Orphanage

If the West District of Ake Town was the commercial area, then the Southwest District was pure slums.

The environment and public safety here were both exceptionally poor. Not only were there no oil lamps along the roads, but the entire area was pitch black. In the short distance Li Wen had walked, she had already encountered no fewer than three people trying to rob or pickpocket her.

To avoid further unnecessary trouble like this, Li Wen had no choice but to break one of their hands as a deterrent. After she did that, sure enough, no one bothered her again.

Ake Town wasn't large, and finding a building that fit the style of an orphanage wasn't too hard. But the maze-like layout of houses and roads in the slums made Li Wen take a few extra detours before she found her destination.

It was a three-story building, built entirely from deep red brick and stone, standing out sharply from the surrounding structures. The orphanage was already closed for the night, with only firelight flickering through the windows.

Li Wen knocked on the door. After a long wait, a muffled voice came from inside.

"The orphanage is closed. If you want to apply for aid, come back earlier tomorrow."

"I'm looking for someone. Is Old Man Sem here?" she said.

After a moment, the door opened, and a thick, solid bald head poked out.

"Looking for Old Sem, huh." The bald man looked Li Wen up and down. "I don't remember that old geezer having any relatives or family... come on in."

Li Wen followed him inside.

The interior of the orphanage was fairly spacious. While it couldn't be called comfortable, it was at least clean and tidy enough to give the homeless a sense of warmth. Besides that, Li Wen noticed church-style decorations and furnishings everywhere.

"Was the orphanage built by the church?"

The bald man walking ahead was fat-headed and big-eared, waddling as he moved—a rare physique in a rural place like Ake Town.

"Hmm, it was indeed funded by the Holy Church. Day-to-day management and the money come from Pastor Mog. Speaking of which, do you know Pastor Mog?"

Li Wen didn't answer, instead asking another question: "Who does the orphanage usually serve?"

"Usually the homeless—kids abandoned by their parents, old folks with no one to support them, or people too sick to earn a living through labor. Sometimes we take in beggars and poor people too, as long as they're willing to work... why are you asking?" The bald man rambled on before realizing Li Wen was here to find someone.

"Just curious." After that, Li Wen fell silent.

The bald man led her all the way to the third floor, pointed to the room at the very end of the hall, and said, "Old Sem usually stays there. Just knock if you want to see him. I've got work to do. If you need anything, call me from the first floor."

Watching the bald man slowly descend the stairs, Li Wen walked to the door and knocked softly.

After a wait, the door opened just a crack. The room's owner peered out through the gap.

"Who are you?"

Old Sem's voice was hoarse and dry, as if he hadn't drunk water in a long time.

"Pastor Mog sent me," Li Wen said succinctly.

At the mention of Mog's name, Old Sem visibly grew agitated. He pushed the door open and let Li Wen in, but clearly he wasn't about to trust her just yet.

"What did he send you here for? I'm just a worthless old man with nothing."

Li Wen didn't answer right away. She observed the room and the old man. The room was so empty it couldn't even support a mouse—truly "nothing" as the old man had said. Old Sem himself was a very standard, almost stereotypical Duwei person: short in stature, sallow and wrinkled skin, with strange pigments smeared on his arms and face like some kind of totem.

"You know how to make medicine?"

As soon as she entered, Li Wen had caught the faint bitter fragrance of medicinal herbs. Besides that, she noticed traces of sulfur and plant residue under Old Sem's fingernails.

Old Sem's expression immediately turned hostile. He pressed his lips tight, as if thinking about how to make Li Wen leave as fast as possible.

"There's no need to deny it. I have some knowledge of alchemy, so I can tell."

"When I was young, I listened to the elders in my tribe ramble on about grinding and mixing herbs. Nothing worth mentioning." Old Sem's voice rumbled.

"I need some materials for a ritual. Pastor Mog said you'd have what I need here."

After hearing this, Old Sem said nothing. He walked to the bed, laboriously moved it aside, then pried up the wooden boards that had been laid underneath, revealing a hidden compartment.

Inside the compartment were some non-professional grinding tools, filters, crucibles, and a large number of bottles and jars.

Arthur officially banned the spread of folk alchemy, so Old Sem's caution wasn't without reason.

Old Sem picked up a half-full leather backpack from the compartment, stuffed several more bottles and jars into it, and finally handed it to Li Wen.

"That's everything I have. If you're still missing something, I'm afraid I can't help you."

Li Wen opened it and checked. Drawing on her past life's memory, she could tell the materials weren't complete in variety, but for the current situation, they were barely enough.

"This is enough." Li Wen calculated based on the black market prices from her previous life and finally took out two gold pounds and five shillings, handing them to Old Sem.

Old Sem shook his head. "Since you were sent by Lord Mog, I can't take money."

"That has nothing to do with him," Li Wen said.

"It has a lot to do with me."

Li Wen couldn't be bothered to argue with him. She put the money down and turned to leave. Old Sem's stamina naturally couldn't match young Li Wen's, so he could only stare helplessly at her quickly disappearing figure.

*

Back at the Nun Dormitory, Li Wen saw Luna standing outside her room door.

"Are you looking for me?"

Sister Luna jumped in surprise. Turning around and seeing it was Li Wen, she let out a sigh of relief.

"I've roasted some potatoes and mutton, and wanted to bring you some to try."

As she spoke, the nun shook the vegetable basket in her hand.

So that was it.

Li Wen nodded. "Then thank you. I haven't eaten yet, as it happens."

She took the basket and was about to send Luna off, but seeing the little nun's expectant gaze, she felt speechless.

"If you don't mind, join me for a meal."

The nun was delighted by the invitation. It wasn't that she wanted to eat together, but rather that she simply wanted to know Li Wen's opinion of her cooking.

*

"It tastes quite good."

After the food entered her mouth, Li Wen gave her verdict immediately.

"Really? Pastor Mog said the same thing, but I think there's still room for improvement." The nun's little face flushed red, as if she wasn't used to praise.

"What kind of person do you think Mog is?" Li Wen suddenly asked.

"Pastor Mog?" Sister Luna was a bit dazed. "Pastor Mog... he should be a very good person. He's kind and gentle to everyone on ordinary days, very good at listening to the congregation's requests, always ready to help others, and he's taught me a lot of knowledge... Everyone in town likes Pastor Mog."

"I see."

Li Wen said no more.

She wondered what expression the little nun would wear if she ever learned the truth.