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When I first arrived, I felt that everything in Kuoge City was good.

After listening to the woman's story, I realized that no matter which world, the gap between the rich and the poor will always be an eternal problem.

Even though Kuoge City does not seem to be very wealthy, there are still many families who have difficulty in making ends meet.

Sel's father ran away when his wife fell ill, making the already poor family even worse off.

The young and frail Sel and his seriously ill mother depend on each other for survival.

During the day, Sel went out to work. Because Kuoge prohibited the employment of child laborers under the age of 14, he could only secretly do odd jobs and hard labor in various stores. He had no way to complain if the store owners gave him a few copper coins less when settling his wages.

A few copper coins a day could barely provide food for the mother and child, but it was far from enough to alleviate the pain caused by the mother's illness.

"A few months ago, he suddenly didn't come home one night. I was anxious, but I couldn't even go out." Sadness overflowed in the woman's eyes. She looked towards the door. In the dim light, she seemed to still see the figure of her child.

"Early the next morning, he came back injured and refused to answer any questions I asked him."

"Then it happened a second time, a third time... He didn't come home for longer and longer periods of time, and then someone told me he was caught stealing and was imprisoned."

"I should have thought of it earlier. The sudden purchase of medicine and the large amount of food he brought back every day... But Sel is such a good kid. I can't believe he would do something like that."

The woman covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Several people listened silently, and Lian Yun was unable to say anything to comfort her.

All words are futile and empty.

After calming her down a bit, Buck stepped forward and asked, "Has Searle done anything unusual in the past few months?"

Perhaps it would be better for Buck to be the one questioning them.

Buck's voice was light and seemed to have a calming and soothing power.

The woman's sobs gradually subsided. She thought about it blankly, "Searle..."

"It really seems different." The woman's face showed a trace of pain. After struggling for a long time, she finally spoke with difficulty: "I don't want to believe it... Ever since he did something wrong, his mood has been much better every day. He also always said that my illness will definitely get better."

She didn't want to believe that it was the thrill of doing bad things that changed Searle.

"How could such a sensible child be happy about getting money through such a thing?"

Lian Yun heard something different.

"Will he tell you anything?"

"He just kept telling me that my illness would definitely get better. I don't know why he was so convinced. Even the pharmacist said that my illness could only be relieved but not cured. But his expression, that look..." The woman shook her head and choked up unwillingly.

"Like being possessed?" Lian Yun suddenly said.

The woman raised her head and met her gaze. "Yes...it's that fanatical look I always hate to see."

"I would rather die than let my child go crazy and deceive himself."

The woman dug her fingertips into the quilt tightly. Everything was caused by herself. She even thought that if she died, it would all be over.

So that her children will not be burdened and tortured by her anymore.

But her pitiful son died before her.

"Don't think like that." Along with the girl's gentle voice, a pair of soft hands covered her.

The black-haired girl patted the back of her hand gently, flipped her fingertips, and took out two round bottles, one filled with red liquid and the other filled with blue liquid.

"You have to take good care of yourself. At least, you have to wait until the moment you see the truth." Lian Yun's eyes were firm and powerful.

The woman's eyes were full of disbelief: "You mean Sel's death..."

Lian Yun nodded silently.

She and a few others settled the woman down, gave her a few instructions, and then left the yard.

They returned to the hotel and gathered in Lian Yun's room, sitting on the carpet.

Lian Yun was formulating his sentences and slowly sorting out his ideas with a few others.

She finally understood Sel's look.

It turns out that it was "fanasis".

Why can the mood of the same person suddenly change drastically in just a short distance?

The change was just as his mother had described, strange and incomprehensible.

When Lian Yun was negotiating with the boy, the first time the boy looked at her, his eyes were filled with despair and numbness, like a puppet.

But even No. 1685's eyes are more lively than his.

Before the boy died, he gave her a last look from afar, which was mixed with something Lian Yun couldn't understand, but she would not ignore the excitement and enthusiasm in his eyes for the dawn of hope.

Open and close.

Lian Yun only exchanged glances with Sel, but he had already discovered something unspeakably strange.

After the woman expressed the same feeling and linked it to the third "mysterious death" in Kuoge City this month, Lian Yun became more certain of his guess.

——Nothing is a coincidence.

Someone must be behind this.

Lian Yun shared his ideas with several people around him, and they all expressed their agreement.

"No matter how kind this city looks, it can't hide the conspiracy behind it." Jamie said this suddenly in a sullen voice.

This attracted everyone's surprised gazes.

Jamie pursed his lips and asked, "Have you forgotten the mission Fang Suo took?"

The rescue request was sent half a year ago, but was only received half a month ago. And the mission turned out to be to find a survivor?

No one would believe me if I told them there was no conspiracy.

"I haven't forgotten." Lian Yun said gently, "But whether the problem lies with Kuoge City or with some sneaky people is still undetermined. Don't let certain things affect your overall judgment."

