"I just thought he and I had bad chemistry," Ren said, shrugging. "But after what you told me about Mental Power, I realized that my memory of his expressions felt... off. Like his eyes weren't matching his smile. It felt like his mind was saying something completely different from his mouth."
Ren kept his voice uncertain, but his logic was razor-sharp.
Amber frowned. This was a serious concern. If some random person had said this, she would have dismissed it as a joke, but Ren's 26 points of Mental Power carried significant weight.
Ren sensed his opening and pressed the advantage with a casual tone.
"I don't really know Captain Eula, but since she's your friend, you should probably keep an eye out, Officer Amber. After all, you wouldn't want something irreversible to happen to your best friend just because you ignored a hunch, right?"
Amber glanced at him.
"Alright, that's enough. I'll go tail them tonight and see for myself. Don't go spreading this around, or you'll be looking for trouble. If I actually find something, I'll make sure Eula knows it was your lead."
*Wow, as expected of a patrol officer. She saw through my nudge immediately. I definitely underestimated you, Officer Amber!*
Ren waved his hand with a smile. "Oh, Officer Amber, don't say that. I only spoke up because she's your friend. If there's a reward, I'd much rather just have dinner with you~"
"Hmph, you've got a smooth tongue, don't you?" Amber tilted her chin up. "Fine. If you actually end up being right, lunch is on me!"
"Score!"
***
**[ Behind the Scenes: The System POV ]**
In the luxurious hall, the "Harem Squad" was buzzing with excitement.
"Wait, wait! He actually found a way to handle it already?!"
"Whoa, as expected of His Eminence!"
"But I have a question! Why is it that even when Lord Tsukasa starts over, his first instinct is always to rely on a girl's help?"
A certain 'System' goddess pouted. "Exactly! He's such a flirt!"
***
That night, Ren followed Amber—who had changed into civilian clothes—as they crept into the parking garage of a high-end luxury hotel.
With Amber's police badge, things moved quickly. She had even managed to get Eula's itinerary for the night with a single phone call.
"This is the uncle's car."
Amber lowered herself to the ground, installing a tracking device beneath the vehicle. Because of her crouched position, Ren couldn't help but notice the athletic curve of her silhouette accentuated by her denim shorts.
"Are we just going to wait here?" he asked, trying to sound casual to hide his guilt.
"Of course not," Amber replied without looking up. "This is just insurance. If Eula gets into trouble inside the private room, waiting out here would be useless!"
"Right, right. Sharp as always, Officer Amber." Ren nodded. *I totally agree!*
"Done." Amber stood up and brushed her hands off.
With the view gone, Ren could only look away in disappointment.
"Come on, let's go upstairs!" Amber grabbed his arm and started running. She really was a whirlwind.
***
The parking garage wasn't underground; it was located halfway up a skyscraper that housed the luxury hotel.
It wasn't surprising—Ren had already seen the sky filled with flying cars earlier that day. Even Amber's police bike used hover technology. This really didn't feel like the Mondstadt he knew.
The apology dinner was held in a rooftop garden restaurant at the very top of the building. The location screamed "expensive," and Ren could already guess that the uncle probably had a room booked in the hotel below just in case.
As Ren and Amber took their positions...
Inside a lavish private dining room, Eula, also in civilian clothes, took her seat at her uncle's warm invitation.
"Come, come! Eula, it really means a lot that you came. I can finally sleep with a clear conscience tonight, haha!"
The uncle laughed heartily, even going so far as to pull out Eula's chair for her. Seeing her uncle seemingly turning over a new leaf was exactly what Eula wanted.
She spoke seriously: "Uncle, as long as you recognize the right path, it's never too late. I can even speak to my father for you and find you an opportunity to start fresh."
"Sigh, I've lived so long only to realize I'm not as wise as my own niece." The uncle smiled bitterly and raised his wine glass. "To your words, Eula. Let me offer you a toast."
"I'm glad you understand, Uncle." Eula felt a genuine sense of relief.
However, out of professional habit, she didn't touch the wine. Instead, she poured herself a glass of plain water and raised it. "I'm on duty tomorrow morning, so it's not convenient for me to drink. I hope you understand."
"Of course, of course!" the uncle replied instantly. He laughed. "If I affected your work, I'd be losing sleep all over again."
"Then I'll drink to your health with water." Eula smiled.
The uncle watched Eula finish the glass of water and then immediately gestured to the food. "Eat, eat! It's late, you must be hungry."
"Yes, a bit."
