Chapter 22 Baseless Accusations

In a burst of enthusiasm, Lumi leaped out from behind me like a lively spring, her energy infectious as she energetically returned the wave. With a booming voice that could rival the excitement of a festival, she shouted, "Vincent! Oh, what a delightful surprise! What brings you this late at night? Need another brilliant mind to tackle a thrilling project?"

Vincent's response was accompanied by a warm and gentle smile, a glow of friendliness emanating from him. 

"Oh, no need for assistance this time," he replied, his voice carrying an air of ease.

 "Just paying a visit to a dear friend."

Lumi's eyes sparkled like dazzling stars in the night sky, her playful spirit taking center stage. She couldn't resist playfully pouncing on Vincent, showing a friendship that I could only describe as heartwarming.

 "Hey, hey! Who's this 'friend' you're talking about? I thought you came all the way here just to see me!" she shouted with a mischievous grin.

As Lumi's touch connected with Vincent's, I noticed a momentary shift in his expression, as if her warmth had momentarily taken him by surprise. With a nervous chuckle, he replied, "Haha... well, Lumi, I was actually talking about you. It's always wonderful to see you."

Curiosity gnawed at me, and I turned to Alitia, hoping for some insight into this mysterious man. 

In a hushed tone, I asked, "Who is this guy, Alitia?"

Alitia clicked her tongue in apparent dissatisfaction with the attention Lumi bestowed upon Vincent. Her answer was tinged with a hint of irritation as she responded, "Tck! That's none other than Vincent Nialliv Niam, one of the esteemed top-ranking members of the MIS. He's also one of Valerius' most trusted allies, part of his elite top three helpers."

As Lumi and Vincent continued to exchange friendly banter, their bond became more apparent. There was an unspoken history between them, and I found myself wondering about it.

Vincent, now caught up in the joyful atmosphere, turned his attention to me, his warm smile returning. 

"Ah! And you must be Kazuki," he said, extending a welcoming hand toward me.

"Yes, I'm Kazuki," I replied, shaking his hand with a firm grip.

 "Nice to meet you, Vincent. But forgive me for my curiosity, how is it that you already know my name?" I asked, intrigued by the familiarity in his tone.

Vincent's expression took on a slightly more serious edge, his eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and curiosity. 

"Mr. Valerius has been expressing his worries lately about someone seemingly shadowing Lumi's every step," he explained. 

"He often mumbles the name 'Kazuki,' something about nuisance appearing out of nowhere  and I put two and two together, assuming you must be the person he's been referring to."

Lumi chimed in, her eyes sparkling with amusement and a hint of playfulness, "Hey! Kazuki is not following me around; we're simply walking together. Let's not make it sound strange, Vincent."

Alitia decided she'd had enough of the conversation and gracefully excused herself, saying, "I will wait inside. Don't take too long, Lumi."

Vincent nodded in agreement with Alitia's suggestion.

 "She's right; we should head inside. I won't be staying for long. I just have some important matters to discuss with Lumi, and then I'll be on my way."

Entering the grand mansion, we settled into the main hall, where a sense of luxury enveloped us. Soft, lavish sofas embraced us as we took our seats, ready to delve into the matters.

As we settled into the luxurious surroundings of the mansion's main hall, Vincent's gaze softened as he turned to Lumi, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pride and fondness. 

"Lumi, first of all, let me congratulate you on passing the entrance exams for the Magic Box University. Now I know that for someone as bright as you it was easy but it is an achievement nevertheless, and I'm certain the celebration feast your parents are planning will be nothing short of magnificent," he said warmly.

As they delved into the specifics of the upcoming celebration, excitement filled the air. Vincent shared ideas about the decorations, the menu, and even the surprise performances they had arranged for Lumi. It was evident that he had put a great deal of contribution and effort into making this day truly unforgettable.

However, as the conversation continued, Vincent's expression turned serious, and he hesitated for a moment before speaking again. 

 "Lumi, there's something else I need to talk to you about. I've noticed some concerning activities involving Valerius," he began, his tone tinged with worry.

Lumi's eyes widened, and she leaned in closer, eager to hear what Vincent had to say. 

"What do you mean, Vincent? What kind of activities?"

