"Aurora... she went to the forest a few days ago and hasn't been heard from since?"
Even though Yun You had ntally prepared herself, she still sighed lightly and shook her head when she heard the outco.
She knew that Aurora's actions were not out of malice or intention to cause trouble.
The girl was just too impatient.
Her father disappeared two months ago, and there has been no word since, not even his body has been found.
In this situation, she must be racing against ti and cannot possibly stay here peacefully.
The calmness like an outsider was just a mask to hide her tension, and Yun You, who had also lost soone close, understood that she was just as nervous and scared.
ssing up the house, looking at als on the table through a magnifying glass, those were just her ways of investigating, nothing wrong with that.
But Yun You still felt it was a pity.
If the girl had waited just ten more days, she would have t Yun You.
By then, with the two of them teaming up, one with brains and one with brawn, they would not only be unbeatable but could certainly speed up the mystery-solving process.
Unfortunately... Aurora was too eager to save her father and couldn't wait those few days, so she headed straight into the forest that the townspeople labeled as the "Demon Cave" without looking back.
However, Yun You thought that Aurora might not have died just like that.
The girl was quite clever, having survived in the dangerous mine tunnels, so going to the forest... it shouldn't be a place where she would just pass away unknowingly.
Moreover, Mayor Kong's words aren't necessarily true; the so-called dangerous forest might not be as perilous as he boasted, so Yun You wasn't overly worried.
"Everyone should have no issues now, right?"
Mayor Kong wiped the fine sweat that had sohow appeared on his forehead and spoke gently, "Then please follow , I will arrange accommodation for everyone."
"May I make one last request?"
Yun You patted the elder's shoulder and asked calmly, "As for the lodging, could we be placed in the room where Aurora Miles used to stay?"
"Why is that?"
Mayor Kong's pupils constricted, and he instinctively asked, "Guest, that place was left in a complete ss by Aurora, scratches all over the floors and ceiling, and the furniture is in shambles, we haven't had ti to clean it up yet!"
"Besides, that girl ran off into the forest, who knows what kind of adverse effect she left in the room, it might disturb your rest."
"You should really consider staying sowhere else, there's no need to insist on her room..."
Yun You shook her head.
"Mayor Kong, there's sothing you might not know..."
She lowered her voice, put on a serious expression, and whispered, "Actually, we are police officers specifically here to investigate Aurora, the 'suspect'.
"Don't be fooled by her small stature; she's actually a notorious thief and has committed all sorts of misdeeds, it's why she ca to hide here."
"But you know, rules and laws are very important, and violating them ans facing the repercussions."
"We've co here to trace her tracks, to collect evidence of her cris, so please let us stay in that room, it will aid our investigation."
Upon hearing this, Mayor Kong was montarily stunned, then nodded repeatedly, continuously repeating...
"Yes, yes... indeed, there's nothing wrong with that."
He would naturally think it's right because what Yun You said was exactly what he wanted to hear.
Calling Aurora a cunning criminal was indirectly supporting Mayor Kong's "guilty verdict" on the girl; emphasizing the importance of law also acknowledged Mayor Kong's adherence to tradition.
These were all things elders love to hear, so he wouldn't object.
Knowing how to speak to different people, this was a skill Yun You honed during her work.
No one dislikes flattery, even those who claim they only love hearing criticism.
So Yun You concocted this lie to eliminate Mayor Kong's worries about the three of them and coax the elder into cooperatively aiding their "investigation".
And naturally, her plan succeeded.
Mayor Kong completely dispelled the suspicion in his eyes and cheerfully agreed to her request.
"Aurora's forr residence is beside the shrine, please follow ."
He casually instructed and then climbed down from the Sentry Tower, leading the way for the three of them.
...
"Across from the shrine is the tavern, it opens at 9 AM and closes at 10 PM, offering a variety of drinks and barbecues. If you have Gold or silver, you're welco to spend here, but take note, we don't accept any other type of currency."
"Next to the tavern, the building shaped like a large wooden barrel is our bathhouse. It opens at 4 AM but also closes at 10 PM. Everyone can have one free bath per day, but rember, there are separate sections for n and won, and don't bla the bathhouse master if you accidentally end up in the wrong section."
"Over there, the stall sells fruits, it opens at 6 AM, and while the closing ti is also set at 10, our fruits are very popular and usually sold out before ten, so if you want so, make sure to go early."
"The butcher, blacksmith shop, general store... and the shrine and others follow the sa hours, open by day, rest by 10 PM, just rember this ti."
Mayor Kong briefed Yun You and the others on the town's facilities as he led the way.
As the saying goes, even a small sparrow has all the vital organs; although the town's population was less than two thousand, it had all the necessary entertainnt facilities and shops.
Along the way, Yun You observed the life of the townspeople.
It was around five in the afternoon now, and the sky had not darkened, but the workers had already finished their day.
They walked around the streets with Shovels and spades, chatting and laughing, so going ho to enjoy family life, while others buried themselves in the tavern, soaking in the alcohol and lively atmosphere.
Although the town's technological level was far below the outside world, lacking convenient entertainnt and tools, the miners here were much better off than those working in Black Tiger Mine outside.
They finished work while the external miners completed only about a third; they went ho to sleep soundly while Nest City's workers injected stimulants to prevent dropping dead at their desks.
Old miners like Aurora's father could barely get off work on ti even after months of work to spend ti with their daughters, let alone relax in a tavern.
As for farrs or vendors, they all got along harmoniously, creating a sense of "harmony" that Yun You and her companions rarely saw outside.
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