…”

“Except?”

The Tuners conversed in voices too low for others to hear.

“That kid named Cass, his mother… is Vitoris Benol of Benor Corporation.”

“What?! Are you sure?”

The colleague nodded solemnly.

Hearing this, the Tuner’s eyes widened as she quickly glanced at Cass.

How could this be?

Why did it have to be me?

Half of Grana City’s lifeblood was in the hands of Benor Corporation.

For their heir to appear in a place like this—was this some kind of rich people’s hobby, picking fights for fun?

If so, handling this would be a huge headache.

Ugh, I’m just a patrol officer—why did I have to encounter this?

She didn’t want to favor either side, but there was no clear evidence for a conviction.

And bringing them to headquarters for Mind Reading wasn’t appropriate either.

Valosa Group, which stood behind the Tuners, was already at odds with Benor Corporation.

Who knew if Benor would use this as an excuse for retaliation.

This needed to be resolved quickly.

While the Tuner hesitated, Siloque yawned.

It was about time.

Looking at Kersey’s frustrated expression, it was clear she wouldn’t leave without a resolution.

As for Norius… whenever Siloque’s gaze met his, he’d quickly look away.

So tsundere?

Siloque opened the Ring Chart, set the window to visible mode, and projected it.

For a moment, everyone’s eyes were drawn.

Only Cass understood what Siloque was doing.

“Impossible…”

Norius muttered.

On the window, a video played—the first thing visible was a brown skirt.

“Huh? Isn’t that me?”

Kersey realized the footage was from a rear angle of herself.

The image zoomed in, fast-forwarded, and the volume was increased.

Though a bit blurry, Norius’s triumphant face and his companions mocking Kersey were visible.

Norius’s face went pale as he realized what was happening, and he tried to shuffle away quietly.

***

If you agree to let me O you, I’ll leave.

***

Norius, what are you talking about? Didn’t you say whoever sees it gets a share?

***

You think we helped you steal for free?

The scene played out on the street, and the truth was obvious.

The two Tuners exhaled in relief.

They didn’t have to handle the Cass “hot potato,” and the case could be closed quickly.

You think I was sitting by the incinerator to smoke?

I recorded it long ago.

Siloque looked smugly at Norius, while Norius…

“————!!!”

He appeared fifty meters down the road, squeezing out the last of his strength, abandoning his sleeping companions and katana, and bolted into the night.

The problem was, who could he outrun?

The experienced Tuners?

Or Cass, whose level was six higher?

Under the streetlights, the Tuner’s figure vanished.

When next spotted, she was a hundred meters away, her hand on Norius’s shoulder.

“Kuh!”

Norius felt a sharp pain in his chest, his face smacking into the cement, tasting sand. His parted hair was a mess as the Tuner pinned him down.

From escape to capture, Norius set a record of less than three seconds.

The last thing he left Siloque was the small figure of someone kneeling on the ground.

Goodbye, bull-headed fool.

Siloque operated the Ring Chart, deleting Norius’s record from the notebook.

He glanced at the three people lying on the ground.

Once his companions woke, they’d find themselves in a sturdy, all-inclusive little room, surrounded by kindly uncles, with the faint red blush of sanitary pads beneath them.

Siloque squatted beside one, rummaged through the inside of their jacket, and quickly found what he was looking for.

After a while, the two Tuners took brief statements from Cass and the others, then left with Norius and his small gang.

This time, Norius didn’t look back at Siloque.

The incident was over for the night, and the nearby residents turned off their lights again.

“Sigh… It’s finally over…”

Kersey sighed, gazing at the stars.

Tonight was filled with disgusting events.

Everything happened too quickly, and ended just as fast, leaving Kersey a little dazed.

A bottle of drink was suddenly placed in Kersey’s hand.

“Strawberry milkshake. My treat. Sorry for what you went through tonight.”

“Ah, thank you…”

Kersey accepted the milkshake Cass had just bought and inserted the straw.

“Compared to monsters in the Dungeon of Cass, this isn’t… Well, it’s still scary.”

“No way—you were strong, Kersey. You never gave up, even at the end. I respect you.”

“Really…?”

“Have more confidence, Kersey. Cass is right. Your heart is stronger than you think.”

A mature, magnetic voice.

It was Cass’s teacher—she hadn’t even thanked her (him?) yet!

Turning around, the black-haired girl whom Kersey had mistaken for a boy held a Ring Chart in her hand, decorated with flower stickers.

“This is my Ring Chart?”

The girl casually tossed the Ring Chart into Kersey’s hand and turned to leave.

“Um, please wait! Thank you for helping me tonight! I work at the Moonlight Bridge Cafe—come by if you have time!”

The distant figure raised a right hand and waved before disappearing into the night.

“What a strange person…”

The Ring Chart in her palm still retained the other’s warmth.

It was warm.