The Girl Who Looted Tomorrow

Victor fell silent for a moment after hearing that.

“Uh... that really is an easy desire to satisfy.”

Strictly speaking, [Laziness] was not exactly a good habit. But it was still far better than certain twisted kinks or a desire to kill.

“Come on, then,” Euphemia said. “I’ll go with you. I also need to pick up some new books while we’re out.”

Although Euphemia had said they could discuss the “upgraded telegraph” later, she had clearly taken Freya’s idea to heart. She now planned to buy several books about telegraph technology.

The two left the inn and soon arrived at the Mind Research Society.

Unlike their previous visits, when Euphemia pushed open the door this time, the staff member did not greet her with the usual welcome.

Instead, he smiled and said, “Welcome back, Doctor Euphemia.”

Victor received an even more impressive greeting. The staff member looked at him with great respect.

“Welcome back, honored guest of the branch director.”

The corner of Victor’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing.

The two went upstairs and reached Thorn’s office. The door was currently wide open. When Euphemia looked inside, she saw a petite pink-haired girl sitting on Thorn’s desk with one leg crossed over the other, chatting with him.

The moment Euphemia poked her head through the doorway, the pink-haired girl noticed her.

“Who is this? Why haven’t I seen her before?”

Thorn answered calmly, “Oh, this is Miss Euphemia. She only joined the Mind Research Society yesterday.”

Although Thorn sounded perfectly calm, his mind was already in complete panic.

Why did she have to come at this exact moment? I’m finished!

The pink-haired girl looked at Victor next.

“And who is this?”

“Uh, he isn’t a member of the Mind Research Society,” Thorn said. “He’s someone I’m currently pursuing. Ahem. You understand.”

The pink-haired girl gave him a disgusted look.

“A new member and a lover, both appearing at a time like this? Tell me, you aren’t secretly distributing Mind Path potions, are you?”

Thorn laughed awkwardly.

“How could I possibly do that? I’m the branch director of the Mind Research Society. Why would I break my own rules? Captain Joan, you have to believe me. I truly know nothing about the case you just mentioned!”

“Is that so?”

The pink-haired girl, whom Thorn had addressed as [Captain Joan], waved Euphemia over.

“Come here. I want to ask you something.”

Euphemia walked into the office.

From their conversation, it was not difficult to tell that this petite girl was not a member of the Mind Research Society. Her position also seemed to be higher than Thorn’s.

So... was she an Imperial official?

As practitioners advanced along their Paths, their bodies gradually developed certain changes.

War Path practitioners gained red hair. Law Path practitioners developed white hair. Moon Path practitioners, meanwhile, gained pink hair.

In other words, this petite girl was most likely a high-ranking Moon Path practitioner.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Thorn’s attitude now made perfect sense. He was like an unlicensed street vendor who had suddenly come face-to-face with a city inspector. Of course he had to act carefully.

Euphemia stopped in front of the girl.

“Tell me whether the following statement is true or false,” Captain Joan said. “I plan to have pasta for lunch today, then continue investigating the case in the southern district this afternoon.”

Thorn looked so anxious that he was practically ready to jump out of his chair.

Euphemia thought for a moment before answering.

“The first half was true. The second half was false.”

Captain Joan raised an eyebrow.

“All right. It seems there’s no problem with her.”

She turned back to Thorn.

“Still, this case involves the Mind Path. You’re coming with me to help.”

After saying that, Captain Joan hopped down from the desk and headed for the door on her short legs.

“I’ll wait downstairs. Finish whatever you’re doing and come down quickly.”

As she left, Euphemia realized the girl was even shorter than she had expected. She was probably not even five feet tall.

Her shoulder-length pink hair swayed gently with every step, making her look rather cute.

After Captain Joan disappeared, Thorn collapsed into his chair and released a huge breath of relief.

Then he looked curiously at Euphemia.

“By the way, Miss Euphemia, you haven’t consumed a Mind Path potion. How did you read her thoughts and tell whether she was lying?”

“That wasn’t really mind reading,” Euphemia said casually. “I’ve studied the subject. By observing her microexpressions and body language, I can make a fairly accurate guess.”

