The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 61: True or False

After briefly explaining why he chose his current seat, Brühl looked up at Lumian and said with a self-mocking smile, "I didn't expect you to shoot so quickly."

Lumian gently touched the revolver on his right side and smiled slightly. "Looks like the people you've dealt with before were all law-abiding citizens."

Brühl, who had developed his cautious habits after enduring several beatings, instinctively wanted to refute him. But after comparing those people with the current situation, he had to admit that Lumian had a point.

Thanks to the protection of the law, he, a columnist for *Phantom Face* magazine, had survived until now!

"Aren't you afraid of the police?" Brühl glanced at the waiter, who was too afraid to approach with the menu. "Shooting in a place like this isn't a minor offense. Someone must've reported it by now."

Lumian chuckled. "That's why we need to be quick."

As he spoke, he picked up his revolver, popped open the cylinder, and, right in front of Brühl, loaded a gleaming golden bullet into an empty chamber.

"I want to know which socialites have left Rue des Saules and the social scene over the past two months," Lumian asked at a calm pace.

Brühl instinctively shook his head.

"They can't be considered real socialites. Those women have their own luxurious homes and steady, influential lovers. They frequently mingle in high society, and just a few words from them can affect certain industries or policies. The women here are merely socialite hopefuls."

"I only care about those who fit my description," Lumian said, completely uninterested in the precise definition of a socialite.

Glancing at the revolver in Lumian's hand, Brühl thought for a moment before saying, "Four of them. Little Jorna married a Ruenian merchant and went to Backlund. 'White Vase' Sophie became the lover of Senator Baptiste and started attending high-society banquets and salons—she has a chance of becoming a true socialite. 'Dew Rose' Marie developed a mental illness and destroyed her own face with scissors one morning. She was sent to an asylum. 'Spice Beauty' Paulina suddenly vanished from Rue des Saules, possibly taken away by someone influential."

As Brühl explained, he watched as the handsome thug in front of him—who had fired without hesitation earlier—pulled out a notepad and fountain pen, carefully jotting down notes.

Swallowing nervously, Brühl continued, "I ran into Paulina on Rue Vincent a while back. She seemed to be doing quite well—had a four-wheeled carriage, maids, a butler, and servants.

"Unfortunately, I was preoccupied at the time, so I didn't find out where exactly she's living now."

Rue Vincent... Lumian remembered this was one of the five streets Franca had divined, the furthest from Rue des Saules, and a fairly quiet, upscale neighborhood.

From Brühl's description, Lumian suspected that Paulina had become the lover of Guillaume Bénet.

For a wanted criminal, keeping a potential socialite as a mistress would definitely be safer than frequenting Rue des Saules. Guillaume Bénet, being an intelligent and capable individual, would certainly choose a less risky approach. His current cravings might have intensified, but he wasn't completely mindless—he'd prefer options with lower risks.

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the café. Three policemen were quickly approaching the door.

Lumian, still unhurried, adjusted his dark blue flat cap, put away his notepad and pen, and placed 50 féliciens in front of Brühl.