I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 853 – Side Story 126: Recovery (1)

Casey's face subtly contorted when she saw Rudger's finger gesture. She couldn't guess why Rudger was doing that to her, but she instinctively sensed it wasn't for a particularly pleasant reason.

If it were her usual self, she would have pondered and tried to deduce the answer.

But right now, gathering up the valuables in the storage room took priority.

A deviation she had never experienced once in her life as a detective, as a noble, as a mage.

Extorting wealth that someone else had accumulated with their heart and soul. Just having the stolen goods fill her bundle made some part of her heart overflow with abundance.

Like a child tasting candy for the first time in their life. Casey forgot what she was even doing and focused solely on the act of collecting items.

She was aware that she was doing something she shouldn't do. But precisely because of that, the sense of immorality gave her an even stranger pleasure.

Irene also began stealing items while reading the situation. However, she showed signs of considerable worry about whether it was okay to take this much.

"Um, is it really okay to take all of this?"

"It's fine. Since it's wealth gathered through bad methods, it'll be hard to complain if we take it back the same way." 

"But still, this is too much."

Irene was a rather reasonable phantom thief. You might ask what sense a phantom thief has, but at least she only stole exactly what the other party had taken.

If it was more than that, she judged it to be an act that went beyond justifiable retaliation.

Of course, it was also a defense mechanism of sorts to reduce guilt about the act of stealing itself.

But the two people before her eyes were completely different.

"You look unconvinced."

Rudger saw through what Irene was thinking at a glance.

"......"

Irene didn't answer, but she nodded. In this aspect, beastfolk were certainly honest in expressing their emotions.

"If you can take it, take it. There's no need to feel guilty. Right now, at this moment at least, you're a phantom thief, aren't you? Do phantom thieves pick and choose?"

Irene's expression became subtle. It seemed right but she still didn't seem to agree completely.

Rather, she seemed somewhat put off by Casey, who was starting to plunder even more actively than herself.

Her expression was saying this: I do steal things, but still, that's a bit...

Rudger could read it clearly but Casey couldn't. She was currently absorbed in ransacking items.

If she had seen it, embarrassment would have washed over her belatedly and her face would have flushed. Rudger didn't want that.

Not because he disliked Casey feeling embarrassed.

'Because that expression should only be shown in front of me.'

Then he felt Casey's gaze. Rudger feigned ignorance and asked.

"What is it?" 

"Nothing. It just seems like you're thinking something improper."

Tsk. Sharp intuition indeed. Of course, Rudger wasn't a pushover either.

"How could that be? I was just giving some advice to my junior here." 

"......Forget it and just get to work. It feels like I'm the only one working."

Casey grumbled but didn't stop. Before she had moved things with water, but now she was moving them with her own hands. She was getting a feel for it.

"Anyway, you claim to be a phantom thief but you oddly feel guilty. You can let go of that feeling a little." 

"But this is too excessive......" 

"Enjoy it. Only when you know how to enjoy can you be called a proper phantom thief. Don't tell me you claimed to be a phantom thief without that?"

Enjoy it. Irene's gaze briefly went to Casey then returned to Rudger.

Rudger's expression was stern. As if, as a senior, he couldn't tolerate this behavior of someone who claimed to be a phantom thief. That appearance made Irene shrink somehow.

"If you're going to claim to be a phantom thief, act like one. At least for this moment. You must be faithful to your role. How can you call yourself a phantom thief without being that sincere?"

Is that so? He spoke so confidently that Irene was momentarily swayed. But you're a phantom thief. And isn't it also a bit much to steal indiscriminately like that?

Irene worried like that then shook her head. It was partly because she agreed with some of what Rudger said.

At least for this moment, she should be faithful to her role. She definitely liked that.

"Understood, senior."

Irene moved her hands diligently.

Having completely cleaned out everything in the storage room, Rudger immediately left with Casey. The two moved naturally and returned to their room.

What they had to do was simple. Just wait and observe.

Soon news came.

-Knock knock

Someone knocked on the door. When there was no answer, the knocking grew louder as if becoming somewhat urgent.

Rudger opened the door. What he saw beyond were guards and Benjamin with a face flushed red and blue.

"What is it?" 

"I came to see Detective Casey."

Benjamin got straight to the point. Judging by his expression, it seemed he had belatedly realized that even the storage room had been completely cleaned out. With all the items suddenly disappearing, he must have been quite flustered. And anger must have risen to the top of his head.

He who loved to show off and boast had everything he owned stolen. Considering his personality, he probably caused quite a scene. After calming down a bit, Casey must have come to mind.

"Fine. Let's talk."

Casey also stepped forward as if she had been waiting.

Naturally guided, Rudger and Casey arrived at a private room for confidential conversation.

Benjamin tried to emphasize propriety as much as possible. He was a man who cared about public perception.

However, as soon as he arrived in a room without watching eyes, he immediately got to the point.

"Have you found the phantom thief?" 

"Why are you asking me that?"

When Casey questioned back, Benjamin asked as if dumbfounded.

"Aren't you a detective? Then naturally you should catch the phantom thief!" 

"Didn't you say the phantom thief couldn't breach your boasted security anyway?" 

"That...! But it disappeared! That precious black diamond! And...everything else was stolen too."

