SWNOVELXO Chapter 12: 12
Chapter 55: Dragon BarTitle of the Book: Mystery: Fire and the Fool's Path Author's name: December's Stranding Chapter word count: 3089 words Update time: 2025-05-13 18:48:13
After investigating for clues related to the Antigonus family notes and practicing at the shooting range, Klein returned home and suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of fatigue.
After becoming an Extraordinary Person, it seems that there are more things to do unconsciously. Perhaps this is what people often call responsibility.
"We need to find the whereabouts of the notebook as soon as possible. At least we need to find out whether it was destroyed or fell into the hands of someone else..."
"The original body was guided and manipulated to hide the notebook. If the Feifan behind it just wanted to destroy the notebook itself, there would be no need to go to such great lengths. There is a fireplace in Welch's house. There is no reason to let the original body leave with the notebook and then commit suicide..."
"Thinking about it this way, the situation with the notes is most likely the latter..."
After taking off his hat and hanging it on the coat rack, Klein gathered his thoughts and looked at the empty kitchen, then looked out the window at the darkening sky.
It seems like everyone came back a little late today...
Klein smiled and shook his head, preparing to go out again to the market to buy food.
But before he could even walk out of the door, the door was pushed open again, and Melissa came back steadily, carrying a stationery bag and a lot of vegetables.
Facing Klein's puzzled look, Melissa wordlessly showed the vegetables she had bought, and then pointed out the weather outside.
What a sensible sister...
Klein couldn't help but sigh, and his body didn't rest either. He immediately stepped forward and took all the ingredients from Melissa.
"Today's vegetables... well, they are quite abundant."
Holding the bag and looking around, Klein saw nothing but green. The only other color was a few round potatoes.
"Huh? You also bought spinach? I remember there didn't seem to be much spinach on sale in the market today."
Klein placed all the ingredients on the kitchen table and quickly noticed the bundle of spinach.
"Since you've already been to the market, why don't you buy your groceries ahead of time?"
Melissa heard Klein's question as she walked into the kitchen after putting away her things. She inexplicably focused on another point and looked at Klein with a hint of resentment.
Oh no, I don't think I really remembered it when I passed by the market... Well, at that time, my mind was only focused on finding notes and how to act.
Klein's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly found an excuse and said to Melissa apologetically:
"I just happened to pass by. Um, I was on my way to help someone transfer documents. You can't imagine, those documents are so thick, there are probably more pages than Benson's hair."
Melissa had only said it casually, but after hearing what Klein said, she felt much more relaxed.
"If Benson heard this, he would probably cook a dish for you personally, and then let you eat it all in front of him, and then publish a thousand-word review."
"If I can do something like this, then I believe I have enough strength to apply for the spokesperson for the mayor's office."
Klein replied with a smile.
After a few simple jokes, the atmosphere in the kitchen suddenly became cheerful.
Melissa came over to help Klein wash the potatoes. After hesitating for a few seconds, she slowly spoke:
"I can eat spinach today thanks to a kind sister. If it weren't for her, I might not have bought spinach."
Klein was stunned for a moment, then listened quietly to Melissa's story.
Melissa vividly recounted everything that had just happened. While describing the details, she also imitated the kind-hearted lady's tone and repeated how she persuaded the vendor to lower the price of spinach.
After hearing about the so-called "tender spinach" incident, Klein couldn't help but sigh in amazement:
"There are still many good people in this world."
...
The brother and sister spent some time preparing the ingredients they bought and cooking them. When the dishes were almost ready, Benson, who had returned late, finally walked into the house with the sound of the door opening, and the Moretti family's dinner officially began.
At the dinner table, Melissa recounted the "tender spinach" incident to Benson.
It can be seen that what happened today really made Melissa happy. She usually seemed a little introverted even at home, but today she seemed to have endless things to say, as if she wanted to share a lot of things with her brothers.
Benson and Klein also noticed this. They both thought it was a good thing, as it could help Melissa, who had developed an inferiority complex due to her poor family conditions in her early years, become more cheerful.
Benson listened carefully to Melissa's story, while Klein, who had heard it once before, ate his food with a smile on his face, occasionally responding to Melissa's comments.
After the story was told, Benson, who had never expected that his sister would meet a kind person when she was buying vegetables, applauded and praised sincerely:
"Goddess, I'm sure she must be a very beautiful lady both inside and out, and she lives a very happy and fulfilling life."
Melissa nodded in agreement:
"Yes, that Miss Caroline is from Backlund. Her manners and conversation show that she is well educated and financially well off. I remember that she bought two bell peppers and a pound of spinach. The bell peppers were 4 pence each and the spinach was 5 pence a pound, which means that she spent 1 soli and 1 penny!"
4p a bell pepper… is that really reasonable?
Klein recalled his knowledge of bell peppers. When he thought about how a fruit that was only slightly larger than an ordinary apple would cost four pennies, he wanted to shake his head from the bottom of his heart.
Benson also said in a very strange way:
"Backlund, the City of Hope, the Capital of All Capitals...If our family wants to take our lives to the next level in the future, I think Backlund is indeed a place worth considering."
Melissa swallowed the bread in her mouth and added, following Benson's words:
"The premise is that you and Klein must work harder and save enough money. Your family must have at least 300 pounds in savings. No, 500 pounds."
Sister, you seem to think too highly of your brothers... It would take years of work to save 500 pounds.
Klein grimaced inwardly. His current weekly salary was only 3 pounds. Although it might increase in the future, as he got older, some other expenses would inevitably come.
Then he added:
"Also, Melissa, you have to study hard and try to get into the university in Backlund. This way, we don't need to save too much money before we can go to Backlund."
Benson agreed:
"Klein is right. The key is to have the courage to fight for life. If you don't have the courage to take the first step from the bottom of your heart, then even if you have 1,000 pounds in savings, you won't take that step."
But Melissa immediately shook her head, and the hair on both sides of her head rustled:
"No, if our family had 1,000 pounds in savings, I would definitely support going to Backlund."
"1,000 pounds! My God, how long will Benson have to bargain hard to save up that much!"
Klein said this jokingly in an exaggerated tone, causing Melissa to cover her mouth and chuckle.
"Perhaps I have to bargain with foreign suppliers on behalf of our company to get so much money as a bonus."
Benson said with a smile, but immediately changed the subject and pointed at the fragrant spinach fried by Klein on the table and said:
"From now on, bargaining is an elegant and sophisticated art. Melissa, you've seen that even the ladies from Backlund love to bargain. Don't call me vulgar in the future."
Melissa was already a little out of breath from the continuous jokes. She was busy suppressing her emotions and had no time to answer. Klein took over the conversation and said to Benson:
"Yes, respected bargaining artist Mr. Benson, perhaps you and that lady must have a lot of common topics."
"Maybe I could write a book titled 'The Art of Bargaining' and maybe it would become a bestseller?"
"If you, Benson, are the author... well, I just hope there won't be too many humorous jokes and curly-haired baboons in it."
