A few days ago, in Atiazen, Santoria Blue, the investigation unfolded in the quiet cover of night. The nature of the accident, its exact location, and its overall scale remained unconfirmed. However, while investigating Seltors Bank, a critical discovery was made: investigators found traces of the gold bars that had vanished from a transport ship which sank approximately twenty years ago.
At that time, under Dustin's orders, the majority of the cargo was salvaged, though some portions were eventually processed and officially recorded as unrecovered.
New records uncovered a deeper truth, showing that those specific gold bars had later been processed separately through Seltors. Cross-referencing these confirmed records made it almost certain that the gold bars missing from the past had been funneled directly into Dustin's secret slush fund. If this assumption held true, the identified gold bars alone amounted to an astronomical sum.
Pinpointing the exact storage location proved difficult. Because Seltors Bank had gone bankrupt, a significant amount of data had been lost, leaving the exact facility unidentified. Compounding the problem, Mr. Dustin had dispersed the remaining traces under multiple names, rendering the trail nearly impossible to track.
Even so, options were constrained; very few locations could store that massive quantity of gold bars without drawing outside attention. After months of investigating properties matching these stringent conditions—including private vault companies—the search had successfully narrowed the candidates down to a select few.
As Victor and the others analyzed the situation, a crucial realization came to light: since Mr. Dustin had passed away, the procedures for succession at the storage location must have already been underway. And because no contact had been made on their end, it meant only one thing—the notification and contact must have gone directly to Eiser.
The heavy velvet drapes of the high-rise office in Atiazen did little to dull the ambient glow of Santoria Blue's night sky. High above the city, the atmosphere inside the dimly lit room was suffocatingly tense.
Victor stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass, his hands resting in the pockets of his dark suit trousers as he stared out at the sprawling metropolis. Beside him, an investigator adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, detailing the reports in a low, measured voice.
"We haven't yet confirmed the nature of the accident, its exact location, or its scale," the investigator reported softly. "However, while investigating Seltors Bank, we found traces of the gold bars that vanished from the transport ship that sank about twenty years ago."
Victor's gaze remained sharp, fixed on the city lights below.
"At that time, under Dustin's orders, most of them were salvaged, but some were eventually processed as unrecovered," the investigator continued, tapping a thick file. "We discovered records showing that those gold bars were later processed separately through Seltors. Cross-referencing the confirmed records, it is almost certain that the gold bars were transferred into Dustin's secret slush fund. If that assumption is correct, the identified gold bars alone would amount to an astronomical sum."
A heavy silence settled in the room. The sheer scale of Dustin's hidden fortune meant power—enough power to tip the scales in the war for the grand estate.
"The most likely storage location is..." The investigator paused, shifting through the missing data. "We haven't yet identified which place it is. As Seltors Bank went bankrupt, a significant amount of data was lost, and Mr. Dustin even dispersed the remaining traces under multiple names, making it almost impossible to track..."
Victor didn't break his silence, but his ice-blue eyes narrowed in calculation.
"However," the investigator added, "the places that can store that amount of gold bars without revealing them to the outside are limited. Based on this, after investigating places that match the conditions for several months, including private vault companies, we have narrowed down the candidates to a few places."
"Since Mr. Dustin has passed away," the investigator murmured, looking up, "the procedures for succession at the storage location must have already been underway. Since no contact was made on our end..."
Victor finally turned his head slightly, his tone quiet yet deadly calm.
"Yeah. A contact must have gone to Eiser."
Here is the continuation and expansion based on the new comic panels provided:
Chapter: The Calculated Shadow
In the dim, opulent stillness of the high-rise office, the assistant's voice broke the silence once more, steady despite the gravity of his words.
"...Yes. If there was actually a movement in an asset of that scale, it would have left a trace in some way. However, seeing as nothing has been confirmed so far," the assistant continued, his eyes meeting Victor's sharp gaze through his wire-rimmed spectacles, "it seems Mr. Eiser refused the succession, or he hasn't taken any particular action yet."
Victor stood by the glass window, his dark silhouette bathed in the faint neon glow of Atiazen. "The asset is likely still intact. As long as we find the storage location, it's not too late."
