495 Chapter 495: Dance Party

"I have half a mind to stop you guys from attending the second night of the Weaver's Festival tomorrow, but considering that the kidnappers have been arrested and public image – I don't want to cause panic or damage morale for other participants – I think it should be fine. Besides, Richard here has proven himself more than capable of watching over you kids."

"Wait, what? Second night of the Weaver's Festival?" I repeated incredulously from the back of the limousine. Opposite me, Fergus nodded, and then his eyes flickered in understanding.

"Oh, right. You're not from around here. Yeah, the Weaver's Festival takes place over two nights. Today is the booths and fun and games. Tomorrow is the river ceremony, where boys will write love letters, put them in latern boats and sail them down the river. Then the dance takes place after that, followed by fireworks."

"I see." Now that I thought about it, I had not seen any fireworks tonight. Okay, I had spent most of the time in the police station after the whole battle against Henry James and the Chaos Chimera, but you would think I would have at least heard the fireworks going off and stuff. Or seen them.

However, there was still something that bothered me.

"Are you sure about this? I appreciate your kind words, but it was my fault that they got abducted right under my nose."

"That couldn't be helped. And the fact that you were able to find them so quickly and rescue both of them before anything bad happened is proof of your skills and abilities. Not only that, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise." Fergus smiled grimly. "Not only have we found out a clue regarding the client who ordered the hit on my daughter, you eliminated an expert from the Grimaldus guild as well as took out a chunk of their forces. You brought them out into the open and allowed us to find out who was being involved, and which dark guild was hired. Now that we know who is involved, we know where to look and can launch a counterattack."

"I see. Thanks."

"So please…enjoy yourselves tomorrow. Don't mind it." Fergus steepled his fingers. "And honestly, tomorrow will probably be the safest day. Even Grimaldus wouldn't be stupid to move out and try again so soon. Now that they have been outed, they will most likely be lying low. Not only that…if they are stupid enough to try again tomorrow, you'll probably just nuke the whole lot of them into oblivion."

"Ha ha ha…you overestimate me…"

Even though Fergus Franklin left it unspoken, I was certain that he wouldn't accept another blunder under my watch. There would be no second chance if Melina got kidnapped right under my nose again. For the sake of my job security and income, as well as my own moral sense and relationship with her, I had to ensure that it wouldn't happen again.

"What do you plan to do tomorrow, Brother Richie?" Adrian asked. I shrugged, and he continued with a wink. "Do you have a date tomorrow?"

"Nope."

"Heh…how boring."

"Yeah, well…I'm not popular with girls." I shrugged nonchalantly, not at all bothered with my situation. There were more important things for me to worry about.

"That's a surprise. Then again, you're quite the nice guy, if I may say so myself." Fergus leaned back in his seat and sighed. "And from my experience, girls your age prefer guys who are…wilder. More outgoing. You're the…how do I put it, the stable, nice guy, and they find you boring."

"Father!" Melina stormed. "That's mean!"

"Ha ha, sorry." Fergus chuckled and shook his head. "But don't worry, when it comes to ideas of marriage…when the girls grow up and realize that there's a lot more to life than partying and living on the edge, and they begin seeking financial security and stability…that's when someone as serious and diligent as you would appeal to them."

"Uh…"

I wasn't sure how to respond, and Fergus continued genially.

"So you're basically playing the longterm game."

I wouldn't put it that way, but I wasn't going to argue with the dude. Thankfully, I didn't have to. The limousine pulled up next to the manor prepared specifically for Melina, and he let us alight.

"Stay safe, kids," he told Melina and Adrian. His warning was meant especially for his daughter, whom he gave one last hug before letting her go. He turned to me. "Take care of them."

"I will, sir," I assured him with a salute. "I will not commit the mistakes of today."

"See that you won't." He then smiled. "I have every confidence that you will not."

Then the door shut, and the limousine pulled away. I watched the luxurious vehicle leave, and then I turned back to my two charges and herded them back into the manor. Amelia had disembarked before us, and she waited for us to catch up before we entered the house together.

"That was quite the adventure today," the head maid remarked with a giggle. "Pity I wasn't there, but I heard that you obliterated a Chaos Chimera."

"Yeah, well…" I shrugged. "If I didn't, the damned monster would have tried to eat me."

"I'm glad it didn't." she clasped her hands behind her waist and looked up while striding through the interior of the house. "I hope tomorrow will be all right…"

*

The next day came before I knew it and evening came with a flourish.

"I hope this dress looks good too."

"Yeah, it does! You look amazing, Melina!"

"Yeah, it really suits you."

"Thank you, Adrian! Sensei!" Melina spun about as she admired the flowery, yet simple dress that she had donned. It was an attire perfectly suited for summer, yet at the same time it looked elegant enough to not be out of place during the dance party. Melina, as usual, allowed her long blond hair to flow freely down here back, and the bluish-white fabric of the dress matched the color of her hair and her eyes perfectly.

