Although he was held to the stomach by a little girl with something like a dagger, Lloyd was surprisingly calm.

Should we say that this is his nature? Or should I say that the more crisis, the calmer it is......

Lloyd did not speak, did not beg for mercy, and did not try to negotiate.

I don't know how long it took, but it wasn't too long anyway. Lloyd's Anigoma rang out, breaking the stiff atmosphere between the two. Ling quietly retreated, without hostility.

It shouldn't be an illusion. Lloyd felt that Ling today didn't seem to be in high spirits. It doesn't quite resemble the image of the "kid who is always naïve and playing around" of lobbying. Is it something on your mind?

Moreover, her attitude towards Colin is also worth scrutinizing.

Lloyd connected to Ainigema's communication, and it was Noelle who called, to the effect that Colin was not found in the Old Town. But let's get a piece of information, it seems to say, a child has seen him. Noelle was ready to continue his search for the Old Town.

After hanging up the communication, Ling looked at Lloyd with little interest, and her somewhat dilated pupils were full of sadness.

Is it really good to leave Ling like this?

It only took a second to think about it. Lloyd immediately came to a conclusion.

How could it be good!

Even if it was an enemy, he couldn't let Lloyd let such a little girl show such an expression without such an expression.

If it's Big Brother Guy, no matter how much the other party dislikes it, he will try his best to find something to chat with her, right?

Lloyd asked himself if he could do anything like that, but he couldn't leave her alone. However, the first task now is to find Colin. Judging from the fact that a child has been missing for three hours and no one has called the police or reported the guerrillas, it is very unlikely that he will remain in the city...... Time is of the essence now.

But what about Ling?

Lloyd had a wonderful premonition that if Ling was left alone, he would never have the opportunity to touch her heart again.

You and Ling are so close, and by befriending Ling, you may be able to experience You's mood somewhat.

…… Is there a way to get the best of both worlds?

“！ That, Rei. ”

"Huh?"

The girl who was called by her name tilted her head cutely, with an expression of telling me what to do.

"Come with me to find the kid."

"Huh?"

"Didn't Ling say that she was very good at peek-a-boo, now, can you borrow your knowledge?"

Lloyd put on a friendly face, only to get a sneer from Ling.

"Big brother, do you want to invite me knowing Ling's identity?"

Full of mockery.

But Lloyd decisively admitted.

"Yes."

"Hey~~ What should I do?"

Ling looked like a girl who had been suddenly confessed, showing a green expression, and covering her face with her hands, as if she was really embarrassed to answer Lloyd's question.

Of course, it's all acting. Lloyd, who had accurate information, was not stupid enough to believe it.

"You also often work with you, right? So, it's okay to work with me once in a while, right? ”

"Big brother...... Brother You is different. He's super funny, big brother, on your side, will it be so interesting? ”

Ling seemed to be a little moved, no, it should be said, her wavering heart was now beginning to make up her mind. Lloyd trusted his eyes as a search officer.

Colin and Ling, there really is some kind of connection.

Otherwise, it's hard to explain why Ling would think about Lloyd's pleas.

To convince her, Lloyd decided to take a gamble.

"I think so. How about looking for Colin as a peek-a-boo game? ”

After combing through the knowledge that Lloyd had mastered, he quickly concluded that among the terms he knew, the one that most likely aroused Ling's interest was Colin.

However, Lloyd was unsure of her relationship with Colin. It's a gamble. If she liked Colin, she would naturally agree. If she hated Colin, then this time it would be a complete ruin.

But if you think about it carefully, if you don't gamble like this, the final result is nothing more than the loss of Ling, a foreign aid. A 1 in 2 probability will win, and a 1 in 2 probability that it won't lose. This kind of gambling is simply a personal gamble.

“……”

At the mention of Colin, Theo's eyes visibly moved. After a moment, Ling finally nodded and agreed.

"Okay. However, if the process becomes boring...... Big brother, you need to get ready! ”

It looks like a threat like a little witch, but at this time, Ling no longer has that demonic nature.

――――――――――――――――――――――――

Although Ling agreed to act along, even if she was as wise as her, she couldn't guess where Colin was.

It is only possible to follow Lloyd's previous policy and continue to ask questions in the central square. Just asked a few people, Ellie's comm called.

"Some people say that they have seen similar children, running behind the parade convoy."

One more piece of useful information. Combined with the previous intelligence......

"Did you run with the convoy and get to the neighborhood of the Old Town?"

Lloyd frowned and muttered.

If this analysis is correct, Colin's end point should be in the harbor area...... Ay? Wait, where is the end of this convoy?

Lloyd suddenly couldn't remember. After all, this kind of parade is dispensable to him, as long as he knows that every street will pass, and he really doesn't care where it starts and where it ends.

Lloyd could only continue to search, and about an hour passed? Or maybe longer. Rei was a little bored, and Lloyd had just finished all the areas he was responsible for.

"I don't have a clue about the result~"

Ling said with a hint of schadenfreude, with a slight mockery in her tone.

Lloyd smiled bitterly and did not respond, took out Anigema, and was about to send a message to Theo to see if Zeite had smelled any clues, but Theo's communication came just right.

"Senior Lloyd, I'm in a round with Ellie-senior now."

"Oh?"

"Colin has been seen watching the boardwalk on the waterfront in the Harbour area, however, Zeitt says Colin's scent disappeared on the stairs leaving the boardwalk......"

"Gone?!"

Lloyd repeated it in disbelief.

It's really weird, if Colin can't fly, how did he disappear?

"Well, it's just southeast of the harbor area."

……

If the smell disappears, the most likely thing is that something is blocking the smell from emanating, right? Can you block out the smell without making people feel suspicious?

"Could it be that you got in a car?"

Lloyd made a bold guess.

The car is airtight, and parking in the city is not too suspicious.

"Hey, I'm still very good at guessing puzzles."

Ling praised him slightly, and then muttered quietly.

"Next...... Is it just speculation about what kind of car you got into? ”

Ling's voice was small, but it entered the communicator.

"Senior Lloyd, is there anyone else over there?"

"Ahaha, it's a long story, let's gather first and sort out ......"

Before the words fell, Ling had a kitten-like smile on her face, and she deliberately stood on tiptoe, put her mouth close to Anigema, and said, "Then, lend me the guidance terminal of the support department~"

After saying that, Ling ran away with small steps.

Lloyd hurried after him.