Witness

"-I need to speak to you in person-come to this address-"

Leonard folded the letter in puzzlement and asked casually, "Old man, what do you think he wants me there for?"

"No idea," Pallez replied offhandedly. "Maybe your former colleague plans to sell you off."

"He's not that kind of person," Leonard denied without hesitation. Pallez said nothing more. Leonard quickly wrote a reply accepting the invitation, and that evening, he entered the Bravehearts Bar at precisely the agreed time.

-Klein had originally wanted to book a room at some little inn in the East Borough, but Neph had strongly opposed the idea. She said inviting someone to meet at an inn at night sounded less like discussing serious business and more like doing something else.

When Leonard pushed open the card room door, he saw a baffling scene: two people and a rat were playing Fight Evil.

Leonard stood blankly in the doorway. Klein, who had just called for him to come in, gave him a puzzled look and asked, "What are you standing there for? Come in."

"Maybe he wants to join us but is too embarrassed to ask." Neph chuckled and placed her cards facedown on the table.

Leonard silently glanced at the rat, closed the door, and walked over to the table. Pulling out a chair at random, he sat down and shook his head. "No.

"It's just my first time seeing a rat play cards. I'm a little-not used to it."

"I've even seen three maggots playing cards together," Neph said with an odd smile. "They invited me to join them, too."

"Maggots?" Klein looked at Neph in surprise. "Seriously?"

He didn't think Neph was telling the whole truth, but neither did he think it was entirely a lie. While he was wondering what exactly