The shortcut was indeed much faster. Before long, the group had left the city and reached the narrow trail leading to the mine.
Previously, Cheng Shi and Qin Xin had encountered Wang Mou on this very path — dragging Alo Manni — and had been "blocked" by a strange coincidence from venturing deeper into the mine. This ti...
They were blocked again. Wang Mou had once more appeared before them, standing at the end of the trail with knitted brows, having just collided face-to-face with the scouting Screaming Servant.
Spotting this from a distance, Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow with an amused smirk.
Interesting. This Assassination Doctor's mining exploration always seed to sync perfectly with their own pace. Every ti they reached this point, he'd just wrapped up. Coincidence, or deliberate?
Was he trying to prevent his teammates from entering the mine's periter, or was there genuinely nothing worth digging into?
No — wrong. He definitely had designs on the mine. Otherwise, he wouldn't have used that "cross-referencing experint" excuse to mask his true purpose when the teams split up.
So what was the Doctor actually up to?
Wang Mou had clearly noticed the group's arrival as well. His perception was sharp — his gaze quickly passed over his teammates and locked onto the two Folly followers among them. He sensed a familiar aura from the pair, and his expression shifted to one of surprise and uncertainty:
"Scholars? No — that scent... it's more like wise n. Folly followers?
In this era... could they be seedlings?"
Truth followers really did have a knack for this — one glance and he'd already ford a hypothesis.
"Doctor, we et again." Cheng Shi called out his greeting from a distance, eyes darting about as he scanned the surroundings. Only after confirming through the Screaming Servant's feedback that nothing was amiss did he quicken his pace to the front, his tone oddly teasing:
"Looks like you've been making good progress too. Find any leads?
Where's Ad Ric?
Why are you alone again? Where's the Investigator — you didn't... assassinate him, did you?
And are you here to wait for us?"
"..."
Wang Mou was clearly unaccustod to Cheng Shi's sarcastic style. His expression stiffened, but he quickly shook his head and answered with solemn precision:
"So results — but all within expectations.
The Investigator and I systematically examined Ad Ric across four dinsions: geographical cognition, social relationships, professional skills, and personal mory. We found ample evidence here corroborating most of his mories, aning his past aligns almost entirely with the past as we understand it. The only discrepancy lies in his attitude toward Alo Manni, and his account of Alo Manni's attitude toward him.
Considering that Ti's 'present' isn't any single precise point but rather a brief span, we suspect he's very likely the 'present anomaly.' So our Investigator applied so pressure to the miner and confird that the shift in his feelings toward Alo Manni only began recently.
We then corroborated this through other miners. Everyone who'd interacted with him was unaware that he'd developed romantic feelings for Alo Manni. Worth noting — we also found many of Alo Manni's regular clients here and gathered testimony about the shanty woman's character. I'd originally planned to verify this with you all when we reconvened, but now it appears..."
Wang Mou scanned the group, and upon not seeing Alo Manni among them, his expression turned resolute:
"She's probably not one of the 'discrepancies.' The true 'discrepancy' is Ad Ric. The night surrounding his decision to take the shanty woman away — that's likely the so-called 'present.'
As for your other questions...
Ad Ric was taken by the Investigator. He's a very 'considerate' person — gave
so private ti. Once we confird Ad Ric was the anomaly, we went our separate ways.
So no, I didn't assassinate him. He left on his own.
But now his 'consideration' is over, because as of just now, our Investigator has been following
again. I don't know what he's planning, but yes — I ca here specifically to wait for you."
"..."
After hearing this thorough analysis, Cheng Shi wanted to applaud — but he also felt a faint headache forming. The man was too deadpan. His delivery made even Mi Laozhang's explanations seem lively by comparison.
But what did it an that the Investigator had taken Ad Ric?
What was the Investigator planning?
Cheng Shi frowned. Sothing about the mine felt off again. But he had a more pressing concern — Wang Mou's final statent. This Truth follower had genuinely been waiting for them?
What did he want?
Just as Cheng Shi puzzled over this, Qin Xin at the rear of the group raised a hand and patted Mo Rabic's shoulder, asking with evident interest:
"Mr. Wise Man — you've looked like you've been wanting to say sothing for a while now. It seems you have an opinion about this Truth follower standing before us?
Speak freely. After all, truth becos clearer through debate. We'd also like to know — between Folly and Truth, which one is actually right?"
Qin Xin's words practically reeked of provocation. So much so that Cheng Shi did a startled double-take, half-wondering if the man had been possessed. The Blind One also let out an amused snort, though she seed entirely unsurprised by his reaction.
Mo Rabic did indeed have sothing to say. And it wasn't just him — even Allendor beside him had been biting his tongue repeatedly. If Mo Rabic hadn't held him back, he'd probably have spoken up the mont Wang Mou started talking.
Mo Rabic glanced at Wang Mou, then at Cheng Shi at the front. Only upon receiving an affirming look from Cheng Shi did he speak, his tone grave:
"I have no quarrel with Truth. His foolish ways will sooner or later drive both His followers and Himself away from genuine truth.
What I want to say is: this Truth follower knows where the Abyss Colorful Crystal is. He carries the scent of Abyss Colorful Crystal on his body!
There's no mistake — and it's fresh!"
The instant those words dropped, every pair of eyes snapped to Wang Mou. Cheng Shi's brow shot up as he quietly pald a scalpel inside his sleeve, simultaneously commanding the Screaming Servant into a defensive stance.
Interesting. So this Truth follower really had co for the Abyss Colorful Crystal!
That figured. As a peak-level Truth player, understanding the Abyssal Volcano better than the rest was only to be expected. But what puzzled Cheng Shi was this: if Wang Mou knew the Investigator had deliberately given him private ti to hunt for the Crystal, why had he still gone ahead with Li Wufang tailing him?
Wasn't he afraid the Investigator also coveted the Abyss Colorful Crystal?
The Investigator had certainly been tracking him — and had very likely been doing so the entire ti, only revealing his position now to let the Doctor know he was there.
Cheng Shi put himself in those shoes. If he knew a teammate was searching the mine for valuables, he too would lurk in the shadows and observe.
Based on his assessnt, Li Wufang — that sunny, cheerful Investigator — was exactly the type who'd do sothing like that.
So Cheng Shi's confusion only deepened. What was this Truth follower after, with behavior this erratic and contradictory?
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