Lily instinctively looked toward Hai Na and sized her up from head to toe.
...She's not short at all? Could it be that dwarf blood doesn't reduce height? Noticing the astonished looks from Iver and the others, Hai Na's father immediately burst into hearty laughter.
The dwarf raised his hand and gulped down a large mouthful of wine, moistening his throat.
Without any tact or beating around the bush, the dwarf uncle bluntly told them what Iver and the others cared about most: "Don't look at her like that—neither of these two children is my biological child. But I've taken care of them since they were little, so I count as half their father.
"Their irresponsible bastard of a biological father ran away—he left Eagle Cape Village before Jack was even born."
The dwarf uncle said without the slightest restraint, "I reckon that brat was either possessed by something or got carried away after going out to play with his master—this is also why I don't want this girl to study abroad on Glass Island. After all, her stupid bastard of a biological father is on Glass Island."
At that, Iver silently looked toward Sherlock.
Sherlock paused, then understood what Iver wanted him to do.
—Clearly, Iver wanted him to take advantage of a child's innocence.
After all, he looked like a child right now, which gave him plenty of leeway in this regard. Even if he said something he shouldn't or asked something too rudely, Iver could simply add, "The child doesn't know any better; he was just asking," and the atmosphere wouldn't become too awkward.
Thus, Sherlock spoke in a childish voice: "That man sounds really awful... But what did he do? Why would his master take him out to play?"
"That brat's master was the village's former