"She's been here the whole time. It's just that you were focused on the stage, little Flandre, so you didn't notice," Madam Fumizuki replied.
Flandre had a look of shock on her face. She thought back for a moment; indeed, there was no sign of Beatrice in her memory. But since Fumizuki was so certain that Beatrice was there, then she must have been. Now she remembered she had been so engrossed in the performance that she hadn't greeted her.
Beatrice would probably rub her cheeks ruthlessly tonight!
Of course, it didn't actually take that long. After getting into the car, the vehicle didn't depart but instead stayed right where it was. Before long, she saw Little Tiger pouncing over. She grabbed Flandre, who was trying to run away, and began rubbing her cheeks.
"Well now, Flandre, you rascal! I was waving my hand off in the back, and you didn't even give me a glance."
"I didn't do it on purpoth..." Flandre tried to struggle, but her waist was tightly coiled by Little Tiger's large tail, so she could only endure the other's ravaging.
After driving slowly for a while, the car stopped at the entrance of the villa district. Beatrice jumped out of the car, then waved to Flandre and Madam Fumizuki with a refreshed expression.
"Sister Beatrice, aren't you going to celebrate the New Year with us?" Flandre asked after seeing her movements.
"It's the New Year; I have to head back for a bit. You go with Madam Fumizuki first, I'll be over soon." Beatrice turned and walked toward the villa district after she finished speaking.
At this time, many people from the Schwire Family were gathered together chatting. After Beatrice entered, many people's voices quieted down significantly. After all, Beatrice's sudden raid earlier had caused many of them to suffer greatly, and the memory was still fresh. For someone who was so ruthless even toward her own family, the others really didn't want to have any contact with her.
Beatrice didn't want much contact with these people either. Ignoring the strange looks from those around her, she walked straight to the innermost area.
"Yo, if it isn't our selfless Officer Beatrice, placing justice above family. What wind blew you here... You couldn't be here to arrest someone, could you?" someone suddenly spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Don't think I don't know about the filthy things you've done. If you want to go to jail, I can invite you in at any time," Beatrice said coldly after sizing the person up.
Hearing her words, the person's face turned pale. They took two steps back and looked at Beatrice with feigned bravado. "Beatrice, do you want to send everyone in the family to prison?"
Beatrice's emerald eyes cast a contemptuous glance at the person. "If you all followed the law, who could possibly send you in?"
"Don't forget that the Schwire Family was able to establish a foothold here never by relying on speculation or illegal trade."
"As for you people."
"The little bit of favor Grandfather spent his whole life building with Governor Wei is being thrown away bit by bit by you all. And you have the nerve to come to me? Are you even worthy?"
Hearing Beatrice's words, that person couldn't help but take another two steps back. Just then, someone else walked over.
"Beatrice, don't go too far. Everyone present is your elder; is this any way to talk?"
"Elders? I'm willing to acknowledge those who don't commit crimes."
"Also, do you really think what you've done is seamless?"
"If I'm not looking for trouble with you, just hide in a corner and be happy. How dare you bark like a dog here."
Beatrice snorted coldly again, making the speaker retreat once more.
"Leave this place, Beatrice. None of us welcome you. Why are you still showing your face here?" Another person, oblivious to the danger, walked over to block Beatrice's path.
Beatrice sneered. "Make me leave? Who do you think you are?"
"If you want me to go, fine. If you can give that order as the Head of the Schwire Family, I'll turn around and leave, and I guarantee I won't set foot in the Schwire Family home again for the rest of my life."
"How about that?"
That person also retreated under Beatrice's words. Now that everyone had witnessed her sharp tongue, they cleared the path leading further inside. After Beatrice walked in, the people inside also quieted down. Countless strange looks followed her. Beatrice ignored these gazes and walked up to Adams Schwire.
"Grandfather, Happy New Year."
Adams looked up at his granddaughter with a smile and pulled two Red Envelopes from his robe. "It's good that you're back. These two Red Envelopes—one is for you, and the other is for that little girl you're living with."
Beatrice respectfully accepted the Red Envelopes with both hands. "Then I'll thank Grandfather on Flandre's behalf."
After putting away the Red Envelopes, she scanned the men and women around her, then turned and walked out. At the door, she said: "Madam Fumizuki has invited me and Flandre to celebrate the New Year at the Governor's Mansion, so I won't bother you all any longer."
..."Wei Yenwu's lapdog!" someone cursed only after she had left.
Inside the room, Adams slightly lifted his eyelids and then closed them again, as if he hadn't noticed what had happened.
After stepping out the door, Beatrice hummed a little tune as she walked toward the Governor's Mansion. Not long after she walked out, some people surrounded her. Her lips curled up. You really think I don't have a temper, don't you!
