Qin Ran had always had a good memory.
And so, among the things Ratt held in his arms, he spotted accessories belonging to Pierre, Harold, Coffin, and Jonna.
Combined with Herbert's pale face and Ratt's panic-stricken expression, Qin Ran grasped the heart of the matter almost instantly: Pierre and the others had run into serious trouble.
Although Qin Ran had not asked Herbert about their whereabouts during their earlier conversation,
he had already guessed the general situation.
They must have split up to make themselves less conspicuous and reduce their chances of being discovered.
But now that Pierre and the others' belongings had been delivered, the outcome spoke for itself.
"Where's the person who brought these?"
Qin Ran asked.
"In the hall!"
"He..."
Before Ratt could finish, Qin Ran strode toward the hall, with Herbert close behind. Ratt, dazed with worry, lagged a step behind.
An elderly "man" stood in the hall, leaning on a pitch-black cane, with a leather mantle draped over its shoulders.
The mantle was not only large but unusually thick. It covered the "old man's" entire body, preventing any close inspection.
When the "old man" saw Qin Ran and Herbert enter, it immediately gave them a deeply unsettling smile.
Its withered skin and yellow-black teeth only made the smile worse.
And its low, raspy voice made that smile seem utterly sinister.
"Herbert, Sir 2567, what an honor to meet you both. You may call me Basso, or anything else you like. To us, names are merely labels!"
"But it seems you have both received my 'gifts'!"
"Well? Are you satisfied?"
Basso smiled again, its withered smile truly revolting.
But both Qin Ran and Herbert looked it straight in the face.
Qin Ran tried to deduce more about it, considering the "us" it had mentioned.
Herbert, meanwhile,