The first thing Hobart thought of was the Extraordinary Characteristics Aggregation Law. If he was not mistaken, this seemingly ordinary case must conceal either a Mystical Item or a Beyonder of the "Lawyer" pathway.
When he had handled Mr. Barton's case before, the "village lawyer" Penny had described could be confirmed with absolute certainty to be a Beyonder of the "Lawyer" pathway! Hobart smiled helplessly. I should have realized it sooner. The Country of Disorder is an element required for the "Lawyer" and "Arbiter" pathways to become an Ancient One. It is like a massive magnet, drawing the Extraordinary Characteristics of these two pathways toward me.
He then reflected on himself. Over the past month or so, he still had not completed the mental transition from the Common Era to the Beyonder World. His previous life experiences were certainly useful, but this was a Beyonder World, and the rules here mattered more.
Seeing Hobart lost in thought, Erlie smiled smugly. "Well, Mr. Lawyer? I told you long ago that our family has never kept a dog."
Hobart asked, "Then where did the barking we heard come from?"
"The Henry family living behind us keeps a dog!" Erlie said. "I think their dog got out. It came into my courtyard first, then went into that old fool Polly's courtyard.
"As for them insisting that the dog ran out of my basement, I think Polly's eyes are failing and he saw wrong. And he does not dare go question Henry, so he shamelessly pinned this matter on me."
After coming out of the basement, Erlie pointed Hobart toward the dark-colored house behind them. "That is the Henry family's home."
The house gave off a lifeless feeling. Its window curtains and door curtains were tightly shut, as though no one had lived there