"No, Klein, you are wrong."
Benson shook his head seriously and said:
"There will be lots of curly-haired baboons!"
...
Night is not a good time to travel. At least in Caroline's opinion, nightlife only exists after the invention of neon lights on Earth.
I remember that when she was a child, her mother once made up a somewhat crude ghost story to trick her in order to get her to go to bed quickly.
Caroline, wearing a hunter's uniform, rode a carriage to the dock area of Tingen. After getting off the carriage, facing the dim kerosene lamps on the street and the dark alleys, she couldn't help but recall the ghost story that had brought her a little trauma.
The person, whose entire body is covered in shadows, with only a bright spot on his head, will look for children who don't sleep well in the dead of night, grab them from their beds, and eat them...
I have to say that my mother was really good at telling hidden stories. Although her stories seem a bit ordinary now, they were very effective for Caroline who was still very young at that time.
"Sorry mom, I don't have time to go to bed early now."
After whispering an apology to her mother back home on Earth, Caroline packed her luggage, moved the revolver hidden at her waist a little further inward, and then started walking along the bumpy streets of the dock area.
When she came, she specifically asked the coachman which bars were popular in the Tingen Pier area.
After paying some hush money, the coachman stopped looking at Caroline with a strange look, put on a more sincere expression, and told her the name of a bar:
"Dragon Bar"
Caroline looked at the sign hanging on the corner of the street, which was extremely eye-catching under the gas lamp, and listened to the waves of noise coming from behind the heavy door that was closed under the sign, and confirmed that this was the place she wanted to come.Chapter 56 Old NeilTitle of the Book: Mystery: Fire and the Fool's Path Author's name: December's Stranding Chapter word count: 3074 words Update time: 2025-05-14 14:01:53
Walking across the middle street, Caroline walked calmly to the door of the "Dragon Bar" across the street.
Just like the "Brave Bar" in the Backlund Bridge District, or perhaps it should be said that most of the bars in this world would have a sturdy man at the door.
But unlike the "Brave Bar", Caroline, who came here for the first time, was immediately greeted by the oppressive and malicious scrutiny of the guard at the door.
Caroline stopped in front of the heavy door of the bar, and her boots finally landed on the ground, making some intentional noises.
She raised her head slightly and looked at the guard at the door with a calm expression. The latter never took his gaze away, and stared down at Caroline with his huge body and a fierce look, as if he wanted to scare her away in this way.
Could this be considered some kind of screening measure? If you don't have the courage to face this kind of villain, don't enter the bar... Tsk tsk, it seems that the original body has indeed become a familiar face in the "Brave Bar".
Caroline thought about it, withdrew her gaze coldly, raised her left hand and pushed open the door.
It was not until she walked into the bar that the burly man's gaze was cut off by the closing door.
But then, just like some kind of regime handover ceremony, Caroline had just gotten rid of the cold oppression when she was greeted by the overly noisy atmosphere in the bar.
Caroline set out at eight o'clock in the evening and arrived here at almost nine o'clock in the evening, but there were still many people in the "Dragon Bar".
There is a boxing ring in the middle of the bar. Like the "Brave Bar", it is a venue for fighting matches for drinkers to place high bets.
However, the people standing on the boxing ring at this time were not naked, muscular strong men, but two drunkards who were obviously drunk and were staggering and pushing and pulling each other.
Below the boxing ring, a dozen other drinkers holding wine glasses were cheering, provoking, and instigating, enjoying the prospect of seeing a happier scene.
The smell of sweat, volatile alcohol, fermented wheat and the smell of vomit that was obviously from two drunkards on the boxing ring mixed in the air, making Caroline, who had just walked in, look a little ugly.
It is a place where good and bad people mix together and it is chaotic and disorderly. This is the perfect place to hide some unknown underground transactions.
Most people in the bar were focused on the boxing ring, so no one noticed Caroline.
She walked around the boxing ring, passed by some crooked tables and chairs, and went straight to the bar.
"A ginger beer."
Caroline glanced at the sign above the bar, took a copper penny from her pocket, and gently pressed it on the bar.
The bartender, who was always trying to wipe the endless wine glasses, glanced at Caroline, said nothing, and freed his hands to take the coin.
After a while, a full glass of ginger beer was handed to Caroline.
"Thanks."
After saying something to the bartender who had returned to his job of cleaning glasses, Caroline took a glass and sat down in an empty seat in front of the bar, facing the bar, drinking ginger beer by herself.
She was just checking out the place today and getting to know some people, and she had no intention of looking for someone with connections right away.
This kind of thing cannot be forced, and being too impatient will only push her into unnecessary attention, so tonight she will just simply hang out in the bar and taste the ginger beer here in Tingen.
Hmm...it's not as delicious as "Brave Bar", and it's not very carbonated. I don't know if it's because of the climate or the recipe.
But after all, it is 1 penny cheaper and is more than enough to be used as a normal drink.
Caroline drank the ginger beer in the cup and looked up at the drinks and their prices in the Dragon Bar. The bartender in front of her wiped the cups one by one in silence, and the boxing ring behind her was still making a noisy noise, with a few discordant vomiting sounds and laughter from time to time.
In a bar without music, this kind of noise is probably a substitute. Caroline thinks that there is no difference between the two in essence, both are to make customers in the bar ignore the passage of time, but music can make people relax more, while this kind of noise can make people emotional.
After an unknown amount of time, Caroline looked at the price list and saw the types of drinks on the bar counter. The ginger beer in her hand was finally running out. At this time, a cheer that sounded like victory broke out from the boxing ring. The loud sound almost made Caroline think something had exploded.
The winner is finally decided?
Caroline rubbed her ears, which were crackling, and turned her head to look.
On the boxing ring, the fat man was already lying on the ground, but he didn't look like he was knocked down. It was more like he finally couldn't stand the hypnosis of alcohol. This was evidenced by his steadily rising and falling chest and abdomen and the increasing amount of vomit on the stage.
Next to him, the skinny drunk who was intruded by a busybody in the audience raised his hands high, and celebrated his victory with a red face and a big smile, as if he had really won a heavyweight boxing match.
The drinkers around the boxing ring also cooperated by clapping and whistling. They didn't care whether the boxing match was professional or not. As long as it gave them enough fun, it was a happy event worth celebrating.
"It's not easy... Well, I mean the cleaning staff who will clean up this ruin next."
Caroline curled her lips and shook her head, then turned around and drank the rest of the ginger beer in the glass.
The farce-like "drunk boxing match" ended, and the drinkers, knowing that it was getting late, paid their bills and left one after another. The number of people in the bar quickly decreased to a relatively quiet level within a few minutes.
Without anything to attract attention, the idle people finally noticed Caroline sitting at the bar.
It was indeed a rare sight to see a woman in a bar, which made the drinkers subconsciously stare at Caroline a few more times.
But as long as they don't get drunk, people who hang out in the "Dragon Bar" for many years can still understand the "rules" implied here to some extent.
