Shin's dissatisfaction was evident.
The investigation was moving too slowly for his liking.
"Leave those currently under interrogation to Tristan," he instructed coldly.
Secretary Yun inclined his head in acknowledgment.
In truth, he already had a suspect in mind, the person who had truly pushed Madam Nafplion into action. But he wasn't impulsive. Acting without absolute certainty was sloppy, and there was nothing wrong with being thorough.
"How is Yeri?" Shin asked suddenly.
Secretary Yun replied promptly, "She's awake. Her family are with her now, and some of her classmates came to visit earlier."
A rare sense of relief settled in Shin's chest.
He had initially planned to go to the hospital himself, but decided against it for now. Let others stay with her.
Moreover, his anger had yet to be fully vented.
This incident wasn't due to incompetence. His people were capable, more than capable.
The real problem was complacency.
Perhaps they had grown too confident, believing no one would dare challenge Hexion within that city. Or perhaps the long stretch of peace had lulled them into believing mundanity was permanent that they had been caught off guard.
A dangerous misconception.
Just like the human body, no matter how strong it was, could still be brought down by unseen disease if its health was neglected.
Hexion could not afford to make that mistake.
---
Neri medical hospital
It was already late when Levi finally left after visiting.
Nina returned to her ward shortly after, bidding Yeri goodbye with a forced cheerfulness.
Once they were out of Yeri's room, Levi spoke quietly, "You don't have to be so enthusiastic if you don't feel like it."
Nina paused mid-step and turned to him, confusion flickering across her face. "What do you mean?"
Levi studied her intently.
He knew Nina well enough. She was the type who never hesitated to jump forward when someone she cared about was threatened. Fights among students were trivial but this incident had brushed far too close to the kind of danger that existed beyond campus walls.
It must have frightened her.
Yet she was still putting on a brave front, typical of her.
"What are you trying to say?" Nina demanded, irritation creeping into her tone. "Did you expect me to break down crying? Do you think I can't beat you in a fight?"
Levi sighed.
Then, without warning, he reached out and patted her head.
Nina froze, stunned.
"Okay," Levi said lightly. "But if you're scared, just say so. No one's going to laugh at you for showing a little weakness. Fighting delinquents is one thing. Going up against the real deal is another."
He didn't need to say it. The moment he heard that people from the mafia were involved, the warning bells had already rung.
Nina took several steps back, pointing at him, her mouth opening and closing but no words came out. Only then did she realize her ears had turned bright red.
"Tch." She rolled her eyes and hurried back toward her ward.
Levi watched her go, a subtle smile tugging at his lips before he turned and left as well.
Back in Yeri's room, Madam Zhi initiated a video call with the veterinarian so Yeri could see Carpet.
The moment the screen lit up, Carpet began to whine, recognizing her voice. His body was wrapped in layers of bandages, resembling a small furry mummy.
The veterinarian spoke gently. "He's no longer in immediate danger, but his condition is still serious especially his legs. He'll need to remain here for some time."
Yeri's eyes reddened, disappointment sinking in.
Still, she nodded. What mattered most was that he could be treated, that he would recover without lasting consequences or aftereffects.
At least there was good news. Once she was discharged, she would be able to visit him.
After the video call ended, Madam Zhi and Jj also had to leave.
Jj lingered by the door, looking at Yeri as if he had something to say, but he held back when he saw Madam Zhi still wiping away tears.
Ever since they had received the call about Yeri's abduction and then seen the family car overturned and wrecked, Madam Zhi's nerves had been stretched to their limit. The anxiety had left her visibly unwell.
A phone rang.
Madam Zhi hurried to answer it. "It's your dad," she said, turning away.
Seizing the moment, Jj let out a deep sigh. Guilt flickered across his face as he looked at Yeri.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "If Shin Keir hadn't arrived so quickly…"
"Brother," Yeri interrupted gently, reaching out to hold his hand. "Aren't I okay?"
Jj fell silent.
He knew she was still shaken, and he didn't want to force her to relive it. In the end, he said nothing more.
The three chatted briefly about trivial things before Madam Zhi and Jj finally left, reminding Yeri to rest well.
The ward grew quiet.
Alone, Yeri found her thoughts drifting.
