Chapter 205 I Am a Genius
The question landed like a quiet weight on Amelia's chest.
So that was it. Lon had connected the dots from her two public appearances -- the piano competition and Vaughn's birthday banquet -- enough to suspect she held both identities, Rosie and the Bald Eagle.
It explained why he crossed half the world from Novaria to River City, posing as an equestrian instructor at Prestige High School.
What she did not know was that his investigation had begun much earlier, with surveillance footage from the Grandwell Bank.
From the outside, Amelia's life was easy to summarize: a single-parent household, raised in the countryside, at best, modest means.
And in a world where mastering the piano or traveling overseas to compete required serious funding, Lon's suspicion was not without logic.
But she knew better. This world was full of exceptional people. To zero in on her simply because she was young and had those two identities... that was sharp, maybe too sharp.
No, there had to be something more direct, a clue that had led him straight to her.
Her expression stayed neutral, but her mind was moving fast. Months had passed since her rebirth, and Lon had shown no sign of tracking her. Why now? Why here?
Since returning, she had avoided anything overtly tied to Rosie. Except... her inaugural Crystal visit, Ellison's note clutched tight and later, Sophie's brush at the Williams charity gala.Her sole recent brush with that old self? Reclaiming Vaughn's birthday gift from the Grandwell vault.
Could it be... that? The vault.
Her brow lifted slightly as the realization settled. If Lon's suspicion stemmed from that single act, then trying to concoct an excuse would only cement his theory. Better to lean into it and control the narrative herself.
His query hung unfinished as she cut in: "Someone taught me piano." Lon's eyes flashed surprise. "Oh?" "Rosie."
The name struck him like a stone hitting still water -- his movement paused, eyes tightening for a fraction of a second before smoothing back to calm. Amelia caught it, filed it away, and went on as if she had not noticed.
"I lived with my mother in the countryside. About two years ago, Rosie passed through our village while traveling."Sixteen years my senior, hailing from Novaria, she mastered everything. From our first glance, she adored me." After her trip, she invited me to visit her in Novaria. That was when I entered the underground fights."
Her tone stayed steady, almost conversational. "Last year, she stayed in the mountains near us for a while. She taught me piano and composition. Before she left, she gave me the code to a safety deposit box at Grandwell Bank here in River City. She told me I could use it if I needed to. It held her belongings -- valuable ones -- but I never touched them. The only time I opened it was before the banquet, to take out a gift I had bought myself."
Lon's gaze sharpened, though his face remained composed. He had not expected her to hand him Rosie's name so easily.
The explanation fit neatly: a long-standing relationship, skills passed down, an entrusted vault. It even accounted for her presence at the bank.
But suspicion did not die that easily.
"Rosie sounds... remarkable," Lon said. "You mentioned she left your village. Where did she go?"
"I don't know." Amelia shook her head. "A free spirit, she's likely roaming again. No word since." "I see. Stumbling on such a soul... pure fortune."
His voice was mild, but the next question had an edge. "The gift you mentioned -- that was Ivan's collectible, wasn't it? Not exactly cheap. At your age, how do you have that kind of money?"
She met his eyes without flinching. His curiosity was almost tangible now. Yes, her story explained Rosie, explained her skill, explained the bank... but wealth at eighteen was another matter.
"Mr. Ramos," she said evenly, "you may not know this, but I have another identity. I am the sole apprentice of Master Royce, the witch doctor."
His brows lifted, just slightly.
"I began studying medicine with him when I was five. Even a single pill I make can sell for a high price in the market. So, while I grew up in the countryside, it doesn't mean I lived without resources. My mother and I never truly relied on the so-called poverty subsidies."
Her voice did not waver. "And beyond medicine, my talents in other fields have given me access to wealth most people could not earn in a lifetime."
She paused, then lifted her gaze, her tone almost matter-of-fact. "It might not sound modest, but I'll say it plainly -- I am a genius. Things that seem impossible for ordinary people... are entirely possible for me."
Silence stretched for a beat.
"So, Mr. Ramos," she concluded, "any lingering doubts?"