Let’s Kidnap The Male Lead

Prologue 

New Times Newspaper.

〈May 3, 715, page 1〉

『To prove you’re handsome, should you visit Hildes Street?』

Headline: The mysterious serial kidnapping of handsome men strikes again.

On May 2, a handsome man was reported missing from the capital’s Hildes Street once again.

The victim was reported by a friend as being a man in his early 20s who came to visit from the northern Palts region, with flashy blond hair and distinct facial features.

(Omitted…)

According to Imperial Palace investigators, due to the similarities with the ‘Hildes Street Handsome Man Serial Kidnapping Case,’ they believe that this case may be the work of the same person.

The ‘Hildes Street Handsome Man Kidnapping Case’ refers to a series of kidnappings that took place on Hildes Street beginning on February 17, 714.

The main characteristic is that all victims are handsome men over 170 cm tall. Unlike typical kidnapping cases, all victims are safely released after 30 days.

The reason this case became particularly controversial was due to the interviews with the missing victims.

Below are excerpts from the interviews of the third, seventh, and twenty-eighth victims of the Handsome Man Serial Kidnapping Case.

– Third victim

At first, I didn’t even realize I had been kidnapped. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was no joke—the luxurious meals and the bathtub with warm water. I couldn’t help but think that all the nobles must live like this.

I swear, if I get kidnapped one more time, I’m going to wish I didn’t have to earn my keep, because I’m in a place like that for free.

Hey, kidnapper, if you happen to see this, please come and take me back. Please.

– Seventh Victim

I had a dream of becoming a judge. However, studying was a luxury for me, who might starve to death the next day. It was when I had half-given up on my dream that I heard rumors about a serial kidnapping of a handsome man.

With a determination to catch even the last straw, I purposely walked on Hildes Street. And indeed, I was kidnapped.

(Omitted…)

During the 30 days of being kidnapped, just studying law books made me happy. But the kindness of the kidnapper didn’t end there.

The day I was released and returned home, an unbelievable sight awaited me. Law books were piled up in front of my house.

I instinctively knew. It was the kindness of the kidnapper, no, the benefactor.

And today, after several months, I, a commoner, have been admitted to the law department of the academy for the first time. As a full scholarship student.

All of this is thanks to the benefactor. I want to become an outstanding person like the benefactor and repay the kindness.

– Twenty-Eighth Victim

Hotels across the country need to reflect on their actions. Despite paying a hefty sum of money to stay in numerous accommodations, none of them could compare to that place. Is it reasonable for hotels that operate for profit to provide worse treatment than kidnappers?

As seen in various cases, the remarkable aspect of the “Hildes Street Handsome Man Serial Kidnapping Case” is that the kidnapped victims were not tortured or threatened; rather, they were exceptionally treated.

All the victims of the thirty consecutive kidnappings referred to the places they were held captive as ‘paradise.’

However, including this recent incident, this marks the thirty-first occurrence of a serial kidnapping, and there are still no leads on the culprit. 

Veronica von Agrian, the Crown Princess, has established a dedicated investigative team, but after thirteen months since the first incident, there have been no significant breakthroughs.

There is no information on the culprit’s gender, age range, place of residence, or even a motive for the crimes.

The investigation is expected to continue to be difficult, especially as many of the victims have no contact with the culprit.

Some speculate that since all the victims are self-proclaimed handsome men, the culprit may not be a sexual predator but rather someone who derives satisfaction from making handsome men happy. However, this argument lacks concrete evidence.

The problem is that currently, there is no information available about the culprit, yet a large crowd is flocking to Hildes Street. Prospective handsome men are flocking to see if they are good-looking and take advantage of a free vacation.

However, the Imperial Palace Security Bureau, including the investigation team in charge of this case, urged people to refrain from such actions.

Princess Veronica stated, “The unusual behavioral patterns exhibited by the culprit might indicate preparations for a major crime.” She advised residents to avoid going outside for the time being.

– Reporter Philip Brandt