But to Wei Yanchi's surprise, 39 never came back.
The lights outside the window swayed, unable to reach the surrounding darkness. One of those who should have returned to the lodgings was missing. Only five people now sat around the long table.
Zhuoerte kept a close eye on Wei Yanchi, watching with trepidation as his expression grew increasingly irritated. "Are you all right? Was there a problem with the clues?!"
"It has nothing to do with the clues."
Wei Yanchi looked straight at Wang Peng. "Where's Mr. 39?"
Wang Peng snapped out of his daze, startled, and hastily said, "I don't know. I really don't know. I saw him leave the Orphanage, and he never came back."
Gui Ji frowned. "Wei Yanchi, don't lose it yet. Did you and Zhuoerte find any clues at the hospital? Since we're already in the Third Loop, can we combine them with the clues you found in the last loop and work out the answer the Instance wants?"
Wei Yanchi glanced at him. "No rush. I still need to investigate a little more."
Gui Ji asked, "Investigate the hospital some more?"
"No, the Orphanage. Wang Peng, tell me about the Orphanage's layout and how it operates."
"Huh?" Wang Peng didn't understand and looked utterly bewildered.
Wei Yanchi said impatiently, "When do they eat? When do classes start? Where does the food come from? Is there a supervisor? Which part of the Monastery is the Orphanage in? Do the orphans have somewhere to eat and sleep?"
"Oh, oh..." Wang Peng gave an awkward smile and dutifully tried his hardest to remember. "The Orphanage is tucked away in the farthest corner of the Monastery. There's a red-haired supervisor and two cooks. I heard them say the food in the kitchen is bought from the tenant farmers