The car was still there, and so were both cars.
But unfortunately, the traffic cones were still there too, and the checkpoint remained sealed.
The only encouraging change, perhaps, was that the guard booth was no longer empty.
A slightly portly middle-aged man was leaning at an angle inside, dozing as if he'd just returned from lunch.
Without a doubt, he was the only character they'd seen so far in this thought space who looked like a local.
His build might not have been the healthiest, but he still had professional instincts. Fu Qian and Su Gao were still some distance away when he quietly grew alert.
He hadn't sat up straight, but he was already peering over at them through narrowed eyes.
"Local?"
When Su Gao's question went unanswered for a moment, Fu Qian turned to confirm the man's identity with her.
"A local. In theory, he should always be here."
Sure enough, Su Gao seemed quite certain about that. She indicated that he was a regular employee.
"But he wasn't here before."
Fu Qian recalled what the place had looked like the last time they came.
"It should have something to do with our driver."
True to her reputation as the sharpest sword, Su Gao boldly jumped to a conclusion, pointing straight at Chief Yuan.
"How so?"
It was quite a leap, and she hadn't explained her reasoning, so Fu Qian couldn't help being curious.
"When we left, she made some unusual movements."
It wasn't a baseless accusation after all. Su Gao indicated that she'd seen something.
When they left...
"That would make sense."
Fu Qian, who had recovered a little strength, nodded.
If the only NPC here had left because someone influenced him, then it had almost certainly been one of the special guests.
After all, if