"Yes, it's Hook!"

"He gave us the money to come here this afternoon to trouble Mr. Herbert!"

Stammered slightly, the leader of the three said.

Qin Ran keenly noticed that when the other party said the name 'Hook', Herbert's expression did not change.

"Hook?"

"What's wrong?"

Qin Ran looked at Herbert.

"Hook, Sheriff Culkin's right-hand men!"

Herbert said.

"Police?"

Qin Ran was stunned.

"No, no!"

"He goes. Private. objects, organizing thugs, collecting protection money, being the gangster leader near the station - I once had a confrontation with him on the train back to Burr! ”

"However, after being taught a lesson by Peel, the other party didn't trouble me again!"

Herbert shook his head and explained.

"So, this may be the other party's waiting for revenge!"

"Of course, it could be ......"

Herbert didn't finish speaking, but Qin Ran knew what the other party wanted to say.

About a trip to the ancient city of Aesop!

Someone didn't want Herbert to go to the ancient city of Aesop.

Moreover, judging from the clues Qin Ran got, it was not just a group of people.

Compared with the gangster leader who got accurate information in front of him, Qin Ran was more concerned about the 'guardian' who caused the explosion and burned Herbert's books.

"Before, when it exploded, what happened?"

"Herbert, how did you end up here?"

Qin Ran asked.

"I'm sorting out the materials for the ancient city of Aesop, and then, with a pain in my neck, I don't know anything."

"I didn't see what the other person looked like all the while."

Herbert, who instantly guessed what Qin Ran wanted to know, immediately smiled bitterly.

"I'll check it out there!"

Qin Ran pointed to the burning house not far away.

The flames engulfed the traces inside the house.

However, the traces outside the house should still be left.

However, before leaving, Qin Ran did not forget the three captives, even if the three of them were tied up strongly, but for the safety of Herbert, Qin Ran kicked one by one, knocking all three of them unconscious.

With Herbert's smile of gratitude, Qin Ran approached the burning house.

Call! Call!

The flames were rolling, and the tongues of fire were constantly swallowing.

The first and second floors of the house were completely burned through, and a large hole for a carriage appeared on the wall on one side of the study.

"The explosion that came from before should have happened here!"

Qin Ran looked at the shards of the wooden wall outside the house that showed a splashing appearance, and guessed with great certainty.

It is also certain that explosives should be more than just gunpowder.

Otherwise, the house in front of me would not have burned so violently.

"There must be some kind of accelerant!"

Qin Ran sniffed the pungent smoke from the flames in front of him, and after denying the kerosene and gasoline, he couldn't think of more of him for the time being, and looked at the ground facing the explosion crater.

Although it was within the blast range, the traces were still there farther away.

Footprints.

Under the field of vision of [Tracking], a group of footprints clearly appeared in Qin Ran's line of sight.

Each footprint is incomplete, only half small.

Immediately, Qin Ran's mind came up with the appearance of the so-called 'guardian' cat tiptoeing forward.

Following this set of footprints, Qin Ran walked towards the outside of the courtyard.

After walking for about 100 meters, the footprints suddenly disappeared.

It's as if it never appeared.

"Huh?"

Qin Ran frowned, and immediately took the place where this group of footprints disappeared as the center of the circle and looked around.

However, nothing was found.

There should be no such interruption in any trace of movement.

Unless, the other party has changed the original state of motion.

And there are only two ways to change the state of telecontrol in front of you.

First, flying.

Second, retreat.

But no matter whether the other party flies into the sky or escapes, there should still be some traces.

When flying, the flapping of the wings, or the impact force, will cause marks on the ground around you.

When you are on the ground, the ground will be turned more and more obviously.

As for the other party's silent escape?

If the other party can really do this, it will not show traces a hundred meters away from Herbert's house.

It can come and go without a trace, leaving no trace.

Well, there is only one possibility!

"With the help of some kind of special vehicle!"

"A vehicle that can take one or more people without leaving obvious marks on the ground, but should make some noise!"

"Such a means of transport ......"

