"I’m doomed," Lyle’s voice carried a note of desperation, and the chill in his words indeed had a whiff of the deathly aura of the Liches.

Inside the room, Ralph had just put down a slip of paper, a note that absolutely should not have appeared in an appointment document.

Lyle watched as his uncle pinched the bridge of his nose, his lips moving slightly, muttering a word which, due to the distance, Lyle couldn’t catch clearly.

Perhaps it was Lyle’s name.

Perhaps it was the time of Lyle’s demise.

Lyle had already planned out his upcoming itinerary, immersing himself in Andrey’s research and tedious studies, determined not to be the frequently truant bad student he once was.

This time Echel really got me into trouble.

"No matter how you put it, you guys went too far, the person involved definitely won’t like it."

"Is that so?" Echel clapped Lyle on the shoulder, "I think she looked quite happy."

She...

Lyle shifted his gaze away from Ralph...

The incoming new police superintendent had put down the note, his amber-colored pupils flickering unsteadily, like lights in darkness.

Complicated emotions settled in his eyes, turning into something new--relief, joy, and resolve.

"I really do have a ’good’ nephew."

The confused expression lingered on his features for just an instant, then the cold returned as his mask.

By the time the knocking sounded, Ralph had already reverted to that same malevolent wolf.

Ralph moved slowly toward the door, subconsciously straightening his attire, with a sense of ceremony.

Grasping the doorknob, Ralph thought to himself, upon opening this door, I will become something entirely new...

A sudden attack from the visitor disrupted his train of thought, as Ralph instinctively grabbed her hand, attempting to apprehend the attacker.

But the overwhelming fragrance that assailed his senses interrupted all his actions.

The two of them ended up on the ground.

Underneath Ralph was the cold floor, and on top of him was the warmth carrying the scent of flowers.

A soft weight pressed against his chest; he could feel the breath on his collar and the aroma from the vibrant red hair.

His nose was a bit ticklish.

The sound of a lively heartbeat was clear and audible, syncing his own to the same rhythm. Ralph’s arm held silk’s smoothness and a slightly coarse leather jacket.

The person who had pushed him over sat up, and the fleeting sense of loss from the lifted weight was replaced by a bright smile. Verlet’s wandering hand across his body made Ralph feel a tinge of helplessness.

"Verlet."

The superintendent of Naranya puffed out her chest, for her, that name was a form of praise.

She displayed an attitude like a leopardess asserting sovereignty over her prize.

Verlet radiated a kind of sweetness, leaning closer, pressing down over Ralph’s body, and drawing near to his ear.

"I’m here to pick you up, Chief~" Her hands placed on Ralph’s chest conveyed a sense of supremacy as if the world was in her grasp. "I knew you would agree, you’d do all these things for me," softness coursed through her beautiful eyes, "And it’s turned out even better than I expected, Mister Superintendent."

Ralph looked at the girl on top of him, her pretty eyes captivated him until, feeling guilty, she shrank back, "Actually, I thought you would reject me. I’ve been tossing and turning since sending that secret note."

"You did all this for me, correct?"

Silence blew through like a cold wind, threatening to extinguish Verlet’s passion.

"Am I just bringing pain upon myself?" Ralph’s roundabout response seemed to be intended for Verlet, and also for himself.

He gazed straight at her, his eyes as clear as a crystalline pond, revealing his deepest longing. "I did it, all of this, for you, you troublesome woman."

A smile again graced Verlet’s face, along with a long-awaited fulfillment and happiness.

She leaned down, blending affection with a carnivore’s invasive gaze.

"As to whether I’m a ’bitter’ taste, I think you can find out right now, along with the reward for hiring you to sabotage the wedding."

"My dear, you’ll soon find out if I’m bitter, or sweet~"

A cold hand sealed Verlet’s slowly approaching lips.

Ralph tossed the oversized doll off himself, dusting off his clothes.

"I’m not in good health, I can’t handle spicy foods. Time to go, Officer Verlet, we still have to visit Naranya."

"Roar, roar, roar, is this how you act shy? How adorable," Verlet let out a giggle akin to that of a lovesick woman, got up from the ground, and clung to Ralph’s arm again, her body hanging off him like a limp ragdoll.

"You’ll have to face it sooner or later, Chief~"

Ralph didn’t stop Verlet from attempting to hang off him again, "I thought you’d be angry about the handling of your family affairs, whether it’s the house arrest or the seizure of assets."

Verlet’s reply was very much in her style.

"Oh, those? I don’t care about those minor matters. Those assets would eventually be yours anyway; I don’t mind if you deal with them early. As for my father’s situation, it’s just house arrest, huh, serves him right for always disciplining me."

Verlet lifted her head, looking up at Ralph’s eyes with admiration.

"Ralph, your actions have far exceeded my expectations, I can clearly feel my destiny being manipulated by you."

"I’m happy you’ve done so much for me."

"Now if we just do a bit more, our fate will be sealed, Ralph~"

Once again, a cold hand blocked Verlet’s encroaching face, her previously pitiable pretense was stripped away, leaving her infuriated.

"Just a little more!"

After receiving a definitive response from Ralph, a certain emotion within Verlet began to intensify.

Verlet’s gritted teeth and Ralph’s indifference remained ever-present on their faces.

Just like their closely entwined figures, they remained unchanging.