A Belated Arrival

"It was... it was Hook!"

"He paid us to come here this afternoon and cause trouble for Mr. Herbert!"

The leader of the three spoke with a slight stammer.

Qin Ran noticed Herbert's expression did not change when the man said Hook's name.

"Hook?"

"What's wrong?"

Qin Ran looked at Herbert.

"Hook is Sheriff Kalkin's right-hand man!"

Herbert explained.

"A police officer?"

Qin Ran paused.

"No, no!"

"He smuggles goods, organizes thugs, and collects protection money. He's the gang leader around the station. I once clashed with him while taking the train back to Boer!"

"But after Pierre taught him a lesson, he never bothered me again!"

Herbert shook his head as he explained.

"So this could be him taking his chance to get revenge!"

"Of course, it could also be..."

Herbert did not finish, but Qin Ran knew what he meant.

The expedition to Aesop Ancient City!

Someone did not want Herbert to go to Aesop Ancient City.

And from the clues Qin Ran had gathered, it was not just one group.

Compared with the gang leader whose identity he had just learned, Qin Ran was more concerned about the "Guardians" who had caused the explosion and burned Herbert's books.

"What happened during the explosion?"

"Herbert, how did you end up here?"

Qin Ran asked.

"I was organizing my research on Aesop Ancient City. Then something struck the back of my neck, and I knew nothing after that."

"I never saw what they looked like."

Herbert guessed at once what Qin Ran wanted to know and gave a rueful smile.

"I'll check over there!"

Qin Ran pointed at the house, which was still burning nearby.

The flames had swallowed every trace inside the house.

But traces outside should still remain.

Before leaving, Qin Ran did not forget the three