The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

After leaving the store, Laria headed to the bank.

She planned to withdraw the down payment she received from Sienna. She had recently emptied her jewelry for dealing with a suspicious guy and needed to buy new ones.

‘When should I report to Sienna?’

She had forgotten about the request from Sienna due to recent events. It’s about time to report on the task, but she was wondering what to give her.

Sienna asked to know everything about Laria Rohan… should she give her a diary?

Laria arrived in front of the bank and looked back at Rodit before getting off the carriage.

“Wait here.”

“Wha-? I want to come with you!”

“You acted on your own earlier.”

“…I regret that.”

It seemed Rodit knew he went a bit too far.

However, she had a reason to take Rodit with her. It was bothersome to explain where the large sum of money suddenly came from.

“What can happen in a bank? There are guards too.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

When Laria spoke firmly, Rodit could only nod reluctantly.

“I’ll wait here. I’ll keep an eye on everyone coming out of the bank.”

“You don’t have to do that much…”

Laria wore a hood and visited the bank.

It wouldn’t hurt to be careful just in case she ran into someone she knew.

Although it was quite suspicious to visit the bank in such attire… they probably wouldn’t inspect her. After all, even celebrities sometimes visit covering their faces.

Laria took a queue number and sat down to wait her turn. It seemed like it would take a while today because the bank was busy.

‘Maybe I should have told Rodit to go somewhere else for a while.’

Killing time by spacing out, she saw what seemed to be bank clerks and a branch manager running around.

“Welcome.”

When someone entered the bank, the branch manager and bank clerks immediately greeted them with utmost respect.

Curious as to who it was, she glanced over and thought.

‘Isn’t that Sienna?’

It was Sienna, who she had seen at the material store earlier. Laria was surprised when she ran into Sienna at the material store, but seeing her twice in one day made her wonder if it was fate.

‘Lucky that I’m wearing a robe…’

Of course, Sienna wouldn’t care about Laria’s bank matters, but it was better to avoid familiar faces.

Feeling Laria’s gaze, Sienna looked her way, and Laria quickly averted her eyes.

“What can we assist you with today?”

The branch manager asked in a sycophantic tone.

The treatment was as if dealing with a very important client.

After all, isn’t she the only daughter of the Marquis Hashir family, rumored to be immensely rich?

The Marquis even had been reigning as the head of the Sorcery Office for a long time. It means that it is a family that has gained so much power that even the Emperor can’t deal with them carelessly.

It looks like they had a lot of money, so it would be okay to receive a little more commission money.

If Sienna heard these thoughts, she’d be furious.

While Laria was daydreaming, masked men stormed into the bank.

“Nobody move!!”

The masked men shouted.

There was a brief silence, and then the bank turned into chaos. Screams filled the air, and everyone tried to flee.

However, the previously open door was now firmly closed.

“Guard! Guard!”

Someone shouted, and the guards rushed over.

But when the armed guards appeared, the people screamed even louder.

“Ahhh!”

The guards were no match for the robbers.

Blood pooled around the fallen guards.

Those who smelled the metallic scent turned pale.

One of the masked robbers threatened the crowd with a blood-dripping sword.

“Anyone who screams dies.”

Soon, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

“Everyone, gather over there.”

The robber herded everyone to one side.

‘What’s going on?’

Laria had just come to the bank for some business, and now she was caught up in a robbery.

Laria quietly moved to her seat as the robber told her.

She took a quick look at the entrance and found that the tightly closed door didn’t seem to want to be opened.

Judging from the commotion outside the bank, it seemed like a hostage situation was taking place to prevent people outside from entering.

‘What should I tell Rodit later…’

While two of the robbers kept an eye on the customers, another one demanded the bank clerk  sitting at the counter:

“Get all the money from the safe and put it here.”

“H-huh…”

“Hurry up, or I’ll kill one person every minute!”

The robber shouted, and the clerk hastily opened the safe.

The safe was full of gold coins and bars.

“How much is this worth?”

The robber laughed as he looked inside.

The sound of gold coins being collected echoed loudly.

‘Isn’t my deposit in there too?’

She was upset, thinking of the hard-earned money she saved being taken away.

She didn’t even bring much jewelry with her.

She only had a small sapphire and an even smaller ruby.

It was important to be cautious since she wasn’t sure if there were any sorcerers among the robbers.

While Laria was thinking, someone nearby stood up.

“Stop this.”

“It’s, it’s Lady Sienna.”

The bank manager called out to Sienna in a shaken voice.

But the bank was so quiet that Sienna quickly drew the attention of the robbers.

Sienna warned them calmly.

“Put down your knives and surrender to the guards.”

“Who’s that woman?”

“Is she so scared she’s gone mad?”

The robbers twirled their fingers around their heads, mocking Sienna.

The guests, who couldn’t even breathe properly, began to lower their heads in despair.

“That redhead, she’s the young lady of the Hashir family.”

“The Hashir?… The daughter of the head of the Sorcery Office?”

Judging by the people recognizing her just by her face, she seemed quite famous.

Sienna looked at the robbers defiantly, as if she wasn’t afraid at all.

She looked like a hero who couldn’t bear injustice.

Furthermore, being the daughter of the head of the Sorcery Office, people murmured she must have incredible skills.

The guests, who were trembling in fear, seemed to regain some color in their faces.

Laria, watching the unfolding situation, decided to leisurely observe.

‘There’s no need for me to intervene.’

It was also an opportunity to witness Sienna’s abilities.

Everyone at the fox clan gathering praised her, so her skills must be remarkable.

“Hashir?”

The robber carrying the bag of money finally realized her identity and approached.

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard such an unfortunate name.”

Blue magical energy swirled around him.

‘Was he a sorcerer?’

Sienna seemed to realize he was a sorcerer too, as her expression changed.

When he launched an attack spell, Sienna quickly set up a defense. As soon as her attack was neutralized, Sienna unleashed her own magic.

Red light burst from Sienna’s fingertips.

The magical power that poured out towards the man wrapped around him like chains.

A triumphant smile flashed across Sienna’s face.

Clatter-

Then suddenly, the magical chains shattered into thin air.

Seeing her magic being easily countered, Sienna froze.

Taking advantage of the brief moment, the man cast a binding spell on her.

Without a chance to defend herself, Sienna was tightly bound.

“Hahaha!”

The man, laughing so loudly that it echoed, revealed a necklace he had hidden under his clothes.

“It works well!”

Recognizing the necklace, Sienna’s face turned pale.

It was a magic neutralizing necklace made by senior sorcerers a few years ago. It had disappeared with a sorcerer who was expelled from the Sorcery Office, and they had been searching for it.

Could it be that man had it?

Terrified, Sienna tried to break free from the binding spell, but her attempts were in vain.

The man who defeated Sienna now displayed his malevolence.

“If their beloved daughter is kidnapped, even Marquis Hashir might shed bloody tears.”

“Considering she’s the daughter of the head of theSorcery Office, she must be worth a lot, right?”

“Let’s take her hostage.”

Sienna seemed about to collapse.

“No, this can’t happen…”

Hearing Sienna’s muttering, Laria inwardly shouted.

‘If Sienna gets kidnapped, who will pay my commission!’

Quickly summoning her magic, Laria caught Sienna’s gaze.

Recognizing the familiar robe, Sienna’s eyes widened.

“Liri…?”