Zhao Bai had no time to think about all that.
Listening to confessions and forgiving those who had strayed down the wrong path, burdened with sin, was God's work.
Zhao Bai's job was to send them to meet God.
The withered bark twisted and warped in the flames, and no more sounds came from within. Zhao Bai stared without blinking until the last piece of wood had turned to ash. Only then did he let out a long breath and smoothly sheathe his blade.
Bronya had been watching him the whole time.
"Your glasses?"
"Huh? These? They're decorations, like the beret, cape, white gloves, and candy pipe. An assistant has to look like an assistant, after all." Zhao Bai shook his head, trying to bluff his way through it.
"You are not allowed to call Bronya's pipe candy."
Sure enough, she did not press the matter further.
They left the scene of the crime. Bronya seemed somewhat unhappy, looking lost in thought.
She lowered her head in silence.
After a moment, Bronya turned toward Zhao Bai, stared at him seriously, and slowly said, "Actually, Bronya was bullied at the orphanage too, and it led to some very serious consequences."
"What consequences?"
Zhao Bai noticed that Bronya seemed somewhat sentimental today, but none of her emotional fluctuations reached her face. She remained expressionless. Zhao Bai could never figure out what she was thinking; he could only guess, or ask her directly.
Like now.
Bronya answered, "That bully was frightened badly enough to wet his pants, but Bronya lost her best friend."
"I see."
Zhao Bai took the detective's beret and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles Bronya had crumpled into it. Then he placed it on Bronya's head and tidied her silver-gray curls while he was at it.
"No one can predict