There are generally only two possibilities for someone who can appear in the bar at this time, and she is a woman. The "Dragon Bar" has its own rules, and people of certain professions are not allowed to enter here, so the illegal business can be ruled out, especially since Caroline is wearing a tight hunter suit.
After realizing this, most of the drinkers just paid a few more glances at Caroline and then immediately looked away and left.
But obviously, not everyone can stay rational after drinking.
"Hey, chick!"
A thin man wearing tattered overalls and reeking of alcohol leaned against the bar next to Caroline, with a not-so-cool smile on his face.
Caroline, who was looking at the bottom of the wine glass, was distracted by this impolite address and turned to look at the other person.
After seeing Caroline's face, the man became even more excited. His already red face looked even more like it was painted with oil paint, and his narrowed eyes flashed with an uncomfortable light.
"How come I haven't seen a chick as pretty as you around here? Where are you new from? You're really gonna steal all those chicks' business!"
The man blew a staccato whistle at the bartender behind the bar, but it was not as loud as the one Caroline hummed when she cooked for herself.
"Brother, give her a rye beer!"
Rye beer, the one that costs a penny? It turns out that people actually drink that stuff...
Caroline put down the cup in her hand, knocked it on the bar, and said:
"Sorry, I can't drink much. I usually don't drink beer."
The bartender behind the bar also glanced back and forth at Caroline and the man, hid his hand that was wiping the wine glass under the table, and said in a deep voice:
"Oz, I think you have almost spent your wages for today, right?"
The man named Oz didn't seem to hear the bartender's words at all. He still looked straight at Caroline and muttered:
"You can't drink much... Hehe, you'll get better if you drink more. How about I teach you?"
Oz intentionally moved a little closer to Caroline. Caroline quickly glanced at the bartender and saw that he was staring at this place. Then she looked at the drinkers next to her. Most of them were watching the fun.
Before Oz's hand reached out, Caroline stepped down from her seat, took a few steps back, stood firm, swung the hem of her hunter's uniform to the side, and put her hand behind her waist.
"I think Mr. Oz, you might need to be taught how to stay sane after drinking."
Caroline looked at the other person with a smile on her face and said softly.
Seeing Caroline's right hand hidden behind her waist, Oz's originally frivolous face suddenly became stiff.
"Miss, weapons are not allowed in the bar."
The bartender behind the bar said in a cold tone, but his eyes were fixed on Oz who was getting closer to him.
"Who said I was armed?"
Caroline lowered her head slightly, and the smile on her face became a little playful.
"I have only brought a truth with me, and that truth, Mr. Oz, is now very willing to teach you how to conduct yourself in the world."
Oz faltered in front of Caroline. He was actually a very timid person and now he felt a little regretful. But the wine in his stomach and the alcohol in his blood made his brain slow to work, and his instincts made him unable to lose face.
"Why are you pretending to be a bounty hunter? You are such an ungrateful person—"
Oz gritted his teeth and was about to say something that might cause a conflict.
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening was heard from inside the bar. Immediately afterwards, an old man with gray hair and deep wrinkles slowly walked out of a billiard room.
Seeing the tense atmosphere at the bar, he frowned and asked:
"What's going on?"
The bartender put down the things in his hand hidden on the bar, picked up the wine glass and towel again, and said:
"Mr. Neil, please help me deal with this."Chapter 57 Problems of the ElderlyTitle of the Book: Mystery: Fire and the Fool's Path Author's name: December's Stranding Chapter word count: 4318 words Update time: 2025-05-14 19:02:11
The man walked up to the bar, looked at Caroline first, then turned to Oz, pointed at his collar and said:
"'Mixworm' Oz, you really don't know what restraint is. Is your life only about the lower half of your body?"
Feeling humiliated, Oz stretched his neck, but he didn't dare to do anything, so he raised his voice and said:
"Can't you mind your own business, old Neil?!"
Even though he is quite old, Old Neil, who looks healthier than Oz in both figure and height, laughed:
"Who made me Old Neil?"
"This is a heartfelt advice from an old man. I think you'd better leave now before your family member comes looking for you."
Oz shuddered all over, as if he had thought of some bad scene, and cursed under his breath, then left the bar with a drunken gait that was still a little shaky, causing laughter from the onlookers.
"Oz is such a bastard. He is so afraid of his wife, but he still goes out to fool around."
A drinker who was very close to Old Neil kept slapping his thigh, looked up at Old Neil, pointed at the door of the bar and laughed.
"this is life."
Old Neil raised his eyebrows and spread his hands helplessly.
...
After dealing with Oz, the troublemaker, Old Neil naturally did not forget Caroline on the other side.
Seeing Old Neil turning towards her, Caroline still maintained her original posture, but her expression and movements seemed much more relaxed.
She had long expected that she would encounter a situation similar to that of the "bug" Oz just now. As long as she wanted to come to a place like a bar to investigate, she would inevitably encounter such things.
But she doesn't think this will only be a bad thing, because as long as a conflict occurs in the bar, the bar's behind-the-scenes operators will definitely come forward to resolve it.
As long as she doesn't act as a troublemaker, she is less likely to be driven away, and in return, she will have the opportunity to meet people of higher status in the bar.
Look, Mr. Neil is obviously a person of high status in the Dragon Bar. Even the bartender with a paralyzed face respects him, which means he has a certain relationship with the bar owner.
Old Neil came to Caroline and saw her smiling at him in a friendly manner. He shook his head and said with a smile:
"Kid, it's not suitable for women to hang out at night, especially in a place like a bar. You never know when you might run into unreasonable people."
As he spoke, Old Neil pointed at Caroline's right hand which was still hidden behind her waist.
"The same goes for carrying a weapon for self-defense."
Caroline smiled and replied:
"Old man, I just want to taste the ginger beer."
Then, she raised her right hand to the front, lifted the corner of her clothes to show the place she had just touched, and said:
"And I have already explained to the dutiful bartender that I am not carrying a weapon."
There was no gun or dagger between the belted shirt and coat as everyone imagined. There were only wrinkles on the fabric of the clothes.
Seeing this scene, the onlookers all showed expressions of amazement or disappointment. Sounds of "oh" in sudden realization and "huh" in disappointment came one after another. The bar, which had been a little quiet, immediately became lively again.
"Oh! I thought there would be a good show to watch!"
"Miss, you are quite good. You managed to scare the 'bug' Oz with just an air gun!"
"Oz is a timid guy, but I never thought he could be scared by a fake gun!"
"Hahaha, this is more interesting than the boxing just now! Those people who left early really missed the show!"
The discussions and laughter of the drinkers floated nearby, but Old Neil did not make a hasty judgment.
He looked at Caroline with great interest, raised his hand and pinched his chin, which had just been shaved.
The bartender behind the bar glanced at Caroline's waist, then stopped paying attention and lowered his head to continue wiping the wine glass.
