After receiving the auction items, Charles didn’t say a word on the way from the Seven Kingdoms Merchant Association to Calivia Cross Street.
Celestine walked beside him, sensing that Charles was different from his usual self. He seemed much heavier, burdened by something.
Earlier, in the auction box, the Dean of Cyber Academy, Jamie, should have known why Charles was like this. Unfortunately, Celestine couldn’t ask him directly.
However, she could make some guesses. It likely had something to do with the bounty mission from the Beast Master Guild.
But since the mission had been completed, and Charles had even received a reward from the royal family, everything should have been over by now.
Why was he coming here again?
Celestine had many questions in her mind. Looking at Charles’s expressionless face, she didn’t know how to make him feel better, so she could only cling tightly to his arm.
Cross Street was a slum area within Calivia. Once the sun set, the people here usually didn’t venture out of their homes.
It was too chaotic and not very safe.
As they walked, Charles and Celestine encountered several wanderers. They were gathered around, struggling to survive, or lurking in the shadows of the corners.
Like wolves watching their prey, they eyed Charles and Celestine.
One person stirred, gripping a dagger, and began to approach them.
Without a word, Charles pulled the black gold long knife from his jet ring.
Under the dim light, the blade of the black gold long knife reflected Charles’s cold, merciless eyes. As if sensing danger, the would-be attacker slowly retreated back into the shadows, waiting for the next opportunity.
“Is this what Cross Street is like at night?” Celestine exclaimed, startled by the scene.
While she was still pondering why Charles had come here, she hadn’t noticed the commotion around them, and she was taken aback when Charles had drawn his long knife.
“Don’t worry, I’m here. It’s going to be alright.” Charles reassured her.
He didn’t know why he wanted to come here. Earlier in Dean Jamie’s office, hearing those words and realizing that there was no progress at the security office stirred an indescribable feeling within him.
He felt the urge to walk and see for himself.
At that moment, a figure emerged from the bonfire at the street corner.
“Outsiders, this is not a place for you to linger. If you don’t want to encounter danger, you should leave quickly.” a burly middle-aged man shouted.
Charles glanced at him, not lowering the black gold long knife. Instead, he replied, “It seems you know this place quite well?”
The man stared at the black gold long knife, then, using the dim light, scrutinized Charles closely. It seemed he realized something and quickly asked, “Are you Mr. Charles?”
Charles was a bit surprised but nodded in response. “I am. Do you know me? I don’t think we’ve met.”
“The fact that Mr. Charles doesn’t recognize me surprises me. But I’ve always remembered you. My name is Mark, you saved my son before!” The man named Mark said, visibly excited.
He raised his hand and took two steps forward, standing in front of Charles. “I never expected to see you here today. I wonder what brings you to this place?”
Charles locked eyes with Mark, observing him carefully before putting away the black gold long knife.
“There’s nothing special. I just wanted to take a walk and see things for myself.” Charles was reluctant to elaborate.
Mark didn’t press further, he simply said, “I see. The crossroad can get a bit chaotic at night. I know Mr. Charles isn’t worried about that, but being disturbed can still affect your mood. Let me accompany you.”
Seemingly afraid that Charles would refuse, Mark quickly added, “I’m quite a well-known figure around here. With me leading the way, no one would dare to bother you.”
Charles glanced at Celestine, nodded, and indicated his agreement.
So, under Mark’s guidance, Charles and Celestine walked slowly along the street.
When they reached an intersection, Charles stopped.
This was a familiar place, across the road was the family that had posted the bounty notice. In addition, there was a strange figure lingering at the intersection.
It was an elderly woman, holding a tattered teddy bear in her arms, standing at the corner, occasionally glancing into the distance.
As if waiting for someone.
Noticing Charles’s pause, Mark turned back and said, “Mr. Charles, that’s just a poor old woman waiting for her granddaughter.”
“Granddaughter? Out this late? That seems a bit unsafe.” Charles replied, puzzled.
Mark sighed and explained, “The people in the crossroad won’t trouble her. She used to be a doctor and helped many.”
“What about her granddaughter?” Charles felt a vague unease and instinctively asked.
Mark looked up at Charles, sighed again, and answered, “She’s missing, one of the first batch of children to disappear.”
Silence filled the air.
A breeze swept through the night in Calivia, carrying a hint of chill.
Charles watched the old woman, who kept looking up and squinting into the distance, clutching the teddy bear. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.
