Unaware of what had happened after he left, Leon maintained the good habit of seeing tasks through to completion. He once again found the target as shown in his soul vision.
*Hmm... When rescuing her earlier, he had run too quickly to take a closer look,* but now he realized the daughter of the Charl Department Store owner looked somewhat familiar from the back?
Seeing the woman perched atop the iron railing, struggling yet failing to climb over after several attempts, Leon hesitated briefly before tentatively speaking up,
Hearing a voice from behind, alarmed, the woman on the railing quickly lost her footing with her left foot and fell backwards with a scream.
Seeing her head-first descent, Leon quickly sprinted forward, worried she might hurt herself, and caught her in his arms. After helping the pale-faced, doll-like young woman steady herself, seeing her still shocked demeanor, Leon reassured her,
"Don't worry, Miss Amy, the Messini family's issue has been resolved. You're safe now."
Seeing Leon's face clearly for the first time, Amy was taken aback, and then seemed to realize something. She exclaimed in surprise,
"Just now... was that you? Did you rescue me?"
Looking at her familiar doll-like face, Leon was equally surprised,
"So you're the daughter of the Charl Department Store owner?"
"I... I am. I'm sorry, I never mentioned it to you before..."
After timidly answering Leon's question, the doll-like young woman, full of questions herself, couldn't help but ask in confusion,
"Just now... how did you suddenly disappear like that? And, did you plant bombs on the wall? Why did the wall explode wherever you went? And also..."
"Well... how about waiting until tomorrow? I'm guessing your family is anxious by now. Let me take you home first, and I'll explain tomorrow."
Once again offering "tomorrow for sure" as a response, and unwilling to answer her questions, Leon also had several questions he didn't want to ask. He grabbed the railing, pretending to exert force, then secretly used the power of the Holy Spirit pendant to bend the railing, opening a gap large enough for a person to pass through. He led the doll-faced young woman out by ducking through.
*Phew... we're finally out!*
Although it was just another fence, for Amy, who had been confined for several days, it marked a complete escape from the Messini family's domain.
After unconsciously letting out a breath, she patted her flat chest and then stealthily glanced at the back of the man, feeling her own heartbeat quicken slightly.
*First, because of the department store incident, she found a man who seemed just the right fit for a husband. Just as she was about to move next door to him to get better acquainted, she was kidnapped on the way.*
*Then, she was confined in a dim little room for several anxious days, eventually being rescued, and the one who saved her turned out to be the man she had her eye on!*
*Oh dear, this really is...*
*While his rescuing method wasn't carrying me out like a princess, but rather slinging me over his shoulder like a sack, nearly making me throw up, it still counts as a hero saving the damsel, right?*
Secretly holding his hand a little tighter, feeling the warm, inexplicable sense of security, Amy couldn't help but blush slightly and murmured,
"Mr. Leon, thank you for rescuing me! I'll be sure to repay you!"
"That won't be necessary."
Hearing her words, Leon, who was waiting for a carriage by the roadside, shook his head and replied quite honestly,
"The reason I came to save you was mainly because your father contacted our department, asking for assistance. Then the chief assigned the task of rescuing you to me. As for the reward, your father has already paid in advance."
The narrative of the hero saving the damsel suddenly shifted to that of a business professional, causing the doll-faced young woman to look crestfallen. The pink bubbles in her mind burst almost completely. However, when Leon mentioned old Charl, her expression immediately turned worried again. She bit her lip and asked with concern,
"By the way, during the days I was kidnapped, my parents must have been worried sick. Are they okay now?"
"I haven't seen them, but I assume there aren't any major issues."
Leon thought for a moment before responding,
"After your father approached us, our chief had someone investigate his situation. Your father looked somewhat haggard but was in good spirits. Your mother, on the other hand, worried herself into a mild illness, but nothing too serious. You'll probably find she's fine once you return."
*As long as they're okay...*
After inquiring about her parents, the doll-faced young woman felt slightly more at ease. Then she bit her lip again and tentatively invited,
"Mr. Leon, you've done such a great favor for our family, so... if it's convenient for you, could you come to our home in a couple of days as a guest? I'd really like to express my gratitude."
*In a couple of days... isn't that Ryan Family's inheritance ceremony? Plus, the investigators from the General Bureau will probably arrive tomorrow morning, so definitely not.*
"It doesn't seem convenient."
Leon thought for a moment and shook his head,
"I have something on that day, and probably won't have the time. Besides, you really don't need to thank me... Oh, right, do you have any money on you?"
"Huh? Yes, yes, I do!"
Hearing Leon's question, the doll-faced young woman quickly rummaged through her things and pulled out a delicate leather wallet from her dress pocket. She then took out a stack of 10 Gold Wheel bearer checks and handed them over, slightly embarrassed,
"I was kidnapped rather suddenly, so I don't have much money on me. Will this be enough?"
Never mind... I'll just pretend I didn't ask.
Seeing the checks equivalent to half a year's salary for himself, Leon remained silent for a while, then speechlessly pushed them back. He fumbled through his own pocket and found his number of Copper Wheels insufficient, reluctantly pulled out a Silver Wheel and handed it to her, then pointed at an approaching steam carriage and instructed,
"We don't share the same route. When the carriage arrives, just take it home. Remember to stash those checks securely on your way, so you don't get kidnapped right after being rescued.
Also, the ride from Redwood Avenue to the Charl Department Store headquarters is just over nine kilometers. The first five kilometers cost two Copper Wheels and the remaining four, one Copper Wheel per kilometer, meaning if you get off half a block early, it'll only cost six Copper Wheels, so... never mind, just give me the money back!"
In the previous encounters, even though he thought she wasn't a naïve heiress, Leon was still significantly shocked by her pulling out a year's worth of his salary. He worried she might actually try to pay for the ride with checks.
After handing the Silver Wheel to the coachman and getting back three Copper Wheels in change, Leon meticulously noted the number on the steam carriage's rear, then felt reassured in seeing the doll-faced young woman off. He then flagged down another coach, got in, and handed the coachman a handful of Copper Wheels.
"Number 35, Bridge Street, Happiness Apartment."