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Chapter 41
A long time had passed. The guards searched every corner of the store, and the shop staff huddled beneath the platform, continuing their discussion—but there seemed to be no clear solution. It wasn’t as if anyone was actively resolving the issue.
Finally, unable to endure it any longer, the bidder who had won the magic stone shouted at the staff.
“How much longer are you going to keep us here! If you can’t find it, then return my money right now and compensate me! How much more of my time are you planning to waste?”
His outburst sparked murmurs of discontent among the others.
“He’s right. You can’t just keep us trapped here forever.”
Rodrigo stepped forward once again, trying to calm the crowd.
“I apologize. My employees are working on a solution. Please wait a little longer.”
“We’ve already given you plenty of time. At the very least, call the Capital Guard. We can’t sit here indefinitely, can we?”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
Rodrigo shook his head firmly.
“Why not? What do the rest of you think? Wouldn’t it be better to call the guard and resolve this properly?”
Contrary to expectations, voices of opposition rose among the guests.
“That won’t do.”
“I disagree as well.”
“What exactly is the problem? This is a theft. Surely we can ask for the guard’s help.”
The opposing guests glanced briefly at the platform, where the Community Magic Stone, waiting for auction, glowed faintly.
“Don’t tell me you’re refusing to call the guard because you’re afraid they’ll confiscate that Community Stone?”
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to get my hands on that? It’s a rare item, hardly ever up for sale. Sure, it’s technically illegal, but if the Capital Guard shows up, they’ll discover everything. They’ll seize it immediately.”
“Then let’s hide it! If it’s out of sight, how would they know?”
“You clearly underestimate the Guard. My cousin works there—I know exactly how their investigations go. They’ll tear this place apart, comb through every inch. Hiding it won’t work. They’ll also search every single person here. You’re all right with that?”
“That’s true. Calling the Guard isn’t the right choice.”
Several customers agreed. The backlash from those eyeing the Community Stone was fiercer than expected. The idea of involving the Guard quickly lost momentum.
“Then what do you propose? Sit here for the rest of our lives? Every minute counts for me.”
“And who here doesn’t value their time?”
A lavishly dressed woman, who had opposed calling the Guard, snapped back.
At that moment, one of the staff, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward cautiously.
“Please allow us to search your belongings. I promise, whatever we see will remain completely confidential…”
“Are you insane? Out of your mind?”
The magic stone bidder shrieked.
“You lose track of the merchandise, and now you want to rummage through my things? Absolutely not. Who do you think you are to dig through my belongings, huh?”
The atmosphere instantly turned hostile.
Then, a young, frail-looking gentleman with a sharp expression rose to make a suggestion.
“Then let’s do this. I have some skill with magical schematics. I’ll draw up a detection design that tracks magical power. If Rodrigo provides a stone to power it, we can activate the array. That way, we’ll immediately know who has the missing stone.”
“That’s an excellent idea! Let’s do it—why didn’t you speak up earlier!”
The stone bidder clapped and shouted, delighted.
“Hm…”
Rodrigo rubbed his chin in thought, and the gentleman added:
“A detection array doesn’t require a particularly high-grade stone.”
“That doesn’t sound bad at all. We could find the stone without searching anyone.”
Even the woman who opposed calling the Guard nodded approvingly. As more people voiced support, the mood shifted in favor of the idea.
Finally, Rodrigo gave his consent.
“Very well. Let’s do that.”
The gentleman added one more condition.
“If the detection spell shows nothing, that proves the stone isn’t here. In that case, you must let everyone leave.”
“…Agreed.”
When Rodrigo nodded, the man requested a private room.
Led away by an employee, the gentleman quietly drew the schematic. Meanwhile, Rodrigo had another staff member prepare a suitable stone.
Before long, the man returned with the completed diagram.
“This should reveal the stolen stone’s location.”
Rodrigo placed the stone at the center of the schematic.