A subtle, dark smirking edge crossed Victor's lips. Behind him, his subordinates and advisors stood stiffly, barely daring to breathe under his intense presence.
Ah, Father. This damned father.
Victor's mind drifted back to the patriarch, a ruthless smile playing on his scarred jaw. He couldn't have calculated as far as his own death by my hands. Yet everything was already prepared so it would go to Eiser.
A cold memory surfaced—the old man on his knees, clutching his chest, his snake-headed cane discarded on the floor as his vision grew dark. A terrible and repulsive human being. On that day, even while his mind was growing clouded and he was dying painfully, how hard must he have tried not to make a single flaw in his design? All to ensure that even from beyond the grave, his prized golden legacy would pass to Eiser and remain out of Victor's reach.
"…Mr. Victor," the blonde assistant spoke up, breaking the dark reverie. "Coincidentally, they say Mr. Eiser is also coming to Atiazen right now. It has been confirmed that he is moving to Valleron to attend a Royal State Event."
The assistant adjusted his papers slightly and looked toward Victor. "If you plan to meet him, shall we check the event details?"
Victor's eyes gleamed in the shadows, his smile deepening with dangerous intrigue.
In the high-rise office overlooking Atiazen, the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy. The blonde assistant stood quietly beside the window, awaiting instructions.
"If you plan to meet him, shall we check the event schedule?" the assistant asked softly.
Victor stood in silence, staring out into the night sky.
"..."
"No," Victor finally spoke, his voice ice-cold and decisive. "Stop the investigation into the storage location here."
The assistant gasped slightly, adjusting his glasses in surprise. "...Pardon? But there are only a few places left now..."
"We are returning to Wellenberg right now," Victor stated, his piercing blue eyes fixed on the horizon. A sharp, scheming look flickered across his face. "Before that, there is someone I need to meet first."
Far away from the gloomy tension of Atiazen, brilliant morning sunlight danced across the calm turquoise ocean.
Serena stood by the cruise ship's deck railing, her long black hair fluttering gently in the sea breeze. Dressed in an elegant soft pink outfit, she leaned against the railing, gazing out at the endless water.
"Ms. Serena, hello!" a bright, friendly voice called out.
Serena turned around to see Anesse walking toward her with a warm smile. Anesse looked polished and poised in her tailored olive blazer, her wavy hair catching the morning light. "Good morning! You must have come out for a walk."
"Ah. Hello, Ms. Anesse," Serena replied with a polite nod. "Yes, after eating breakfast, I felt like walking a bit."
"Me too. I'm glad I came out," Anesse beamed, stepping closer to join her by the railing. "Then, may I walk with you? Actually, I wanted to have a one-on-one chat with you, Ms. Serena, before the schedule ends."
"Of course, certainly," Serena answered pleasantly, gesturing toward the open lounge area on the sunlit deck.
As they began walking along the deck, Anesse looked out toward the horizon, her tone casual yet thoughtful. "Whenever I visit Wellenberg, I always stay at the Serenity Hotel. It's one of my favorite places in Murachevia."
Serena glanced over, detecting the subtle shift in topic. Wellenberg... the very destination Victor had suddenly declared he was heading to.
Here is the novel expansion continuing from the scene on the deck to the playful, slightly chaotic moment in the private room:
Chapter: Morning Confessions & The Night Before
Standing under the warm ocean sun, Serena nodded gently in response to Anesse.
"Whenever I visit Wellenberg, I always stay at the Serenity Hotel," Anesse continued, looking out at the glittering blue horizon. "It's one of my favorite places in Murachevia."
"Oh, really? Thank you," Serena smiled warmly.
"The hotel cookies are also so delicious that every time I go, I make sure to buy several and give them to my friends," Anesse added with a fond laugh.
Serena's heart swelled slightly at the genuine compliment. "I feel so proud that you like them. Grandmother will be very happy to hear it too."
Sensing the relaxed atmosphere, Anesse turned fully to face Serena. "I hope this visit to our kingdom remains a pleasant memory for you, Ms. Serena. There might have been many shortcomings, but I hope you viewed them generously."
