Every time the business card spun around, Logan inwardly repeated Ernest’s question of whether he had been testing Sidney’s abilities.

Maybe so.

Logan Redford admitted that he had been testing Sidney Warden.

Whether Sidney was Marien, and if so, why he was hiding that fact and trying to escape from him.

And whether the fellow cared about his absence, or if it didn’t matter who was in charge…..

Damn Steve Deniro.

Logan Redford stood up, thrusting his left hand into his coat pocket. Cold eyes and clenched lips were stained with red blood.

“Logan?”

Ernest Holden’s concerned voice was drowned out by the sound of the door opening. A blonde woman who had just put a child to sleep in the secret room inside the office spoke to Ernest.

“Lord Holden, did your friend get what he wanted?”

Deborah, the owner of ‘La Sena Boutique’.

Her innate grace exuded from her expression and gait.

“Thanks to your consideration, Madam. It seems the child has fallen asleep.”

“The wet nurse is feeding her. She’s usually a calm child, but she’s been fussy about sleeping today.”

It was as good as asking them to leave. Ernest looked awkwardly at Logan with a troubled expression.

Logan approached her and held out a black business card with “Casablanca” written on it.

“This card was found at the home of a murdered dancer named Marien. Have you seen it before?”

“As I said earlier, all I know about the ‘Casablanca’ gathering is what I’ve heard from dancers who come to the shop.”

“A coincidence?”

“Yes, believe it or not.”

Deborah acknowledged calmly. Then she looked at the black card Logan was holding for a moment and frowned.

“I heard there’s a black card that men take out every time they enter that vulgar gathering… I suppose this is it?”

“So it’s like an entry ticket for male members.”

“That’s what I heard.”

Logan Redford put the black card in his coat pocket and asked a question.

“Have you heard anything about Earl Hamilton?”

Earl Hamilton, the second son-in-law of Duke Yant. Getting involved with such high-ranking nobles was a very embarrassing matter. She glared at Ernest Holden with reproachful eyes.

“Duke Yant doesn’t know Madam, but Lord Redford and Lord Holden are right in front of Madam now.”

“If it’s helpful information… they will continue to be unaware of Madam’s existence.”

A threat disguised as consideration. Deborah spoke in a resigned voice about the rumors she had heard from customers.

“He’s notorious among courtesans. Even if he’s somewhat violent and vulgar, he compensates well enough with money that madams tend to turn a blind eye…”

“And?”

“It would have been around last summer. A rumor spread that a young courtesan Earl Hamilton had been keeping died. The police announced it as suicide, but everyone seemed to believe the rumor that the Earl had killed the child.”

“On what grounds?”

“It wasn’t the first time the Earl had beaten a courtesan while drunk… Anyway, that’s all the rumors I’ve heard.”

“Is Warden impressive for deducing Earl Hamilton as the culprit without knowing this? Or am I just slow?”

Logan patted Ernest Holden’s shoulder, who was making a dumbfounded expression, and said,

“Both. Thanks for your time today. Well then.”

It was a greeting that lacked any sincerity. Ernest Holden handed his business card to Deborah and hurriedly followed Logan.

Logan looked up at the sky dyed indigo purple, put a cigarette in his mouth, and fumbled in his pocket for matches. When he felt the crumpled business card, he frowned.

With the sound of a match being struck, Ernest lit Logan’s cigarette.

Logan obediently lowered his head and took a long drag on the cigarette. After taking care of his friend first, Ernest lit his own cigarette.

The cigarette smoke exhaled simultaneously by the two men scattered in the air, and the purple sign of ‘La Sena Boutique’ swayed in the wind.

“You and your temper.”

“…Verify the truth of the rumors about Earl Hamilton.”

Logan gestured with his eyes towards the building. Ernest, who had been looking up at the building following him, laughed in disbelief.

“Now you’re just openly trying to use me.”

“I’m guaranteeing a scoop for your newspaper.”

Logan looked up at the sky. Sleet was falling, hitting his face. He frowned at the cold, damp sensation and moved his steps.

“…Even for me, messing with Duke Yant’s son-in-law is something I need to discuss with my father. His Highness the Crown Prince and Lord Redford also…”

Logan glanced sideways at his friend and took a long drag on his cigarette. Then, slowly exhaling the smoke, he squinted one eye.

“Duke Yant gets rid of the second son-in-law he doesn’t like, and the Holden family, the Redford family, and even the royal family can benefit… You just need to find such material.”

Logan’s coat tails fluttered in the wind as he entered a narrow alley. Ernest followed him with quick steps, raising his voice.

“Me? You seem to be mistaking the newspaper for an information guild…”

So. Logan frowned as if annoyed and stopped walking. Both his gaze looking down at his friend with his hands behind his back and his tone were thoroughly cold.

“You’re going to request it there anyway.”

