"What do you mean?" the Station Chief asked in confusion.
Only then did the Pavilion Chief lick his lower lip and explain, "Sir... it's not that I'm unwilling to tell you about Lower River Village."
"It's that Lower River Village no longer listens to me. When I reported this matter to the court, hoping to get help from the Demon-Quelling Office, Lower River Village decided I had angered the River God, bringing retribution down on all of Riverside Town."
"So Lower River Village decided to break away from our Riverside Town and find ways to please the River God, hoping to gain some food and other benefits."
"As for Lower River Village choosing today to deliver a bride to the River God, I truly knew nothing about it!"
"I was wondering why it had suddenly started raining. It seems Lower River Village must have reached some agreement with the River God. Lower River Village delivers a bride to him, and then he sends rain over Lower River Village to change something."
"And as far as I know, the women delivered to the River God as brides have usually drowned."
"They might have broken the village rules and been drowned in a pig cage, or it might have been... been deliberate."
The Pavilion Chief fell silent after that.
Only then did the Station Chief release him. "I'll leave this on your account for now. You'd better not pull any more funny business, or you'll have a bitter harvest to reap!"
"That's enough for today. Take us to our rooms to rest!"
"Cough, cough, cough..."
After crouching on the ground and coughing for a long while, the Pavilion Chief hurriedly led everyone to the prepared rooms. The first room near the courtyard had been reserved for the Station Chief. The Pavilion Chief