I! Cleaner!

*So it turns out they're here to pick a fight with me...*

After listening to Leon's aggressive questioning, the female journalist's previously tense back slightly relaxed.

*Great, bring it on! As long as they're not here to arrest me!*

"Mr. Lyon… No, the soon-to-be Prince Consort of the royal family, the Duke of Lionheart! It seems you have a slight misunderstanding about me."

After calming herself a bit, the female journalist smiled and said,

"Firstly, I only wrote seven reports about you, not eight. Secondly, imagine if you were the journalist for The Sun News and stumbled upon the news I found, wouldn't you have written a few articles too?"

*Of course, I would. I'd probably write even more than you.*

Upon hearing the journalist's retort, Leon's face involuntarily turned slightly embarrassed, realizing that he had indeed been causing quite a stir, making it quite normal for a journalist to focus on him.

*But luckily, that wasn't the main point. My true purpose wasn't to question the news reports, but rather to probe into the background of this suspect 'Nicole the journalist,' who might be a member of the Rebels.*

...

"Okay, I admit my recent activities have been indeed newsworthy topics."

Wool hat, turtleneck, professional suit, small leather shoes, thick shawl… The clothing was covering almost everything, with nothing exposed except for the hands with light pink nail polish.

*Strange, the walls of The Sun News office have metal heat pipes installed, and it's not cold inside. Wearing so much seems a bit odd, doesn't it?*

While carefully observing the female journalist in front of him, Leon rolled his eyes in feigned anger and said,

"But none of your articles ever said anything nice about me, some even border on slander!"

"You're exaggerating~"

The female journalist shook her head, likewise observing her "opponent" as she smilingly reached out and tapped the newspaper on the table.

"Although in the eyes of many, The Sun News can only be considered an entertainment paper, even for political and business publication issues, most stories are mere speculation. Personally, I still value the authenticity of the reports. For example, in the reports about you, I refrained from making any definitive conclusions on uncertain situations, using terms like 'suspected,' 'possibly,' or 'according to the writer's guess,' don't you agree?"

*Her hands were so white, with skin so smooth and tender they seemed almost translucent.*

Not responding to the journalist's question right away, he pretended to be looking at the newspaper text while actually glancing at her hand, squinting his eyes slightly.

*This skin quality seemed way too good.*

Although it was wintertime and the capital city's winter was cold and dry, and the wind outside The Sun News office was strong, her skin should have been slightly dry after just coming in from outside, no matter how good it was.

*This unusually radiant skin shouldn't appear on a day like today… Considering the identity of an Anomalous Object holder, her hand might have some special "issues." Maybe later, he could find an opportunity to shake hands and see if it's some sort of Anomalous Object.*

"Alright, I admit you have a point."

Retracting his gaze from the "newspaper," Leon's expression slightly softened as he pulled out an older newspaper from his shopping bag and placed it on the table.

"The 'Sewage' Incident a Deliberate Act? Thomas Ryan: The Evidence Is Fabricated"

"Miss Nicole, you wrote this report too, didn't you?"

*Is this… the incident where the Ryan Family, together with two other aristocrats, intentionally poured sewage into public water pipes in an attempt to seize Charl Department Store?*

He remembered after writing this report, he handed over the evidence he had found directly to the royal family's Minister of Justice, so despite the Ryan Family's strong denial, they were subjected to a rigorous investigation led by the Princess, fined about thirty thousand Gold Wheels, and forced to sell off the hydraulic company's operating rights at a low price.

*So... that was all just a ruse. The reason this new Duke of Lionheart was picking a fight was actually this report that caused the Ryan Family considerable losses?*

Recognizing the newspaper Leon produced, the female journalist frowned and, looking at the new head of the Ryan Family before her, nodded with a blank expression.

"Indeed, I did write it. Is there some question you have with this report?"

"I do have some questions for you."

While pondering where the Black Goat mentioned "Yangwei" might be, Leon narrowed his eyes and said,

"The main question concerns the evidence. Can you tell me where exactly your evidence came from?"

"Mr. Lyon, if you've carefully read the report, then you should know that I clearly stated the source of the evidence right there."

Feeling uncomfortable being scrutinized by Leon's excessively "sharp" gaze, the female journalist furrowed her brows and said,

"When the Charl Department Store's money box collapsed and injured someone, I received news and rushed over for an interview. I found that piece of evidence right there in the shopping plaza. Whether you believe it or not, this is the truth!"

"I believe, of course, I believe."

Leon nodded and, with an equally expressionless face, said,

"But did you ever consider why such important evidence would appear there without reason, and that you would just happen to find it? Could it have been deliberately placed there by someone?"

"So, you suspect I took someone's money and deliberately exposed the Ryan Family's dark secrets?"

Vaguely "understanding" what this new Duke of Lionheart meant, the female journalist's demeanor turned unfriendly, crossing her legs and leaning against the chair back as she sarcastically chuckled,

"Your Grace, firstly, regarding the data about the hydraulic company, do you truly know nothing at all? If you're unclear on such a critical matter, I suggest you do a self-check. At least according to my investigation, the punishment the Kingdom imposed on your Ryan Family could have been considered lenient.

Moreover, if you believe my reporting of falsehoods led to your Ryan Family's penalty, then you should probably file a complaint with The Sun News's dispute resolution department, and then take it up with the news administration… Well, the complaints window is to the right as you exit, take the stairs down."

Raising her hand to gesture Leon towards the dispute resolution department's location, the female journalist straightened up with a look that seemed frightened, batting her eyes as she said with mock fear,

"Your Grace, even though the Ryan Family is almost done for, they are still not someone a little journalist like me can afford to provoke. If you file a suit, I will definitely plead guilty and compensate you for defamation, with the maximum amount being… thirty Silver Wheels, if I recall correctly?"

*"Tsk tsk, a whole thirty Silver Wheels! Just multiply that by ten thousand, and it'd almost be enough for your Ryan Family's fine, wouldn't it? This penalty is just too large, and I, the daring little journalist, have definitely learned my lesson. Please, could you spare me?"*

"..."

*Expert at fanning the flames, this person seems to be a master provocateur.*

Looking at the journalist, who was begging for mercy in words but actually provoking intensely, Leon stayed silent for a moment. Contrary to what she expected, he didn't explode in anger but instead picked up a stack of old newspapers he had asked the guide for earlier.

Under her puzzled gaze, Leon flipped to the article titled "Charl Department Store's Big Sale, a Man Hospitalized by 'Heavy Coin'" and pointed to the backside buried under a pile of money, then turned his body, back to her, and asked,

"Miss Nicole, does this figure look familiar to you?"

"..."

Looking over at Leon's backside and the old coat matching the color in the photograph, the female journalist's eyes widened in surprise.

"That... unfortunate guy nearly buried under the pile of money… was actually you?"

"It was indeed me, so, in fact, you've written eight reports about me over this period. Seven were in The Sun News's political and business editions, with this one in the entertainment section. Plus..."

Turning back, he looked at the surprised female journalist and slowly said,

"The evidence you picked up was what I brought to the shopping plaza. Originally, I intended for Charl Department Store's owner to come forward with the sewage issue. But I ended up in the hospital unexpectedly, and the evidence was left behind in the plaza, eventually picked up by you, who came for an interview."

"..."

"..."

Seeing Leon in front of her, seemingly genuine, the female journalist was momentarily stunned before murmuring,

"So... you came here to..."

"I came to thank you."

Grasping the unusually tender hand of the female journalist and shaking it vigorously, a radiant smile slowly spread across Leon's face. With extraordinary warmth, he fervently said,

"Thank you, you really helped me a lot!"

"..."