From Another World (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 71: Asking for help

"Roland Shirogane?" I asked.

It then clicked to my mind. The silver-haired man in front of me looked familiar, like a certain person who shared the same last name. That person once told an audience that her father and brother belonged to the 1st unit.

Since he looked quite young, I could safely assume that the man in front of me was Captain Noel's big brother.

"I need to talk to you. Do you have the time?" he asked.

We walked towards an alleyway and after confirming that no one else was around, Roland started talking.

"I need your help to investigate my doubts", he said.

"Doubts?"

"Do you honestly believe that Noel is someone who would threaten Westa's peace?"

"Of course not!"

"I'm glad to know that. I also believe that Noel isn't like that. Can I trust you to help clear my doubts?"

"Why me? It's not like I don't want to prove Captain Noel's innocence but can't you do it better than what I can do? You're a member of the 1st unit along with your father. You are family. Why would you trust a delicate matter to a stranger like me?"

"I can't do it because I'm a member of the 1st unit and I'm her family."

"What do you mean?"

"Noel is involved in a serious crime. Anyone related to her is suspicious. I'm sure the 1st unit has interrogated each and every member of the 13th unit already. They also interrogated all of Noel's friends and our family. The only reason why I'm not being monitored right now is because I'm in the 1st unit. I can't do anything or else they'll think I'm also a suspicious person."

"They won't monitor you because you're in the 1st unit?"

"That's right. Each and every member of the 1st unit had a thorough background check and our loyalties are with Westa and Westa alone. We would kill ourselves before we would threaten Westa's peace. The only reason why I'm not in the suspect list is because the 1st unit prides itself with its members. They don't want to think they made a mistake in checking their own members."

"Then how about your father? Shouldn't he be doing his best to prove Captain Noel's innocence? Why can't he or you help her out?"

"I said it before but our loyalties are with Westa and Westa alone. The Shirogane family is a family of knights. We take our duties seriously to the point we will prioritize our job over our family. If father received news that the 1st unit's investigations proved that Noel is a criminal, then he'll do his duty as a knight and punish her. It doesn't matter if she's related to him or not."

"Seriously? Just because the 1st unit said so, he won't believe his own daughter?"

"The 1st unit's investigative abilities are exemplary. We take pride in that. It's almost impossible to fool us. If the 1st unit's investigation says that Noel is a criminal, then all of the members will believe that to be the truth, including our own father."

"Then why are you here? From what you said, you should be valuing your job over Noel and you should be believing that she's a criminal too."

"I don't want to believe that my little sister is a criminal. However, I can't take any action based on those doubts. If I openly act, then I'll only make things worse for our family. That's why I'm asking you to check my doubts. I want you to prove the 1st unit is wrong and help my little sister."

"I don't mind doing that. But why me? Shouldn't you trust Temma for this?"

"I trust Temma, of course. But I'm relying on you or to be more specific, I'm relying on your connections."