"You really look beautiful, Melina!" Adrian repeated, still unable to get over how lovely she looked. His head was bobbing up and down excitedly. I nodded encouragingly at him, remembering how much we worked to write his damend love letter yesterday. He had it prepared in the pocket of his shirt, kept in secret because…we didn't want to give it away too early.

"You all look great." This time, it was Amelia. The head maid in Melina's household had entered the room and was admiring her mistress, but she nodded in acknowledgement when she saw Adrian and me. "Ready for the festival tonight?"

"Yeah!"

"Yes!"

The two kids responded in unison, while I just shrugged and nodded. I was a little disappointed that there wouldn't be more food available because they would be taking down the booths today – the snacks were the thing I was most looking forward to in the festival, after all. But I guess tonight was the main event.

I followed the kids to the river where a massive number of people already waited. The guys were moving toward one end of the river while the girls strolled toward the opposite end. This was how the festival was supposed to take place. The guys would begin to purchase the lantern boats, place their love letters in it and let it sail down the river. The girls would then collect the boats that was magically attuned toward them.

Then they would meet at the bridge. Shortly after the couples unite at the bridge, the dance would start shortly after that.

"I'll see you later, Sensei! Adrian!" Melina waved at us before joining the girls and streaming toward the opposite direction. As a precaution, I summoned Corvus and had the crow perch on her shoulder, to make sure I knew her location no matter where she was. After the events of yesterday, I was taking no chances. Melina stared at the black crow, and then back at me. "Jeez, Sensei, you don't have to worry."

"Sorry."

"No, I understand. Sorry for saying such a selfish thing. I'll see you later!"

Adrian and I saw her off, and then we proceeded in the opposite direction. Many of the guys had already gathered, and I saw Ivan and Edward among them. Adrian joined them, and I kept my distance, watching the guys insert their love letters into the lantern boats they purchased. Even though I didn't join them, I didn't let any of them leave my sight. Through Corvus's eyes, I could see Melina wait with the other girls on the other end of the river, craning their necks as they watched for the lantern boats. Already the first of the boats were drifting along the gentle torrents, and a few of the girls eagerly stepped forward to grab them, having sensed the magical resonance that called out to them.

"Done!"

Adrian nodded at his classmates, and the group of them set the lantern boats down, allowing the paper constructs to float slowly down the stream. Carried by the gentle currents, they disappeared from view. Rising to their feet, the group of guys retreated back to high ground.

"Shall we?" I asked, behaving as their chaperon. Ivan, Edward and the others gave me a weird stare – they were evidently wondering why I was here, but Adrian smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, let's go!"

And so we headed to the bridge. It was packed, as expected, with both guys and girls meeting there. Already there were couples who had met up, and they were crossing the bridge to head over to the square where the dance would take place. There were muscular guys throwing logs into what looked like a bonfire, which illuminated the otherwise dim night. Well, the lampposts made it pretty bright, but the artificial lighting was nothing compared to the lovely, orange glow of the bonfire.

There was a band playing pop music in the background, and already a few couples were spinning to the music, laughing and cheering.

Adrian and his friends waited, and the girls came soon enough. Iris, Isabella, Melina and the others. They came, bearing the love letters that the guys wrote, and they met up happily, holding each others' hands and proceeding toward the square. I dismissed Corvus, satisfied that Melina was safe and sound, and watched them dance about in front of the bonfire. Adjusting my glasses, I withdrew to the edge and kept an eye on them.

"So you came."

"Eh?" I turned around and caught sight of Nan Gong Zhao Yan. She nodded toward Melina and the others.

"I'm glad they are safe. It was a pretty…terrible ordeal for the two of them yesterday. It's heartening to seem them forget about it and enjoy themselves."

"Yeah." I folded my arms, returning my attention to the two of them. "What about you? Are you all right?"

"Yeah." Zhao Yan nodded, and then she lowered her head. "But I'm not convinced."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"About yesterday's kidnapping case," Zhao Yan replied, her arms folded. "Wasn't that a major incident? It involved the children from two of the Ten Great Families. It should have been big news. Yet, when I checked the news today, and searched online, and on social media…there was no mention. They didn't report it at all. It was like they are trying to keep it a secret."

"That was a request from Duke Franklin," I explained, my eyes shut briefly. "He requested the police to not make the matter public. Said that he didn't want outsiders to know. Something to do with public morale and the dignity of the ten great families."

I smiled briefly as I opened my eyes.

"Don't worry about it. I have sources that tell me that the police is seriously investigating this matter, and the mercenary guilds will get involved soon, called in to deal with these bastards. Adrian and Melina will not be in any danger."

"Yes, I guess that's what is most important," Zhao Yan conceded, lowering her head slightly. Then she whirled to in front of me and held up a hand. "Would you like to dance, kind sir?"

I shrugged, and having no reason to reject, I took her hand.

"I would be very honored to, my dear lady."

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