booktalesy Chapter 121 She's a thief
Chapter 121 She's a thief
Chapter 121 She's a thief
Green sat there, somewhat dazed.
Do the two of them know each other?
It seems—there's still some disagreement.
His mind raced, trying to come up with a reason for meeting Vivian.
As a result, the two were at loggerheads, and neither of them looked at him, not even once.
Clarice sat down lazily, watching Lillian with great interest.
"You guys chat first, I have something to do. My boyfriend has been waiting for me for ages." Lillian smiled slyly, then turned to leave.
This was the first time Green had ever seen her so disheveled; she was completely different from the Lillian he knew.
"You're not leaving today. If you beg me and return that thing, I can help you apply for a few years in jail."
"What, you don't want to make a move here, do you?" Lillian gestured to those around her with her eyes.
She clearly knew how to manipulate the other person.
"Vice Captain," Green stood up, "Miss Lillian has come to return some personal belongings that I accidentally lost."
"Green," Clarice whispered, "Do you know who she is? Do you know what she did?"
Green shrugged, indicating that they could continue.
"I really just came to return something, but this time it's not from the church."
She made a graceful turn around.
"Stop." Clarice's voice wasn't loud, but it was cold.
Lillian paused, turning her head slightly. "Is there something else? I don't recall Oberhafen being so safe that the Night's Watch lieutenant needs to personally interrogate every citizen about their dinner date, do you?"
"Return the 'Tears of Tranquility' to us."
Clarisse took a small step forward, closing the distance. "Now, or let's agree on a time and place. Don't force me to resort to undignified methods here."
Lillian turned around to face Clarice, her face completely innocent: "Tears of Tranquility"? What's that? A little trinket lost by the church? I'm sorry, I know nothing about it.
Perhaps you should ask the person in charge of safekeeping within your organization if they've misplaced it?
She vehemently denied it, but her eyes remained unwavering.
Green's heart leaped into his throat. Lillian's denial was expected, but Clarice clearly wouldn't accept it.
Sure enough, Clarice's lips slowly curled into a smile. "Lillian, or should I call you Isabella? You think a dual identity is a perfect shield? Wouldn't Lady Hannah be disappointed if she knew what her dear niece was up to at night?"
This is a threat that hits the nail on the head.
Lillian's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Clarice, don't involve my aunt in our affairs."
"Then give it back." Clarisse wouldn't budge. "That's church property, not something you, or those gardeners behind you, should touch."
The word "gardener" clearly refers to "the flourishing garden." Lillian's pupils contracted slightly, but her expression quickly returned to normal.
The confrontation between the two escalated once again, and spiritual pressure permeated the air silently.
Green could even feel the subtle distortion in the surrounding air, and the guests at the nearby tables seemed to have vaguely sensed the unusual atmosphere and cast curious glances at them.
This can't go on any longer.
Green took a deep breath and intervened again: "Vice-Captain, Miss Lillian."
He used a formal title in an attempt to bring the atmosphere back under control.
"Whatever historical issues you may have—this is not the place to resolve them. Miss Lillian has already expressed her intention to leave, and you…"
He looked at Clarisse. "I think we still have some details about the case to discuss tonight. Alvin is still waiting for news."
He brought up the "case details" and "Alvin," reminding Clarice of her current priorities and team responsibilities, while also giving Lillian a hint that she could still leave.
Clarice's chest rose and fell slightly, and her fingers, which had been gripping the back of the chair tightly, slowly loosened, clearly understanding the meaning behind Green's words.
"Get out." She squeezed out the word through gritted teeth, her voice low and hoarse.
"Don't let me see you again. As for the Tears of Tranquility" — I will find them. Then, I won't be so polite.
.
Lillian glanced at Clarice, her eyes filled with wariness, mockery, and perhaps a touch of melancholy.
She didn't say anything more, turned around, and left with her usual elegant and composed steps.
Lillian spoke softly to her male companion before heading towards the washroom.
As Lillian's figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor leading to the washroom, the dining room seemed to return to its previous tranquility, with only soft music and whispers remaining. But Green knew that Clarice was in a very bad mood at that moment.
Clarice picked up her glass, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp. When she put it down, the bottom of the glass made a crisp clinking sound against the table.
"Explain." She didn't even look at Green, her gaze fixed on the empty glass. "Everything from the first time you met her. Don't omit anything, don't embellish it, and don't try to excuse her. Green Morris, the Church values loyalty above all else."
Green took a deep breath, knowing that any wishful thinking would be fatal. He hesitated for a moment, choosing to tell part of the truth while concealing the key details, a mixture of truth and falsehood.
He described the invitation from "Flourishing Garden," the "witch" pathway offered by "Flourishing Garden," his refusal due to concerns about gender transformation, and the private deal he eventually made with Lillian.
She traded the limited use of the "Silent Messenger" for the "Apprentice" potion and information about the "Witch" pathway. She even revealed in detail the arranged marriage her family had once planned for her.
Now that things have come to this, it wouldn't be difficult for Clarice to investigate if she wanted to.
"She said she needed the gun to do something, and would return it afterward. As collateral, she left the storage bag behind."
Grimm observed the other person's reaction without showing any displeasure and continued, "Right after you left, she happened to see me and came to return the things. She also handed over the notes about the witch's pathway that I had promised before. She said they might be useful for Emily's situation."
He specifically mentioned Emily, framing his motivation for obtaining information as a matter of family safety, which made it easier to understand.
"Before this, I knew nothing of her feud with the church, or with you, nor of the 'Tears of Tranquility.' To me, she was merely a secret channel for information and resources, a collaborator I needed to be wary of but who was temporarily useful."
Clarice finally raised her eyes.
She scrutinized Green's face, seemingly trying to discern the truthfulness of his words.
Clarisse paused for a moment, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her glass. "Regarding Emily, I think it's safest to keep her under the Church's surveillance. Her condition is unstable, even if Lillian's information is true."
"As for Lillian—"
Clarisse glanced towards the bathroom, smiled slightly, and said, "She ran away a long time ago. I know her too well."
Green was taken aback and instinctively looked over as well. Indeed, Lillian had been inside for a while but hadn't come out yet. Her male companion, whom she had left standing there, seemed somewhat uneasy, frequently glancing around.
"They ran away? But there's only a washroom there—" Green wondered.
"The bathroom?" Clarisse scoffed. "For her, running away is like eating. I even doubt she's a witch at all."
"Not the Witch's Path? Then what is it?"
"Don't you think she's more like a thief?"