Liberi Reader

Ma, look, a fight!

Happens all the time, haggling turning into a fight. Nothing to see.

Stay close, I don't know how I'd find you if you got lost here.

They won't give up so easily. Protecting ourselves is one thing, but it'll be hard to avoid harming civilians.

Do you have an idea?

There's a way out, but you'll have a mess on your hands...

Wait––

(Damn, too late—)

(Groans)

Leave.

......

Don't chase.

There are too many people here. These villains have no qualms about harming innocents.

(Heavy panting)

Q-Qiubai... it's been a while...

It's been a while, but you don't seem to have gotten any better.

......

Why have you come?

The Grandmaster instructed me to help you.

And who is this gentleman?

A friend I met on a previous mission... and an old acquaintance of Liang's.

Someone without an official position shouldn't involve himself in this—even a friend of Liang's.

Ah, well, I just happened to pass by.

Anyway, someone always tells me not to meddle whenever I'm hired to do something. Guess it's a private eye trope.

My life would have been in danger if not for your help. But are you really here by chance?

Would the Sui Regulator believe me if I said yes?

No jokes, please. This is important.

I never look for trouble; trouble just has a tendency to find me.

I'll leave it that my client is an acquaintance of Chief Wei of Lungmen. You may have already met him at the barracks last night.

I guess the ones who attacked you just now were the people he hired me to find.

What else do you know about what happened in Yumen last night?

Not much. The ones who hire private eyes aren't exactly the talkative type. You get used to it.

Maybe I could help, if you told me more.

......

I stabbed the assassin in the scuffle last night, so I started my search in the clinics.

I searched every single clinic in the city and didn't find anything unusual, until the last one. A man called himself a helper and would not let me in.

I forced my way in and found gauze and blood. The man ran off with an agitated look on his face.

Someone has the nerve to obstruct the Sui Regulator in Yumen?

I wasn't sure what to make of it. Obstruction of justice is a crime, but I couldn't make heads or tails of what the man was talking about. It didn't feel premeditated.

Could you describe the man in more detail?

Let me think...

Feline, male. Looks to be in his forties... exceptionally skilled in kung fu.

......

Could it really be him?

We should hurry. Yühsia wants us to visit the deceased bodyguard's family.

I'm coming, I'm coming. This is the last house anyway.

Say, I haven't had the chance to ask you... why did you come to Yumen?

I told you, I set up my own logistics company.

Mr. Zheng told me his daughter came to Yumen too, but I didn't expect to actually meet you.

That's how fate works, I guess.

Say, since we've worked together on this case, wouldn't it be natural for you to join Xingyu Logistics afterwards?

You're still talking about this?

Anyway, it seems like Yühsia dragged a lot of people she knows into this.

I didn't know she was the Rat King's daughter.

You know Mr. Lin too?

Not really. Dad's heard of him on his travels.

I thought you would know each other well, being fellow Lungmenites.

Lungmen isn't exactly one of those small towns where everybody knows everybody...

I see Mr. Lin from time to time in the course of my work, but I've only heard rumors about Yühsia.

I'm curious... what do Lungmenites think of the Rat King?

The word 'Lungmenite' is way too broad.

Some think of him as a benevolent protector. Some want as little to do with him as possible. Others just see him as a kindly old man.

Only one thing is certain—he's the key to Lungmen's peace and security.

Sounds like someone not to be trifled with... must be hard being Miss Lin.

Why do you say that?

Fathers always want their children to walk the path they paved for them.

Especially accomplished fathers.

Do you not get along with Mr. Zheng?

I wouldn't say that... it's more like I prefer some distance between us.

Some fathers out there don't care about their children at all.

They do as they please, leaving their children for somebody else to care for. They disappear for a decade without a word.

Do you mean...?

Never mind, I don't want to bring him up now.

If the old man went missing for a decade, I would take over the association and rebuild it in my own image.

I would show him that I can do better.

But what if he never comes back to see how well you've done?

......

This is the place.

Hello? Anybody home?

Excuse me. We're—

Hey, the door's unlocked. And there's nobody in the clinic.

This is the fourth place.

The guard who died was the son of the doctor here. The doctor's a local who's been running the clinic for decades. No other members in the household.

News of the Messenger's death reached the city yesterday afternoon. The doctor should already know.

But the room is neat and tidy. Not a speck of dust on the furniture. The two bags in the corner look like items from today's market.

I don't know Yumen customs, but it's as though nothing happened whatsoever.

How would a father react to the news that his child is dead?

......

Certainly wouldn't act like nothing happened, at least.

But there's no one home. It's not right for us to barge in.

Let's rendezvous with Yühsia.

The warehouse that the smuggler talked about is just ahead.

Strange...

Do you know this place?

I checked out the various depots in the city when I visited last time. This warehouse was used by the South Side Sword Forge for storing metals and Originium fuel.

The Sword Forge is a reputable business operation. It shouldn't have anything to do with this.

Yau mou gaau coh?! He played us for fools!

Take it easy.

We're in no rush.

He doesn't have the nerve to lie in a situation like that. We're already here; all we need to do is take a look.

You keep watch. I'll check it out.

Be careful.

......

Lost your way, miss?

Isn't this the stonemason's warehouse?

......

I'm here to buy stone.

Your boss couldn't sculpt his way out of a shoebox, but the stone's not half-bad, so I thought I would buy a bunch.

He gave me permission to come to the warehouse. He says you'll show me around.

Zhong's Stonemason?

Think so. The shop at the east end of the market.

Zhong's Stonemason's warehouse is on the west side. This is the south side.

So you can stop right there.

Look around you. Nothing but iron and scrap metal, not a rock to be found.

I'm sure you're lost.

Damn, I even paid a guide to take me here! That fraud...

......

Sorry for the intrusion.

It's fine. Let me see you out.

What are you looking at?

Nothing. Goodbye.

How did it go?

Stay here and keep a close eye out for nearby movement.

Something didn't seem right?

Don't ask questions. Just keep your eyes peeled, and report anything unusual.

Roger.