“I even studied hypnosis recently. Of course, mine isn’t nearly as fast as the Mind Path’s [Hypnosis].”

In truth, Euphemia had learned hypnosis to increase her resistance against it and prevent others from hypnotizing her.

“The Scholar Path really is impressive,” Thorn said with admiration.

Simply through study, Euphemia had gained abilities similar to those of a Rank One Mind Path practitioner. Judging from that alone, the Scholar Path seemed rather overpowered.

Euphemia then asked, “Are you going to explain what that pink-haired girl was doing here?”

Thorn sighed.

“This began some time ago. Crazed practitioners have been appearing throughout the city and destroying everything around them. Yesterday, there was an especially severe incident at a tavern in the southern district.”

“One berserk practitioner killed at least twenty people inside the tavern. Many witnesses saw it happen. The Imperial authorities are probably overwhelmed by now.”

“Before yesterday, all of the crazed practitioners had followed the Demon Path, so none of this had anything to do with the Mind Research Society. But after investigating yesterday’s massacre, they discovered that the culprit was apparently a Mind Path practitioner!”

“That’s why Captain Joan came directly to me today. She suspects that I’ve been secretly spreading Mind Path potions throughout the city.”

Euphemia could not help commenting, “Wait. Why does this sound so familiar? Your Empire isn’t about to produce a War Path general trying to advance from Rank Five to Rank Six too, is it?”

Thorn had no idea what she was talking about.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Euphemia waved a hand. “Just pretend I was talking nonsense.”

Victor suddenly interrupted.

“Wait a minute. Why does this sound familiar to me too? Damn it, I was there yesterday! I personally watched that lunatic tear an ordinary man in half with his bare hands. Can a Mind Path practitioner even do that?”

“That’s exactly what confuses me!” Thorn said. “The Mind Path provides no physical enhancement whatsoever during its first three Ranks. Forget tearing a living person in half. I’d be gasping for breath after running half a mile.”

“Only the Rank Four [Dragon Warrior] class provides enhanced close-combat ability.”

“That’s impossible,” Victor said. “The man was certainly outrageous, but he was definitely not Rank Four.”

“Exactly,” Thorn replied. “I’m beginning to wonder whether Captain Joan’s assessment was wrong, or whether that Mind Path practitioner drank some counterfeit potion.”

“Maybe he mixed a Mind Path potion with a Demon Path potion.”

Thorn sighed and gave Victor an apologetic look.

“In any case, that’s the situation. It seems we won’t be able to go on our date and get to know each other today.”

Victor’s face immediately lit up.

“Something this wonderful can happen?”

“So we’ll move it to tomorrow,” Thorn continued. “I’ll help Captain Joan solve the case as quickly as possible.”

Victor’s expression stiffened again.

“Actually, there’s no need to rush.”

“That won’t do,” Thorn said. “I already sent letters to Mind Research Society branches in other cities yesterday about finding David. Until their replies arrive, I need to fit in as many dates with you as possible.”

Victor fell silent.

“...”

The fact that Thorn had taken the search so seriously surprised him.

In any case, after a few more words, Thorn reluctantly left to help Captain Joan.

Thus, the day’s schedule changed. Instead of Euphemia accompanying Victor to meet Thorn, Victor ended up accompanying Euphemia while she went shopping for books.

After wandering around all day, Euphemia returned to the inn that evening.

The moment she stepped inside, she found Freya sitting in the parlor, eating the breakfast Euphemia had brought back that morning.

Euphemia stared at her.

“???”

“Faye, what are you doing?”

Freya continued chewing, her cheeks slightly puffed out. Her answer came out muffled.

“Mmph. As you can see, I’m eating breakfast.”

Euphemia covered her forehead with one hand.

“No, I mean, how long has it been? If you’re hungry, we can go downstairs and find something fresh for dinner.”

“I think it still tastes fine,” Freya said. “Besides, throwing it away would be wasteful.”

Once she finished the entire “breakfast,” Freya added, “Sorry, Effie. I’m only going to completely slack off for today. I’ll go back to normal tomorrow, okay?”

Although Freya had thoroughly given in to her desire and spent the entire day doing absolutely nothing, she was actually someone with tremendous self-control and drive.

Resisting her own desires was not difficult for her at all.