Chapter 51: Absence
Thus, the bank robbery incident came to an end.
Although it was an unforeseen event, Shiron thought they had handled it quite well, considering they hadnt prepared for it.
Master, your hands have gotten dirty.
Oh, right.
Shiron took the handkerchief Encia handed to him and wiped his hands.
Phew
He took a deep breath and looked around.
The bank wasnt exactly like hell, but it was a bit too chaotic to merely call it a mess.
The marble tiles on the floor were shattered here and there, and the statues and paintings on the walls, possibly due to magic, were burnt black, making them unrecognizable.
People lying on the ground were an issue as well.
Two of them had fainted, but two were dead.
One was an intruder Shiron had dealt with, and the other was an unfamiliar face. Judging by the uniform, he seemed to be one of the banks guards.
Furthermore, everyone lay beneath Shirons gaze.
Whether it was because of the robbery or because Shirons feigned act worked, they were all in panic and trembling in fear.
What a mess.
Shiron sighed deeply, his forehead creased.
Initially, he had planned to half-threaten the bank manager in hopes of getting an unsecured, interest-free loan, but now everything had gone awry, and he felt irritated.
Shiron searched for someone who could wrap up the situation; someone high-ranking who knew the protocol for such situations.
Where the hell is Berta?
The shifty-eyed individual hed made eye contact with upon kicking the door open was nowhere to be seen.
Scanning the floor, Shiron slowly walked to a certain spot. A mischievous smile appeared on his face. He was cautious not to step on the bodies, and fortunately, he managed to avoid doing so. The direction he headed in was where people made way by curling up like beetles.
Eventually, Shiron stopped at a particular spot. A woman with short, dark blue hair. He could see her slender limbs trembling. He squatted down in front of her.
Why are you lying down? Are you pretending not to recognize me?
Ah, haha. How have you been?
Berta awkwardly scratched the back of her head and stood up. She had unknowingly fallen down due to the atmosphere.
She had witnessed countless deaths before, but having seen the truly fearsome side of this intimidating young master and realizing the identities of the women beside him as demons had deeply shaken her.
Bertas hand that was scratching her head became clammy.
Images of Shiron brutally killing the robbers dominated her thoughts.
She forced a smile and looked straight into Shirons eyes.
The intimidating master seemed to have grown a bit taller since she last saw him.
Berta, can you handle the aftermath? I have something else to do.
Yes, yes! Everyone, rest assured. This gentleman here has taken care of all the robbers and ack!
She could not finish her sentence due to the jolt she felt on her side. Shiron had pinched Berta in anticipation of her next words. The rakish image he had built was about to be ruined by Berta.
Shiron whispered into Bertas ear after pulling her closer by the collar.
Whether you call for backup or give an immediate judgment, wrap it up. Understood?
Yes, yes!
And make sure no one goes upstairs.
With that, Shiron headed to the second floor, followed by the demons he brought with him. Berta stared blankly for a moment before getting to work.
Shiron walked towards a room on the second floor of the bank.
He had seen this place multiple times in the game, so he knew its layout like the back of his hand. His destination wasnt the vault but the branch managers office.
Creak-
A heavy metallic sound was heard as Shiron tried to open the door. The door didnt open, suggesting that someone had locked it from the inside to prevent entry.
Hmm? Its locked from the inside.
Should I open it for you?
Its okay.
A grinding sound filled the air.
Shiron exerted strength to pull at the door handle. He wanted to draw his sacred sword but decided against it. Having trained consistently, he could easily open a locked door without using any extra power.
Surprise!
Having almost torn the door open, Shiron saw a pale-faced, shaking old man holding a staff in one hand. He was the branch manager responsible for this place.
Licking his lips, Shiron gestured for the man to sit.
You look unwell. Sit down.
Yes!
The manager, moving hastily, took a seat on the sofa. Though it was his usual spot, he now yielded the primary seat to Shiron. Through a surveillance orb, he had seen what was happening downstairs and knew everything.
Crossing his legs on the leather sofa, Shiron began to speak.
From the way you locked the door, it seems you know what happened below.
Yes, I do.
Wiping away his sweat with a handkerchief, the manager responded.
If you hadnt been here, the damages wouldve been extensive. There couldve been more casualties, but the situation was resolved thanks to you. Id like to express my gratitude on behalf of this place.
Well, you should be grateful.
Shiron nodded indifferently. The man before him wasnt present in the banks map in the game.
There was no likability system for dealing with such characters, so Shiron felt more at ease speaking with him. Pretending to be a bad guy tired him out, both mentally and physically.
Regardless, the fact remained that Shiron had dealt with the robbery. He wanted to ensure that he got his due reward.
Crossing his legs the other way, Shiron slowly closed his eyes.
So, how will you show your gratitude? I hope its not just a mere plaque.
Of course, not! Please wait a moment!
The manager rushed off and returned with an exquisite chest.
I offer this as a token of gratitude!
Opening the box delicately, it was filled with gold bars.
However, Shiron frowned and glared at the man.
Is this paltry sum your idea of gratitude?
Excuse me?
One gold bar is fifty thousand shillings, with twenty in total, thats a million shillings.
Thats just chump change.
So, what do you
Dont treat me like a common thug.
Flicking his tongue in annoyance, Shiron wore a disgruntled expression.
I want a credit card.
?
An unlimited, no-collateral, no-interest, no-security deposit credit card. I dont have a credit rating yet. Is that alright?
Of course, it is!
The man quickly stood up to fetch the contract.
Sigh
What on earth happened? Im out of it.
After requesting support from the investigation headquarters and ensuring all the criminals were bound by a restraining sphere, Berta let out a sigh of relief.
Salute!
The highest-ranking officer from the group that came to support her saluted Berta. From the insignia on his shoulder, he was a rank lower than her. Berta responded with a brief salute without calling out the formal chant.
After all, the Special Task Force is truly exceptional. Capturing the wanted gang all by yourself is remarkable.
The middle-aged officer, who looked twice her age, flattered Berta with a chuckle.
Berta felt uncomfortable with his continuous flattery and waved it off.
It wasnt me.
Huh? Then who? Was it some reclusive master?
Im sorry, but I cant tell you. Its better if you stay uninvolved.
Ah! Is it confidential? Haha, I understand. Take care then!
Inspector Middle-Aged left the scene after loading the robbers onto the transport carriage.
And so, Berta was left alone on the first floor, cordoned off with police tape.
Berta stared intently at a conspicuous spot, where the marble was deeply indented.
What should I do
Berta was deeply lost in thought.
All because of an order from the 3rd Prince, Victor. An order to cooperate in making Shiron one of Victors vassals. But considering what happened just a short while ago, could the prince still hold onto that intention?
She was certain he could not.
Absolutely not.
The scene of Shiron brutally killing the robbers was vivid in Bertas mind.
Killing a robber who tried to kill him could be justified as self-defense.
However,
The fact that he spared the magician who attacked him and only killed the knifeman who tried to kill the hostage made Berta feel uneasy.
It was an action taken based on cold calculation. That was how Berta assessed it.
Shiron knew how to understand and exploit peoples psychology. He showed overwhelming force, suppressed his opponents, and brutally killed the villain who took the hostage.
Should he meet the teacher and His Highness?
Berta wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.
How would that terrifying gentleman react once he found out about Prince Victors intentions? One thing she was sure of was that Victor would end up at a unilateral disadvantage.
I cant predict how things will turn out.
Thud- Thud-
Then, footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Very neat.
Shiron, approaching with a bright smile as if he achieved what he wanted, patted Bertas back.
Have you had lunch? If not, lets eat together. Ill treat you.
Yes.
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