Reconstructing the full picture of events from over ten years ago was a difficult process.
But fortunately, Sirius Symboli could still gather information from those who had worked for the Tokai Family back then.
And because she had the list of retired personnel provided by Tokai Roman, Sirius Symboli found investigating this matter relatively easy.
However, easy did not mean effortless.
It wasn't until today, January twelfth, that Sirius Symboli finally obtained a small portion of useful information.
"I don't remember the situation back then very clearly either."
The man, around fifty years old, only thought about the situation at the time, recalling and judging: "It was a heavy snow day, and a black sedan brought back Miss Shizen, who had been away from home for about eight days."
"Although it was strange why Miss Shizen was brought back by someone else, I still noticed there was another Uma Musume in the car, and because there was an Uma Musume, I took an extra look inside the car and found an ornament that looked like a family crest."
Hearing the crucial information, Sirius Symboli stared intently at the man: "Are you sure?"
"Yes, there was a family crest."
"What did the family crest look like? Can you describe it?"
The other party's affirmative tone made Sirius Symboli quite anxious.
This was natural.
Because with such a unique identifying mark as a family crest, once the design was confirmed, the family could be identified, and thus it could be determined which family within the Tokyo area it was.
"Oh, this…"
The man, scratching his head, also looked troubled.
After all, for a man over fifty, recalling the details of an event from over ten years ago, at a time when his memory was starting to decline, was indeed difficult.
"Can you give me any details? Even just a little bit."
Details on the family crest could help Sirius Symboli narrow down the originally vast number of families to a very small scope.
"Ah… even if you say that, I still…"
His words carried a hint of pain.
This made Sirius Symboli wonder if she should continue asking.
But it was as if a shooting star, when he looked up at Sirius Symboli, when he thought of her name...
He remembered the key.
"That's right, it was the Symbol Family's family crest!"
"What… are you sure?"
Sirius Symboli's first reaction upon hearing this conclusion was not surprise at having uncovered the truth, but rather a realization of other unexpected problems through this matter.
If it was indeed the Symbol Family's family crest...
Then the only Uma Musume who could be connected to this matter were herself and Rudolph Symboli.
If that was the case… "I'm very sure, that family crest was the Symbol Family's family crest. It seems that from that time on, the Tokai Family and the Symbol Family began to have some, though not many, interactions."
Hearing the other party's definite words, Sirius Symboli frowned.
Looking at the frowning Sirius Symboli, the man wanted to say something, but having worked for a prominent family before, he dared not say much at this moment, fearing Sirius Symboli's anger.
But fortunately, Sirius quickly realized she was still in someone else's home.
So she stood up: "I'm sorry for making you recall such distant memories."
Saying this, Sirius Symboli took some money from her jacket pocket, intending to give it to the other party.
But the other party didn't hesitate and directly accepted the fifty thousand yen from Sirius Symboli's hand.
Sirius Symboli was not surprised that the other party would take the fifty thousand yen so readily; after all, it was better for people of this age to have some extra money for emergencies.
And after handing over the money to the other party, Sirius did not linger, but turned and left the man's house.
Once back on the street, Sirius Symboli took out her phone.
She knew that if it was just this man's statement, it wasn't entirely accurate, so if that incident really had something to do with the Symbol Family, then one person would definitely not be without an impression.
She dialed that person's phone number.
"Sirius, ~ why do you have time to call me? I remember you're not planning to retire yet, so you must still be training every day, right?"
Although a bit older, her voice was still full of vigor.
It even sounded more youthful and energetic than Tokai Shizen.
"Grandma Speed Symbol, I'm just calling to confirm something with you." Saying this, Sirius Symboli paused slightly, then made a decision:
"When I was little, did you pick up an Uma Musume from the Tokai Family who had run away from home?"
"Huh? That matter, how do you know about it?"
"Don't worry about that, just tell me quickly!"
Facing a family member and the possibility of having discovered the truth, Sirius Symboli was a bit too anxious.
But fortunately, this anxiety was successfully conveyed to Speed Symbol.
"Alright, alright, I'll just briefly explain. Back then, Rudolph always used to be fierce with her mother, so I always had to teach her a lesson. One time, it seems I went a bit too far when I was disciplining her, and then that Rudolph ran away from home."
Upon hearing the words "ran away from home," Sirius Symboli had already anticipated a possibility.
"Don't tell me, she also brought back another Uma Musume?"
"That's right, but the situation isn't quite what you described. Around the fifth day, Rudolph herself contacted me. I thought she might be out of food or something, but it turned out to be because of an Uma Musume from another family."
Listening to these words, Sirius Symboli had already confirmed the other party's identity, so she posed her next question: "That family, was it the Tokai Family?"
"Yes, it was an Uma Musume from the Tokai Family. I even specifically looked up her name; I think it was Tokai Ten'nen or Tokai Shizen?"
"So at that time…"
"As for the situation at that time, that Rudolph didn't have the ability to survive on her own outside. It seems that Uma Musume from the Tokai Family had been taking care of that girl Rudolph all along. So when Rudolph contacted me and told me that the other party had fallen ill, I was the one who first took her to the hospital for some treatment, and then sent her back to the Tokai Family."
Speed Symbol's words made Sirius fall silent; she had already figured out the entire sequence of events.
But, at the very end of the conversation, Sirius Symboli asked one last question: "Is this why Rudolph Symboli chose to marry into the Tokai Family?"
"When she was sent back, Rudolph also went along, so perhaps she remembered the Tokai Family at that time. She kept saying she wanted to marry that Uma Musume from the Tokai Family, even having to explain the situation to the Mejiro Family and cancel the original plans with Mejiro Sanfeng."
Hearing this, Sirius Symboli merely opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
But in the end, after more than ten seconds of silence, Sirius Symboli spoke again: "Thank you, Grandma."
"Well, it's nothing. But you asking about this now, it's not like the Tokai Family or that girl Rudolph did something they shouldn't have, is it?"
"..." Sirius Symboli did not respond to the question. She just took a deep breath, and then spoke again: "My investigation isn't finished yet. I'll tell you after it's complete, Grandma."
Listening to Sirius Symboli, Speed Symbol, dressed in slim-fit jeans and a white shirt, showing no signs of aging, simply opened the balcony window. She looked at the Eiffel Tower in the distance under the sunlight, thought for more than ten seconds, and then made her judgment: "Alright! Then I'll leave things over there to you. If that girl Rudolph does anything again, just let me know."
Speed Symbol's words made Sirius Symboli nod: "It's fine, I can handle it."
After speaking, Sirius Symboli hung up the phone.
Her hand, holding the phone, naturally dropped. Sirius Symboli looked up at the already dark sky.
Because of the city lights, the dark sky, where not a single star could be seen, could not guide anyone.
But Sirius Symboli knew what she had to do.
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