Benjamin debated whether to speak or not, then finally let it out. About what situation he was in.

"Is that so?"

But Casey was indifferent. Even though he told her the shocking fact that the storage room was completely cleaned out, her reaction was lukewarm, and Benjamin was flustered.

To Rudger, it was quite a funny farce. What else could it be but comedy to whine about being robbed in front of the people who stole everything?

"Then you should catch them yourself." 

"You...!"

At Casey's uncooperative attitude, Benjamin seemed extremely heated. Looking at his expression with both fuses lit, it seemed he might have thrown punches if the opponent were easy.

"What?"

But the opponent was Casey. That Casey Selmore.

"Right now your expression looks like you're about to pour anger onto me?"

Benjamin's spine chilled when he met Casey's cold eyes. The anger that seemed endless felt like it was plunging into the deep sea and cooling off sharply.

Belatedly, he became aware of who his opponent was. Casey Selmore was a famous detective, but what raised her reputation wasn't simply being a detective.

A mage with a colour title. Having mastered the water element and able to handle even nature's water, she was skilled enough to annihilate an army by herself.

Even if Benjamin hired mages or knights with a fortune, their skills wouldn't reach Casey's toes.

It didn't matter how many guards overflowed around him. Casey could subdue them with one finger.

Recognizing this fact, Benjamin broke out in cold sweat and tried to smile with effort.

"Ho-how could that be? How could I do that to Lady Casey Selmore?" 

"Then what? Are you thinking of forcing me, saying I must catch the culprit?"

To Casey, Benjamin wasn't very welcome. While she was grateful for the invitation, hidden intentions lay within.

'He deliberately provoked the phantom thief conspicuously and invited Casey. If the phantom thief failed to steal, he'd take credit saying his security team did well. Even Casey was just a device to make himself look great.'

That attempt was foiled from the start. Thinking the jewel was stolen due to Irene's deception, he was played conspicuously.

And realizing it wasn't just the diamond that was stolen but everything, he couldn't help but be out of his mind.

"Did-didn't the phantom thief appear? I just thought that Detective Casey might at least give me some opinion......"

Benjamin spoke pleadingly to Casey. He was thoroughly the weaker party in this situation. Perhaps unfamiliar with that position, even as he spoke, he twisted around like someone wearing ill-fitting clothes.

Casey must have found that appearance quite pathetic.

"Yes. They appeared. But since you said you could handle it yourself, I stayed put." 

"I-I was foolish. How could I try to do anything alone? I need the detective's help."

Benjamin said so. It must be because someone who lost much wanted to grab onto any lifeline somehow.

'If Casey steps in, the situation will change.'

Casey Selmore was a detective. And she had solved countless cases until now. Benjamin believed without doubt it would be the same this time. In fact, Casey knew the phantom thief's identity. She also knew the whereabouts of Benjamin's valuables.

She knew the answer. But Benjamin chose the wrong answer.

He should not have asked Casey. No, from the beginning, there was no right answer given to him.

"Mr. Benjamin. You must have spent a lot of money to build a ship of this level?" 

"What? Yes, yes." 

"I heard you grew the maritime industry very well. That you accumulated wealth through shipbuilding and trade. But there was a difficult time for shipbuilding. Most companies went on strike during that period."

Benjamin seemed not to understand what Casey was saying. He must be wondering what kind of nonsense this was out of nowhere.

"Actually, the company you owned was also struggling with considerable debt at that time. Most companies were like that, but this side was especially so. People spoke with one voice. That this could absolutely never survive. The flooding debts and approaching maturity dates of bonds. How could you cover those?"

But Benjamin did it. He swept in massive money from somewhere. Filling the funds that way, he opened breathing room and narrowly saved the company from ruin.

"What's that suddenly about......" 

"Don't interrupt and listen properly. You procured funds. They were massive jewels. Since you found not only jewels but also gold from the mine, how could it not be?" 

"......" 

"Ah. Officially, it wasn't you, right? Because it was done by the paper company you established. But you're involved. Because you had to break through somehow. I don't think it's bad. You can't do anything if you want to survive."

Casey's eyes narrowed.

"But you shouldn't have deceived and usurped pure beastfolk."

Benjamin's expression turned pale. Casey knew his secret.

"It's not just you, right? The families and companies that were consecutively robbed by the phantom thief recently. All in cahoots, right? It has to be. If your company goes under, does only that one go under? Those with shares and investments would all be ruined too. The fire fell on their feet too. So......"

That's why you did such things.

Casey observed Benjamin's reaction. She didn't even need to claim it was a detective's intuition or anything. Everything Irene said was true.

"You want me to find wealth grown by exploiting other species just because it was stolen? Do I look that ridiculous to you now?" 

"What does that matter! My-my things were stolen!" 

"Speak properly. They're not yours. They belong to the beastfolk tribe that was extorted." 

"That was a transaction!" 

"An unfair transaction, I'm sure. And it wasn't just transactions either."

Benjamin had nowhere left to retreat. When he gave a signal, the guards positioned around revealed a menacing presence.

"......Are you saying you'll condone all that knowing it, detective? Because you're in league with them?" 

"Ha. Now you're coming out this brazenly? Why? Because what you had disappeared, you can't see straight?"

Casey laughed. Rather like someone welcoming this situation.

"Then I'll have to show you."