I stepped out of the hideout and immediately activated my ability.

Blood flowed rapidly through my entire body, and strength began to surge.

I leaped up onto a three-story building in one breath.

“Ren, where should I go?”

As I tapped the earring with my hand, it turned on and the communication connected.

Soon, Ren’s voice flowed from the communication channel.

− First, move in the 3 o’clock direction.

Ren was in charge of navigation, and I was in charge of kidnapping.

He looked at the surveillance devices secretly installed throughout the streets and told me the most suitable route.

‘It’s like a kind of navigation system, I guess.’

I lightly jumped between buildings, moving closer and closer to the target.

− Be careful. There are investigators spread out on the left side.

“Okay.”

I moved freely, avoiding the eyes of people, especially the investigators.

And finally, I was able to reach the vicinity of the target. I stood on top of a five-story inn, looking down at the target on the street.

“Is that the right man? Wow, he really is handsome even on second look.”

I couldn’t help but admire the target’s extraordinary beauty for a moment.

‘Is he really human?’

Even from afar, the man’s face was extraordinary.

Overall, he had an inorganic impression, but was it because of his handsome appearance? He gave off an atmosphere more like a sculpture than a person.

His skin was pale like plaster, but his hair was as dark as pitch black, making his beauty stand out even more.

‘A handsome man of this level is rare.’

The only comparable people might be Ren or that damn guy.

Maybe this man could be the male protagonist I’ve been looking for, Callys.

“I’ll catch him right away. Be prepared in advance, Ren.”

− Yes, understood.

With that, I threw myself towards the target.

“Young Master, let’s go back even now. Next week is the high nobility council meeting. Please?”

Nils, Dietrich’s aide, said with a tearful expression.

The high nobility council was a meeting held regularly every quarter where nobles gathered at the imperial palace.

In the past, Duke Belvedere attended in person, but in recent years, Dietrich had been attending as a proxy.

As it was a place where such influential figures gathered, thorough preparation was necessary.

‘The meeting is coming soon, what are you planning if you really get kidnapped like this?’

His master, the young master, seemed to be fixated on the kidnapping incident reported in the newspaper, and as soon as his schedule ended, he came out to this Hildes Street.

The purpose was incredibly absurd.

He wanted to confirm once again that he was handsome by getting caught by a kidnapper famous for abducting handsome men.

Nils, the aide, was at a loss for what to do in the face of Dietrich’s sudden action.

The distance from the mansion to Hildes Street was considerable enough to require taking a carriage.

So, throughout the journey here, he had tried to dissuade Dietrich, but of course, it didn’t work at all.

Even though Dietrich was not a person to easily change his mind, Nils couldn’t give up on persuading him.

“Young Master, the timing is not good right now. Please, it would be better to return to the mansion today…”

At that moment, Dietrich, who had been wandering the street as he pleased, finally stopped. Then he gave his aide a seemingly serious look.

“Nils, think about it carefully.”

“About what, sir?”

“What is the most important thing right now?”

The most important thing right now.

For the young master leading the Belvedere family, the most important thing was clearly the high nobility council meeting next week.

Especially since he had missed a few times before, he absolutely had to attend this meeting.

But Nils knew Dietrich well.

What Dietrich valued was not power, wealth, or honor.

“I know you want me to answer that your appearance is the most important, but I can’t answer that way just for today. The noble council is more important.”

Dietrich’s eyes widened at Nils’ firm answer. He seemed a bit shocked.

“Nils. What did you just say? Did you say there’s something more important in this world than my appearance, no, this exquisitely beautiful and incomparably handsome face? Is there steam on your glasses? In this summer weather?”

Dietrich snatched Nils’ glasses and wiped them with a handkerchief from his pocket. The cleaned glasses shone brightly.

“Young Master, my glasses are fine.”

“Oh my. Then it must be a problem with your eyesight. Well, it’s natural that your vision would decrease, seeing my face every day. Your eyes must often be dazzled. I’m sorry, Nils. I’ll process the vision deterioration as an occupational injury. I should have considered your situation earlier, my thinking was short-sighted.”

Nils let out a deep sigh. It seemed his master had no intention of backing down.

“My eyesight is fine too, Young Master.”

“Hmm…”

Dietrich was at a loss for words for a moment. As if he couldn’t believe Nils’ words, he shook his head.