It's too easy to be blinded by hatred.

Especially someone like Jamie who hates evil and loves his homeland.

Even though Jamie didn't say it, Lian Yun could see the anger and dissatisfaction in his heart.

Being trampled on two minefields at once, Lian Yun felt that it was not easy for him to remain rational.

This is also the reason why Lian Yun wants to take them along.

Although Buck is young, he is extraordinarily calm.

Lina is lively and cheerful, and always helps to regulate the mood of those around her in town.

She played an indispensable role in helping the former villagers gradually emerge from the shadows and become residents of the small town.

With two familiar people by his side, Jamie would think twice before encountering anything even the most infuriating.

"So what should we do now?" Jamie said in a muffled voice.

"You and Lina will go buy some food and supplies for Sel's mother. Tell her to recover well and remember what I said. And please pay attention to the people around you on the way."

Lian Yun raised the corners of her lips slightly, and everyone could vaguely feel that the girl had something planned in her mind.

"Remember that temporary adventuring team? If we can find them, it would be best to find our good friend Fang Suo directly."

The short-haired woman who was taking something out of the package sneezed, rubbed her nose, and subconsciously touched her forehead to check the temperature.

I'm not sick, I'm fine.

I've been fighting monsters for three consecutive days and earned a few silver coins by completing quests. But don't spend all of them on potions before they're even warm to the touch.

After packing up his things, Fang Suo collapsed on the single bed. Before he could catch his breath, he heard his stomach rumbling.

She stretched out her hand wearily to reach for the piece of bread on the wooden table, revealing the gauze that had just been wrapped around her arm.

The wound was slightly torn by her movement, and she winced in pain.

Damn flower beast.

She had clearly completed her mission objectives, and when she was about to leave, she ran into a group of grass and flower beasts.

This group of grass and flower beasts are obviously much stronger than the one just strangled.

The opponent's vines grew so fast that she didn't even have time to pull out her hand to attack, and could only busy herself with blocking the vines.

"I can't go to the forest next time. I guess they are holding a grudge against me." Fang Suo murmured.

At the critical moment, she grabbed a baby grass beast, picked up a dagger, stabbed it twice, and threw it far away.

The Grass Flower Beasts were protective of their young, and while they were busy rushing to check on their cubs, Fang Suo managed to escape.

It was just a fierce battle, and it was inevitable to get injured.

Fang Suo munched on a piece of bread, looking dazed.

Even though I have been doing this for so many years, every time I kill a monster cub, I always recall the scene again and again.

Suddenly a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Fang Suo sat up suddenly.

"Sister Fang Suo, are you there?"

Hearing the voice of the person coming, Fang Suo's frown unconsciously relaxed.

When I opened the door, a little girl of about eleven or twelve years old was standing outside. She had smooth hair cut neatly to her chin, and she looked very well-behaved and cute.

"Kuo Kuo, why are you here?" Fang Suo's voice unconsciously slowed down when facing the little girl adopted by the hotel.

Kuo Kuo was holding a tray with a roll of bandages on it.

She said sweetly: "The boss lady asked me to give you this. Sister Fang Suo, are you hurt? I hope you get better soon."

A smile appeared on Fang Suo's usually cold brows: "Don't worry, the injury is not serious."

She took the bandage and closed the door.

In her other hand she still held the slice of bread, which she devoured in no time.

After all this, she, who was drowsy just now, suddenly became a little more energetic.

Kuo Kuo is a poor and well-behaved little girl.

If she could earn more money, maybe she could send Kuo Kuo to school...

But even if I take on tasks continuously, I can't save much money.

Fang Suo suddenly remembered that when he entered the city today, the guards' lunch seemed to have been upgraded.

Do guards actually have such great benefits?

She asked another question at that time, and the other party replied that he had received a reward from a noble person.

Fang Suo had never met a generous customer.

Even the bounties for tasks secretly posted near the task hall are just enough, and getting an extra copper coin is a luxury.

...But she did meet such a person.

He was young and looked inexperienced. He lived in such a run-down, destitute town, yet he was generous and casually threw out a gold coin...

However, although he is young, his precautions and methods are no less than others, and Fang Suo has a deep understanding of this.

The hours-long "curious inquiries" once caused her, who disliked remembering other people's appearances, to be unable to forget her sparkling black eyes.

Only her financial resources were what Fang Suo had seen before, and she might be a true "noble"...

Fang Suo suddenly perked up.

"Something seems wrong..."

She paced back and forth in the room, an ominous premonition urging her to make her next move.

She turned and walked to the arched wooden window, pushed it open, and looked out at the street below.

"fine……"

"Hi~ Long time no see!"

A very familiar voice, half laughing and half smiling, came from above his head, and Fang Suo froze.

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The author has something to say:

Fang Suo: You don’t have to work at all, right?