Seeing old Neil pouting and nodding slowly, Caroline also smiled gently, put down the corner of her clothes, and sat back to her original position.
"It seems that you are braver than I thought... You came to the bar in the dock area without any self-defense weapons. Aren't you afraid of encountering some difficult to deal with dangers?"
Old Neil walked slowly to Caroline's side, but didn't find a chair to sit down, just stood in front of the bar.
"Who said I don't have a way to cope?"
Caroline said with a smile, which aroused old Neil's curiosity. He couldn't help but lean slightly to listen carefully to Caroline's answer.
"Police officers who keep the city safe, bar owners, these are my responses."
"Has this world become so chaotic that even public order cannot be trusted?"
Old Neil didn't expect to get such an answer. He thought Caroline would just give him a mysterious smile like those pretentious guys he had met before.
"That's a good answer... It's really a good answer. If you are willing to apply for a government clerk position and you are not hired, I think it will be their loss."
Old Neil clapped his hands in admiration.
Caroline gladly accepted the compliment and was about to praise old Neil in the same way, but for some reason, she suddenly felt a strange chill sweeping through her body.
It felt like someone was secretly spying on her, but she couldn't tell exactly where the feeling came from, so much so that after a while, she began to doubt whether she was wrong.
But the chill at that moment was not easy to forget, so she subconsciously looked at the blind spots behind her, but did not notice that old Neil in front of her suddenly blinked a few more times, raised the corners of his mouth and nodded.
"As expected, he is a person with 'talent'..."
Old Neil silently noted this, looked at Caroline who was still looking for the source of the voyeurism, and said:
"You came to the bar just to taste ginger beer? How about it? Is the ginger beer here to your liking?"
When Caroline heard Old Neil's question, she temporarily withdrew her attention, thinking that someone in the "Dragon Bar" had noticed and was secretly observing her.
She pretended not to feel anything and answered Old Neil normally:
"Well, it tastes pretty good, but..."
Caroline said, glancing secretly at the bartender behind the bar.
"It would be better if the ginger flavor was stronger and there was more gas in the liquid."
Upon hearing this, Old Neil immediately laughed unrestrainedly:
"Hahaha, looks like Swain needs to re-examine his own wine. After all these years, someone finally found some problems with it!"
All the drinkers in the bar burst into laughter. Caroline didn't find anything funny, but she noticed the name "Swain" mentioned by Old Neil. She guessed that this might be the name of the real owner of the "Dragon Bar", so she quickly added:
"But after a careful aftertaste, this refreshing taste is still very good. It may just be because of the mixing problem that the first bite..."
As she spoke, Caroline glanced at the bar inadvertently, only to find that the bartender's face suddenly turned dark.
So she quickly changed her words:
"Of course! It may just be my personal taste. Goddess, the drinks and service here are quite high quality."
Hearing this, the bartender's expression eased a little.
However, Old Neil's expression became more subtle. He slightly widened his eyes and looked at Caroline and said:
"Are you a follower of the Goddess of Night?"
"Uh, yes."
I think so...
In order to adapt to the local customs, Caroline began to learn some speaking habits from daily communication since the second day of her crossing. After arriving in Tingen, the people she met most were the followers of the Goddess of Night.
It started like this with the coachman. On the way to the North District, he would add "Goddess" almost every three sentences. Gradually, Caroline would add such an exclamation in her words whenever she had the chance.
But it couldn't be said that she was wrong. After all, in her memory, the Williams couple's attitude towards the Church of the Goddess of Evernight seemed to be quite good.
Hearing Caroline's answer, Old Neil nodded slightly thoughtfully.
Noticing old Neil's thoughtful look, Caroline couldn't help but start to worry whether she had said something wrong.
Could it be that this bar does not welcome followers of the Goddess of Night?
That's not right. The Goddess of Night is one of the seven true gods, and in Tingen City, the church with the largest number of believers is the Goddess of Night Church.
Or is this bar actually a gathering place for atheists who exclude all churchgoers equally?
This is not impossible. After all, the real existence of gods is just a rumor promoted by the church. The only few miracles recorded in history books almost all occurred within various orthodox churches. The era when gods were said to walk on the earth was in the Fourth Epoch, more than a thousand years ago.
Caroline thought about all the possibilities one by one. On the surface, she remained calm, but in fact, she was starting to get nervous.
But fortunately, Old Neil quickly recovered from his thoughts. He smiled and took out a crimson moon-shaped pendant from his collar and said:
"I am also a believer of the goddess. If there is a chance, maybe we can meet at St. Selena Church on Red Moon Street."
Wow, I didn't realize that Old Neil is actually a follower of the Goddess of Night.
According to the words of those believers, are they brothers and sisters in the same church?
Caroline thought about it and realized that she was now a follower of the Goddess of Night. She quickly imitated those believers and drew an irregular circle on her chest in front of Old Neil.
As a return gift, Old Neil naturally also tapped his chest four times, outlining the shape of a crimson moon.
But compared to Caroline, what he did didn't seem to be so standard.
"It seems that today is indeed a good day."
Old Neil said this, then he thought of something and took out his pocket watch to check the time.
"Oh, it's getting late."
Then he put away his pocket watch and blinked hard at Caroline.
"It's about time to go back."
Caroline immediately understood what Old Neil meant. She quickly stood up from her seat and followed Old Neil towards the door, saying:
"Thank you for your reminder. It is indeed a little late now."
The two walked out of the door one after the other. Outside the bar, the sturdy man was still standing there, but this time, after seeing Caroline coming out with Old Neil, his expression was no longer so sharp.
Old Neil took Caroline to the other side of the street from the bar. They didn't walk too far, but it was far enough so that their conversation wouldn't be easily heard.
He turned around and looked at Caroline. The expression on his face became much kinder, and now he looked more like a naughty old boy.
"You are not from Tinggen, are you? Isn't it a bit abrupt for you to come here as a bounty hunter?"
Old Neil asked unexpectedly.
Caroline blinked in surprise and quickly shook her head to deny it:
"No, I'm just here to travel in Tingen."
"Traveling, and then hanging out in a bar in a hunter outfit?"
Old Neil pointed at Caroline's clothes in amusement.
"It's just a costume, don't you think it's handsome, Mr. Neil?"
Caroline still maintained her attitude of denial. She turned around in front of Old Neil like a little girl seeking adventure, as if to show him her hunter suit.
"Yeah, very handsome, indeed very handsome..."
Old Neil's eyes were a little dazed, but he did not lose his mind. He just curled the corners of his mouth unconsciously, and then said with a smile:
"Just call me Old Neil. Haha, Mr. Neil sounds like a mean librarian."
"Doesn't Old Neil sound like a weathered old worker?"
Caroline teased without missing a single opportunity.
"At least no one called me Little Neil when I was young."
Old Neil said with a smile.
With a sigh, he quickly stopped laughing, looked at Caroline kindly in the eyes, and said:
"Kid, I just want to warn you that the Dragon Bar is full of people of all kinds. Even if you carry a weapon for self-defense, you'd better not take it lightly."
