Black Shadow
Smoke rose slowly under the dim yellow light.
"... I guess so."
Herman finally raised his head, his cloudy eyes filled with a complex expression.
He did not deny it.
"It's definitely not just on the way."
Herman took a drag of his cigarette, his tone slowing as if he were weighing each word.
"The Night Watcher badge still carries some weight in a place like this. I was thinking... with you here, the mayor might be a little more restrained."
"Restrain what?"
"Hunting Sandworm, and..."
Herman paused, but ultimately didn't finish his sentence.
"I let you show your face last night, and as you saw, it was useless; he still announced the hunt."
He paused, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"And then there was that thing from noon."
Lu Yuan listened without interrupting.
Herman was silent for a moment, as if considering whether to continue.
Finally, he spoke, but his tone became more cautious.
"Sandworm Town is isolated year-round, and its inhabitants live off Sandworm," Herman continued. "The town has its own rules."
What are the rules?
"The number of Sandworm hunted each year shall not exceed two."
Herman's voice was very low.
"Sandworm don't act alone; they live in groups. Killing too many will cause trouble."
Lu Yuan recalled the appearance of the Mutated Sandworm from noon earlier that day.
"But the mayor broke the rules."
"... right."
Herman nodded, but didn't say anything more.
He put the cigarette holder back in his mouth, took a deep drag, and the smoke he exhaled obscured his expression.
Lu Yuan looked at him and waited.
But Herman did not continue.
"That's all?" Lu Yuan asked.
Herman's eyes flickered.
"... Everything that needed to be said has been said."
His tone carried a businessman's characteristic shrewdness, as if he were ending a less-than-successful negotiation.
Lu Yuan looked at him and understood what was going on.
This old man knows a lot.
For example, what exactly is the town mayor up to? And why did that Sandworm Mutation?
But he chose not to say.
Or rather, in his calculations, saying these things was enough.
Lu Yuan did not press further.
After all, he wouldn't actively get involved. Of course, if given the chance, Lu Yuan wouldn't mind waiting for them to come begging to him, and then taking the opportunity to take something away from this small town.
For example, the flute in the mayor's hand, and the medicinal powder formula in the cracks of the rocks.
"Understood," Lu Yuan said calmly. "I won't interfere in your town's affairs, as long as your mayor doesn't cause me trouble."
Herman's expression relaxed slightly upon hearing this.
He didn't thank me, he just nodded.
"By the way," Lu Yuan changed the subject, "I'm going to Bronze City. When can I leave?"
"It'll have to wait a few more days." Herman flicked his cigarette ash. "I haven't collected all my goods yet. Once they're all here, we'll leave together."
"Approximately how long?"
"Three to five days."
Lu Yuan nodded.
Herman stood up, walked to the window, and glanced at the sky outside, which had become completely dark.
Don't go out tonight.
His voice suddenly became serious.
"Don't turn off the lights either."
"Why?"
Herman did not turn around.
"... You'll find out then."
After saying that, he walked out with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
The door closed behind me.
Lu Yuan sat there, looking at the leftover food on the table.
The old businessman's attitude said it all.
He did indeed take advantage of Lu Yuan, and he knew that Lu Yuan had seen through it as well.
But in this old man's logic, this doesn't count as exploitation.
This is called "each getting what they need".
Night fell quickly.
As the last glimmer of light disappeared on the horizon, the entire Sandworm Town lit up.
A pale white light shone from the windows of every household; it was the color of burning Sandworm Oil.
From above, the entire town looked like a lonely island floating in darkness, enveloped by a white halo.
The boundary between light and dark is clearly visible.
Lu Yuan stood by the window, looking outside.
The air was filled with the unique smell of burning Sandworm Oil; it was a little fishy and a little pungent, but not unpleasant.
The Herman family had already returned to their room.
Lu Yuan did not sleep.
He leaned against the window, his gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the Light Domain.
At first there was nothing.
Only black, pure black.
At the edge of my vision, grayish-white text suddenly appeared:
[Environmental Perception: Source of Pollution (Unknown)]
[Warning: Signs of unusual biological activity are present Light Domain]
Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked closely.
Then he saw red.
One point, two points, three points...
More and more red lights appeared in the darkness.
Those are eyes.
They stood at the edge of the Light Domain.
Its charred appearance resembled a corpse burned by fire, with shrunken skin and twisted limbs.
The posture was bizarre, the spine was bent, and the limbs were braced on the ground at an inappropriate angle.
They remained motionless.
Those red eyes were fixed straight on the direction of the town.
Stare at the light.
Staring at the people inside.
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze.
Footsteps sounded behind me.
Herman appeared at the doorway at some point, holding a glass of water.
"You saw it?"
He walked over, placed the water on the table, and spoke in a very calm tone.
"They come after every hunt for Sandworm. They're attracted by the smell of blood."
What are they?
People who died in the desert.
Herman spoke as if he were talking about something completely ordinary.
"This desert has buried countless people."
He turned and walked out, pausing at the door.
You'll get used to it.
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Lu Yuan looked out the window again.
Those charred figures were still there, motionless.
Those red eyes are still staring.
They are very patient.
It's like waiting for something.
A knock came at the door late at night.
Instead of a frantic banging on the door, there were a few rhythmic, light knocks.
Lu Yuan turned around from the window.
"It's me."
Herman's voice came from outside the door, sounding somewhat tired.
Lu Yuan walked over and opened the door.
Herman stood in the doorway, his cigarette holder extinguished at some point, looking somewhat troubled.
Behind him stood a middle-aged woman with disheveled hair, red-rimmed eyes, and clothes stained with black grime.
When the woman saw Lu Yuan, it was like seeing a lifeline. She immediately tried to rush forward, but Herman raised his hand to stop her.
"Something happened," Herman said, his tone tinged with apology. "When we were dissecting Sandworm during the day, someone got splashed with pus."
He paused.
The town doctor has seen him, but there's nothing he can do.
Lu Yuan looked at the woman.
Her lips were trembling, and tears streamed down her face, but she stubbornly refused to cry out.
"Her man's name is Martin," Herman continued, "And things aren't good. She remembered I brought a stranger back and came to me for help..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.
Lu Yuan looked at Herman and raised an eyebrow.
The old businessman's expression was somewhat complicated, showing both embarrassment and a hint of awkwardness.
After all, Lu Yuan was a guest he brought back, not someone from the town.
Logically speaking, the town's affairs have nothing to do with Lu Yuan.
But now, he had no choice but to ask.
Lu Yuan remained silent for a few seconds.
He remembered when Herman picked him up by the roadside, the food and lodging he had received over the past few days, and the surprisingly effective ointments.
A life-saving grace.
Although Herman had his own motives, he did save her life, and after this incident, he could say he had repaid his debt.
"Take me to see it."
Lu Yuan spoke.
Herman's expression relaxed slightly.
The woman was so excited that she almost knelt down, but Lu Yuan caught her.
"Don't thank me yet," Lu Yuan said calmly. "Whether he can be saved or not, we'll have to see for ourselves."