"Shortcomings? Not at all," Serena replied earnestly. "Thanks to the two of you, both I and Eiser stayed very comfortably. Personally, it was a very enjoyable and fun time too. Sincerely..."
Serena paused, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks as her mind flashed back to the previous evening.
"...Well, at least last night at that moment was a bit dizzying, though..."
The Flashback: Last Night
Memory pulled Serena back to the doorway of their suite the night before.
Anesse's assistant had knocked and stood outside the doorway, finding Eiser standing tall in a white bathrobe, leaning against the doorframe. Beside him, Serena was practically hiding behind his shoulder, also clad in matching white bathrobes, her hair completely disheveled as she flinched in embarrassment.
The assistant's face turned bright red, sweat dripping down his cheek as his eyes darted nervously between the two of them.
"..."
"...Uh, ah. I see(?)" the assistant stuttered, backing away slowly while bowing. "Th-then, please rest comfortably for the remaining time, both of you. I will see you again tomorrow..."
(Damn it, from the clothes to the words, there's nothing I can salvage...!!) the assistant screamed inwardly as he hurriedly shut the door with a sharp clack!
"Ah, wait! That is...!" Serena had tried to shout after him, but the door was already sealed tight.
As soon as the assistant left, Serena whipped around, flinging her hands up in utter frustration.
"If you say it like that, it causes a misunderstanding!!" she yelled at Eiser, her cheeks flushed completely pink. "I was already teased earlier, though...!! Busy with what, we were...!!"
Eiser slowly turned his head to look at her, his dark hair falling effortlessly over his brow and his icy blue eyes gleaming with subtle amusement.
"Why, we were busy," Eiser replied calmly, his voice smooth and entirely unbothered. "Lying on the bed talking, and eating ice cream."
Serena stared at him, her mouth agape in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me?"
In their private room, Eiser glanced back at Serena with a calm, unbothered expression.
"Are you kidding me?" Serena grumbled, burying her embarrassment beneath a exasperated sigh.
(Sigh... How am I supposed to look at Mr. Ednoc's face later...)
She closed her eyes, letting out a long breath. "..."
Still...
Despite the chaotic misunderstanding, her heart softened as she reflected on their time together. The problem that made them creak from the start was unexpectedly solved well, and above all—those times she spent with Eiser in this unfamiliar place—she couldn't help but cherish them.
She remembered sitting up with him late into the night, wrapped in soft bathrobes while eating ice cream in bed. She remembered holding onto him as they watched the horizon glow with light.
"Eiser! Over there! The sun is rising now, the sun is rising!"
Looking into his gentle blue eyes as the warm morning light bathed them both, she knew the truth in her heart.
How could I ever forget them?
Back under the bright umbrella on the sunlit cruise deck, Anesse brought Serena out of her fond daydream.
"Are you returning to Murachevia right after the official schedule ends? Or do you have other plans?" Anesse asked casually, taking a sip of her drink.
"No, I plan to spend a few more days in Atiazen," Serena replied, leaning back into the white sofa. "I can't stay long because of work, but since I came all this way, I want to look around the places I wanted to visit."
Anesse tilted her head with a knowing, playful smile. "With Mr. Eiser?"
Serena froze, her eyes widening in total shock.
"...Ah, yes?"
(What, how did she know?!) Serena panicked silently, her cheeks instantly burning bright red.
Anesse giggled softly, leaning closer to her flushed companion. "Ms. Serena, you seem to be the type who isn't good at lying. You gave me hints with both cheeks, hehe."
On the sunlit deck, Anesse chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she observed Serena's flushed face.
"Ms. Serena, you seem to be the type who isn't good at lying," Anesse teased playfully, leaning in. "You gave me hints with both cheeks, hehe."
"...?" Serena blinked, completely thrown off guard. Huh?
She tried to play it cool, recalling her previous line. "Shortcomings? Not at all. Thanks to the two of you, both I and Eiser stayed very comfortably..."
Then it hit her—the tiny slip of the tongue she had just made.
"...Ah." Serena's eyes widened in realization as her inner self began flailing in sheer embarrassment.
(Ack, without me realizing!! Such a stupid slip of the tongue!)
