"Ah, Mr. Amagi was referring to this, right?" Crepes·Clair said as she pulled something out from her chest.

"This... seems to be a pocket watch," Ryuto remarked upon seeing the small golden circular object.

"Mr. Amagi is correct, this is indeed a pocket watch that my mother left me when she passed away."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

How unlucky, he had only intended to change the mood but ended up touching upon someone's sadness.

"No, it's alright, because I know Mr. Amagi didn't mean any harm."

"Is that so..."

Thinking this way was indeed a huge help.

"Moreover, this is the only thing my mother left me, it's very precious."

Saying that, Crepes·Clair opened the cover of the pocket watch.

Inside the pocket watch was a photo of a woman, only showing her upper body.

"Is this your mother?"

Perhaps sensing a hint of confusion in Ryuto's tone.

"Yes, what about it?" Crepes·Clair asked.

"No, I just feel like she looks so young. Maybe people in your country get married early, but still, she seems too young," Ryuto couldn't help but comment. After all, the woman in the photo seemed to be not even eighteen in his eyes.

Having a child before she turned eighteen, Ryuto suddenly felt overwhelmed and pressured.

"Oh, so that's it, Mr. Amagi misunderstood," Crepes·Clair said.

"Huh?"

"This is a photo of my mother when she was young."

"Young?"

"Yes, she was not yet pregnant with me at that time."

"I see..."

Ryuto felt relieved upon hearing this.

"Though it's said that she became pregnant with me soon after."

"..."

The pressure suddenly increased again.

Didn't it basically stay the same? Should I really let the FFF commander take charge and use the Comet of Destruction technique?

Forget it, let's get back on track.

I feel like I won't be able to handle this if it continues like this.

So Ryuto brought up his previous question.

"By the way, what is this slum you mentioned at the beginning? I've never heard of it."

"Well, of course, it's because that has become history."

"History? So you mean it doesn't exist anymore?"

"Yes, that's what it means, but..." Crepes·Clair hesitated.

"But?"

Seeing Ryuto inquire, she finally continued.

Yes, she wasn't planning to hide anything, as she had already prepared herself to let the other party know everything, so she couldn't withhold anything.

"Or perhaps I should say, the slum was the precursor to the slave factory."

"Predecessor? Does that mean..."

"Ah, the slave factory didn't exist before, the place where slaves are now, was previously the slum. All changes started from that night three years ago."

"Three years ago..."

Upon hearing this, Ryuto seemed to recall something.

"Is it related to that earthquake?"

Since the current slave factory is where the slum used to be, the huge crack in that area now probably has something to do with the slum.

"Yes, but I must apologize to Mr. Amagi first," Crepes·Clair lowered her head to Ryuto.

"Huh? Why? You didn't do anything wrong to me."

"Because I lied to Mr. Amagi back then."

"Back then?"

"Regarding the earthquake."

"The earthquake? Wasn't it caused by the earthquake?"

"No, that was indeed caused by the earthquake."

"Is that so..."

Indeed, wouldn't it be strange if it weren't caused by the earthquake?

After hesitating for a moment, Crepes·Clair spoke once more.

"But, that earthquake was actually man-made."