Caroline was stunned when she heard this, and then she recalled the different expression on Old Neil's face when she showed him the condition of her waist just now.
Sure enough, old ginger is still spicy...
Caroline sighed inwardly and nodded slightly to Old Neil.
"Haha, these are all tricks I played when I was young."
Old Neil touched his nose and said with a smile.
"Since you are just here for tourism, I won't say too much. If you need any help, um, I mean something serious, go to the Hound Bar on Bexie Street and find the owner, Wright, and tell him that you have something to do with Old Neil."
"The Hound Bar on Bexley Street... OK, I remember Neil first... Uh, no, Old Neil."
Caroline repeated old Neil's words and memorized the address he gave her.
...
Waving goodbye to Caroline, old Neil, wearing a warm hat, walked alone in the other direction of the street.
Caroline hadn't left yet. The benefits of this trip far exceeded her expectations. Getting to know old Neil was indeed an unexpected surprise.
Standing and looking at old Neil's receding back, Caroline wanted to take a few more glances at this kind-hearted old man.
Suddenly, she saw Old Neil stagger a few times without any warning while walking and almost fell to the ground.
This scared Caroline, because for the elderly, falling is the most dangerous situation.
Fortunately, Old Neil quickly stabilized his body, and Caroline breathed a sigh of relief.
How come I almost fell? Is it because the road here is too rugged?
Caroline thought about it, but she always felt that old Neil's legs suddenly went weak.
Well, when you get older, you can always understand some things.
After randomly thinking of a possibility, Caroline also set out on the journey back to the hotel.Chapter 58 Real Estate CompanyTitle of the Book: Mystery: Fire and the Fool's Path Author's name: December's Stranding Chapter word count: 3095 words Update time: 2025-05-15 13:21:22
The time came to the next morning, a little after nine five in the morning.
Caroline packed her luggage and walked out of the hotel wearing a light green walking skirt and a brown checkered hat.
Last night's bar trip had a pretty good result. After returning to the hotel, Caroline immediately used the "Void Cube" to check the source of the voyeuristic feeling.
Any event that is strongly related to her will form a "report", and this time is no exception.
Through the narration of the "report", Caroline learned that the source of the voyeuristic feeling was the old Mr. Neil whom she met last night.
The "report" did not contain much information. It characterized Old Neil as "curious about Caroline's peculiarities, so he subconsciously used 'clairvoyance' to check on Caroline's condition."
This is the true face of that feeling of voyeurism, which comes from Old Neil's "clairvoyance".
Caroline didn't know what "clairvoyance" was, but it was obvious that it was certainly not an ability that ordinary people could possess.
If nothing unexpected happens, Old Neil is obviously an extraordinary person. As for which path of extraordinary person he is and what sequence he is at now, Caroline has no way of knowing for the time being.
But the good news is that old Neil, as an extraordinary person, has no ill will towards Caroline, which is the conclusion she can draw from the text of the "report".
This was a great gain for Caroline. Meeting an experienced and experienced Beyonder could help her gain a deeper understanding of the Beyonder market in Tingen. And Old Neil had also taken the initiative to show her some goodwill last night, declaring that she could ask him for help if she needed it.
I made the right decision to go to the "Dragon Bar". I knew that was the kind of place where I would definitely meet useful NPC characters.
Well, this is the experience the game gave me.
Caroline gathered the hair that fell by her ears and hailed a carriage on the side of the road.
The "Dragon Bar" is still worth visiting again, but that is something you would only consider at night. Daytime tasks should be carried out during the day.
Caroline's main purpose of coming to Tingen was to complete Ovis' commission. Finding the fraudster was the main line, and all other things were still side lines.
Through the clues obtained from the bank's business investments, Caroline now has a total of five suspected targets, and she plans to deal with two of them today.
The first suspicious person is Mr. Mike Frazee, the owner of Frazee Real Estate.
After getting on the carriage and telling the coachman the destination, Caroline headed straight for the economic street in the northern district of Tingen.
The reason Caroline suspected the real estate developer was simple: it was because of his plan to develop the suburbs west of Tingen.
She had gone to the suburbs west of Tingen yesterday to learn about the situation. According to the locals of Tingen, that area was almost entirely barren rocks and weeds.
I heard that half a century ago, it was a local pasture in Tingen, but due to overgrazing, the environment suddenly deteriorated and now there is basically only stones and sand left. The few remaining plants are so pitiful that they look like malnourished plants squeezed in small pots.
Mr. Frazee's development plan is to create an integrated leisure and residential area there.
Caroline was not very knowledgeable and did not know much about real estate, but she really wanted to know how Mr. Frazee planned to implement his development plan. Building a recreational area on a piece of barren rock land, could his other surname be Fabre?
The real estate project was still in the fundraising stage, and the corresponding location was still a wasteland. Mike Frazee, the real estate developer himself, was not an old Tingen native. Combining all these factors, it was no wonder that Caroline found him suspicious.
After about half an hour's ride, the carriage stopped in a neighborhood in the North District where businesses were concentrated.
After paying the fare, Caroline got off the carriage and looked up to see the "Frazee Real Estate" sign hanging outside a small shop on the street.
"Okay... a simple company. Mr. Hank's shooting club is only a little smaller than this one."
Caroline stood outside and observed the situation of this small company. After making sure that the company was open for business and all the window curtains were open, without that eerie feeling, she walked forward, knocked on the door, and then reached out to push the door open.
The first thing Caroline saw when she entered the door was a small hall with a simple style.
Behind the front desk that looked like a hotel, a lady in casual clothes was sitting there, leisurely reading a book in her hand.
After hearing the sound of Caroline entering the door, she looked up and saw someone coming to the door. She quickly put down the book, stood up straight, and asked in a brisk tone:
"Welcome to Frazier Real Estate Construction Group! Is there anything you would like to consult?"
Construction Group? Is your company's positioning itself a little... too ambitious?
Caroline pursed her lips, put on a smile, and explained why she was here:
"Hello, I'm a student at Backlund University, and I'm currently collecting materials in Tingen. After learning about your company's development plans for the suburbs west of Tingen, I'm very interested in Mr. Frazee's plans and would like to interview him in person. I wonder if Mr. Frazee is willing to give me this opportunity."
"You are also a college student?"
The young receptionist grasped the strange point first and immediately showed joy.
But soon, she realized the real point and nodded repeatedly and said:
"Mr. Frazee is in the company right now, and he welcomes outsiders to learn about his plans. If it's convenient for you, Miss, I can take you to see him."
Caroline smiled and nodded:
"Then I'll trouble you."
The receptionist's smile grew a little brighter, and she walked out from behind the counter, leading Caroline to the back of the front hall, and up a small flight of stairs to the second floor.
"Mr. Frazee is a very kind and generous gentleman who has a unique understanding of real estate and is committed to creating a better and more residential environment for Tingen."
