Dancer's Testimony (Third Update)

Iver thought of the stack of fresh, warm White Crown banknotes, and even more banknotes in his bag.

This doesn't look like payment. If it were payment, it would be placed in an envelope for easy storage and transport. Scattering it around in the bag not only risks loss or damage, but could also lead to unnecessary disputes.

And the newly acquired money was even less likely—there was no reason to hide it directly in his backpack. Besides, a small town like Mubay County couldn't easily produce that much money.

Judging from the quality and material of the clothes... then this money should belong to the man who was shot in the back. That is, the owner of Iver's coat, trousers, shirt, and sweater.

His coat was intact, but his shirt and sweater bore a gunshot wound that ran through his back. The wound was located directly in the center of his back, and there wasn't much blood, indicating that his clothes had been removed shortly after he was wounded.

The couple claimed that Agni was a serial killer and seemed to know him—they were either con artists, smugglers, or counterfeit drug dealers. In short, they were definitely not decent people, and they recognized Agni's face at a glance.

This suggests that either Agni is very famous, or they had only recently seen Agni's face. For strangers who need to introduce themselves, to be able to vividly remember a stranger's face and recognize Agni almost instantly... indicates that they must have only recently learned about Agni.

In this context, Agni's claim that "I am a teacher and I am traveling with my daughter" is obviously unreliable.

However, without ever having met Daya, they relied solely on Agni's account to conclude that Agni was accompanied by a "noisy little one"... and were even willing to sell Iver an expensive potion to calm her down.

In conclusion, there is only one possibility.

"Agni" is a wanted kidnapper, or possibly an escaped convict, and this name is likely his real name. Since there was no television or radio in this era, the couple must have recently seen Agni's identity in the newspaper.

It was clear that Agni had received the ransom. But Daya remained by his side.

Daya said she had a dream in which her father was swimming naked in the river.

—Could it be that he was stabbed in the back by Agni while he had taken off his coat, and then Agni removed his coat and threw his body into the river?

Just as Iver forgot this memory, Daya also forgot it.

This explains the money in the bag, the gunshot wound on the clothes, Daya's dream, and the unusual things about him.

There was only one thing that puzzled Iver.

Why Daya still following him? Or rather... why hasn't he killed Daya yet? While Merlin was awkwardly chatting with the unusually enthusiastic Dancer, Iver stood aside, squinting, lost in thought.

There must be a reason why so many of them gathered here in the midst of a storm. Perhaps there is no reason in reality, and it may just be a pure coincidence, but since this piece of history has been extracted and modified into a ritual, it must have a reason and a connection.

It's like seeing a really annoying person in a movie or TV show; at most, you'd think about how they'd get their comeuppance later. But if you saw that kind of person in Detective Conan, then you could start thinking about who the culprit is.

According to their identities, there is indeed no connection between them.

But if we consider "Agni" as a kidnapper, murderer... or an escaped convict who kidnapped a little girl.

Iver keenly sensed a problem hidden beneath the surface of his identity.

—"Agni's " wanted poster appeared in the * 《Cow and Harbor》 * newspaper, and the couple saw the paper and thus became acquainted with him; Merlin was currently playing the role of a reporter for * 《Cow and Harbor》 *; and this Old Inspector was probably also after him. All of them had a reason for gathering together.

So here's the problem.

What is this Dancer doing here? Or rather... is she really Dancer? In this case, who is she most likely to be?

A thought flashed through Iver's mind, and he had a vague idea.

Agni was no good person to begin with. The couple was no better; whether they were fake drug dealers or smugglers, they weren't good people either. The journalist's true identity was Jacob Alexander, the founder of the Scaleless Hand, who liked to kill through curses and was, in a sense, a hired killer.

And the Old Inspector played by Chunbai—

He came here alone... so where is his griffin?

Moreover, griffins are not afraid of storms, even hybrid griffins. After all, griffins' attack methods are storms and thunder.

Or rather...

Is he really an inspector?

Or is he merely wearing leather armor and carrying an elven short sword... and not actually an observer at all?

From this perspective, they all seem to be no good except for Daya. So who could this plain-looking, well-built Dancer active in rural areas be?

Iver had no evidence. But he could test them one by one.

"I have something I'd like to discuss with this young lady."

Suddenly, Iver spoke to reporters and observers.

"Speak separately?"

The reporter pressed further, "Do you need me to be there?"

"No need, you can go out too."

"Okay, no problem."

The reporter readily agreed, then immediately stopped his conversation with the Dancer and left with the Old Inspector.

The Old Inspector seemed somewhat puzzled, but he did not resist the reporter. Instead, he obediently followed him away.

"Sir, did you call me here... to discuss business?"

The Dancer was alone with the strong Agni, yet she remained fearless.

She simply smiled and leaned closer, gently placing her right hand on Iver's chest. "The price is negotiable..."

Instead of taking her hand, Iver asked, "Do you know me?"

Are you a famous person? A star player on the Football Team?

The Dancer laughed and said dismissively.

But Iver shook his head and whispered a few words in her ear. The Dancer's expression immediately changed.

Iver's first words were. "Shadows are our mothers, poisons and drugs are our sisters."

Then he added, "Master Siriex sends his regards."

Then, Iver asked again, "Do you recognize me now?"

The Dancer looked at Iver with suspicion. After a moment's hesitation, she took out a lipstick from her pocket. "Do you know what this is?"

—Great, you guessed right on the first try.

Iver had originally planned that if he guessed wrong this time, he would try one by one. Anyway, once she reached the next level, she wouldn't remember anything.

This is crucial information that players who complete the game normally would never obtain—in other words, it is at least a hidden clue.

He carefully took the lipstick, being extremely cautious not to touch it. Seeing this, the Dancer breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at its dark red luster, Iver asked uncertainly, "Is it [love]?"

"That's right, my brother. Be careful not to touch it."

The Dancer breathed a sigh of relief and put the lipstick away.

After a moment's thought, she replied, "The identity you're currently using is Agni Shiva, imprisoned for robbing a bank. You escaped three days ago and kidnapped the Banker's Daughter Daya... Why are you using this identity? Or is there something wrong with your memory?"

"I actually suspect that everyone's memory is malfunctioning—I just had a hallucination and thought I was really Daya's father. I even doubted whether I was still the real me until I saw you."

Iver said seriously, "In fact, I suspect we're all dreaming right now. Why don't you try to recall what you've forgotten?"

Upon hearing this, the Dancer's expression also became serious.

She frowned and pondered for a while, but still couldn't remember.

She asked, "You mean there's something wrong with this hotel?"

Iver simply countered with, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to..."

The Dancer blurted it out.

But before she could finish speaking, she gradually became surprised.

What were you originally going to say?

"...I wanted to say that I came to seek shelter from the rain," the Dancer said, her brow furrowed, "But that's unlikely..."

Iver grabbed the Dancer's arm and commanded in an unquestionable tone, "Give me a quick way to gain your trust. I suspect you might forget all this at any time."

"I'm a ' Honey Badger ' and I've only been in Mubay County for two weeks. That's enough."

The Dancer remained cautious. "Is this how the Scaleless Hand joined your investigation team?"

"Yes, Jacob and I are investigating this matter. But don't reveal my identity."

Iver nodded, a somewhat terrifying smile spreading across his scorched face, "Well then, see you later, sister."

See you later, brother.

It's past midnight, meow~