Katelyn’s composure wavered as her gaze landed on a man standing nearby. He was engaged in casual conversation with a cluster of nobles, all of whom regarded him with evident deference.

The man was none other than Bernie himself.

Her brow furrowed. He was focused on socializing with nobles rather than searching for Alfy. While Alfy remained missing, he had the leisure to attend this event and indulge himself? Or had Bernie also traced things back to this place?

But that didn’t add up either. Bernie was merely a businessman. Had his network truly grown this powerful — expansive enough to pinpoint Alfy’s presence here before Vince had managed to?

Just then, Bernie’s gaze snapped upward and found Katelyn’s. Their eyes met for only a fleeting moment, but a shiver of unease prickled down her spine. His stare was icy and penetrating — unsettlingly familiar, carrying the calculating clarity of a predator assessing its prey.

Yet Bernie had never fixed her with such an uncharacteristic look before. For an instant, Katelyn couldn’t quite place who his gaze reminded her of. But the familiarity was undeniably strong.

Moments later, the attendant who had just stepped away from Katelyn approached Bernie and murmured something brief into his ear. Bernie’s gaze then shifted back to her.

A moment later, the attendant returned to her side.

Katelyn’s mind swarmed with questions. The attendant had gone straight to Bernie and come directly back. Shouldn’t he be reporting to a superior? Why had he approached Bernie?

Before she could untangle the discrepancy, the attendant was already standing before her. With a respectful bow, he said, “You’re permitted to take the woman. Kindly wait a moment while I finalize the preparations.”

With that, he turned on his heel and strode off. Katelyn watched him go, a whirlwind of questions churning in her mind.

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So Bernie held the authority to decide over this matter. Then what was his true role in Butterfly Valley?

Without warning, a surge of realization ignited in her mind.

Though stunned, Katelyn steeled her features into neutrality. With a curt nod in Bernie’s direction, she turned and walked calmly toward the restroom, her stride steady despite the storm raging within her.

Bernie sensed a faint, unsettling dissonance about the person — an unfamiliarity he couldn’t immediately place. He motioned to a subordinate and murmured, “Who was that, just now, heading to the restroom?”

The subordinate’s eyes lingered on the retreating silhouette before replying, “He arrived alongside Vincent. His true identity has yet to be confirmed.”

Given Vincent’s standing, bringing an associate was entirely predictable, and having a single companion posed no problem. Yet would Vincent’s companion, of all people, stoop to such disreputable indulgences in a place like this?

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