Being with family, Eula let her guard down and picked up her cutlery. The atmosphere was harmonious. The uncle played the part of the "kind relative" perfectly.
But with Eula's efficient habits, the dinner was over in thirty minutes.
"I'll be heading back now, Uncle." Eula wiped her lips with a napkin and prepared to stand, but her face suddenly turned pale.
Across from her, the uncle's face twisted into an eerie grin.
"What's the rush, my dear niece?"
"Uncle... what did you do?" Eula stared at him. Despite her shock, her training kicked in, and she calmly reached for the concealed dagger at her waist.
"Just making sure my niece becomes a bit more... obedient," the uncle said casually, standing up. "Becoming a Master Knight before the age of twenty-five... you certainly live up to the title of 'genius.' I wonder what my 'dear older brother' will look like when his perfect daughter is ruined?"
The mask of the "kind uncle" was gone, replaced by pure malice.
Eula's father—the uncle's older brother—was the favorite to be the next head of the Lawrence family. And what was he? Even the servants called him a "waste" behind his back. The old patriarch had even told him to his face that he never wanted to see him again!
*Why him?! Why not me?!*
"Cough, cough!"
Eula suddenly began to cough. An unnatural flush crept onto her face. The ice-blue dagger she had just grasped slipped from her numb fingers and hit the floor with a loud *clang*.
The uncle smirked.
"Trying to use your Elemental Power? I spent a fortune on that drug. Why don't you struggle a bit more? I want to see the effects in detail. I wonder if your Cryo energy can cool down your body temperature once the 'heat' sets in? Hahaha!"
"You—!" Eula gritted her teeth, her body turning weak. "You're my uncle! How could you do this?!"
She felt a wave of despair. Even though her uncle was known as a spoiled brat, she never thought a family member would sink this low. And no matter how incompetent he was, as a Lawrence, he had access to black-market channels that ordinary people could never reach.
"Uncle?" The uncle's eyes widened, shot with blood. "Did the old man treat me like a son when he kicked me out in front of the whole family?! Did your father treat me like a brother when he refused to give me even one small business to run?!"
He strode toward Eula, who was leaning against the table, trying to gather the last of her strength.
"You're usually the one putting handcuffs on people. I bet you've never felt what it's like to be the one in chains, have you?"
The uncle suddenly turned to a nearby cabinet and pulled out a pair of handcuffs and a black baton. Purple runes flickered to life on the baton as arcs of electricity crackled across its surface.
Looking at her leering uncle, Eula felt a flicker of true hopelessness.
Just then—
***CRASH!***
The door to the private room was kicked open with a thunderous bang. Amber's voice followed immediately, practiced and loud:
"Police! Hands behind your head and get on the ground! Don't move!"
Eula's eyes lit up with hope. The uncle froze, his back to the door. He slowly raised his hands, but his eyes were darting around frantically. He had already committed the crime; if he failed now and word got out, he was finished.
Amber, still in her civilian clothes, stood in the doorway with a handgun raised, eyes locked on the uncle.
In this era, bows were relics of the past. Why use an arrow when you could use a gun?
Amber's pistol was crafted from glowing red crystals and etched with purple lightning runes. It shimmered with power, resonating with the Pyro energy surrounding her.
"Drop the weapon and kick it away! Now!" Amber shouted, keeping her distance.
"Heh... hehe..."
The uncle chuckled low as he slowly lowered his arm with the stun baton toward the floor. Eula's eyes suddenly went wide.
"Amber, watch out!"
***ZZZT!***
A spherical barrier of purple lightning expanded instantly. At the same time, a beam of concentrated fire erupted from Amber's gun.
***BOOM!***
Overload! The moment fire met lightning, an explosion rocked the room.
Flames and smoke obscured the view. A split second later, the uncle—his face contorted with rage—charged through the smoke, appearing right in front of Amber.
Amber reacted instantly, dodging the swinging baton while firing back at point-blank range. This time, it wasn't a beam but a burst of flame, like a magical shotgun blast. The explosion was massive, designed to blow an opponent backward.
The flames engulfed the uncle's upper body. But to Amber's horror, the man didn't stop. Despite being blasted in the face, his body only flinched for a second. His arm continued its swing, and the stun baton slammed into Amber's hands.
"What—?!"
Shock flashed across Amber's face. Her gun was knocked flying, and her body was momentarily paralyzed by the electrical discharge. She watched as the figure before her—his upper body still flickering with dying embers—raised the baton for a finishing blow.
Suddenly, a flash of deep blue light cut through the air.
"Arrgh!"
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