"Could it be some kind of magical creature?"

Qin Ran guessed.

And instantly locked on several magical creatures that met the requirements in his mind.

In the dungeon world in front of you, although the germ of technology has appeared, it is impossible to make a flying machine that can be ridden by a single person.

Add to that the 'guardian' of the ancient city, which is the most traditional name.

Qin Ran was very inclined to think in a mysterious way.

"The 'Guardian' who can raise magical creatures......"

"A trip to the ancient city of Aesop?"

Qin Ran muttered softly to himself, looking forward to it more and more in his heart.

Then, after checking the four weeks again and confirming that nothing was missing, Qin Ran returned to Herbert's residence.

"How?"

Herbert, who was standing in front of the three captives, asked directly.

"Something strange to find!"

Qin Ran briefly recounted his discovery, and the more Herbert listened, the brighter his eyes became.

"The legendary 'guardian' of the ancient city of Aesop does have the ability to fly!"

"Didn't you think it was with the help of some kind of magical creature?"

Herbert was no stranger to the word magical creature in Qin Ran's mouth, and he looked quite familiar.

This made Qin Ran more sure of his previous guess.

And just as Qin Ran and Herbert were discussing what kind of magical creature might be, three carriages galloped towards here, and they could see the dust flying far away.

"A little faster than expected!"

Qin Ran stopped the discussion and said in an inexplicable tone.

With his remarkable eyesight, he could clearly see the first coachman driving the carriage in uniform.

Although the style is different from what I saw before, the identity of the other party is clear at a glance.

The police.

The drivers of the next two carriages were dressed in ordinary clothes.

"Is it your student?"

After Qin Ran briefly described the style of the carriage, he asked Herbert.

"Hmm!"

"It's Harold, Coffin, and Jona!"

Herbert nodded affirmatively.

A few minutes later, three carriages stopped in front of the compound.

Three young men, two men and one woman, pushed the door from the back two carriages and galloped down.

Two boys, one tall and handsome, and the well-fitting suit made him look tall.

The other is a linen shirt and suspenders, with a slightly thin figure and a little freckles on his face, which looks like a half-grown child.

The only girl is a white long dress, with a sweet face and a white lily on her head, which looks graceful.

"Is the teacher alright?"

"What the hell happened to the teacher?"

The three young men asked.

Then, the tall and handsome boy turned his head to look at the policeman on the side.

"Sheriff Culkin!"

"I need you to give me an explanation!"

The boy angrily asked the middle-aged man who stepped down from the first carriage.

The other boy and girl were also staring at each other, obviously asking the other party to give an explanation.

"I've just come here and don't know anything, so what explanation can I give you?"

"I need to ask Mr. Herbert before I can give you the explanation you want, don't I?"

"And is that the suspect who was caught?"

"If so, I will thank you, Mr. Herbert, for your bravery!"

The slightly thin sheriff has a hooked nose, which makes the already narrow face a little gloomy, but the other party's words are soft.

It's like a leaky bellows.

But these soft words left the three angry young men speechless.

The three young men looked at each other and then looked at their teacher.

Herbert, on the other hand, looked at Qin Ran.

"2567, can you explain this to Sheriff Culkin?"

"Of course!"

The hint that appeared on the retina made Qin Ran smile and nodded.

[Discover the side quest: Difficult Sheriff!] 】

[Difficult Sheriff: Culkin is notorious as a sheriff, Herbert doesn't like to talk to such people, and he wants you to come forward to ask Culkin instead of him!] Try to ask more things, it will affect what Herbert, Harold, Coffin, and Joanna think of you! 】

The appearance of the side quest was enough to make Qin Ran go all out.

"Your Excellency Sheriff, do you know Hook?"

Qin Ran, who walked in front of Sheriff Culkin, asked directly,

At the same time, the [Half-Dead Man's Gaze] on Qin Ran's right index finger, the glimmer of light flashed away.

PS Second Update~

Decadent eat first, take a break and code the third more!

It may be late, everyone who can't wait, just go to bed first! (To be continued.) )