The Girl Who Looted Tomorrow

A short while later, the three returned to the entrance of the Mind Research Society.

The moment they pushed open the door, another smiling staff member came forward to greet them. Freya spoke directly.

“I suddenly remembered something we didn’t finish discussing. Would it be all right if we spoke to your branch director again?”

“Of course.”

The staff member clearly remembered Freya. He did not refuse and immediately led the group farther inside.

Just then, Freya spotted the plump Doctor Ansel again. He was carrying a satchel and heading toward the exit. When he saw Freya, he froze slightly.

“You’re... back?”

Freya had no choice but to repeat what she had just said. Then she asked, “By the way, where are you going?”

“Home,” Ansel replied. “My shift is over, so of course I’m leaving. If you want to speak with the branch director, you should hurry. He’ll probably be heading out soon too.”

Freya turned and glanced at the surrounding staff members. None of them seemed remotely interested in leaving.

Seeing where she was looking, Ansel explained, “Don’t bother. They love working. They usually volunteer to stay late for a while. Once all the licensed therapists have left, they clean the place and put everything in order before going home.”

Victor raised an eyebrow.

“Seriously? Workers that dedicated actually exist?”

Victor did not know what was really happening, but Freya did. She pursed her lips.

“So this really doesn’t count as using extraordinary abilities to exploit ordinary people?”

“Hey, don’t make things up,” Ansel protested. “What do you mean, exploit them? Do you know how much these ordinary staff members earn? Eight thousand crowns a month. That’s more than twice the average wage in this city!”

“And we haven’t done anything excessive to them. We only removed the negative emotions they experience while working, so they won’t argue with customers or cause trouble. As for the overtime, they genuinely volunteer for that!”

“Eight thousand?”

Freya thought back to the original Freya’s old part-time job at the restaurant, where she had earned only two thousand crowns a month.

If Ansel was telling the truth, then the Mind Research Society really did treat its ordinary employees quite well. Staying late to clean every day was hardly unbearable for a salary of eight thousand crowns.

After exchanging a few words with Ansel, the three continued forward and soon reached the third floor.

By coincidence, Freya saw Thorn leaving his office just as they arrived. He was closing the door and locking it.

Freya immediately waved.

“Branch Director, sorry! I suddenly remembered something important. We may need to trouble you again.”

“You three? What is it?”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Thorn recognized Freya from her voice alone. Her soft, sweet tone was extremely distinctive.

After locking the door, he turned toward the group.

Then he froze.

Through [Microexpression Observation], Euphemia immediately noticed that Thorn’s gaze had locked directly onto Victor. He looked Victor up and down without the slightest attempt to hide it.

Euphemia frowned and silently wondered whether the two men had some kind of grudge.

Thorn quickly walked over. Only then did he return his attention to Freya.

Freya explained, “My friend Victor was hired to find someone connected to the Mind Research Society. Could you help us find out where that person is?”

“Oh? This is a request from you?”

Thorn’s eyes seemed to light up.

Then he gave Victor a smile that was... difficult to describe.

The moment Euphemia understood that expression, disbelief appeared on her face. Victor also sensed something was wrong, and every hair on his body instinctively stood on end.

Thorn asked, “Who is he? What is his name, and what does he look like?”

Victor forced himself to answer.

“His full name is [David Lancaster]. He’s a slim young man, a little over five foot seven.”

Thorn looked thoughtful.

“What did this David come to the Mind Research Society for?”

“He was pursuing extraordinary power,” Victor said. “So he probably came for Mind Path potions.”

“To obtain Mind Path potions, he would have needed to join the Society,” Thorn said. “That means he has most likely already become a member. But at least in this city and in my branch, I’ve never heard that name.”

“Still, I can ask the branches in other cities for you. That should be much faster than traveling from city to city and searching for him yourself.”

Victor immediately cursed his earlier self in his heart.

Thorn was clearly such a kind person, yet Victor had been suspicious of him. What kind of person did that make him?

“Really? Thank you so much!”

“However,” Thorn continued, “naturally, I won’t do it without receiving something in return.”

Victor’s expression stiffened.

Then he cursed the version of himself from one second ago.

Damn it. Why did you criticize your earlier judgment? You were completely right!

A drop of cold sweat appeared on Victor’s forehead.

“Wh... what do you want?”

Thorn smiled.

“Relax. It’s nothing difficult. You only need to... go on a few dates with me~”

Euphemia covered her forehead with one hand, wearing an expression that said she had known it all along.

Freya tilted her head slightly and froze, wondering whether she had heard him correctly.

“Huh?”

After several seconds of stunned silence, Victor looked as though he had swallowed something revolting.

“Are you serious? I’m not interested in men!”

“That’s fine,” Thorn said. “I’m interested enough for both of us.”

Victor felt his scalp go numb.

“Normally, shouldn’t men like you be into pretty, delicate-looking younger guys? I’m scruffy, I smoke, I drink, I’m constipated, and I haven’t bathed in several days. Are you sure?”

Although Freya and Euphemia knew Victor was deliberately trying to disgust Thorn, they still took several steps away from him after hearing that.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Thorn did not look disgusted at all.

Instead, he licked his lips.

“Please stop saying things that only make you more appealing.”

Victor stared at him.

“?”

Euphemia stared at him.

“?”

Freya stared at him.

“?”

Victor immediately cursed, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Thorn smiled.

“Sweetheart, has anyone ever told you that even your swearing sounds adorable?”

Victor’s expression froze.

“I seriously can’t deal with this.”

Thorn continued, “So, in exchange for a few dates with me, I’ll help you find the person you’re looking for. Do you accept?”

Victor hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

No matter how he looked at it, a few dates in exchange for completing his commission should be a guaranteed profit.

Probably.

“But let me make this clear,” Victor said. “They’re only dates. You absolutely cannot do anything inappropriate. And don’t think a few dates will change what I’m attracted to. I like soft, sweet-smelling girls like Miss Freya!”

Freya immediately gave him a disgusted look.

Euphemia practically began hissing.

“You chain-smoking, hard-drinking, constipated slob who doesn’t even bathe! Stay away from my Faye!”

Thorn looked at Victor.

“See? They don’t like you. But don’t worry... I do.”

Victor shuddered violently.

“I swear, how did accepting one commission lead to this? My employer had better pay me extra when I get back!”

Thorn asked, “Then how about tonight?”

Victor shook his head frantically and waved both hands.

“Not tonight. I just arrived in this city, and I still have a pile of things to do. We’ll talk about it later!”

For the first time during the entire conversation, disappointment appeared on Thorn’s face.

“All right. Then come see me tomorrow. We can talk about David... and about the person you’re trying to find.”

Victor’s face turned dark.

“We had better be talking about David.”