Anesse smiled warmly, waving a hand to ease Serena's flustered state. "Haha, it's fine. Actually, I noticed long ago. The two of you, your relationship isn't ordinary, is it?"
Serena fell silent, her breath catching slightly as Anesse continued.
"Mr. Eiser was only paying attention to you, Ms. Serena, throughout the whole schedule," Anesse remarked thoughtfully, holding up her glass with an elegant tilt. "And I was almost certain when the two of you played board games."
Remembering past whispers and public rumors, Anesse offered a soft, understanding gaze. "Just because you broke up doesn't mean you can define your relationship so simply. You must have your own circumstances too."
Serena stared at her in gentle surprise, the tension in her shoulders slowly relaxing. "...Even without me telling you, it seems you heard it all already."
Anesse gave a cheerful, lighthearted laugh under the bright blue sky.
"Haha. I'm rooting for the two of you," Anesse said warmly, taking another sip from her glass. "You seem like a more interesting couple than you look."
As the ocean breeze swept past them, Serena looked back out over the water, her mind drifting to Eiser. Despite all the dark secrets surrounding his family's past, the hidden vault, and Victor's ruthless pursuit, one thing remained undeniably clear.
The bond she shared with Eiser was far deeper than any rumor or title could capture—and together, they were ready for whatever awaited them in Atiazen.
On the breezy deck of the cruise ship, Anesse leaned back against the plush cushions with a lighthearted laugh.
"Haha, I'm rooting for the two of you. You seem like a more interesting couple than you look," Anesse said warmly. She adjusted her position slightly, her eyes glowing with genuine affection. "I'm glad to have formed a connection with you like this, Ms. Serena. Actually, at first, I thought it might be a bit difficult to approach you. But seeing you in person this time, you have a truly lovely side as well."
Anesse looked down at her hands folded on her lap, a thoughtful smile playing on her lips. "I suddenly wondered if it would feel like this if I had a younger sister... I only have two blunt younger brothers."
Serena felt a quiet warmth bloom in her chest as she leaned back, gazing up at the vast blue sky.
"...Me too. I always think I wish I had an older sister," Serena murmured softly. "There were older sisters I was close with, but now I can't contact any of them..."
Anesse tilted her head, listening attentively. "Oh my, really? What kind of older sisters were they?"
"Um..." Serena smiled faintly as her mind drifted back through the fog of time, transporting her to her early years.
"One of them was the person who made me think for the first time in my childhood that I wished I had an older sister. She was infinitely kind to me, and she was an older sister I really loved back then."
In the golden twilight of a warm dressing room years ago, a gentle hand was meticulously braiding young Serena's dark hair. Lise stood behind her, wearing an elegant dusty pink dress. Her expression was full of tenderness as she tied a soft ribbon around the end of Serena's braid, making sure every strand was perfectly in place. To little Serena, Lise felt like the very definition of comfort and warmth.
"Another one was a mischievous and fun older sister who really liked teasing me and even taught me swear words," Serena recalled with a quiet chuckle.
In another corner of the room stood Esther, sporting a playful smirk as she pointed a finger dramatically at tiny Serena, whose hair was pulled up in two adorable buns.
"Never look inside locker number 8 on the 3rd floor. Why? Because a ghost lives inside it!" Esther had whispered dramatically, bending down slightly. "They say it likes a pretty kid like you the best! The kid who opened it last year hasn't been able to come out yet, or whatever~~"
Young Serena had trembled on the spot, her big eyes wide with terror as she clutched her dress.
Before Esther could tease her any further, Lise's scolding voice had boomed across the room from behind—
"Esther! Stop making up ghost stories!! You're scaring the kid!"
Serena let out a quiet, nostalgic breath as the memory faded, the salt breeze rustling her hair. Those cherished figures from her childhood felt so distant now, yet the warmth they gave her remained unchanged.
Anesse watched Serena's gentle expression, a soft smile gracing her face. "They sound like wonderful people, Serena."
"They were," Serena agreed softly, looking toward the horizon. "And talking to you today... made me remember how much I missed that feeling."
