Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

……

Mr. Garrett's party was originally very pleasant.

Until his bastard subordinate reappeared.

“Mr. Garrett, I have a grandniece!” A twisted smile spread across Relf’s face, more terrifying than the smile he gave when interrogating prisoners. Even the fine wine in his mouth tasted different. As a dutiful superior, Garrett congratulated him. “Congratulations, Relf, ​​becoming a grandfather so soon. The Bühler family is thriving.”

Not long after Ralph left, he reappeared.

"I'm a grandfather!"

Garrett's lips twitched as he looked at his subordinate with the strange grin, nearly choking on his food.

Suppressing his temper, he replied with a forced smile, "Congratulations, Ralph."

the third time.

"My grandniece is absolutely adorable!"

Garrett erupted!

"You damned bastard! I know you're happy, I know I'm the only person you interact with in your meager social circle, and I know your grandniece is indeed very cute! But you bastard! You actually repeated 'My grandniece is so cute' three times in ten minutes! If you show your face again, I'll carve 'My grandniece is so cute' into your face with a knife, you damned scoundrel!"

……

Kevin watched anxiously as the seemingly innocent little girl beside him chewed on a piece of meat on her fork. Seeing Nia's puffed-out cheeks, he silently prayed. "Nia, don't give yourself away. Please act like a proper little girl." Using a knife and fork skillfully—that's something a noble child should be able to do, without seeming out of place; eating a whole steak—that's a noble child's large appetite, without seeming out of place; pouring a glass of red wine—you brat, put that glass down! You're still breastfeeding at your age! In the end, Kevin almost hypnotized himself.

"Nia hates Kevin!" Seeing the little girl glaring at him angrily, Kevin downed the drink in his glass in one gulp.

After downing the cup, Kevin seemed to be hallucinating. Nia's delicate pink hand seemed to have turned into black and red tentacles? It wasn't an illusion; it really had changed! Kevin quickly grabbed Nia's hand and covered the tentacles.

"Nia, what are you doing? Stay in human form, don't give yourself away!"

“Nia wants some pastries.” Nia pointed to the cute pastries on the platter across the long table.

"If you can't reach it, I'll get it for you." Kevin handed the pastries to Nia's plate, and breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Nia begin to eat. Kevin had once again saved the day.

On the other hand, Nia's disguise was really realistic. Kevin kneaded Nia's pink little hand, curiously feeling it, just like a real hand.

Kevin held Nia's hand in his, while his other hand gripped her shoulder. Ralph appeared behind Kevin, his gaze as if he were looking at a dead man.

“I’ve been watching you for a while, Mr. Kevin. Aren’t you a little too interested in Nia’s hands? Kid, if you can’t give me a straight answer, I’ll chop off your filthy hands.”

Fear gripped Kevin.

Nia suddenly started coughing; she was choking.

Ralph looked at his little baby and gently patted her back.

Kevin escaped.

"That wretched Kevin, he made Nia choke."

Ralph stroked Nia's back.

"You ate too fast, how can you blame others?"

"It's Kevin's fault! It's all his fault!"

"Okay, okay, it's his fault. Grandpa will give him a good beating next time he sees him. Nia, be good and eat slowly."

Chapter 194 The Changes Brought by Ariana

Garrett stepped off the carriage that was parked at the police station. The joy of the previous night still lingered in his mind, and he could almost smell the makeup and drinks of the ladies.

Rubbing the back of his head, Garrett tugged at his brooch. Had he gained weight again, spending too much time at his desk? Recalling his past as a junior sheriff hustling in Cassandra, Garrett sighed with nostalgia, "Old man, the only thing you've kept is your punctuality."

Pushing open the door, the office was empty except for the night watchmen, who were slumped over their desks taking a nap. Understandable; the other sheriffs had attended last night's banquet and were probably still hungover. I was already grateful these gentlemen waiting for their shift change were still at their posts. Even so, Garrett couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment; these newcomers were truly getting worse with each generation.

It seemed one thing was missing. Garrett looked at the simple desk in the far corner, a spot with extremely poor lighting, requiring artificial light even during the day unless it was a bright, sunny day. Now, in the darkness, a person sat upright in that shadowy space, the sound of pages turning coming from a blurry outline. Those eyes absorbed the dim light, becoming the only bright spot in the shadows.

Garrett knew who it was, of course; anyone willing to share a desk with a colleague wouldn't be in that spot. Garrett snorted, walked to his desk, hung his coat on it, tidied his files, and with his monocle still in its socket, Garrett transformed back into the imposing police inspector.

He looked up at the first document on his desk.

“Lyle Bouler’s resignation letter?” Garrett’s lips murmured, but his gaze had already shifted into the shadows.

Ralph turned the pages at the same pace, his cold voice carrying a chilling undertone. One employee, who had been sleeping, was even awakened by his deep voice.

"Yes, Lyle has decided to resign from his job as sheriff. He wants to have more time to do what he wants. You saw what happened yesterday. My future niece-in-law is no small person. So, he doesn't want to work hard anymore. I've agreed. The Buller family has been preserved, so let him be."

