"What is this...?"

Facing Ryuto's astonished expression, Crepes·Clair spoke in an unusually calm tone.

"Yes, this is exactly what the person leading those terrorists wears, whether it's the cloak or the mask."

"...So?"

It's hard to understand if the Duke Crepes is that person? After all... this is his secret storage room.

Ryuto didn't say it directly, after all, this was the other party's home, and it wasn't appropriate to say it in front of someone's daughter, even if she was adopted.

However, Duke Crepes·Clair understood Ryuto's meaning.

"No, Mr. Amagi, please don't misunderstand. This thing and the one that person wears are identical, but in fact, they are two different things."

He quickly explained.

"Different?"

"Yes, or I should say, it's not what that person wears, it just happens to be identical."

"I see."

Hearing this, Ryuto couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. After all, it wouldn't make sense for his adoptive father to be a criminal in reality.

But soon, Ryuto had another question in his mind.

"But this..."

It's too alike, no, it's identical.

The reason for not saying it out loud is the same as before.

In response, Crepes·Clair sighed helplessly.

"It's not surprising, because these things were made according to the attire of that person from the beginning."

Upon hearing this, Ryuto immediately understood.

"No wonder it's identical, but isn't that person a criminal? In that case, wouldn't..."

"Just as Mr. Amagi is thinking, Father has been imprisoned because of these things."

"Is that so..."

It would be strange if he wasn't imprisoned.

At this moment, Ryuto suddenly remembered what Crepes·Clair had said before bringing him here.

(Because of him, this family has become like this.)

So that's how it is, is that what he meant?

One could say that it was precisely because of these clothes that Duke Crepes had been imprisoned.

But it feels like there's more to it than just that.

As Ryuto was thinking about this, Crepes·Clair suddenly spoke without warning.

"I believe Mr. Amagi must have noticed by now."

"Huh? What?"

Crepes·Clair didn't find Ryuto's slightly surprised reaction strange and continued.

"Right now, there is no one else in this house except me."

"Yes, that's true..."

Prompted by this reminder, Ryuto finally discovered the true nature of the unease he felt when he entered this house.

Apart from not seeing Duke Crepes, the lack of any other staff was also odd. In theory, such a large house should have had servants for cleaning and so on.

But in reality, there were none, which was very strange.

"In fact, shortly after Father was imprisoned, everyone else except me was forcibly disbanded."

"..."

So that's how it is, it makes sense. Anyone possessing terrorist attire would naturally be suspected as an accomplice, and being imprisoned was to be expected. In addition, this house would be seen as the secret hideout of terrorists, so it was natural for everyone in this house to be suspected. For everyone to be forcibly disbanded was probably the luckiest outcome, better than everyone being imprisoned.