To better implent the phone retrieval plan, Fatty worked diligently, forgetting to eat or sleep, and spent the entire night creating a shift schedule.
Early the next morning, he showed the list to Gu Mian, "Doctor, take a look! This is the roster I worked on all night. Today, Doctor, Miss 007, and I will take Mr. Green to the supermarket to keep watch..."
Gu Mian looked at the schedule in Fatty's hand.
On it were three lines of nas—
[Day One: Doctor, 007, ]
[Day Two: Brother Chu, Fortune-teller, Xiao Hong]
[Day Three: Xiao Qiao, Liu Ruyan, Keke, Brother]
A large, transparent stain that slled of lychee soda had dripped onto Xiao Qiao's na. It was hard not to suspect it was Xiao Hong's handiwork.
It was clear Fatty had put so real thought into it; at least he'd split Xiao Hong and Xiao Qiao into different groups to prevent them from just fighting instead of working.
Though he'd put thought into it, still...
"You spent all night writing just these few nas?" Gu Mian counted; there were only ten nas in total. Fatty had even lazily used "" to replace the most difficult na to write, Wang Xianzhi.
"This list was the result of careful planning and deep deliberation," Fatty defended. "It's not good for all of us to stake out the place together. First, we'd be too big a target and easily discovered. Second, if we're all just watching, we can't get anything else done. So, I decided on a rotation system."
"We'll divide into three groups, with each group watching for one day. This way, the other two groups can use their free ti to do their own things. If we haven't spotted anyone by the fourth day, we'll start the rotation again with the first group."
"When I assigned the groups, I also carefully considered everyone's physical condition. For example, a delicate fatty like , who can't lift heavy things or carry much, should be in the sa group as the strongest one, the Doctor, so he can protect ."
That actually made a lot of sense.
Gu Mian looked at the list again. Indeed, each group had soone capable of fighting.
Brother Chu's group had Xiao Hong, and Xiao Hong was quite a fighter, especially since she wasn't human. The Fortune-teller in that group had also been working out recently, so her physical condition should have improved enough for her to at least offer so help.
And the group with Xiao Qiao, Liu Ruyan, Keke, and Brother had two fighters. Fatty must have considered Xiao Qiao's... limited brainpower and put Brother in her group to help her out.
As Gu Mian was looking at the list, there was a knock at the door.
Fatty jogged over to open the door. It was 007, here to et up with them.
The supermarket wasn't far from Gu Mian's apartnt. Once everyone had gathered, they headed to the supermarket, arriving nearby shortly after.
Fatty had already cleared out an abandoned convenience store across from the supermarket and even brought a few chairs for them to rest on. They would conduct their stakeout from this small store.
The only downside was that the building's windows and door were dilapidated, letting the wind WHOOSH in. Fortunately, the weather wasn't cold at the mont.
Mr. Green, of course, had also been brought by Gu Mian.
Without needing to be told, he eagerly stood on tiptoe, peering out the window. His head, covered in green cloth, poked out, his expression one of bitter resentnt as he spied on the supermarket opposite, looking determined to avenge himself.
Watching Mr. Green diligently spying, Gu Mian felt tempted to write a novel titled "Mr. Green's Revenge" to praise his indomitable spirit.
Fatty had even brought a pair of binoculars, through which they could clearly see the situation at the supermarket entrance.
It was now seven in the morning, and people were already trickling into the supermarket to restock supplies.
Most people coming to the supermarket were in groups, cautiously observing their surroundings as they entered and exited.
Gu Mian held a piece of paper. It was a portrait drawn by Mr. Green, who, with his "exquisite" drawing skills, had depicted the three people who robbed him.
Just then, 007 leaned over to look at Mr. Green's masterpiece. She stared at the three stick figures with hair drawn on the paper and fell silent.
Gu Mian placed the rather useless portrait on a nearby counter and observed the supermarket across the street through the glassless window.
Ever since the death protection was turned off, Lianhua City had fewer people each day.
Throughout the morning, only three or four groups ca to the supermarket to replenish their supplies.
Each ti people arrived, Gu Mian carefully observed their faces. He had lived in Lianhua City for many years and knew quite a few people, thinking he might recognize soone among them.
But those who ca and went were all unfamiliar faces, looking haggard and hurried.
Gu Mian suddenly thought of Captain Feng.
His full title was "Lianhua City East Police Station Captain Feng."
Back when everyone's life was still normal, Gu Mian often ended up at the police station due to so unlucky incidents. That's when he had t Captain Feng. Captain Feng was a very warm-hearted person who would get involved in even the most trivial matters if he ca across them.
Later, this warm-hearted man had vanished from Gu Mian's friend list one day.
He had died, silently and without a trace.
"Sigh, we've been watching all morning and still haven't seen the people who robbed Mr. Green." Fatty rubbed his lower back, which was sore from standing for so long. "Co to think of it, it's been a while since Mr. Green was robbed. Doctor, do you think those people might have had an accident inside an instance?"
Fatty voiced his concern. He didn't use the word "died," probably because he felt it was cruel to casually declare soone dead.
"They stole so many things from ! The money they got from selling them would definitely last them for a while. They won't need to enter an instance to earn money anyti soon," Mr. Green said, gritting his teeth.
So Mr. Green had many valuable items on him. He ran away from ho with so much, and now it's all been snatched by others. Just great.
"Then let's keep watching. If we don't spot them today, maybe Brother Chu's group will tomorrow. If Brother Chu's group doesn't, maybe Xiao Qiao's group will." At this, Fatty's confidence seed to swell, and he raised the binoculars again, diligently observing the other side.
At that mont, Gu Mian noticed 007 by the counter, examining the drawing of the three stick figures.
"Can you make anything out from that?" Gu Mian asked, looking at her strangely.
No matter how he looked at it, they were just three stick figures. Being able to identify soone from that drawing would be truly incredible, like seeing a ghost. Yet 007 was examining it so intently, as if there were so clue on it.
007 gave a bitter smile. "Seeing this drawing just reminded of my childhood. When I was little, I loved to scribble on the walls. I'd use crayons to draw myself, my dad, my mom... I'd cover the walls with them. I used to draw little stick figures just like these."
Her eyes held a hint of nostalgia, likely reminiscing about the past.
Gu Mian knew that 007's search for her mother had ended tragically. If her parents were still alive and well, 007 wouldn't have left them to co here.
Gu Mian had enough tact not to bring up a painful subject.
He naturally changed the subject, "How is your research into the Beast Tar profession coming along?"
007 had possessed the Beast Tar profession for so ti now, but Gu Mian had never seen her use any of its skills.
The Fortune-teller was different from 007. She was always grabbing people to tell their fortunes, like so street-corner charlatan out to scam money.
Hearing Gu Mian's words, 007 froze for a mont.
Gu Mian sensed sothing was wrong. "Is there a problem?"
After several seconds, 007 shook her head. "No... nothing."
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