“That makes sense.” Garrett accepted the resignation letter, but didn’t forget to tease the old bachelor, “So you even have grandchildren now. When will the wolf find its den? That guy in Narancia has been asking about your whereabouts.”

Ralph didn't answer. He stepped out of the shadows, his face cold as if he were looking at his enemy. But Garrett, who had known him for a long time, knew that he was just a born bastard.

A thick stack of files was thrown onto Garrett's desk.

"What is this? The Cassandel Noble Archives?" Garrett's eyes widened, his roar echoing like thunder in the sheriff's office. "You damned bastard! You dared to bypass me and take files from the archives without permission! Do you know what a serious crime it is to steal from the archives?!"

“I was merely ‘referencing’ it; I simply submitted the application at the last minute, so it’s not my fault. Mr. Garrett, you’re late today, so I had no choice but to resort to this tactic. Now, I’m returning it to you properly, sir.”

Garrett suffered a setback, but it wasn't the first time. Ralph was much smarter than him, especially when it came to exploiting loopholes.

“Tell me what you’re looking for, Ralph. Tell me what you’re searching for. I need to make sure you don’t pose a threat to the privacy of the nobles.” Garrett looked intently into Ralph’s eyes.

Ralph knew what that look meant; it was Garrett's interrogation habit. Fortunately, he had nothing to lie about.

"I am looking up relevant files about the Borui family."

"The Borei family? Young Master Kevin, Ralph? You're investigating your nephew's friend?"

"I'm just curious. The 'foundation' that the nobility possesses surprises me a bit."

"So, what problem did you find?"

“No, the Borei family is doing very well.” Ralph straightened his hat and walked out.

"The previous head of the Borei family served the king and was rewarded with a hereditary barony for his military service. The Borei family is undoubtedly the most orthodox Cassandale noble family."

“The Cassandras have never had any contact with any nobles in the neighboring provinces.”

……

Ralph walked down the street, habitually heading into a dark alley, the closest place to his home, a single room assigned by the police.

His figure disappeared into the shadows of the houses as he made his way to his home, his mind replaying Lyle's appearance at the party the previous night. Lyle had a smile on his face, just like his father; they were always naive, smiling at things that weren't clear. If it hadn't been for the investigation confirming that Lyle's parents' deaths were caused by a sudden infectious disease, Ralph would surely have brought more life to this gloomy city.

Ralph walked into the familiar alley. His house was just around the next corner. It was time to give his mind a break.

Ralph turned the corner and saw the figure in front of his familiar house.

She stood out from everything around her, yet she stood quietly in front of her own door.

As if she had eyes in the back of her head, she turned around and looked at herself, revealing her beautiful face.

“Hello, Mr. Ralph, I am Ariana, you can call me Anna.”

Ralph squinted, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes.

"Anna, how did you find my room?"

"Well, Kevin gave me your address yesterday, so I'd like to come and visit you."

"Thank you for your kindness, Anna. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"It's about Lyle..."

Ralph opened his eyes, the smile vanishing from them, and looked at Ariana, his voice soft and rhythmic.

"About Lyle?"

……

Last night was a wonderful night. Lyle was packing his clothes in his room. He had promised Ariana that he would stay at Nathran Castle for a while, and for that reason, he had hurriedly written a resignation letter.

Ariana and Andre Academy will be taking up most of her time, along with club activities and séance courses, so she's using this opportunity to resign from her job as sheriff. Now that she doesn't have to worry about making a living, she can naturally do what she loves. As for her uncle, she'll find time to visit him and show some care for this lonely old bachelor.

There was a knock at the door. Was it Ariana?

It was Ralf and Ariana. Ralf hadn't expected them to appear together like this.

Ralph looked at his nephew.

"Lyle, you brat, why don't you marry into the Naslan family?"

"what?"

Chapter 195 Personal Servant

Lyle pinched his ear and looked at Ralf, whose face was gloomy.

"Uncle, what did you say?"

Ralph spoke slowly and deliberately.

"I suggest you marry into Naslan's family."

"why?"

“Anna came to talk to me this morning because, due to her family, she wants to continue living with the Naslan family. She specifically came to ask for my opinion on this. She's a good girl. She hopes you can make some concessions regarding your future residence. I think you should just join the Naslan family directly.”

"You suggested this?" You're selling me out?

“Yes, Lyle,” Ralph picked up Nia, who had previously taken human form, and rubbed her little head in front of Lyle. “The Bühler family already has Nia, and Nia will keep the Bühler surname. As for you, you are no longer of any value.”

"I...I'm your nephew!"

“Yes, but I have a grandniece now, Mr. Lyle. Your nephew has lost all value in my eyes. Go and become livestock in the Naslan family!” Without waiting for Lyle’s reply, Ralf had already left on his own.

"That damn uncle!" Lyle muttered under his breath as he watched Ralph's disappearing figure.

“Mr. Ralph loves you very much, Lyle.” Ariana held Lyle’s hand tightly, recalling the scene from that morning.

Ralph's eyes were fixed on her, but those usually sharp eyes were now as gentle as lake water.

“Lyle likes you, he’s happy with you, and that’s enough. For me, that’s enough.”

……

Naslan’s castle stands on that meadow, behind that tranquil lake.