“Then why do you say that damned noble council is more important even after seeing this face that sparkles like the stars in the night sky?”

It wasn’t quite common to refer to one’s own face as ‘stars in the night sky’, but Nils didn’t mind.

Over the past 8 years as Dietrich’s aide, he had heard far worse expressions countless times.

And above all, Dietrich’s expressions were all true.

It might even be modest. That’s how radiant his face was.

However, this was not important to Nils, who was only interested in work.

“Yes, Young Master. My answer remains unchanged. The noble council is more important. It won’t change even if you ask dozens of times.”

Dietrich pondered with a serious face for a moment, then soon exclaimed as if he had realized something.

“Aha, is it because you’ve been working too much? It seems there’s a problem with your aesthetic sense.”

Nils sighed.

As expected, Dietrich didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down today.

‘If he really gets kidnapped and misses the meeting…’

Of course, the possibility was extremely low.

Not because he was a robust adult male.

Because the blood of the Belvedere family flowed through his veins.

The Belvedere family, the only magic sword family.

They boasted magical power and physical abilities that ordinary humans couldn’t even imagine.

Moreover, Dietrich wasn’t satisfied with just that and was able to demonstrate orthodox magic swordsmanship through numerous trainings.

‘If only his personality was as good as his magic swordsmanship skills.’

Unfortunately, the people of the Belvedere family seemed to inherit a cruel and grotesque personality along with their talent.

There was even a rumor among the imperial citizens that the young master had sold his soul to the devil.

Therefore, unless one was insane, no one would try to kidnap Dietrich, and even if they tried, they wouldn’t be able to succeed.

‘So wandering around like this is obviously a waste of time… He could be looking over work in advance instead.’

Nils sighed as he looked at Dietrich’s carefree face.

‘Let’s try to persuade the young master to return home somehow.’

Having firmly resolved, he tried to speak to Dietrich again.

Or more accurately, he was about to.

“Young Master… Huh?”

Nils rubbed his eyes through his glasses in surprise. Then he slapped his own cheek.

His cheek stung and swelled up red. However, the situation before his eyes didn’t change. Nils’ face soon filled with shock.

Dietrich had disappeared.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

Vivian, who had already finished the kidnapping and returned to the hideout, yawned loudly while sitting in a chair.

‘I successfully kidnapped a handsome man again today.’

It would be nice if today’s schedule ended here, but unfortunately, she had to meet with Gerald, the Information Guild Master, soon.

The Gerald Information Guild was a place that appeared a few times in the original work.

It was a guild established by a man called ‘Master’ who dominated the back alleys, and it operated secretly, accepting only a few clients.

Despite not accepting many clients, it took so long to make an appointment.

It was only after half a year since deciding to kidnap Callys that she was finally able to contact the Master.

The request to the Master was simple.

To find out the appearance and current location of Prince Callys.

It was because of the desire to stop kidnapping innocent handsome men.

Guilt towards the victims was also a reason, but the biggest problem was the original work.

The main supporting character, the princess, was now obsessed with finding the culprit of a kidnapping incident that didn’t exist in the original work.

If she wasn’t careful, the original story might go off track in an unexpected way.

Fortunately, the Master said that the information investigation wouldn’t take too long.

So she believed that she could stop the serial kidnappings soon.

However, even now, a year after that, Vivian had not gained any results.

‘Even if the Empress thoroughly concealed Callys’ existence, honestly, it’s disappointing.’

The guild was described as so competent in the original work. It was natural to be disappointed with the below-expectation results.

Still, since there was no better place, she continued to entrust them with the work.

And today was the day to hear the results of the investigation so far.

‘It’s annoying, but I guess I have to go.’

As she was getting up reluctantly, not wanting to go out, Ren made Vivian sit down again.

“I’ll go instead today. You must be tired after doing such hard work.”

“Hmm? How can I let you do that… You’re tired too.”

“Then please do my job instead. I mean watching over the confined target.”

Ren called it work, but it was essentially the same as resting.

It was a job where you just had to sit and watch the screen quietly.

Vivian felt both sorry and grateful for Ren’s attitude of always considering her.

When she sent an apologetic look, Ren smiled as if it was nothing.

However, the kind expression washed away as soon as he went outside the hideout.

Ren, with eyes drier and colder than the mid-winter air, walked far away.

It was a sight Vivian had never seen before.