From this day on, Minna pretended to be a good child, not only very polite to Riddle and the old monk, but also deliberately approached to please the boys, showing that they knew their mistakes, and the children were suspicious of her transformation, but seeing that she was even willing to help them do the dirty work, they temporarily believed her, and relaxed their surveillance of her

In addition to this, Minna also tried her best to follow Riddle out and get to know the streets and alleys of Encore, especially along the river, as soon as she came to the house of the Illuminati who lived on the riverbank, she tried to get out of the way to inquire about the southbound boats

Riddle only asked that she not leave his line of sight, and didn't pay much attention to who she was talking to

Minna was pleasantly surprised to hear from the boatman that the cheapest way to get south from Encore City is to borrow a cargo ship, occupy a space of two or three feet square in the bottom bilge, take care of the water and water, only need eighty copper plates, and the end point is a town called Pharatics Minna remembers, this town is located eight kilometers north of the magic capital, grandpa used to call it a "logistics transit station", it is only separated from the magic capital by a plain, and it only takes half a day to walk

Minna still had a little money on her, enough to pay for the boat, and she had money to buy dry food, she heard from the boatman that there would be one such ship departing the day after tomorrow, and there were eight vacancies, and the deposit would have to be paid ten copper plates, and if it was outdated, the deposit would not be returned to Minna

"Sarah, it's time for us to go," Riddle called her from a distance, "what are you doing?" ”

Minna was shocked, and hurriedly ran over and smiled: "Nothing, I'm listening to the uncles say interesting things, Father, are we going back?" She looked at the large bag of items in his hand with some curiosity: "What is this?" ”

"It's a spring fish from someone else, let's go to Mr. Osger's house, the other lady likes this fish the most, maybe it will give us a lot of things."

Minna was stunned, remembering that a little boy had said that he wanted to eat fish last night, and after a moment's hesitation, she said it

"Oh? Is that so? Riddle looked at the fish in his hand, asked the roadside vendor for a large leaf, wrapped two fish, and stuffed them for Minna

When she arrived at the house of Mr. Osger, Minna watched in amazement as Riddle spoke flattering words in a very flattering tone, and praised Mrs. Osger, who was no less physique-worthy than Winnie, into the first beauty in Encore, the kindest, kinder, and noblest lady, and the brightest stars of Wisa and Shaonan. And when he said that these mobile phones were easy: when he sorted out the words, his facial features were not distorted into the usual terrible appearance, and he very respectfully presented the packet of spring fish wrapped in aquatic pampas leaves, claiming that it was the freshest delicacy shipped from Yini, and specially asked from the Xiao family firm to give it to the beautiful and amiable Mrs. Osger

The lady, who weighed two hundred pounds, giggled incessantly, and while calling for the spring fish to be accepted, she took out a few gold coins from her small bag and stuffed them into Riddle, and asked him to come and visit Minna more often to look at her cheesy and gorgeous colored silk dress, and the flower gauze turban (which was used throughout the city to make curtains), and the haughty and contemptuous look on her face, and then look back at Riddle's humble gesture and feel a gross

As soon as she left the mansion, Minna couldn't help but ask, "Father, why are you flattering her with such words?" That woman doesn't deserve your praise, and she's not a true believer of light at all" A true believer wouldn't treat a monk with such an attitude

Riddle smiled and said, "Child, are you feeling wronged by me?" In fact, it is not necessary to be sad that Mrs. Osger knows that I am not telling the truth, and knows why I am saying this, and I know that she knows that if she gives money generously, and I have achieved my goal, then nothing else matters."

