Free Web NovelChapter 2490: Chapter 2490: The Origin of the Matter
"The injection will do." The Girl in the painting suddenly suggested, "One shot, and she will talk."
Bubble Bean sneered and pushed aside the Long-haired Player’s hand, "Trying to play the good guy? Does the life of your companion mean so little, just a little money? The injection won’t kill her! If you’re worried about your reputation, I’ll do it!"
With companions caught in political struggles and killed, who knows what trouble this will bring to the Wan Family later. Though she sympathized with the elderly, the life of a companion takes precedence, so the Long-haired Player hesitated no longer and took out the syringe after boarding the passing express train.
"No need." The old lady said dejectedly, "I’ll tell you."
The compartment was isolated by a prop’s effect, and Xu Huo and the others gathered around the old lady, listening to her recount the events.
The story started half a month ago, late one night, the elderly woman’s grandson working in another region hurried back home. Since Cat Fruit Town lacked nightlife, no one saw him return. He stayed only for a few minutes, handed a Cat Whisker Fruit to the elderly woman, and instructed her to give it to the bookstore owner, or if the owner was unreachable, then to another restaurant’s manager.
The Cat Whisker Fruit itself wasn’t important, but the symbol carved on its core was. The elderly woman had studied it and roughly identified it as an old, niche script. Due to lack of information, she couldn’t openly investigate, so she mixed up the sequence and crafted many identical Cat Whisker Fruits, using machines to rapidly produce more to cover up the true intent, disguising them as deliveries to fulfill her grandson’s instructions.
Upon receiving the death notification, she went to see her grandson’s body before returning home.
District 001 had two funeral options: organized by the family or handled by the government. The family could sign consent and have the local government conduct the funeral, with expenses covered by the deceased’s employer or government.
The old lady’s grandson worked at a robot repair factory. The boss regretfully offered to cover all expenses, provide some compensation, and even promised to arrange better housing to ensure her well-being if she needed.
The elderly woman didn’t shed a tear upon seeing her grandson’s body, took the money, and turned back to Cat Fruit Town, tirelessly making Cat Whisker Fruits. To avoid suspicion, she maintained her habit of going up the mountain every two days to collect Cat Whisker Fruits.
Until two days before departure, her robot logs showed a Player disguised multiple times entering "Small Object Carving," identified by the shoes the Player wore, as modified by her grandson’s anti-theft program.
Uncertain if the person was after the Cat Whisker Fruit, before leaving, she went to the Wan Family for assistance.
Yet distrusting the Wan Family members, she didn’t delegate the task but insisted on personally delivering the items.
"I only trust myself, even if slower, ensuring the delivery." The old lady wiped her tears, "Seems it’s impossible now..."
Her tale excluded information about her grandson’s job but Bubble Bean pressed on, and she replied that beforehand, she only knew her grandson had a steady job, decent income, and lived an uneventful life. Coming from a small town, engaged in carving and robot repair, who would expect such people involved with politicians?
"Did he ever mention anything to you?" Xu Huo asked, "I see you have a strong opinion about Outer Zone Players."
His spiritual power revealed that the old lady harbored unfavorable sentiments towards Outer Zone Players, likely due to her age and experiences, forming stereotypes. Yet such attitudes could influence family members living closely together.
"I despise Outer Zone Players." The old lady didn’t look at him, her eyes fixed on the floral patterns of the compartment, "My children died all because of getting involved in attacks by Outer Zone Players."
The group fell silent for a moment before Xu Huo continued to ask, "Your attitude would affect your grandson, did he ever say anything to you?"
Outer Zone Players are sure not absent in District 001’s political struggle scene; even if not holding crucial roles, certainly as a force.
"What do you mean?" The old lady’s tone suddenly became sharp, "Are you saying I’m responsible for his death?!"
"Think carefully, you relied on each other, surely he displayed some attitude," Xu Huo avoided directly answering her question.
The old lady sighed, focusing on recalling, before shaking her head moments later, "He’s different from me, he didn’t hate you. In the past, when I spoke angrily, he often advised me, not all Outer Zone Players are bad."
Xu Huo turned to the Long-haired Player, "Can your Wan Family speed this up?"
The Long-haired Player’s brow furrowed, "It’s been so long, even if there were clues, they’ve likely been erased clean."
Moreover, the old woman’s grandson was already dead, caught in political struggle, his circle surely investigated and cleared after. Obtaining useful intel isn’t that easy, is it?
"Truth Serum is good stuff," Xu Huo stated.
The Long-haired Player didn’t respond, instead another member of the Wan Family spoke up beside him, "Acting without principles is not the Wan Family way."
"Pedantic!" said Bubble Bean, "If someone locked up all your Wan Family members, killed them one by one, I doubt your supposed principles would matter!"
Saying this, he fiercely looked at the old lady, "You haven’t finished telling us! Which restaurant’s manager? What’s their name? Where is the item you need to give?"
"Someone specifically waited for me in Fengxing City, the person waiting for the Cat Whisker Fruit was likely caught." The old lady’s voice sank, then she threw a Cat Whisker Fruit onto the table, "Take it; it’s useless."
A colorless Cat Whisker rolled towards Xu Huo on the table; before he could reach, Bubble Bean eagerly grabbed it, yet in his moment of joy, the Cat Whisker Fruit vanished from his hold!
