Father and Daughter Reunited

"What do you mean my father was framed by President Paris and several other influential figures of similar stature for killing two Nobles, imprisoned on the Despair Train, and suffered amnesia due to a malfunctioning device, leaving him in a semi-mad state? Even after recovering, he lost nearly twenty years of Memories and doesn't remember ever being married?"

Inside the carriage, Palo Valetti listened to Lin Yu's account, and was somewhat stunned by the shock of this unexpected fact.

She covered her head with her hands, then looked at Lin Yu and pointed at Lin Yu: "I know... Arthur, you bastard, you company lackey, you made all of this up."

Lin Yu looked at Palo Valetti and gently shook his head.

"This isn't something I made up; these are all genuine facts... Although I wasn't a firsthand witness, I've pretty much verified them."

"This is the Truth your father's disappearance over the past decade or so, and everything he went through."

As Lin Yu spoke, he gently moved Palo's fingers away.

After all, Palo's finger was almost poking his face.

It wasn't that Lin Yu deliberately got close to Palo; it was simply because the space here was too cramped.

The interior of the van had been converted into a makeshift alchemy clinic, furnished with a reclining operating table and various instruments, leaving hardly any room to move.

Now, besides Palo, Lin Yu, Luella, and Nightless Sky Fire Apricot are also crammed inside, naturally filling the interior space almost to bursting.

Although Palo was pointing at Lin Yu, her arm had already reached past the two people sitting on the low stool below, namely Huo Xing and Luella from Nightless Sky Fire Apricot.

After Lin Yu gently brushed his fingers away, Palo stood there in silence for a while before speaking again.

But I still feel like you're lying to me.

Lin Yu was somewhat helpless.

Since taking on the Profession of "Fraudster," he has told numerous lies, whether willingly or unwillingly.

In most cases, although Lin Yu is an excellent actor and tries his best to weave his lies into something very believable... he will still be questioned.

However, Lin Yu always manages to dispel most of his doubts after explaining himself, even if his audience doesn't believe him immediately.

But this time...

Palo Valetti is clearly somewhat special.

This wasn't because Lin Yu's acting skills didn't work on her, but because...

"This guy wasn't listening to anything I was saying at all."

Even though Lin Yu was telling the truth this time, Palo still acted as if he didn't believe anything he said.

But Lin Yu understood.

After all...

Emotionally, Palo has long harbored resentment and anticipation towards his father Pankto Valetti.

According to Lin Yu's calculations, Pankto disappeared when she was still little girl.

Later, when her mother passed away, Palo was probably just an underage girl.

Now she has become a well-known alchemical Doctor in the Outer City, often performing illegal Alchemy Component implants and modifications. One can only imagine how many hardships she has gone through.

Suddenly, a guy appears and talks about her father's past, saying that her father was also framed and powerless to do anything about it...

Although this story may sound plausible, and even vaguely align with her inner expectations...

However, Palo Valetti is unlikely to simply believe this explanation.

To be precise... now, any story about her father Pankto, presented to her, whether true or false, would be met with immediate disbelief and skepticism from Palo Valetti.

This was exactly what Lin Yu had anticipated.

Therefore, Lin Yu's tone was also very calm.

"Don't worry, I have evidence."

Palo Valetti frowned slightly. "You have... evidence? What evidence!"

"Witness testimony."

As Lin Yu spoke, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot immediately raised her hand. "Oh, oh, oh, I can vouch for that. Arthur is a very trustworthy person; he wouldn't joke about something like this!"

"I swear in the name of the 'Fairy Queen'!"

"It's so serious," said Nightless Sky Fire Apricot.

Actually, she wasn't entirely sure if Lin Yu was telling the truth; it was just that Nightless Sky Fire Apricot had a gut feeling that Lin Yu wasn't lying.

Of course, more importantly, even if Nightless Sky Fire Apricot knew Lin Yu was lying, she would still say the same thing.

Firstly, she always sides with her friends—friendship and stance are far more important to her than facts.

Secondly, the title of "Fairy Queen" is not important to Nightless Sky Fire Apricot.

Especially since this title and identity were originally intended to be sold to his older sister Nightless Sky Huo Ming.

This is like a company that's already planning to file for bankruptcy using its Business License to apply for a final round of loans to cash out—it's a case of taking advantage of freebies.

(*Friendly reminder: This is an illegal economic crime in the Real World, and it will have consequences. Please do not imitate it.)

Upon hearing what Nightless Sky Fire Apricot said, Luella, despite having just met Lin Yu that day, solemnly raised her hand.

"Believe me, Arthur."

