Two days later, when the scene shifted to the imprisoned Corin, she could hardly believe what was happening before her eyes.
She... had actually been released by the Nin-Village.
The one who freed her was none other than Aka—the same man who had transferred her elsewhere.
To be more precise, it was Zhao Anmen, the respected high-ranking officer from New Eridu Public Security.
Of course, Corin was unaware of this fact. She simply felt confused—why would he let her go?
Zhao Anmen's explanation was straightforward.
"You're no longer useful. Whether we keep you or kill you, it'll only bring us unwanted grudges. Releasing you is the best choice."
Unwanted grudges... Corin didn't fully grasp the deeper meaning of those words. She simply assumed Zhao Anmen had a kind heart.
In truth, her release was far from simple. Her eyes were covered the entire time, and she was dropped off in a district far from the central zone.
This was done to prevent her from learning the location of their base. By putting enough distance between her and the hideout, she wouldn't be able to guess its whereabouts.
Furthermore, ever since the night of the incident, the central district had become the base for a sweeping search operation—New Eridu Public Security had dispatched officers from all over the city for a blanket investigation.
The Nin-Village was already a primary target. If they'd tried to send Corin back any closer, they risked exposure.
As for Zhao Anmen's appearance—there was no worry there.
For a ninja, disguises were easy. But they only worked on those with weak perception.
If they encountered a more observant investigator, such disguises would be useless.
…
Returning to the present—
After a long journey, Corin finally made it back to the Victoria Housekeeping estate.
Had Zhao Anmen not given her sufficient travel funds, she would've needed another day or two to return.
The moment she stepped into the estate, she saw the massive crack in the ground—still being repaired by a team of workers.
A chill ran down her spine. Without hesitation, she bolted toward the estate's main building.
Soon, she spotted Lycaon and Rina.
"Corin?" Both were visibly surprised by her sudden appearance. Rina even ran forward and pulled her tightly into an embrace.
They had feared the Nin-Village, frustrated by their failed operation, might have killed Corin in a fit of rage.
But seeing her alive and unharmed erased that fear completely. Her safe return alone was cause for celebration.
"Miss Rina… Mr. Lycaon… I'm so glad you're both okay…" Remembering her ordeal in the Nin-Village, Corin couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
Seeing how shaken she was, Rina comforted her gently, like a mother soothing her child.
Lycaon remained silent, but the subtle curve of his lips revealed his quiet relief.
Then, Corin suddenly noticed Ellen was nowhere to be seen. She looked up and asked, "Huh? Where's Miss Ellen? Don't tell me she fell asleep in some hidden corner again?"
Her sudden question made both Lycaon and Rina freeze in place.
Rina forced a smile. "Ellen… was injured during the battle with the Nin-Village. The master sent her to a hospital for treatment."
Having fought multiple Shadows, neither Lycaon nor Rina had escaped unscathed. But compared to Ellen's injuries, theirs were trivial.
Hearing that, Corin's face turned pale. She covered her mouth and asked, "Miss Ellen… she's going to be okay, right?"
To Corin, every member of Victoria Housekeeping was a precious friend. She couldn't bear to lose any of them.
"She'll be fine. Just needs a few days of rest," Rina reassured her, gently patting her head. "You too—if you feel any discomfort, tell me right away."
Afterward, they settled Corin into a room to rest. As they looked out at the workers repairing the damage outside, Rina couldn't help but speak up.
"Mr. Lycaon... are we really certain the Nin-Village caused all this?"
When they were taken to New Eridu Public Security for questioning, both had firmly insisted that the Nin-Village was responsible for all the destruction at the estate.
With the six Shadows having disabled all surveillance systems before the attack, there was no solid evidence to contradict them.
"With their strength alone, I doubt they could've caused this level of destruction. Judging by their behavior, I'm certain some mysterious figure intervened—one powerful enough to force their retreat."
"As for this devastating damage... I believe that mysterious figure is the real cause. And honestly, Ellen probably survived thanks to their help."
Lycaon felt a wave of gratitude as he recalled finding Ellen unconscious on the lawn. Thankfully, the hospital staff had acted swiftly.
Had they arrived even a few hours later, her injuries might've led to irreversible damage.
No matter what motives that mysterious savior had, Lycaon owed them his thanks. If he ever learned their identity, he would personally visit and express his gratitude.
"This much destruction... and with the blame now successfully pinned on the Nin-Village, I doubt they'll be attacking us again anytime soon," Lycaon said calmly.
It was a rare piece of good news. At the very least, they now had some breathing room—and the chaos sparked by this event was far from over.
The best-case scenario would be for all Nine Shadows to be captured by the authorities. That would completely eliminate any chance of a future attack against Victoria Housekeeping.
Seeing Rina still worried, Lycaon offered a quiet sigh and added, "Don't worry, Rina. Our master will handle the aftermath. Trust in his network."
The biggest problem facing Victoria Housekeeping now was whether or not they would be tied to the terrorist attack.
But thanks to the Nin-Village, much of the suspicion had shifted away. From every angle, it was clear the attackers had struck first—making the Nin-Village the prime suspect behind the devastation.
If even the victims could be labeled the perpetrators, then this world truly had no justice left.