"Although we are still a small company, I believe that Mr. Frazier will make a great career in the future."
While guiding Caroline, the receptionist continued to introduce Mike Frazee to her without stopping, praising him generously.
Miss, are you being a little too worshipful towards your boss?
Caroline was thinking about it when she heard the receptionist say:
"Moreover, Mr. Frazier is also very happy to provide employment opportunities for young people. I was very distressed because I had to do a professional internship before graduation, but I didn't expect that Mr. Frazier would not only be willing to provide me with this opportunity, but also be prepared to continue to employ me after I graduate!"
...Then this is not surprising. If I had met such a boss when looking for an internship before, I would have praised him every day.
Caroline couldn't help but hold her forehead slightly and wipe away some of the sweat on her forehead.
However, due to her rigorous attitude towards information, she still asked:
"Forgive my rashness, may I ask, miss, what is your major...?"
The receptionist answered without hesitation:
"I'm a student majoring in accounting at the Tingen Institute of Technology!"
...
After arriving at the second floor of Frazier Real Estate, Caroline unexpectedly discovered that although the company looked small from the outside, the internal layout design made it not crowded, at least Caroline personally did not feel uncomfortable.
From wallpaper to floor, from paintings to potted plants, you can see that the decoration designer has his own set of ideas.
The receptionist took Caroline to an office and knocked on the door gently.
After receiving a deep "Come in", she reached out and turned the doorknob, opening the office door.
In an office with a simple style, a gentleman who looked somewhat older was sitting behind a desk, smoking a pipe and writing something in his hands.
The receptionist stood in front of the door and did not go directly into the office, while Caroline stood behind her.
"Mr. Frazier, this is a student from Backlund University. She wants to have an interview with you regarding the suburban construction plan."
The receptionist turned sideways and introduced Caroline to Mike Frazee. Caroline nodded slightly and said with a smile:
"Hello Mr. Frazee, my name is Caroline."
"Ah, you're a top student from Backlund University! Hello, Miss Caroline, I'm Mike Frazee, please come in."
Mike Frazee gave a measured smile, took off his pipe, stood up from his chair, walked towards Caroline, and shook hands with her in a friendly manner.
Caroline walked into the office and, at Mike Frazee's invitation, sat down with him on a pair of meeting chairs, one in front of the other.
"Miss Caroline, would you like something to drink?"
Mike Frazee looked at Caroline and was about to ask the receptionist to prepare tea.
"No thanks Mr. Frazee, I'm just doing some simple interviews, it won't take up too much of your time."
Caroline raised her hand to decline.
Mike Frazee did not force it. He nodded with a faint smile and signaled the receptionist to go back and rest.
Watching the receptionist walk out of the office with a relaxed pace, Caroline turned around and said with a smile:
"Mr. Frazee, you are really considerate of your employees."
Mike Frazee shook his head slightly and replied in his unique voice:
"They are all people who work hard for a living. There is no reason for me not to treat these employees who work for me well."
"What's more, Mary is a very dedicated girl. As a new company, I need fresh blood like her."
Mike Frazee's answer was simple and powerful, and Caroline's first impression of him was not bad at the moment.
However, she would not rule out Mike Frazee as a suspect just because of these things. She would have to find the answer from his words to find out the real situation.
So Caroline stopped being polite, straightened her posture, and asked directly.
"So, Mr. Frazee, can I first learn more about your development plans?"Chapter 59 ResortTitle of the Book: Mystery: Fire and the Fool's Path Author's name: December's Stranding Chapter word count: 3161 words Update time: 2025-05-15 18:30:50
"Ah, that is a very innovative construction plan. To understand it, I have to start with my personal thoughts."
When talking about his business, Mike Frazee's expression suddenly became very bright.
Even though his expression didn't show any obvious smile, Caroline could feel that his temperament had changed, full of confidence and satisfaction.
"My development plan originated from a trip to Feynaport, where I was impressed by the unique mountain and woodland scenery."
"At that time, my family and I lived in a villa located in a clearing in the mountains. Every morning, when I opened the curtains, I could see the beautiful forest and the gurgling stream spreading out in the distance between the mountains at my feet. The lightness that came from the heart was hard to experience for people who had lived in the city for a long time."
Caroline nodded in agreement and said:
"Being close to nature can really help people forget the troubles of the hustle and bustle of the city."
Mike Frazee raised his finger and pointed at Caroline, saying approvingly:
"That's right, Miss Caroline. The fact that you can also realize this shows that we have a similar worldview."
Are you sure we have similar worldviews?
Caroline lowered her head to hide her smile, said nothing, and continued to listen to Mike Frazee's story.
"After returning from the trip, I was still immersed in the natural scenery and could not forget it."
"I have shared my travel experience with my friends, but how can they, who have never seen such scenery in person, have the same feelings as me just based on my brief retelling?"
"That trip brought me more than just an unforgettable memory. I found that since I came back, I have more expectations for life and work harder."
"I wonder if you, Miss Caroline, have noticed a row of neatly arranged dormitories near the docks and factory areas when you came to Tingen. Well, that was the first project I led after returning from my trip, and it was also the first big order completed by Frazier Real Estate Company."
As he spoke, Mike Frazee raised two fingers to Caroline.
"It took our construction team only two months to complete those buildings. This was of course inseparable from the workers' respectable labor, but at the same time, it was also helped by my innovative construction plan."
After Mike Frazee said this, Caroline searched her memory and soon recalled that she had indeed seen the rows of buildings he mentioned in the carriage when she first came to Tingen.
At that time, she felt that those buildings were quite new and did not fit in with the surrounding old urban area.
But she really didn't expect that in this world where modern building materials and technology have not yet developed, Mike Frazee actually completed the construction in just two months... What kind of a rubbish remover is this?
Seeing the admiration in Caroline's eyes, Mike Frazee leaned back on the sofa complacently and continued:
"At that time, I discovered that a good environment can bring people a good mood, and a good mood can bring more beauty to work and life."
"Ms. Caroline, you are from Backlund. I don't need to explain too much. You should understand that the environment can have a corresponding impact on people's mood."
What Mike Frazee was referring to was Backlund's terrible weather that was filled with fog all year round. Caroline, who had suffered greatly from the weather when she first traveled here, naturally couldn't find a way to refute him, so she could only smile bitterly and spread her hands.
"My good mood came from the place where I lived during that trip. Since then, I have realized that a good living environment is the most important one among all the environments a person can be in."
"But you also know that most citizens can only live in crowded and cramped cities. On the one hand, it is due to family economic reasons, and on the other hand, it is a matter of convenience to get to work."
"Having experienced the joy that kind of environment brings, I naturally want to let others experience this joy as well."
"Of course, as a businessman, you should understand. Haha, I found a brand new business opportunity from this."
"Thus, the creative Tingen West leisure and residential area construction plan was born!"
Mike Frazee stretched his arms toward the ceiling, as if suspending his construction blueprints in mid-air.