Serena's voice softened as she sat on the cruise deck, her hands clasped tightly over her pink dress.
"And another one..."
Her gaze dropped, her expression lingering in a quiet, complex reverie.
...An older sister? We weren't even in that kind of relationship.
Anesse observed Serena's sudden change in mood, leaning forward slightly. "What about the other one?"
"..."
Serena fidgeted with her ring, her fingers lightly brushing against the fabric of her dress. "...She was just, an older sister whose tastes and interests matched mine well, so I liked that we could talk easily... She was that kind of older sister."
A shadow of wistfulness crossed her face as her dark hair fell gently over her shoulder.
I haven't heard news of her separately since the trial. ...How is she doing?
The lingering echo of those unresolved days hung in the warm sea breeze before fading away into the clear blue sky.
Atiazen Valleron: Toulour Square
Sunlight poured over the magnificent clock tower standing tall in Toulour Square, Atiazen Valleron. The bustling sounds of the plaza filled the bright morning air.
Eiser stood near the center of the square, dressed sharply in a dark olive suit coat and a cream-colored sweater over a crisp collared shirt. His sharp dark hair caught the sunlight as he turned his head around at the sound of his name.
"Eiser!"
Approaching him with a radiant smile was Serena, looking stunning in an elegant white sunhat, matching lace gloves, and an intricately patterned scarf tied around her shoulders.
"Sorry. Did you wait long?" she called out warmly, waving her gloved hand as she stepped closer. "I was exchanging greetings and talking on the phone with Grandmother."
Eiser's gaze softened as he watched her approach, the heavy shadows of the past briefly giving way to the brightness of the present moment in Atiazen.
Under the warm, golden sun of Toulour Square, Serena greeted Eiser with a radiant smile.
As the downfall of the Grayan family accelerates, De Laurent won't be safe either. She must be going through a tough time as well...
Eiser looked away with a playful smirk, his sharp side profile lit up by the afternoon sun.
"Actually, it was because I changed clothes several times," Eiser teased nonchalantly. "The things I picked out to wear suddenly didn't appeal to me at all, you know."
"I didn't wait long. Let's go now,"he said . Serena chuckled softly.
As they walked side-by-side through the square, Eiser glanced down at her. "You look pretty no matter what you wear anyway."
Serena puffed out her cheeks in a cute, exaggerated huff. "It's true I look pretty wearing anything, but that doesn't mean I can just wear anything! What is that supposed to mean?"
Ahead of a trip spent alone with Eiser for the first time in a long time, it's silly of me to be having these thoughts, but...
Serena looked up at Eiser, her arm comfortably wrapped around his. "Anyway, Grandmother said it's still raining heavily in Wellenberg. It worked out for the better. Since the weather here is nice, let's play excitedly for a few days before returning."
Eiser gave a gentle smile, accepting her bright invitation as they disappeared into the bustling, sun-drenched crowd of Atiazen.
Far Away in Wellenberg...
The scene shifted drastically from the warm, golden light of Atiazen to a dark, gloomy mansion in Wellenberg, where torrential rain poured relentlessly against heavy glass windows.
I don't know.
Inside the dimly lit room, a lonely figure stood silhouetted against the dark blue windowpane. Her long hair fell straight down her back, and a simple robe hung loosely around her slender frame as she stared out at the stormy night.
...Just, at least now, I hope she...
Diah turned her face toward the dark shadows of the room, her distant, quiet eyes reflecting the somber blue ambient light of the storm outside. her sad look on the face . While Serena enjoyed a brief moment of peace and happiness under the warm sun, the quiet, melancholic figure from the past remained alone in the dark, watching the rain fall.
DUSTIN GRAYAN WAS ACCUSTOMED TO PUTTING HIS THOUGHTS AND SIGNIFICANT MATTERS DOWN ON PAPER. HE PERSONALLY MAINTAINED HIS OWN JOURNALS AND MADE SURE NO ONE ELSE EVER GOT A LOOK AT THEM.
더스틴 그레이언은 자신의 생각과 중요한 일들을 종이에 적어두는 데 익숙했다. 그는 자신의 일기를 직접 관리했고, 다른 누구도 보지 못하도록 했다.