A familiar voice came from above. Marianne slowly looked up.

“Inspector Hindenburg!”

The voice that exclaimed in surprise was not Marianne’s but Yan’s. Michael, who had briefly glanced at him, turned his attention back to Marianne.

“Is the timing okay? I know a good place in Blauberug. Been around this area for 3 years, so I know quite a few spots.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to maintain decorum in an official setting, Michael Hindenburg? Just a suggestion, considering this isn’t a school.”

“…”

Michael turned his head slowly at the icy, sharp voice. Christoph was approaching her desk with an uncomfortable look on his face.

Thud.

Yan dropped a pen under the desk. Pretending to pick it up, he crouched beneath the desk. Being unnoticed was the best strategy at such times.

“I appreciate the thought, but your advice is unnecessary. Perhaps you should consider being polite to me first, Christoph Schneider?”

“It seems being a prosecutor is more leisurely than I thought. Seeing that you have time for idle chatter. Or is it just you? Ah, perhaps your workload is light because people are aware of your capabilities.”

Michael, who had been grimacing, smirked in return.

“So it’s not just you. A successful lawyer wandering around the Blauberug police station. It seems your reputation isn’t what it used to be if you have time for this.”

“There are things more important than work.”

Christoph’s deep-set eyes fixed on Marianne. What was more important than work was her.

The answer to the question he couldn’t ask this morning. Marianne inadvertently averted her gaze as their eyes met.

Michael chuckled lightly, letting a cynical snicker slip between his teeth.

“Should’ve appreciated it when you had it. It’s not something to regret after you’ve lost it.”

“I haven’t lost anything.”

Christoph replied coldly. Michael flinched, shrugging his shoulders. Realizing he had been tense, he furrowed his brows. He disliked everything about Christoph.

“Michael Hindenburg. Let me give you a piece of advice.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not at an age to take advice.”

Michael cut him off and turned to Marianne.

“Shall we go for lunch, Marianne?”
He brought up the original matter again. Ah, Christoph, spitting out sarcasm, glared at him with cold, emotionless eyes.

Christoph walked up to the desk and directed his gaze at Marianne. He casually opened his mouth.

“Marianne. Last night, I think I left my gloves in your room. I can’t seem to find them anywhere.”

“Gloves? I haven’t seen…”

Marianne, who was responding indifferently, suddenly stopped. She looked at Christoph with wide eyes, as if guessing his intentions.

As expected, Michael faintly furrowed his brows.

“Marianne’s room? Weren’t you two separated?”

“Why should I inform you about matters between us? Mind your own business, Michael Hindenburg.”

Christoph slightly curled one side of his lips. Extremely arrogantly.

Michael glared at him and then turned his gaze back to Marianne. He relentlessly steered the wandering conversation back to its original point.

“Marianne, how about lunch?”

“Marianne has plans with me.”

“Well, I think Marianne’s opinion will differ. Right, Marianne?”

This time, even Michael looked at her with a resolute expression, unwilling to give in.

“Marianne, who are you having lunch with? Surely it won’t be with this incompetent Hindenburg prosecutor?”

“I think he’s better than a cold lawyer who sticks like a leech even when rejected.”

Christoph and Michael both looked at her. Marianne, who was stuck between the two, suddenly opened her eyes wide.

She abruptly slammed her hands down on the desk and stood up. A thick silence descended upon the office. Although no one turned their heads, their ears perked up.

“I’ve packed a sandwich! I’ll have lunch with Senior Yan, so the remaining two of you should dine together!”

“Uh, uhm?”

Thud.

“Ah!”

Yan, surprised by the sudden mention of his name, lifted his head and banged it on the desk. He slowly opened his eyes while clutching his forehead, a tear trickling down.

“Uh…”

Christoph and Michael were looking down at him. A heavy pressure could be felt, as if their cold gazes were pressing down on his shoulders.

Timid Yan shrank his neck and lifted both of his hands. His trembling voice stuttered out.

“Ah, no, that is… I intended to dine with Aesongi…”

“Let’s go, Senior Yan.”

“Ah, no, I really don’t feel well… Marianne, you’d be better off dining with these gentlemen…”

As Yan received the icy stares of the two men with a half-sobbing face, a uniformed guard whispered something in his ear.

Yan seemed relieved, as if a lifeline had descended from heaven. He then looked at Marianne with a gloomy expression.

“Ah, Aesongi! This is so unfortunate! An incident occurred! I have to leave right away without having lunch! Enjoy your meal with these gentlemen!”

“Let’s go, Senior Yan. There’s no one else to deploy anyway.”

“Huh?”

At her words, Yan looked around. Maxim and Florian were nowhere to be seen. Nicolas had also left the office earlier and had yet to return.

“Uh-huh.”

Reluctantly nodding, Yan took the lead. He glanced at Christoph and Michael, who were growling and glaring at each other.

Marianne, wearing her hat, looked back at the two men.

“I’m afraid we can’t have lunch together. Enjoy your meal, Christoph. And Prosecutor Hindenburg.”