The array activated, glowing faintly. Wisps of white light flickered like they might go out, then drifted upward and scattered throughout the store.
“These lights are drawn to concentrated magical power. The denser the power, the more light will gather.”
Just as he explained, the wisps floated around before clinging to sources of dense magic—either the stones displayed in the shop, or those carried on people.
“Ah, over there! Looks like a stone!”
People murmured when they noticed light clustering on Jaelyn’s wrist.
It was only her community bracelet, not the stolen stone, but it revealed that Jaelyn’s group was from the Felodian Academy.
Then Jaelyn’s eyes widened as she spotted something.
“W-wait… S-Stefan?”
“Huh? What?”
“Y-your chest…”
Following her gaze, Stefan looked down at his chest. The brightest, largest glow in the entire store clung there.
“Wha—what the hell?!”
Stefan jumped in place, frantically brushing at his chest.
“Stefan… was it really you?”
Sasha eyed him with suspicion. Stefan waved his hands wildly, stumbling backward.
“No! Why would I steal it? Sure, I wanted it, but not enough to steal it!”
“Then what’s that?”
“This? I bought it with my own money!”
The crowd grew restless at the radiant glow on Stefan’s chest.
“Wait a second… I think I saw him bidding at the auction earlier…”
A voice from among the guests, vague yet insistent, stoked the flames of doubt.
Suspicion hardened in their eyes as they turned on Stefan. He flailed desperately.
“I swear I didn’t do it! I’m innocent!”
“Then what’s that glow in your chest? Show us what you’ve got there.”
“N-no! I… I really can’t…”
As more people demanded he reveal his belongings, Stefan shielded his chest with his arms, backing away in a panic.
But the light continued to cluster, sticking to him more and more.
“Enough stalling—show us already. If it’s not stolen, why can’t you prove it?”
“Exactly. I’m busy, too! Let’s wrap this up and move on.”
The situation grew increasingly dire for Stefan. Jaelyn stepped forward.
“W-wait! Stefan didn’t do it. He’s been with us the whole time. Really! He never left…”
Dozens of piercing stares turned toward Jaelyn.
She couldn’t bear to see Stefan cornered, but under the weight of so many eyes, her voice shrank.
“Come to think of it…”
Realizing Stefan had indeed stayed with them, Sasha also spoke up in his defense.
“He’s been by our side the entire time. Never once left this place. I can vouch for him!”
“You’re all Felodian Academy students, aren’t you? How do we know you’re not covering for each other?”
“Oh my, now that you mention it—I did see that boy near the private rooms, right after the auction ended.”
The elegant woman pointed at Stefan, raising her voice.
The addition of uncertain claims further tightened the noose around him.
“I’ve been here in Rodrigo’s store the whole time! I never went anywhere else!”
Stefan’s protests fell on deaf ears.
“Then what’s in your chest? Take it out and show us!”
“I told you, I bought it myself. It’s not the stolen stone.”
“Then prove it! If it’s not stolen, why hide it?”
“Well… I mean, everyone has their privacy, right? Sure, I’m usually an open book, a crystal-clear kind of guy—but sometimes, just sometimes, there are things you don’t want to show anyone.”
Enraged, the stone bidder kicked over a chair in front of him, screaming.
“Enough nonsense! Take it out already!”
At the threatening shout, Stefan hunched his neck like a turtle.
“F-fine! Fine, I’ll show you!”
He pulled out a pouch from his chest and was about to hand it to one of Rodrigo’s employees when Adrian suddenly snatched it away.
The stone bidder exploded.
“You! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“I told you—it’s not him.”
“Give that back right now!”
The man lunged at Adrian, but compared to him, his movements were painfully sluggish.
Adrian slipped away with teasing ease, dodging the man’s grasp by mere inches.
Meanwhile, Lionel had stepped a little apart from the chaos, quietly observing. From that distance, the whole flow of the situation was perfectly clear.
