The Fool: Huh? I'm Dead?

Xiu couldn't help but swallow slightly.

She tried to mimic her usual tone, saying casually, "I didn't see it. Maybe some naughty child took it secretly?"

Then, she said sarcastically, not at all pleased:

Who reads the Newspaper during afternoon tea time?

"This is my Breakfast, thank you," Fors retorted instinctively.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, she probably realized that Breakfast at this time of day was outrageous, and with a slightly embarrassed expression, she didn't ask any further questions.

She picked up her knife and fork, cut the golden-brown bread into small pieces, and slowly put them into her mouth while casually asking her friend:

"Hugh, do you think I should send the things over to him?"

"No!" Hugh blurted out.

Fors had asked casually, but seeing Hugh's reaction—he even stopped eating his bread—she frowned slightly and turned her head to ask, "Why?"

"Because..." Hugh quickly thought of an excuse, then blurted out, "We don't know where his new address is?"

"Have you forgotten that he said before that he had moved out of Hillston District?"

"I know," Fors said speechlessly.

Xiu paused for a moment, then replied without hesitation:

How come I didn't know?

Fors's lips twitched slightly, as if she wanted to laugh but held it back, and she coughed lightly, saying, "It was that night we went to see the play together."

"You were following that theater actor; he told me at the Restaurant."

"..."

Hugh's expression froze slightly. He raised his hand to scratch his blond hair and said softly:

"Didn't you say you bought those desserts especially for me?"

"Can I interpret this as him using a two-hundred-pound task as Bait to get me away so he can have a candlelight dinner with you?"

Fors had never considered this angle.

But after hearing her friend's words, she suddenly realized they made a lot of sense.

"Ahem—" Fors didn't dwell on the topic any further, "I think he's probably in a hurry for these materials, so it's better to send them over."

Hugh's Brain raced, and he shook his head, saying:

I think it's better not to.

"Why?" Fors asked again, repeating the same question.

Hugh said in a low voice the reason he had just thought of:

"Think about it carefully. He already said he's been quite busy lately and hasn't been here for the past few days. He might not even be in Backlund right now."

Even if you knew where he lived, I don't think you could find him.

Why waste your energy on this?

Upon hearing this, Fors chewed on a piece of bread in small bites, caught in a dilemma.

Don't say it seems to make sense...

If he's there, I don't mind delivering the stuff; but if I can't find him, the Cherwood Borough seems pretty far from the Factory District...

Time passed quietly.

A moment later, Fors put down his knife and fork with satisfaction.

She got up and went back inside to change into her outdoor clothes, but was stopped by Hugh, who was pretending to read a book.

Are you going out again?

"I'm going to the shop around the corner to buy Sweet Iced Tea." Fors shook her head slightly, looking puzzled, feeling that her friend seemed a bit overly sensitive today.

Hugh volunteered, "I'll go."

"..." Fors said irritably.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? I even changed my clothes before going out."

"We can just switch them back." Hugh muttered under his breath, tossing the book onto the Tea Table and dragging his roommate back onto the Long Sofa.

She ran to the Entryway, changed into her Leather Boots, and went out the door.

Fors stared blankly at her friend's departing figure, a thoughtful expression on her face. Hugh, that guy, seems to be acting strangely ever since he came back from his trip out...

After a moment's thought, she got up and walked towards the door.

While clutching the change, exhale forcefully as you stride forward.

She pursed her lips tightly, a troubled expression on her face.

Fors is too smart, how can I keep this from her?

Lock her up at home and not let her go out? No way, she's an "Apprentice," and I have no reason not to let her out.

Um, how about we just say I accidentally offended some important person, which might implicate her, and everyone should probably move to another city to avoid trouble for a while?

The question is, will she believe it? What if she doesn't want to leave?

Xiu's thoughts were churning, her face filled with conflict.

Actually, her original intention was to tell her friend directly.

But seeing the other person's joy as they left the room, she didn't know how to bring it up, or whether they could accept the fact.

One moment of hesitation, and things turned out this way.

What should I do? Should I just tell her directly? Xiu scratched her hair in frustration.

Walking on this relatively safe street that she knew very well, she was so engrossed in thinking about her problem that she was completely unaware of the person behind her.

Hugh is definitely preoccupied... Fors smiled.

She slipped into a nearby alley and watched as the other person anxiously went into a small shop to buy Sweet Iced Tea, intending to head back ahead of her.

Suddenly, voices were heard coming from the neighboring courtyard:

"What a pity, I didn't expect him to pass away at such a young age."

Fors didn't take it seriously and prepared to turn around.

But just then, she heard a rather childish voice. "Mom, does that mean I'll never be able to watch ' Great Detective Sherlock ' again?"

Fors was startled, then his body trembled, and the foot he had just raised fell back down.

The conversation in the courtyard continued; the first person to speak was the one who had started.

"Didn't the Newspaper say there would be a third installment of ' Great Detective Sherlock,' supposedly written by Raven before his death? But there probably won't be any more after that."

The childish voice said sullenly:

"Will he be resurrected, just like Detective Sherlock?"

The first person said helplessly:

"Silly child, how can a dead person come back to life? Detective Sherlock faked his death, and the news of Raven's death was personally announced by the Kingdom's General..."

As Hugh walked down the street carrying two cups of Sweet Iced Tea, a sudden thought struck him.

She turned her head sharply and saw her best friend, who should have been at home, standing in the alley by the roadside, staring at her with red eyes.

He couldn't hide it from her after all... Hugh sighed helplessly, walked to her side, and whispered, "Fors, let me explain..."

Hillston District, Quelaag Club.

Klein lay on the soft bed in the lounge, silently planning his next move: a free dinner, then going home.

Suddenly, he heard layers of prayers echoing in his ears.

Miss "Magician"? Could there be a problem with the materials of "Sun"? Klein got up, went into the Washroom, locked the door, and walked four steps backward to the Above the Gray Fog.

An impromptu gathering? He instinctively prepared to decline the "Magician's" request.

"Hey, no, let's talk this out, don't cry..." Klein sighed helplessly and asked the other members for their opinions.

Five minutes later, everyone had arrived in the Gray Fog Space.

Fors, suppressing his grief, apologized to Mr. Fool and the other members, and then explained why he had requested the impromptu gathering.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Gray Fog fell silent.

Klein, sitting at the head of the long, weathered table, looked up at the "world" opposite him and couldn't help but feel a sense of existential doubt.

Huh? I'm dead?

Also, how come I didn't know about this???