But Lin Yu looked at the two guys who were so eager to corroborate his testimony, and sighed softly, "The 'witnesses' I'm talking about aren't you two..."

As he spoke, Lin Yu gently knocked on the wall of the carriage.

"Knock knock."

Then, a head peeked out from the half-open rear door of the carriage.

"Hello everyone."

A somewhat uneasy voice rang out.

Palo looked towards the doorway in disbelief, then saw the car door fully opened by Lin Yu, and a middle-aged man in a neat suit with his hair combed back meticulously stood there, as if he were there for a job interview.

Although it had been more than ten years since they last met, and I was only eight years old when we parted, his face had undergone many subtle changes compared to the man in the family photo—more wrinkles, more scars, drooping eyes, and prominent cheekbones.

But Palo Valetti recognized the man immediately.

"... Father?"

She murmured in disbelief, then, as if somewhat regretful, tightly shut her mouth.

This light, airy sound reached Pankto Valetti's ears and immediately drew the middle-aged man's attention to Palo.

Are you... my daughter?

Pankto spoke, his tone became more uneasy, filled with tension and guilt.

Palo did not respond, and Pankto was at a loss for words.

Lin Yu then opportunely interjected, "Anyway, I called your father here ahead of time... This should be the best witness, Palo Valetti."

Then, Lin Yu looked at Pankto and couldn't help but tease him, "Where did you get this outfit?"

Palo remained silent, Pankto spoke up somewhat awkwardly.

"This... is rented."

"It's alright, I already expected you to steal or rob," Lin Yu shrugged. "The fact that you managed to get money... means you're doing pretty well."

Hearing Lin Yu say that, Pankto chuckled awkwardly.

This former elite Security Department of the Truth Company, who faced death calmly on the Despair Train and who dared to stab the now-powerful President Paris in the back, now has not a trace of Revenge or murderous intent about him.

He looked at Palo Valetti again, at the face he was meeting for the first time now, yet felt a deep familiarity in his heart, and said softly.

Anyway... I'm sorry.

Palo, who had remained silent and seemed to intend to remain silent forever, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Why are you apologizing? What are you even apologizing for!"

Her voice was urgent, and it was unclear whether it was an inquiry, a question, or simply an accusation.

Pankto rubbed his head and said in a low voice, "I don't know... maybe it's because... you've had a hard time."

"I don't think so at all. I'm not pitiful at all. Let me tell you, there are many people like me in the City That Never Sleeps. I've never resented you, nor have I resented Mom. Besides, I'm doing just fine on my own," Palo Valetti said loudly. "You don't need to apologize—you've done nothing wrong."

"But I don't need your apology, nor do I need you here right now!"

Pankto taken aback by what he was being told, then said again, "I know, I just wanted to make sure you were alright..."

Palo interrupted him again.

"Why? A sense of responsibility? You clearly don't remember anything!"

"Then perhaps I should also apologize for forgetting all of this."

Pankto spoke again, frowning and pressing his index finger to his temple.

Palo looked at Pankto, at the pitiful middle-aged man, and sighed softly, "It really wasn't necessary... For the first moment I saw you, I did indeed mistake you for my father, but... you are not him."

"You have no Memory of being my father, no experience of knowing my mother, no experience of being with her, no experience of spending time with me during my childhood—though it wasn't even for many years."

"But I think... who a person is is determined by their own 'experiences'."

"Although you and my father may be 'the same person' in many ways, you don't have those Memories and experiences. To me and to yourself, you are a completely different person."

At least, you're not my 'father' now.

"So... go on, don't let things like 'responsibility' hold you back. Just carry your blank Memories and continue doing what you're supposed to do—you've lost more than ten years of Memories, but you still have more than ten years left."

Go and deal with the things you still remember.

As Palo spoke, his tone grew increasingly calm.

"Forget about me, forget about the fact that you have a daughter... Anyway, you don't even remember my name, do you?"

By the end, Palo's tone had become somewhat relaxed.

However, after Palo finished speaking, Pankto suddenly released his hand from his forehead.

His eyes suddenly brightened.

"Palo... Palo Valetti."

The name comes from a nursery rhyme and means 'the ever-happy elf'.

Pankto Valetti looked at the girl in front of him, at her face, which was much older than the little girl that had surfaced in his Memory, and spoke softly, his voice trembling slightly.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."

"Dad has completely forgotten about you."

He apologized again.

Palo paused, then said, "Even if you remember... even if you remember... even if you remember..."

She continued speaking casually, but when she repeated it for the third time, Palo looked at Pankto and couldn't help but jump out of the car and punch Pankto in the chin.

"You bastard, you bastard... you bastard!"

"Your mother never found you before she died!"