Chapter 492

“Seriously, I’m extremely sorry!”

Upon seeing the bandit brother and sister, their hands tied to the chair with belts, looking particularly ghastly, the head of the cabin crew who had hurried over from the auxiliary cabin couldn’t help but wipe the cold sweat off his forehead. Without hesitation, he bowed deeply.

“It’s our fault for not conducting a thorough enough inspection, causing you distress!”

“It’s alright, it’s not your fault.”

Having heard this, Leon smiled, then while casually playing with the fake gun in his hand, he said:

“Their guns aren’t real, the material isn’t even iron but painted wood. They must have disassembled the parts and mixed them in with the clutter in the luggage.

Since there were no metal components, your strong magnetic scale used for checking luggage didn’t cause the luggage to weigh more, allowing them to sneak these fake guns aboard.

For such inspection methods, unless you check every passenger’s luggage one by one, it’s definitely unavoidable. You’ve done your best.”

“This… ten thousand apologies, thank you for your understanding…”

Seeing that Leon didn’t seem to intend to pursue the matter, the head of the airship security let out a long sigh of relief. After giving the bandit siblings a menacing look, he gestured for the guards behind him to arrest them, bowing again towards Leon and the female journalist.

“Your Royal Highness, we are extremely sorry about today’s incident. I’ll take these two away first, and guarantee to give you an explanation!”

“Not so fast.”

Leon raised his hand to stop the guard trying to apprehend them, smiling as he said: “I have some questions for them. Is there a quiet private room on this airship? If so, could you arrange one for me?”

“There is… but…”

After hearing Leon’s request, the head of security hesitated before reminding him:

“These two are after all bandits attempting to hijack the airship. If you’re in the same room with them and get hurt…”

“It won’t happen.”

Leon shook his head firmly, saying: “I caught them once, I can catch them again. Just go ahead and arrange the room.”

“This… since you insist, then fine.”

Seeing the prince insist, the head of security, who was still receiving salary from the Kingdom’s Transportation Department, naturally didn’t dare to oppose further.

But worried that Leon might accidentally end up in trouble with the hijackers, he had someone fetch several thick ropes used for binding airbags from the warehouse, tying the bandit brother and sister up like dumplings before leading Leon and the female journalist to a small room. He earnestly introduced it:

“Your Royal Highness, this room was originally used for balancing weight to prevent the airship from rolling. Though it’s a bit out of the way, it’s absolutely quiet. I’ll station people a little further away to ensure no one disturbs you.”

“Thank you for your effort.”

After thanking the head of security with a nod, Leon closed the door from inside and smiled at the bandit brother and sister sprawled on the floor, bound tightly like two baby maggots:

“Shall we chat?”

“Phooey!”

Apparently angered by Leon’s smile, the transformed bandit brother wriggled twice on the floor, shielding his sister behind him, glaring at Leon: “You liar! We have nothing to talk about with you!”

“Calling me a liar seems a bit excessive, doesn’t it?”

Hearing this, Leon blinked and smiled back, asking: “From the moment you appeared, I haven’t said a single lie. How did I become a liar?”

“…”

“Besides, I don’t even know you two. I was just going out normally, and you pointed guns at my head, threatening me to do this and that. In such a situation, even if I really deceived you, it wouldn’t be much of an issue, would it?”

Upon hearing Leon’s counter-question, the bandit brother felt a bit uneasy, stammered a couple of times, then shut his mouth.

The bandit sister hidden behind him observed Leon’s expression for a while, then stared directly into Leon’s eyes, speaking up:

“Sir… if you let him go, I can lead you to the Crocodile Kingdom Royal Palace!”

Hmm? Hearing the bandit sister’s words, Leon’s eyebrows slightly rose, somewhat surprised as he glanced at her.

This child… seems quite capable. Even after the failed hijacking and being tied up like a maggot, most people’s brains should already be overloaded, but she has calmed down, even having the energy to think about her own ideas, and is still trying to negotiate terms.

Although children in this world are generally precocious, for a kid around twelve or thirteen who hasn’t experienced much yet, such calmness and rationality is truly rare…

At least she’s already better than Nicole.

“She’s asking you, why are you staring at me?”

Feeling uncomfortable under Leon’s gaze, instinctively thinking he might be pondering something impolite, the female journalist couldn’t help but glare back, then turned her head curiously asking:

No mistake in any content here. Read it on 69 Book Bar!

“How do you know we’re looking for the Crocodile Kingdom Royal Palace?”

“…”

See what I mean?

Watching the bandit sister’s tense body relax slightly upon hearing the female journalist’s question, revealing a hint of joy in her eyes, Leon couldn’t help but shake his head, looking at the female journalist with a sense of helplessness.

Your brain… is completely outclassed by this kid.

Before you asked that question, she didn’t know what you wanted and was just making a blind guess to test us. I only needed to coax her a little, and I should have been able to trick the answer out of her.

But now that you’ve asked, she knows what we want. She will surely hold onto her only trump card tightly. This time, unless we give her a solid promise, like letting her brother go, she definitely won’t speak.

…

“I guessed.”

After glancing at the female journalist who looked… pure, the bandit sister sighed in relief that there was still someone not too smart around, then flattered:

“Judging by your aura, neither of you are ordinary people, and you don’t seem cruel either. It’s unlikely you’d waste time on two failed bandits.

So I guessed you two might be seeking something, and the only thing I know that could possibly be useful to people like you ‘honorable ones’ is the location of the Crocodile Kingdom Royal Palace.”

“No wonder…”

After listening to the bandit sister’s explanation, the female journalist nodded in comprehension, then turned to look at Leon, her bright eyes flashing with a hint of surprise, communicating through eye contact: Leon, look at this kid, how smart she is!

Let’s just say, it’s not that she’s smart, but rather that you’re somewhat… pure? Watching the female journalist being fooled by a half-grown kid, Leon pinched his eyebrows slightly, feeling a headache coming on, realizing this field assignment might not be easy.

Not to mention, considering Nicole’s intelligence, she must have relied heavily on her dad to get where she is in the Clearing Bureau.

I can already picture her doing missions in front while Aquarius Director followed behind, barely keeping up to clean up her messes, and now it’s obvious that cleaning up after her has fallen to me.

Hmm… wait, if I’m currently doing what her dad should be doing, does that make me her stepfather…

(End of Chapter)