The Six Great Families are first-class noble houses and participated in building the kingdom of Ostiferos in the old age, each specializing in a particular element. For example, the Sano family specializes in water and ice, and the Flair family in fire and lightning. Likewise, the Night family specializes in darkness—while the branch that wields the element of corruption was the one dominating… and the root of this entire case.
As Shi Yun Lan helped Shion Lan before while analysing the case report when he pointed at some points.
"Doesn't that look strange?"
Shion, who wasn't interested in the case, asked,
"Any strange?"
"The report mentioned the name of Night once."
"So?"
Shi Yun Lan got disappointed and said,
"When it comes to big case like this and a name of great family like that appear, there must be more details!"
"Oh. But..... how do we know if the Night family is in?"
"Isn't th daughter of that family with you?"
"She is the leader."
"If she got a new piece of information, ask her about the source."
...
After clearing his throat, Shion said,
"I found the supposed kidnapper with Sol. I interrogated him and learned everything."
Violet Night quickly asked,
"But how do you know he didn't lie to you?!"
"There was a curse controlling what he could say," Shion replied. "If it's not important why would he be cursed?"
Violet said, "It doesn't make any sense! Why would he be cursed otherwise being killed?!"
"To be a scapegoat. The real criminal wanted someone to carry his sins to push the attention away from him. That's why he made the play of the kidnapping."
Shion put his hand on his head and said,
"I feel headache, I used a forbidden technique to suppress it through my aura. But that's not the important part. What matters is… children weren't the only ones who were abducted."
Princess Jina Joul's eyes widened in shock.
"Then there are other victims?!"
"There have been abduction cases for more than ten years," Shion said indifferently. "At first, they involved people of different ages—not just children—because children lacked sufficient strength. But their pure energy was discovered later. After that… child abductions began to increase rapidly."
Jina pressed further,
"What's the reason? Human trafficking… or a forbidden ritual?"
"A forbidden ritual," Shion answered ensuring the theory. "And if they were exposed, they would blame someone from within and claim it was human trafficking."
He continued,
"As for Enfel Kito—the abducted child—he accidentally discovered that members of the Night family's corruption branch had come to discuss secret matters. Within days, he disappeared without a trace. The supposed kidnapper is actually the guard who was with him—the same man who uncovered all this information and passed it to me."
Jina nodded slowly.
"If he served Enfel, he must know a lot… but why hasn't the Kito family eliminated him yet? They made him already suspicious with evidence. That's strange."
"It's not strange—it's calculated," Shion replied. "If he holds secrets without evidence, he's not a threat. And he makes a perfect scapegoat. He was already suspicious, wandering around gathering information. In the end, he's far more convenient than the person they originally prepared. If the royal family captured him it will be a headache for the real criminal but if some students from the great Karath Academy caught him it will be the end."
Jina frowned.
"What about the Night family? What do they gain from this?"
Shion shook his head.
"I don't know. Neither does the guard. Most likely, only the corruption branch knows the truth. But Your Highness… are you going to protect the Night family without investigation, just because they support you?"
Violet looked at him in disbelief.
Jina's expression hardened.
"And what about that guard? Are you saying everything he said is true? What if he lied? What if the curse you mentioned was just punishment for abandoning Enfel?"
Shion looked away slightly.
"Are you sure about that?"
Jina turned—only to see shock and fear clearly written on Violet's face as she remembered something.
Her own expression changed instantly.
"Violet! What does that look mean?! Did Night family cooperate with murderers or something?!"
The look on Jina's eyes got cold as she considered Violet an enemy.
"...", Violet couldn't make a word as she was shocked by Jina's accusation.
Shion slammed his hand on the table.
"Your Highness, please! The Night family has served this kingdom for generations. How can you condemn an entire family for the actions of one person—or a few extremists?!"
His words struck all three—Violet, Jina, and Solan Neumann.
Shion closed his eyes.
"When I was in the recorded world with the Neumann family, I saw innocent faces… kind hearts… all destroyed because of one person manipulated by evil—and another who betrayed the kingdom. The entire family was wiped out because of it. Even the king regrets that decision… as you know, don't you?"
Solan fell silent, deeply affected.
"Shadow Forces," Shion continued, "they belong to the Night family, don't they?"
Jina wanted to answer—but couldn't.
"They've protected this kingdom from the shadows for centuries," Shion said. "Without asking for recognition. And now you accuse their entire family so openly?"