Jj's anxiety was understandable. So was her mother's. In such a short span of time, she had been admitted to the hospital again and again, not because of illness, but because of life-threatening accidents.
People coming after her life that she couldn't help but wonder, was she cursed? Or was it simply terrible luck?
As she lay there, lost in thought, an image suddenly surfaced in her mind: Venice and that Bentley.
Her eyes sharpened. There was nothing she could do about everything else but this, she could handle.
Yeri reached for her laptop and opened it, typing the Bentley's license plate number into her notes.
It had been a while since she'd done anything like this. Instead of anxiety, a strange sense of excitement bubbled up as she stretched her fingers.
Obtaining someone's personal information through a license plate was extremely difficult and dangerous. Those records were typically guarded by state-level agencies.
Fortunately they weren't the only ones who kept such data in the city. There were always other channels.
Moments later, her fingers danced across the keyboard, slipping past one security firewall after another.
Growing up with a frail body, Yeri had spent most of her childhood either at home or in hospitals. With little else to do and terrified she might fall into depression, her parents had spared no expense. Tutors came and went. If she showed interest in something, they let her learn it. Anything she wanted.
Jj, who was highly adept in computer systems and network security himself, had once been astonished by the depth of her knowledge.
Unprecedented, he had called it.
The glow of the screen reflected in Yeri's eyes as lines of code streamed past.
When it came to hacking, she had never been helpless.
Yeri stared at the information tied to the license plate for a long time, her expression unreadable. Her gaze drifted to the window, unfocused, before returning to the glow of her laptop screen.
"No wonder…" she murmured under her breath.
Now she finally understood why Venice had been so overly confident, so smug, almost bursting with impatience to announce her pregnancy to the world.
And it was also no wonder Venice hadn't been in a hurry to reveal who the father was. It wasn't that she didn't want to, rather she couldn't.
Yeri knew Venice had always been desperate to climb the social ladder, but to take such a risk… it was truly outrageous.
What was even more outrageous were her uncle and Linda.
She recalled vividly how the two of them had acted so ingratiating, so doting toward Venice, playing the roles of upright, loving parents. Her scumbag uncle had even gone so far as to marry Linda.
There was no doubt in Yeri's mind now: he must have known exactly who the father of the child in Venice's womb was.
What venerable, outstanding parents they were.
Just then, Yeri's phone vibrated and a message popped up.
[I heard what happened. Are you okay?]
Yeri frowned at the unfamiliar number. After tracing it back, she realized it belonged to Xian Song.
"Heard?" she muttered. "Where did he hear it from?"
Ever since she had sent him that one message, Xian had replied later, even asking to treat her to a meal.
Yeri had politely declined, between her studies and the engagement preparations, she genuinely had no time. But despite that, he had continued sending her messages ever since.
As for his intentions, she didn't want to think too deeply about them.
Before she could set the phone aside, another notification came in, this time from a group chat.
[Zoren:] @Yeri how are you? I heard that crazy Madam Nafplion targeted you because of what her son did at my banquet.
[Saeki:] Sister-in-law, how's your golden retriever? Want me to let my Lulu keep him company?
[Allen:] Sister-in-law, you should fight for compensation. Better yet, demand a share of the Nafplion business. You almost got disfigured.
[Daniel:] Also ask Zoren that idiot to take responsibility. If he hadn't invited that lunatic Leo to his birthday, would Sister-in-law have been targeted?
[Zoren:] Daniel, are you blaming me? Why don't you come out and say it to my face? Instead of being nosy here, go take responsibility for that streamer you ghosted last week. I heard she's squatting outside your company just to see you.
Yeri stared at the screen, utterly speechless as the group chat suddenly exploded with activity.
Still, she wasn't surprised. Given their status and connections, it was only natural that word of her ordeal had spread so quickly.
[Tristan:] So it was you, Daniel? I thought that streamer was Zoren's ex-girlfriend.
[Daniel:] @Zoren Why do you think I ghosted her? Don't you know who she is, you damn psycho, dumping your girlfriend on me like that. I only took pity on her once and gave her a ride, and now she's latched on me. Seriously, how unlucky.
[Saeki:] Hahaha, Daniel, is that why you were asking how to get rid of a clingy girl?
Yeri: "…"
She really didn't need to know this much about these people.