Chapter 9

The thing about me sleeping with Virio - logically speaking, very few people knew about it.

Killian couldn't be certain either.

I didn't think much of it. After returning to my room, I started reviewing the evidence and materials I'd photographed on my phone.

Eventually, I discovered that five years ago, a huge sum of money from the family had gone missing.

There was only a record of the expense, but no detailed information.

The timing was right before my father's incident!

Seeing that date, the blood in my body suddenly stopped flowing.

This wasn't just a coincidence.

Killian was a careful person - nothing that happened around him should be a coincidence.

I reasonably suspected that this money was connected to my father's incident!

Next, I had to find every opportunity to investigate where this money went.

After making up my mind, I went to rest.

Two days later, I received an anonymous email.

But I could tell right away it was from Charles.

Because I'd secured that important deal, Killian had gradually loosened his control over me these past few days.

In the evening, I put on a black cloak and went straight to an underground casino.

That was where Charles told me to meet.

The casino was called "Opportunity."

Outside the building was a huge neon sign.

I actually didn't understand why an underground casino would make its sign so flashy.

But as I went down the tunnel, I saw a completely different scene.

Killian would never have let me come to a place like this before.

The crowded, noisy scene of the casino left me frozen in place for a moment.

Just then, a hand reached out in front of me.

I thought it was Charles, but the moment I looked up, I met Virio's deep eyes.

"Mr. Soren!"

I'd come today specifically to ask Charles about Virio.

When Virio saw me, his face lit up with a smile, gesturing for me to place my hand in his.

I slowly put my hand on his, and he invited me into his office like a gentleman.

"I had no idea you ran this kind of business."

Though the mafia always had various business branches.

Virio smiled and turned to get a bottle of wine, pouring me half a glass. "Don't be surprised. Other people usually manage this place. I only come by occasionally."

I took the glass, holding it without any guard up. "I'm worried that if I stay here too long, Killian will call me back, so I need to tell you some key information first."

"What?" Virio also sat across from me, staring at me intently.

Under his gaze, I suddenly remembered what happened between us that day.

I didn't know why, but after losing my virginity to him, I often thought about our physical contact.

Virio had shown skill and ease in that matter, but I oddly wanted to ask him how the experience was for him.

Though I knew this might be a very rude question.

So I pushed down those thoughts and told Virio, "I've been investigating all of Killian's financial transactions according to our plan."

"The books look fine for these years, but five years ago, a huge sum of money went missing."

I laid out everything I'd investigated.

After finishing, I looked firmly at Virio. "After all this investigation and analysis, I believe this money is connected to another local mafia gang!"

Virio had been squinting slightly, swirling his wine glass, but when he heard what I said, his eyes suddenly widened. "Another gang... you mean?"

I licked my lips, feeling nervous for some reason. "Yes, I think it might be your rival."

Even before getting in touch with Virio, I knew there were two major gangs keeping each other in check.

Virio was one of them.

Killian's previous reluctance to let Freya have contact with Virio was probably for this reason too.

Choosing to cooperate meant taking sides.

Killian didn't want to lose the potential benefits and support from either side.

Thinking of this, I said to Virio, "It's exactly what you're thinking. Next, I plan to investigate..."

Before I could finish, Virio rudely interrupted me. "No, you absolutely cannot go."

Though Virio was a strong-willed person, this was the first time he'd interrupted me so emotionally.

And with such strong opposition.

I was startled, frozen in place. "What do you mean?"

"My meaning is very clear - you cannot go." As Virio spoke, he glanced at me, stood up, and went to the window to light a cigarette.

The man leaning by the window looked like an oil painting.

But seeing him like this made my whole body tremble.

"Mr. Soren, we agreed to cooperate, so I've told you everything I know."

I knew our positions were vastly different.

Being able to discuss cooperation with him was me benefiting from his favor.

I was just a socialite - no one would expect me to gain Virio's attention.

Virio didn't turn around. He took a drag of his cigarette before saying, "The situation is unclear right now. You'd better stop investigating."

He didn't explain to me, just brushed me off with that sentence, which made me very unhappy.

Suddenly, I remembered all the ways Killian had put me off before.

Every time he wanted me to go to some special occasion, his explanation was always like this.

Saying it was for my good, or for the family, but actually all the reasons were just empty words.

Every vague statement would make me pay a painful price.

But if it weren't for Killian, I wouldn't have trained myself to be what I am today.

After Virio finished speaking, he silently smoked, without explaining further to me, but I suddenly stood up. "Mr. Soren, I know when I proposed cooperation to you, our positions weren't equal. But since we're cooperating, I also have the right to decide my next move."

Even if the situation was unclear now, he couldn't stop me from doing what I needed to do.

After saying that, I politely excused myself.

These past few days, to investigate this money and the other mafia gang's movements, I'd been contacting a private detective.

Now that Virio wouldn't help me with this, I could only solve it myself.

After leaving the casino, I quickly called the private detective.

So far, we didn't know each other's names - we only had an account for transactions.

But when I called, I could tell the voice on the other end was his real voice, without any processing.

"I know, Miss. Every time you call, I know I'm about to be busy again." The private detective spoke with some humor.

My serious mood from earlier relaxed a bit. "Indeed. I have something important for you, and I think it's time we lifted the mysterious veil between us."