Minna frowned and asked, "Is money that important?" Would you rather let yourself be insulted like that? ”

"Of course it's important, child, I need money"

Minna stopped talking Riddle looked at her a few times, and said with a smile: "Actually, I don't often reprimand the land, if it weren't for the Xiao family firm no longer giving money, I don't need to flatter others when the old steward was still alive before, he took the initiative to send money every month, just to hide it from the people above" Minna heard this, and looked ahead with his gaze, where was the shop of the Xiao family firm, and the steward of Yi Nilai was still sitting crookedly in front of the store while drinking and scolding, no matter how the clerks persuaded him, he refused to leave, and passers-by avoided him, and the deputy steward, Lao Gu, was nowhere to be seen

Minna looked away, not wanting to look at it again

The next morning, Riddle left the temple and went out of the city, and the old monk took over the duties of the monk, while the children were attended to by Minna, the eldest Albert, and when they saw that everyone was going about their own business, they went back to their room and found the money they had hidden, and slipped quietly to the gate

At this time, Albert suddenly stopped her: "Sarah, you wait a minute" He ran up with a boy and said, "Hughley is short of manpower, you can go with them to weave straw mats"

"Straw mats? Right now? ”

"Yes, it's hot these days, many people will buy straw mats to go home, we have sold out of the land before, we have to weave more, it's much easier than finding odd jobs" Hughley bent his smiling eyes, "Sarah, you come and help, Albert is going to work, there are only four of us, there are not enough people"

Albert also nodded to Minna, "You're fine anyway, are you?" The priest said, "I want you to stay with us more."

Minna bit her lip and had to go with them

The straw mats are made of white wormwood, a local specialty, which is very smooth and cool, and the younger boys, before they are old enough to find odd jobs, stay in the temple to weave the mats, among which Hughley has the best craftsmanship, and the straw mats are intricate and beautifully patterned, and the prices are higher

When Minna heard that this kind of straw mat was the invention of the epic hero Count Xiao, her interest suddenly increased a lot, she saw Hughley and they specially dyed wormwood into various colors in order to make up more tricks, so she ran to see their dye, and found that it was a mixture of powder of several ores mixed with water, and long-term contact would be harmful to the human body, she proposed to use the grass juice of the ground instead, and also took several grasses by the ditch behind the yard to demonstrate, and Hughley They were all happy, those grasses can be found everywhere, much cheaper than ore powder, Se Cai is also richer, and in gratitude to Minna, they promise to make her a piece of white bread in the evening

Minna didn't think there was anything to be happy about, this knowledge was a by-product of learning magic frays back then, and she regretted a little in her heart because of the improved dyeing method, the boys were so excited that they kept pulling her back, but she didn't find a chance to go out for a day

Fortunately, the next day, Hughley said that he had made a new pattern of straw mats, which he should sell to the merchants, and when Minna heard that the merchants lived near the docks, she immediately threw herself in front of Hughley and said, "I will go too!" If they like something else, I can find another way! ”

Hughley was taken aback by her, but agreed with her, and the two of them reported to the old monk, and set off together with the straw mats

When they arrived at the docks, Hughley tried her best to persuade the merchant to buy their newly knitted grass, but Minna was a little absent-minded and looked at the cargo ship from time to time, and finally found an excuse to slip out, and she immediately ran to the boatman and said, "Uncle, is there any seat on the cargo ship to Pharadis tomorrow?" ”

"There are Ai and two more, are you going? The deposit is ten copper plates, and if it is outdated, it will be sooner if the deposit does not need to be booked," the boatman glanced at her, and replied unhurriedly

Minna immediately took out a silver coin: "I don't have any change to find me?" ”

The boatman frowned: "Why is it so troublesome?" Where am I going to get ninety copper plates for you early in the morning? Let's change it elsewhere."