The image of that pristine white room in the abandoned factory flashed in his mind, filled with so many grotesque, unwilling, and desperate corpses. Which one of them was her granddaughter?
“Has she been like this all this time?” Charles finally asked.
Mark turned to look at the woman waiting for her granddaughter’s return and replied, “Ever since the little girl went missing, it’s been like this every night. A once happy family became utterly devastated after that day.”
“The girl’s mother couldn’t handle the blow, lost her mind while searching for her daughter, and fell into a sewer, injuring her spine. She’ll never stand again.”
“The girl’s father is a cripple. He works and takes care of the family, yet he hasn’t given up looking for any clues about his daughter.”
Charles fell silent once more.
At that moment, a figure limped over from a distance.
His black coat was stained all over, unkempt hair and a face covered in a beard that hadn’t been groomed in a long time partially obscured his numb expression. Visit us at freewebnovel
“Mom, let’s go back.” the crippled man said as he approached the old woman, his voice hoarse.
His tone was as flat as a machine, devoid of any inflection.
“Kiki doesn’t know the way. I’m afraid if she comes back, she won’t find home.” the old woman replied.
She lifted the dirty teddy bear in her hands, waving it as if her granddaughter was just a short distance away, about to run over and leap into her arms.
But all she received in return was the night wind, stirring the trash on the street.
“Let’s go back. It’s too cold. Let’s go back.” the crippled man said, lowering his head as he supported the old woman’s arm, trying not to look at the teddy bear held high in the air— a gift he had bought for his daughter, her favorite.
The wind picked up, becoming stronger and colder.
The old woman began to tremble, she sighed, disappointment washing over her as she turned to head home.
Charles glanced at Mark and asked, “May I go see them at their house?”
Mark nodded and hurried ahead.
The sound of his footsteps echoed on the road.
The old woman immediately stopped, hastily raising the teddy bear and turning back to look.
The crippled man kept his head down, staring at his shadow on the ground.
Mark reached them and said something, though it was unclear what. After a moment, he waved to Charles, indicating that the communication had been successful.
Charles walked over with Celestine.
The old woman’s home was right next to the intersection, in a state of disrepair. Charles stepped onto the wooden floor, which creaked with every movement, making a “squeak squeak” sound.
The air was thick with a musty odor,
Quiet and damp,
Occasionally, a moaning sound drifted from within the room, an unclear call for something unknown.
It seemed to be the voice of the girl’s mother, who had lost her mind.
The windows of the room were small, allowing only a sliver of light from the streetlamp to squeeze in. Through the window, one could see the houses across the intersection.
Seeing that courtyard, the house that issued the reward task, the lights were bright,
and faintly, one could hear the sound of singing, “Happy Birthday to You.”
Charles was a Level 4 Beast Master, and his hearing was much better than that of ordinary people. He could hear the conversations from the yard across the street:
“Good girl, today is your birthday, it’s time to blow out the candles and make a wish!”
“Daddy has prepared a gift for you.”
“Mommy has prepared one too, it’s what you’ve always wanted… Just make a wish first, and I’ll tell you later.”
“Thank you, Daddy and Mommy! My wish is to always be happy with Daddy and Mommy!”
The sweet voices drifted over,
but Charles looked at the people in the room before him, and they hadn’t heard a thing.
“Sir, I heard Mark say you are the hero who saved 26 children. I have a question.” The cripple bent over, slowly continuing,
“Have you seen my daughter? Is she still alive?”
As soon as he said this, the entire room fell silent. The groans disappeared, and even the creaking of the floorboards ceased, all waiting for Charles’s answer.
“Do you want to see the result?”
After a moment, Charles finally spoke,
The cripple suddenly looked up, staring intently at Charles, and asked, “What do you mean? Are you willing to help us? But we have no money, and no one is willing to help.”
“Trust me, live well, and I will let you see that day. All the damned will be dead!” Charles spoke slowly and firmly.
“I, I…” The cripple wanted to say something more,
but Charles called Mark and turned to leave. He reached the corner and pulled out a gold coin, placing it in Mark’s hand, saying,
“You should have some standing at the crossroads. Give this money to them, they won’t be able to keep it, so it’s better to leave it with you. Help me take care of this family.”
Mark nodded vigorously. He also wanted to help this family, but he didn’t have any extra money on him. Now that he had Charles’s assistance, it was naturally not a problem.
“Mr. Charles, what you just said, is it true?” After hesitating for a moment, Mark finally voiced his doubt.