Five minutes later, she brushed some blood off her leather shoes, tidied her slightly messy long hair, and continued toward the Governor's Mansion. As for the scene behind her, there was a chaotic mess once the people were found beaten and lying all over the ground. As for their cursing, Beatrice didn't care at all.
On the other side, Flandre and Madam Fumizuki arrived at the backyard of the Governor's Mansion, where the dinner venue had already been set up. The table was covered with plenty of food. And she also saw Ch'en Huijie and Hoshiguma. The two were sitting there chatting. Seeing Fumizuki and Flandre enter, they immediately stood up. "Madam!"
"Sister Ch'en, Sister Hoshiguma!" Flandre poked her head out from behind Madam Fumizuki to greet them.
"Little Flandre, come sit here!" Hoshiguma pointed to the stove nearby. After Flandre sat down, Hoshiguma handed her a peeled orange. "Here, eat!"
Flandre happily began to tackle the orange in front of her. Seeing that Flandre's attention was diverted, Fumizuki looked at Ch'en Huijie and Hoshiguma.
"You've worked hard during this recent period."
"It's not hard at all! Protecting Lungmen is our responsibility." The two quickly responded.
"Since it's New Year's Day, treat this place like your own home. No need to be so formal."
After Fumizuki finished speaking, she looked at Flandre, who was peeling the orange into thin strips before eating, and smiled dotingly. "Little Flandre, are you bored? Go watch TV!"
She pointed to the TV nearby. Flandre let out an "Oh yeah!" and ran over to turn it on. She found a cartoon about two bears fighting a bald guy and started watching. Meanwhile, Fumizuki chatted with the other two about next year's plans.
Hearing that Wei Yenwu would organize a convoy to transport another batch of supplies to the Reunion Movement at the start of the year, Ch'en Huijie opened her mouth but ultimately gave up. Because she understood that she had already stayed there for over half a year, and this time Wei Yenwu most likely wouldn't let her participate. And Fumizuki's words were as expected.
"Little Ch'en, you shouldn't go this time. After all, it hasn't been long since you became an Inspector, and being absent for too long wouldn't be good for your record."
Ch'en Huijie didn't say anything, only nodding silently. Before long, there was a knock at the door, and Beatrice walked in from outside.
"Did you get into a fight with someone?" Although Beatrice had tidied herself up before coming, the two present were veteran criminal investigators and could tell her situation at a glance.
Flandre, who was watching the cartoon, immediately rushed over upon hearing about a fight. She brandished her small fists and waved them around. "Is there a fight? Flandre loves fighting!"
..."The fight is already over. Go back to your cartoon!" Beatrice patted Flandre's head, and Flandre walked back to the TV with a look of disappointment.
"What happened?" Ch'en asked after they sat down.
"Oh, just a little conflict at home. It's nothing," Beatrice said calmly.
But given that they had a fight on New Year's Day, the conflict with her family was clearly not small. And as for how the conflict arose, everyone present was well aware. Back when Beatrice insisted on personally leading the team to arrest the main culprit, Ch'en Huijie had rarely tried to stop her. She said it would be fine to arrange for someone else to go. After all, those being arrested were Beatrice's own family members. If she went, the arrest would naturally go smoothly, but she would have a hard time at home afterward.
But since Beatrice could get along with Ch'en Huijie, she naturally had that same stubborn temper that ten oxen couldn't pull back. She flatly refused the suggestion and led her men to bring the people in. The process of bringing them back was naturally easy, but she was seen as a "traitor" by most of the Schwire Family. From her appearance, it was clear that her New Year's celebration at home hadn't gone well. It was only because she currently held the Flower Village business line that those people, no matter how angry they were, hadn't completely cut ties.
After the group chatted for a while longer, Wei Yenwu finally walked in. "Everyone's here? Then let's eat!" Wei Yenwu smiled and clapped his hands. Once everyone was looking over, he pointed to the dining table already set up not far away.
Compared to the others, the food in front of Flandre was clearly specially prepared. Looking at the large basin of fresh blood in front of her, Flandre picked it up and took a massive gulp.
"Hic~" After finishing, she let out a loud burp. This caused a burst of laughter from those nearby.
Flandre shyly hid her face behind the basin. "Don't laugh!" This made everyone laugh even louder. After the joking, the initial awkwardness and estrangement at the table vanished, and everyone began to raise their glasses and toast one another. Of course, so as not to affect their condition, they were all drinking low-alcohol beer.
"Little Flandre!" Hoshiguma picked up her glass and looked at Flandre. Flandre followed suit and picked up her milk cup.
"Sister Hoshiguma!"
"Thanks to you this morning, I toast to you!" Hoshiguma finished the liquor in her glass in one gulp after speaking.
"Hehe, actually, Flandre also thinks she's super amazing!"