"A residential area that integrates leisure, vacation, and natural beauty, open to the outside world in the form of rental. As long as you pay the rent, you can use the houses built by us at will. From villas to single-family apartments to townhouses, different prices are provided for different classes, and all have good infrastructure measures."
Listening to Mike Frazee's great idea, Caroline raised her eyebrows thoughtfully and said softly:
"So Mr. Frazee, you want to build a resort?"
Mike Frazee's eyes lit up, and he looked at Caroline and said:
"Resort... this is a really good name. Yes, it's a resort! Haha, thank you Miss Caroline for naming it. If my project is successful in the future, I will definitely pay you the patent fee for this name."
You really have copyright awareness...
Caroline twitched her lips, and then asked the question she had been brewing for a long time:
"Mr. Frazier, your wish is very good, but I have some doubts about some points."
Mike Frazee stopped laughing for a moment, sat up straight and said:
"I wonder if Miss Caroline has any questions for you?"
Caroline cleared her throat and said:
"From what I know, the suburbs west of Tingen seem to be a rather barren vacant lot with poor greening. It doesn't seem to satisfy the natural environment you envisioned, Mr. Frazier."
"Besides, only the upper class should be able to afford a resort of this level, right? For most working-class people, this seems to be just an unattainable dream. So, even if the project is finally successfully completed, can you really make a profit and give back to investors through the resort project, Mr. Frazier?"
After listening to Caroline's question, Mike Frazee smiled as if he had expected it, relaxed his sitting posture, and replied:
"Miss Caroline, I can answer these two questions for you right now."
"The wasteland in the western suburbs is not really a problem. I asked someone to investigate and found that the soil there was barren only because of overgrazing in the past. With human intervention, the environment can be restored."
"Besides, it is precisely because of the wasteland there now that I don't need to spend more money to clear the forest. In fact, due to the conditions of the wasteland itself, it actually looks very open. When the resort is built, it can provide a good and spacious environment. Compared with too much forest, it will not look crowded."
As he spoke, Mike Frazee put on a meaningful smile.
"The main reason is that it doesn't cost me much to buy and apply for development of that wasteland."
So this is the most important reason... Because it's cheap there...
Caroline smiled but said nothing.
"And secondly, Miss Caroline, you have indeed grasped a key issue, which is about the resort's future profit-making methods."
"My plan is to allow ordinary working-class people to enjoy a wonderful living environment without putting too much burden on their lives. That's why I want to build general residential buildings as well as villas."
"I don't know if you have heard of the term 'small profits but quick turnover'. This is a concept proposed by Emperor Roselle."
Emperor Roselle, why is it you again? How many tricks have you come up with...
Caroline couldn't help but think of the emperor's majestic face with a mustache.
In reality, Mike Frazee continued to talk about the business ideas he conceived through the Great Emperor's "small profits but quick turnover" concept.
In general, the villa area of the resort is for the rich, and for those single-family townhouses and the like, he can reduce the rental fee to the same level as most ordinary residences in Tingen, and does not require a deposit, only a little furniture usage fee, and supports daily settlement, just like a hotel.
Mike Frazee's idea is very simple. What he wants is to attract most citizens to take time out on holidays or special days such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, etc., and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery to relax by paying a price far lower than traveling.
Caroline probably understood his thinking. Perhaps this business model was still very advanced in this world, but as long as it was promoted properly and the rental prices were affordable, there would indeed be many people willing to live there and experience it.
If you think about it carefully, this is indeed an innovative real estate development plan. If it can be managed well, it will most likely become a special attraction in Tinggen, and it is only a matter of time before it gets support from the municipal government.
But just like the question raised by Caroline, how to solve the environmental problems of the wasteland and how to ensure that the project will pay back and make a profit, this is where Mike Frazee cannot completely convince investors.
It is true that investment involves risks, but as a resort project with brand new features, its risks are far greater than other investments.
...
After the interview, which concealed its true purpose, Caroline left Frazier Real Estate with Mike Frazier seeing her off.
As the first suspect on the list, Mike Frazee had a very clear idea about his project and appeared very confident, which reduced the possibility that he might be the scammer.
The most important thing was that Caroline did not feel from him the temperament that Ovis Wein had mentioned, that seemed to be mocking everyone.
However, this did not mean that Caroline had given up her suspicion of him. Through a few formal questions and answers in the interview, she had already memorized enough information and was ready to bring it back to Backlund and give it to Ovis so that he could make his own judgment.
"At this rate, we will probably be able to test all these people tomorrow or the day after tomorrow..."
Caroline counted her list of suspects and walked to the company of the next suspect as the sun rose high in the sky.Chapter 60 EmergencyTitle of the Book: Mystery: Fire and the Fool's Path Author's name: December's Stranding Chapter word count: 3419 words Update time: 2025-05-16 14:09:08
In the small private chemistry laboratory in Earl Hall's mansion.
Audrey Hall tugged at the small scarf around the neck of her golden retriever, Susie, and repeated in a low voice:
"Really, Susie, how could you take my potion!"
"Didn't I teach you not to eat anything you want? Especially things that are on the table!"
"And this is a chemistry lab! What if you accidentally eat something dangerous?"
Susie sat upright on the ground, her body swaying back and forth as Audrey pulled her, but she still maintained an innocent look, sticking out her tongue as if to deceive people. However, the little bit of silver left on the fur at the corner of her mouth completely exposed what she had just eaten that she shouldn't have.
Audrey was very anxious now. She didn't really care that a potion was wasted. After all, she got those materials from the treasure house at home and exchanged them with others. She didn't spend much money on it. Besides, the money was not much anyway.
What she was worried about now was whether Susie would have any abnormal reaction after taking the potion, or whether she would suddenly turn into a terrible monster because of the potion.
However, five minutes have passed since Susie took the potion she prepared. So far, Susie has not shown any abnormal reaction. Her behavior is exactly the same as when she was caught stealing fruit before.
It seems... everything is normal?
Audrey sighed softly, let go of Susie, stood up, and paced anxiously in the laboratory.
Can animals drink potions? Audrey really didn't know what would happen if this happened.
Whether in the extraordinary communication salon among several noble children or in the more high-end and mysterious "Tarot Club", she had never thought of discussing this possibility with others.
If mom and dad find out that Susie has taken the potion, oh my god, what will they do to Susie?
Lock it up, or kill it?
If that were the case, Audrey would definitely have nightmares at night.
After all, it was her fault that she didn't take good care of the potion. If Susie turned into a monster and lost her life, it was ultimately her fault.
Audrey walked around the small room in a disorderly manner.
As if sensing her owner's worry, Susie, who was sitting next to her, quietly came over, rubbed against Audrey's legs, and looked up at her with a very standard golden retriever-style smile.
Audrey stopped and looked down at Susie.
Seeing that Susie still had no abnormal changes, Audrey couldn't help but seize this little bit of luck and squatted down to rub Susie's hair.