Minna bit her lip, a little embarrassed, if she went to find someone to change change now, Hughley's side would find out

"Sarah, what are you doing over there?" Hughley walked over with a smile on his face, "The straw mats have been sold, and they said they are willing to continue to buy such straw mats, let's go back and make a few more sheets, what are you doing?" Why take the money out? ”

Minna quickly stuffed the money back into her arms, turned around and smiled and responded: "It's nothing, I want to change some change" She moved her body to Hughley's side, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at the boatman's side, and saw another person coming over to book a seat, and she couldn't help but be anxious, but she didn't notice that Hughley was frequently watching her Minna was called by the boys to make a straw mat for the day, and in the evening, Riddle came back early, and brought back two **-year-old girls, who were rescued from the desert and were arranged to live in a room with Minna

Minna saw that when Riddle helped the newcomer prepare the bed, she almost turned out the money she had hidden, and broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that she could not wait any longer, and that the rare opportunity could not be let go like this, so she got up before dawn, put the money in her arms, and while everyone had not woken up, she crept to the backyard, climbed over the wall out of the yard, and quietly ran to the dock

When she saw the boat in the morning fog and heard the boatman still shouting "the last vacant seat, the last vacant seat", she was overjoyed and rushed over, but unexpectedly a hand came out from the side and stopped her: "Sarah? What are you doing? ”

Minna turned her head to look, but was stunned, it was actually Riddle! How could he be here?!

Riddle seemed to see the doubts in her heart, and did not explain, but asked her seriously: "It's just dawn, why are you here so early?" He turned his head to look at the ship in the distance, and a hint of fierceness flashed in his eyes: "Are you going to leave on that ship secretly?!" ”

Minna stood there in confusion when she heard someone running to the boatman to ask for the last vacant seat, and bowed her head in disappointment

Failed, the next ship is said to have to wait another four or five days, Riddle found herself, will she have a chance to sneak away next time?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but raise her eyes to peek at Riddle, and when she saw his terrible face, her expression was even more distorted, and she looked especially terrifying in the fog, and she couldn't help but shiver

Riddle sighed softly, "Follow me," and then turned around and left, Minna obediently followed him, returned to the temple, and entered his office

"Why do you always like to make your own decisions, you child? Can't you trust adults more? Riddle rubbed his eyebrows with a headache, "I know you're better than the average child, and you're a little smart, and you can escape from the slave traders on your own, but things don't always go so smoothly, aren't you afraid that you won't be able to escape if you are abducted again?" ”

Minna was a little unimpressed, if she could escape once, she would naturally be able to escape a second time

Seeing this, Riddle sighed: "I know you may not be willing to listen to me, but this time, fortunately, I found it in time, otherwise I don't know what danger you will encounter, that ship is going to Pharadis, right?" Do you know that place? The people there are very complicated, there are people from all countries, at least 20% of the abducted children I met in the desert came from there, Hughley was abducted to Pharadis and brought to the city by slave traders. ”

Minna broke out in a cold sweat, she had never heard of such a thing, Faradis, wasn't it a cargo transit station? How did it become a place where slave traders could run amok? Where was Hughley sold? To put it this way... She was exposed in front of him yesterday...

"Anyway, you're still a kid, you should trust adults a lot, I'm not asking you to trust blindly, but looking for reliable people to turn to for help" Riddle continued "Originally, I was waiting for you to speak, but now it seems that it is more appropriate for me to ask directly" He sat up straight, leaned forward slightly, and stared at Minna: "Sarah is not your real name, is it?" I remember... I've seen you, you're the granddaughter of Count Shaw, called... It's called Mina, isn't it? ”

Minna jumped in shock: "You... How would you know...", adding: "My name is Minna"

Riddle had already guessed her identity, so what she had been doing all along, he actually knew it very well in his heart, right? Minna bit her lip and was a little unwilling: was he playing with her?

Riddle smiled: "Originally, I didn't recognize it, but the two guests that day asked if you were really called Sarah, you were a little uncomfortable, I began to suspect that it was not your real name, and then I found out that you were a little familiar, most likely the little girl I saw with Count Xiao back then, but his granddaughter, how could it be a little slave girl who ran away?" In order to confirm your identity, I specially took you to the Xiao family trading house to see your reaction, but then I was a little puzzled, if you are really the granddaughter of Earl Xiao, why did you end up here? ”

Minna's eyes were red, and she bit her lip and didn't speak

Riddle said: "That day, I heard from the steward of the Xiao family's firm, and I learned that you had a sister who was almost kidnapped, so I thought, could it be the same reason?" The young master that the steward said... Could it be your father? Are you being trafficked because you have been retaliated against? ”

"No," Minna whispered back, "That's not my dad, my dad wouldn't do that kind of thing, he... He's Grandpa's illegitimate son..."She blushed a little: "Only the eldest uncle is the child born to Grandpa and his wife..."

