Did It Have to Be This Dangerous?

As time ticked by, the Deductionists arrived one after another at the foot of the guide's apartment building.

When Yu Xing and the others arrived, they saw their guide, Gao Yiling, standing outside the complex and waving a tour flag taller than she was.

The unbearable stench of corpses had quietly vanished. Gao Yiling was still wearing the same dress, one that seemed wholly unsuited for the cold, and her face showed no sign of anything amiss.

Few townspeople passed by outside the complex, leaving the area rather quiet.

As they drew closer, Yu Xing heard Gao Yiling repeatedly apologizing to the Deductionists. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I told you the time but forgot to tell you where to meet. That was a mistake on my part. I'm truly sorry!"

The Deductionists wore all sorts of expressions, but they were all thinking the same thing: So you do know this was your oversight.

This guide was worse than incompetent. She was downright dangerous.

At the Flower Seeker's prompting, a silver-haired woman from the Fallen Path asked Gao Yiling, "Guide, you forgot to tell us where to meet, and we've already had a hard enough time finding our way here. What about the people who couldn't make it?"

Gao Yiling's expression turned troubled. "Well... the itinerary is set. If they didn't make it, I can't wait for them. The group's schedule has to come first, doesn't it?"

"But this is your fault, isn't it?" The silver-haired woman narrowed her eyes, the edge of her smile almost confrontational. At the moment, though, all the Deductionists desperately needed someone brash like her to take the lead. "Your mistake meant some of your tourists didn't have time to enjoy the tour. How are you going to make up for that? Is this how