Feeling the soft touch, Audrey smiled helplessly:
"Susie, Susie, you must not turn into a monster."
"Phew, calm down. I prepared the potion very successfully. According to Mr. The Hanged Man, as long as the potion is prepared correctly, there will most likely be no problems after drinking it."
For now, Audrey had no choice but to comfort herself in this way.
"Originally, I was planning to give Caroline the other potion if she wanted to be a 'spectator' as well."
Although her father, Earl Hall, warned Audrey not to get too close to Caroline at the dinner yesterday, she still did not give up her plan to help Caroline.
Audrey didn't want to dwell on the conflicts between the Williams family and the royal family, or the fact that Williams was a surname that was not favored by the king. She just felt that those things were too cruel to happen to a young girl whose parents had passed away and who was left helpless.
However, Audrey is no longer a child, and she can understand her father's concerns.
She would adjust the distance between herself and Caroline. The etiquette teacher at home had also taught her how to maintain social distance from other people of the same age at parties. She was confident that she could do it well.
"Father promised to help me find out the address of Caroline's house. I will write the letter tonight."
"Fortunately, I have already mastered the Hermetic language to a certain extent. I use Hermetic language to write some contents that cannot be too conspicuous, hiding them in normal letters."
"Well, Caroline may not want to be a 'spectator'. After all, Mr. 'Hanged Man' also said that the most suitable sequence path for Caroline should be one with more combat capabilities."
Audrey looked absentmindedly at the broken cup on the floor in front of the laboratory table and the remaining second batch of potion ingredients on the table, and couldn't help but sigh again.
...
Caroline walked out of a Feynetport-style restaurant after enjoying lunch.
She had a bowl of Fenetport noodles for lunch. The texture and taste were very similar to the Italian noodles on Earth, including the waiters who always waved their hands when talking to her, making her wonder whether she should look at their hands or listen to what they said.
"It is said that Tingen is not a city with good economic development, but I think it is at least thriving."
Otherwise, why are there so many foreign restaurants and investment projects with fantastic ideas in Tingen?
After investigating Mike Frazee in the morning, Caroline went straight to another company and visited Mr. Alriman, who wanted to build a shopping mall in the North District.
Compared to the overconfident Mike Frazee, Mr. Arriman seemed more old-fashioned. During the conversation with her, he was almost always serious and dealt with her "interview" in a businesslike manner.
Unlike Mike Frazee's resort project, Mr. Alriman's shopping mall construction plan is more reliable.
It was only after Caroline went there that she found out that Mr. Arriman had already attracted a lot of sponsorship and brands willing to join the mall, and also received support from the Tingen City Government.
This eliminated the possibility that Al Riman was the fraudster.
His project seemed risky because there had never been a large shopping mall built in Tingen, but now Caroline knew that he had the support of the government and enough franchisees, and his plan was stable enough, and if he followed the steps, it would definitely pay off in time.
This was different from the swindler's style of action. Furthermore, Arriman's appearance did not match the description given by Ovis Wein.
"This way there will be one less suspect. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing."
Caroline adjusted her hat and started walking towards the west district of Tingen.
It was already afternoon, so she still had plenty of time, so she planned to visit the next suspect on the list.
Mr. Lanreus, who had just established a steel company in Tingen, was the last venture capitalist recommended to her by Mr. Wood of the Tingen branch of Backlund Bank.
However, unlike the previous two, Mr. Laneus' company was not located in the North District, but in the South District.
The destination was some distance away from the Feynaport Restaurant where Caroline had just left, but not very far, so she planned to walk there under the pretext of digesting her food after dinner.
In the afternoon, when the sun is at its strongest, the number of pedestrians on the street has visibly decreased, and the private carriage drivers parked on the roadside have also hidden in their carriages to enjoy the cool air. Only public carriages are still running.
Everyone looked sleepy, including Caroline, but she might have felt a little dizzy due to consuming too much carbohydrates.
Now should be the best time for lunch break, but I am still running around for task commissions. If Ovis knew how hard I work, he would definitely give me more compensation out of conscience.
Caroline imagined a scene in which Orvis would praise her highly, but she felt that it was highly unlikely that Orvis would do so.
He is indeed a businessman with a conscience, but not much conscience.
After walking for a while, Caroline entered the core urban area of the West District. After a while, she came to the Iron Cross Street where she bought bell peppers and spinach yesterday.
After walking here, Caroline somehow felt that the sun above her head seemed to become a little kinder, not as fierce as before.
There was an inexplicable chill in the air around her, but this chill made her feel a little depressed.
Caroline looked at the other end of Iron Cross Street and saw the listless vendors hiding in the shadows and the dilapidated streets and buildings. She seemed to vaguely realize the reason.
The environment affects people, so can people also affect the environment in turn?
Caroline shook her head and wanted to leave this place with bad feng shui as soon as possible.
She took a few quick steps, and before the oppressive atmosphere that enveloped her disappeared, she inadvertently saw a middle-aged man with an anxious expression standing outside a house on the side of the road.
He stamped his toes in annoyance and knocked on the door continuously, making the not-so-stable wooden door rattle. He also occasionally peeked inside through the curtained window next to it.
"What are you doing...collecting rent?"
Caroline's curious and gossipy heart slowed down her pace and prolonged the time she spent passing the other person.
While paying attention to the person knocking on the door, she listened hard to the words he was muttering.
"It's already this late, why hasn't Walkerman left yet..."
"If we go a little later, we won't be able to get the vegetables at the dock..."
Vegetables from the dock? He's a vendor in the market?
Is he here to look for his partner? Is he in a hurry because the partner has fallen asleep and hasn't left yet?
Caroline was searching for the appearance of the vendors she had seen in the market yesterday, but that was a day ago, how could she remember it so clearly.
I've knocked on the door so hard but no one answered. Isn't it obvious that the other party is not at home...
Well, that's very strange. If even I, a passerby, know that the other person might not be at home, then why did he still insist on knocking on the door?
So he must have been sure that the person he was looking for was at home, but he didn't know why no one came to open the door.
If the other person is really at home, then this doesn't feel like oversleeping...
Caroline thought about it, and suddenly a very strange feeling arose in her heart.
What should I do if something happens to someone at home?
Even she herself didn't know why she suddenly had such an idea. The other person was just a stranger to her.
But an idea that "since I have encountered this, I should help" suddenly emerged in her mind, and the action that was driving her forward stopped.
Caroline stood beside the house, watching the man knocking on the door, still insisting on doing so. She looked at the closed window next to the door, and then looked out at the alley next to the house.
With a quick glance, she found that there was another window in the house facing the alley.
Caroline walked inside calmly, and when she got closer to the window, she confirmed that it was open and there was no curtain covering it.
Standing on tiptoe, Caroline leaned on the window sill and looked into the house.
In an instant, the smell of blood hidden in the air first entered her nostrils.
Caroline's pupils shrank, and then she saw a stiff person lying on the floor in the house.