Anger was clear on his face—so much so that the girls were stunned.
But just as quickly, he calmed down.
"…I apologize, Your Highness. I overstepped. I'll accept whatever decision you make."
Jina regained her composure.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You can hand over Mel Tri—the so-called kidnapper—and get the highest evaluation," Shion said. "But there will be consequences… ones we don't yet understand."
Jina looked at Violet, thinking,
' If I pretend not to know anything, I can protect the Night family's reputation. Their support for me won't falter… but how will Shion see me after that? '
In her mind, she saw disappointment in his eyes and was digusted.
Then Celisia Joul intervened sharply,
"What are you thinking?! If you follow that boy's plan, the Night family will suffer—and they'll withdraw their support!"
Jina was about to decide—but Violet's shattered expression pierced her heart. She hesitated.
Shion watched her and thought,
' If she chooses that path, she'll hold leverage over the Knight family—but they'll never support her sincerely again. And her sense of justice will begin to crumble… '
He stepped forward and gently patted her head.
Jina froze in surprise.
"I have a plan," Shion said. "Would Your Highness allow me to explain?"
She looked at him with hope.
At the same time, Shion felt invisible daggers stabbing his back—from Solan and Violet.
' …I forgot about the overprotective guard and the obsessed spirit ', he thought.
Jina ignored Celisia now.
"Will your plan… save everyone?"
Shion nodded with a warm smile, bringing calm to her heart.
Her eyes shimmered with emotion.
They all sat down.
"The idea," Shion began, "is to eliminate everything that places suspicion on the Night family."
Violet frowned.
"How?"
Shion drew on knowledge and strategies he had learned before from Shi Yun Lan.
"First, we have you," he said. "You received something from Kedna Kito. That means she knows what's happening. Given her level—at least sixth—we can't confront her directly."
He continued,
"So we move to the next target—the one she's hiding."
"The witness?" Solan asked.
Shion nodded.
"Why would she hide the witness when the kidnapper is only fourth level?"
"To hide him from everyone," Solan answered. "And protect the family."
"Exactly," Shion said.
"Here are our objectives:
Find the witness's location.
Identify which family members are involved.
Discover the forbidden ritual.
Uncover the agreement between the Kito and Night families."
Violet asked,
"And after that?"
"Then we erase any evidence linking the Night family to this," Shion said. "After that, we accuse the Kito family of rebellion and forbidden magic. The king—having learned from the Neumann incident—won't execute them all."
Jina frowned.
"There are flaws in your plan."
"The witnesses?" Shion replied instantly.
She nodded.
"The family head—I'll handle her," Shion said confidently. "If you find anyone involved, inform me."
The girls agreed.
Later that night, Princess Jina sat on her bed, recalling how Shion had shouted at her.
There was something noble—overwhelming—in his presence. It was the first time anyone had spoken to her like that.
Celisia teased,
"You like being yelled at, you pervert?"
Jina flinched.
"Of course not!"
Yet her thoughts drifted back to Shion—how he had always treated her kindly, sometimes teasing her… and now, how he had been angry, yet apologetic.
' He cares about me… '
Then she remembered Violet.
The girl who had stood by her side all this time.
And how she had doubted her.
' Have I changed that much because of Celisia…? '
Guilt weighed heavily on her.
Unable to sleep, she stepped onto her balcony—
—and saw Shion on the opposite side, gazing at the full moon.
Moonlight softly illuminated his face.
He noticed her.
"Can't sleep, Your Highness?"
She didn't answer. She walked closer and stood beside him.
"Shion… how do you see me?"
He blinked, surprised.
"In what way?"
"In... how I handle things… how do you see me?"
Shion exhaled slowly.
"Before, when I judged you, I honestly disliked it," he said. "But I realized you acted based on your values… your sense of justice. You were admirable. That's probably why Violet chose to follow you."
He paused.
Then his gaze sharpened.
"But just now… I'm sorry, Your Highness… you reminded me of the Ranus family."
Jina froze.
"They use people as long as they're useful," Shion continued. "And discard them when they're not. The way you looked at Violet… it was the same."
His eyes glowed with starlight again.
"But I know you're not that kind of person," he said gently. "I lost control and scolded you without meaning to."
Tears filled Jina's eyes.
"Shion Lan… I'm truly sorry."
Shion smiled softly—and patted her head.