Chapter 239: Disquieting Movements and an Emergency Meeting (1/2)
By the time it was afternoon, there were much fewer patients, so we residents started taking turns attending to the patients, and used the free time to study and exchange opinions.
As for what we discussed…
The sports-minded Tint-san was interested in protein and training, while Hector-san, who specialized in medicine and poison, was interested in the topic of safer anesthetics and a.n.a.lgesics.
As for Clarissa-san, she held a strong interest in nutritional supplements, so her inquiries mostly revolved around nutrients.
They all cooperated with me according to their respective specialties.
“Thank you again for all the help.” [Ryouma]
“It’s fine. It’s interesting to us too. But enough of that, let’s talk about that makeup remover we were talking about the other day.” [Isabel]
The one who started this exchange of opinions was actually the beautiful doctor, Isabel-san.
She’s helping me out with cosmetology, the topic I fared worst with.
When I visited the duke’s family last time, I created a Bath Bomb and a Sugar Scrub, and because of that, the madam has started to hold expectations of me developing cosmetics.
There’s no pressure or anything, but I’d still like to do my best to improve my studies in that direction.
Isabel-san is a woman herself and she has an abundance of medical knowledge, so her help is indispensable.
Occasionally, an emergency case would pop up, but most of our time at the hospital was peaceful.
Since the hospital isn’t struggling with its finances, it’s good that it’s not too busy.
And then, evening came.
While I was preparing to go home, the maid, Lilian-san, came.
“Ryouma-sama. Can I have a moment?” [Lilian]
There was nothing else left to do but to go home, so I told her, ‘sure’, and she brought me to the meeting room.
Inside were the people in charge of the security company, Hyuzu-san and Jill-san.
The people in charge of the garbage processing plant, Zeff-san and Camil-san.
As well as the people who’ve been supporting me all this time, Lilian-san, of course, and Rurunez-san and Riviola-san as well.
This was the usual line up of the people dispatched from the duke’s family.
“Leelin-san?” [Ryouma]
“Good evening, Boss.” [Leelin]
But on top of them, Leelin-san from the laundromat was here too.
There weren’t really any problems with her being here, but it was strange that she was the only person not from the duke’s family here, and what’s more is that I think this is the first time she’s been here.
For the meantime, I decided to take a seat and listen to what they had to say.
The first one to speak was the leader-in-training, Hyuzu-san.
“Ryouma, since you’re here, we can begin. We’ll dispense with formalities and get straight to the point. The ‘investigation’ regarding that incident is already 80% done.” [Hyuzu]
Ah, about that incident, huh. Hmm, 80 percent?
“We’re just one step away from concluding our investigation. We would like to continue, but in the course of our investigation, we found someone acting strange. So I wanted to discuss how to deal with him.” [Hyuzu]
“Who is it?” [Ryouma]
“One of your laundromat’s new guards, Yurdum.” [Hyuzu]
Oh, him.
“Since Leelin-san is here, I take it that you’ve already made progress with your investigations?” [Ryouma]
“Yes.” [Leelin]
“So let me guess, at first you just wanted to confirm something at the start, right? But then it turned into something serious.” [Ryouma]
“Yes, at first it was just dad’s intuition. We didn’t have any evidence, but you see, that guy really liked to leave the store when there was no work to be done.” [Leelin]
“But he’s doing his job properly, right? Maybe he just wants to get some fresh air during break time? I know that’s what I’d do, maybe he’s the same. Doesn’t really sound that suspicious to me.” [Ryouma]
“That’s true, but I hear Leelin-san here and her dad used to work in the underworld. They must have a sense for this sort of stuff.” [Jill]
When Jill-san said that, Leelin-san nodded.
“I was curious, so I followed him when he went out one day. I told him I wanted to go together with him and show him around town, and he was really happy.” [Leelin]
“Ahh… I can imagine that.” [Ryouma]
Yurdum-sam did always strike me as the frivolous sort when it came to women…
But thanks to that he’s really friendly while working as a guard, and the children and housewives that visit the store are all praises for him.
“So, I’m guessing he’s guilty?” [Ryouma]
As Leelin-san nodded, she turned to Rurunez-san.
In her hands were several sheets of paper. His activates were probably written on those.
“At first, it seemed as though we really were just walking around town, but recently, it’s become apparent that he’s scouting the area. Moreover, the scope of his patrols always revolved around places you’re related with, Ryouma-sama.
He visited the hospital under the pretense of injuring himself when he fell, and he even inquired if he could visit the security company since he was interested in the training. We have testimonies from the employees.” [Rurunez]
“We know that he’s visited the garbage processing plant, and we know that he’s also dropped by the vicinity of the Children’s Home according to the account of the children.” [Lilian]
“He loiters around the former slums you demolished, and he’s spoken with the construction workers there too during their break.” [Zeff]
“The Land Readjustment Project may be going well, but it’s still not normal for someone to frolic a place that once used to be the slums without any reason.” [Camil]
“Lastly, and this just happened recently, Fei-sama saw him leave once while being suspiciously vigilant of his surroundings. When Fei-sama followed him secretly, he saw him contact a man in some alley, and handed over something that looked like a letter to him.” [Riviola]
After Rurunez-san spoke, Camil-san and Zeff-san provided more information.
Riviola-san’s opinion that he wasn’t acting normal was sound too.
Moreover, the scene of him handing over a letter…
“Rurunez-san. With all that information, it appears that he really is poking around on someone’s behalf.” [Ryouma]
“Yes, we’re more or less certain about it at this point. But according to Leelin-san his work is too sloppy, and anyone in their line of work could easily see through him. He hasn’t received training and is basically an amateur.” [Rurunez]
Is that true? I turned to Leelin-san.
“Yes, I spoke with my dad too, so there’s no mistaking it. He’s merely receiving some kind of compensation and giving out information.” [Leelin]
“I see.” [Ryouma]
To be honest, it hasn’t been long since I met Yurdum-san.
He has things he hasn’t told me about, and I have things I’ve been keeping from him too.
I don’t know if he’s a pro or not, but it doesn’t change the fact that his actions might cause problems for us.
But…
When I think about how he’s acted so far, he’s never really struck me as the sort of guy to betray someone despite his poor personality. But then again, I’m not confident in my ability to judge people either, so…
And what’s more, Fei-san and Leelin-san insist that he’s a spy. This line of work falls under their specialty, so their opinion means a lot.
If so, then I doubt they’re mistaken. They’re not infallible, but the odds are low.
There’s enough evidence and I trust them too. There’s no doubting their abilities either.
“So the problem now is how to deal with him, huh.” [Ryouma]