"Whether it is an illegitimate child or a legitimate child, he is the child of Count Shaw, he is a heroic figure like him, and he has just died, and his granddaughter has suffered such an unfortunate fate, I really don't know what to say" Riddle sighed again, and his tone was a little melancholy

"My grandfather isn't dead!" Anyway, it has been guessed by the other party, and Minna is no longer secret, "He just went back to his hometown, far away from here, and I don't know if he can come back, but he definitely didn't die!" ”

Riddle was stunned, and that terrible smile appeared on his face: "Really? That's great, what's going on? ”

Minna hesitated again, not knowing whether to say it or not, Riddle sighed, "You don't trust me, do you?" Is it because of my looks? Or is it your grandfather's sake? Seeing Minna's god, he also counted it in his heart, and said with a wry smile: "Count Xiao Ai just likes to talk as he wants, he doesn't like the Divine Religion, he hates monks, and he hates my humble gesture of begging people for donations, but he also knows in his heart that I am a reliable person, otherwise, when you were sick, he would not have asked me to treat you, have you forgotten?" ”

Minna suddenly looked at Riddle and was a little excited: "Can I really trust you?" You won't... You won't betray me, will you? ”

"God of Light is above, you can prove my sincerity," Riddle opened his arms to her, "Tell me, child, tell me all your pain, tell me all your troubles, you are still a child"

Minna's nose was sore, she couldn't hold back any longer, and threw herself into his arms and cried

She told all that had happened after she had separated herself from her grandfather, until the boys had come to urge them to lunch, and then she sobbed quietly and waited with some anxiety for Riddle's decision

Riddle lowered his head and thought: "I still have to find a way to send you home, the Xiao family firm may not be reliable, Mr. Boyman... I quit my job last year and went to the Magic Capital...", he muttered: "I think, the most important thing is to send you to your parents, before you wanted to go to the Magic Capital, just because there was no one to rely on, it was too far to go back to Ito from there, it was better to go from here... If I find other caravans, I really don't worry, so let's find someone to send a letter to your parents first, let them rest assured that you live here first, two months later, Van A will send a delegation to Ito to participate in the Easth National Day ceremony, I have received a notice, I didn't plan to go, now it's better to take a trip When the time comes, you can go with me on the road"

Minna looked at him stunned, a little incredulous, was the matter settled like this?

Seeing this, Riddle smiled and said, "Why are you stunned?" Don't worry, this is just the most necessary plan, if there is a reliable person to go to Ito in these two months, I will arrange it again now, let's go eat first"

Minna couldn't help but want to laugh, and covered it again, and followed him to dinner, but her mood was more relaxed than ever

It doesn't seem like a bad thing to rely on an adult once in a while, right?

The letter to Anlong and Dora was quickly written, but because Minna did not know the address of Ito's house, she had to entrust it to the local Temple of Light to hand over the letter, and after the letter was sent, she stayed in the temple every day with peace of mind, weaving straw mats and praying with other children

One day, half a month later, Riddle walked into the temple from outside and said to Minna: "Son, I have met a friend you can trust, he is your compatriot, and he will go back to Ito in two days, and he can take you on the road He still knows your grandfather." ”

Minna looked at the young man who appeared in front of her in surprise, with a long body and a handsome face, looking at her with a smile on her face, and she asked cautiously, "Do you really know my grandfather?" ”

The young man smiled: "Not only do I know your grandfather, but I also know you, what?" You don't recognize me? ”