Not bad!
Although the information Lafa had provided didn't go into detail about the landlady's personality or habits, their brief encounter had made it clear that she was remarkably capable for her age.
Even with the Cult's carriage vouching for him, it was clear that a mysterious missing person like himself wouldn't be so easy to pass off without question.
She hadn't even suggested talking another day. She was waiting for him downstairs.
Fu Qian was naturally quite pleased. He needed an astute, capable elder who had a good grasp of the world around her to point him in the right direction.
"Thank you."
He didn't refuse. He went straight over and sat down.
"What exactly happened? You seemed to still be wearing your work clothes earlier. Were you at the art gallery this whole time?"
The old woman had lived up to expectations in both her powers of observation and her curiosity.
She hadn't even waited for Fu Qian to take a sip of tea before asking.
"That's what it looks like. At least, when they found me, I was still admiring the artworks."
Gazing at the clear tea, Fu Qian spoke with a self-deprecating air.
It smelled good, but was clearly a robust black tea, which suited the astute old woman's temperament.
With Fu Qian's keen sense of smell, he could naturally tell it was a blend of several kinds of tea leaves.
In theory, such a refined drink could only be found in a well-functioning world.
In fact, everything he'd encountered today seemed to prove just that... a reality that completely contradicted his expectations.
"What artwork?"
Mrs. Harper fixed her gaze on Fu Qian's face, as if searching her memory.
"A painting that wasn't in very good condition."
Fu Qian answered honestly.
"And in that nightmare, I