Vincent hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I happened to witness Valerius having a secret meeting with some shady-looking individuals. They looked like a group of regular adventurers, but their intentions seemed far from honorable. What troubled me even more was that Valerius handed them a considerable sum of gold coins, as if paying them for something."

Lumi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and she exchanged a worried glance with me. 

"Regular adventurers?" she repeated a note of disbelief in her voice as she remembered that she was attacked by some people who pretended to be adventurers. 

My eyes narrowed as I listened to the revelation, my suspicions of Valerius deepening.

"This doesn't sound good, Lumi. It's becoming clear that Valerius might be behind your attacks after all," I remarked, my voice filled with concern.

Lumi's mind raced as she processed the information. The pieces were starting to come together, and a troubling picture began to emerge.

 "Could Valerius be behind the attempts to harm me? I don't want to believe, but this new information is making me doubt his innocence," she pondered aloud.

Vincent said, "Yes, it struck me as unusual too. I couldn't help but wonder what unofficial business he could have with them and why he would be giving them such a large amount of gold."

Vincent added after a short pause, "I can't say for sure, but it's best to be cautious. Your safety is our utmost priority, and I won't stand idly by if there's any potential threat to you."

The atmosphere tensed as Alitia, unable to tolerate the seemingly baseless accusations against Valerius, spoke up in defense.

 "Vincent! You'd better stop talking and throwing these baseless accusations. It's starting to sound like you're trying to blame Valerius for the recent attacks on Lumi!" Her voice held a note of irritation and concern, protecting the reputation of Valerius.

Vincent immediately recognized his error and took a step back, his face filled with remorse. "Oh, my apologies, Alitia. You're right. I didn't mean to paint that picture so bleak or accuse Mr. Valerius. I'm sorry; it might have been just me overthinking the situation," he conceded, his voice sincere.

Lumi glanced between Vincent and Alitia, sensing the mounting tension in the room. 

"Let's not jump to conclusions," she suggested, trying to diffuse the situation.

 "We need to gather more information before making any judgments."

Alitia's eyes narrowed, still clearly skeptical of Vincent's earlier words. 

"Agreed," she replied curtly, her arms crossed in front of her.

Vincent nodded, acknowledging Alitia's caution. 

"You're right. I'll be more careful with my words. Let's focus on ensuring Lumi's safety and celebrating her success."

With Vincent's explanation, the tension eased slightly, but the underlying unease remained. As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Lumi couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Deep down, she couldn't shake the suspicion that Vincent might know more than he was letting on.

As the evening wore on, Vincent eventually bid his farewell, his departure leaving a lingering sense of uncertainty in the air.

As Vincent made his way to leave, I couldn't help but notice a flicker of discomfort in his demeanor. His face contorted with a mix of emotions as the goblin butler clumsily rushed to open the mansion door for him. Mumbling something under his breath, he excused himself and left.

Alitia, who had grown increasingly wary of Vincent, sighed and crossed her arms.

 "I knew I didn't like him. He's too nosy for his own good," she muttered, her sharp eyes following Vincent's departure.

 Alone with Lumi and me, Alitia's expression softened, and she turned to Lumi with concern in her eyes.

"Are you sure you trust Vincent? His behavior seems rather suspicious," Alitia asked, her voice filled with genuine worry.

Lumi sighed, torn between her friendship with Vincent and the mounting doubts.

 "I don't know what to think anymore," she admitted.

 "But I can't let my guard down, not when there's a possibility of danger."

I nodded in agreement. 

"We'll stay vigilant and keep an eye on the situation. Whatever happens, we'll face it together," I reassured her.

As Vincent left, I couldn't resist teasing Lumi, playfully pretending to be hurt by not receiving an invitation to the grand feast. With a dramatic flair, I turned to her, placing a hand dramatically over my heart.

"So! The grand feast, huh? And you didn't even think to invite me. Ahh! I feel utterly heartbroken," I exclaimed, exaggerating my disappointment for comedic effect.

Lumi's cheeks flushed with a mixture of amusement and embarrassment as she tried to hide a giggle behind her hand. She turned toward me, her eyes sparkling with affectionate mirth. 

"He he, I forgot myself," she replied, her smile adorable and captivating.