Ernest Holden could only gape like a carp at Logan’s attitude, which was beyond confident and bordering on shameless. Still not satisfied, he waved his hands in the air and beat his chest.

“Of course. So, what I mean is, why are you requesting it through me?”

Logan flicked his cigarette to shake off the ash in response to his friend’s protest.

No matter how discreetly he makes a request, if he moves, not only the enemies of the Redford family and the Crown Prince, but also his grandfather, Lord Redford, are bound to take notice.

Not yet. There are things to do before inheriting the succession…

“It’s better if it looks like data collection for a newspaper article.”

It must be so.

So that when he steps forward in the name of Redford, no one will dare to confront him recklessly, to protect Sidney Warden and Marien.

“Damn, such a guy is going around convincing people to mess with the police? Damn you, I’ll probably have people following me soon too.”

“You’re rich. Use that to hire bodyguards.”

“Damn it, I’m going to charge you for all of this.”

“Do as you like.”

“Let’s stop talking. Here, the documents on Warden.”

Ernest looked around and took out an envelope from his chest. He hit Logan’s chest with it while lowering his voice.

“I’ll have to write an article about Warden soon.”

Logan muttered to himself, looking down at the envelope he had received inadvertently.

“If it’s what I want…”

“There were no records of Warden’s mother, the Countess. As if someone had deliberately erased them…”

Sidney Warden’s mother, Haley Warden.

A woman that Sidney’s father, Huey Warden, brought home one day and made his wife. And then one day, she supposedly abandoned her husband and three children and disappeared…

If she had been a noble, they wouldn’t have erased the records. What kind of person was she?

Logan said as he folded the documents and put them in his coat pocket.

“It could be a weakness. I’ll continue the remaining investigation from Redford.”

Just as he was about to move, Ernest Holden blocked his way and asked,

“Logan, answer me now. What are you planning to do by investigating Warden?”

Logan smirked, recalling the condition his friend had set.

“Sidney Warden, I’m trying to find out what he’s hiding.”

“What? Are you planning to use Warden’s weakness to manipulate him?”

Sidney Warden’s weakness. If he gets his hands on that… Logan lowered his gaze obliquely and smiled meaningfully. Muttering to himself.

“I wonder if he’ll let himself be shaken…”

Logan’s words were as faint as the sound of the wind, making it impossible to hear them clearly. But from their years together, Ernest sensed Logan’s madness.

Ernest grabbed Logan’s shoulders and pressed his body close. With an uncharacteristically serious face, he lowered his voice.

“You madman, I thought it was strange how you called Warden and then hid like a mouse to watch him… At least let me know why you’re doing this to Warden.”

Whenever Logan went crazy, Ernest pulled him back. Just like now, right before his eyes completely rolled back… Wasn’t he tired of it?

Logan said as he brushed off his friend’s hands one by one as if dusting off dirt.

“Because I want to see him.”

And he looked at the street, not at Ernest who was just repeatedly saying “Huh?”

Darkness had settled deeply on the street.

“Sidney, why did you come here?”

Walter Asner frowned as he looked up at the old building at 19 Conrad Avenue. Sidney said while flipping through the autopsy report Andy Spencer had organized.

“Looking at the autopsy report, except for the second victim Emma, the faces of the first and third victims were unrecognizable. In such cases, it was usually a familiar perpetrator with a personal grudge.”

“I thought so too. Moreover, given that the first and second murders occurred two days apart…”

Andy Spencer chimed in as they turned into a narrow alley between buildings. Finally catching on, Walter Asner raised his voice at the end of his sentence.

“Was the second victim a witness?”

“Yeah, there were two whole days. Emma might have told someone what she witnessed. Even if not… someone must have seen Earl Hamilton entering and leaving the building to see Miss Nora and Marien.”

The green door with peeling paint was open today as well. As Sidney climbed the creaky stairs, Walter caught up and raised a question.

“But wouldn’t he have worn shabby clothes or covered his face to hide his identity…”

“No matter how shabbily dressed, commoners instinctively recognize nobles.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s close to a survival instinct. If you get tangled up with a noble by mistake, you’re done for.”

Compared to carnivores that only sharpen their senses when necessary, herbivores are always on guard. Because if they let their guard down even for a moment, they could lose their lives. Commoners were no different.

“Well, it’s not a pretty sight. But Spencer and I met all the residents of this building…”

“Commoners read newspapers too. There’s no way they wouldn’t know Earl Hamilton, famous for the scandal of the century.”

Sidney knocked lightly on the door marked 309 while smiling bitterly and called out to his old friend. Only after repeating several times did the door open.

“Peter, I came because I have something to ask.”

Peter anxiously peeked at Walter and Andy through the narrow gap in the door. Sidney stepped aside and introduced his colleagues.

“This is Walter Asner and Andy Spencer who work with me. Can we come in for a moment?”

Peter said, “Just a moment,” and closed the door. The sound of the latch being undone was heard, and then the door opened wide.