Xu Le looked at the mother and daughter and sighed inwardly once more.
He had considered all sorts of ways to face them, all sorts of things to say, but in the end, he had rejected every idea and excuse.
Zhou Ke was already dead. No matter what story he invented, nothing could bring the man back.
With the mother and daughter relying on each other to survive, and with his own abilities still lacking, any supposedly kindhearted lie...
Could become the spark for a disaster.
That was not what Old Zhou wanted, nor would it fulfill his dying wish.
He had not killed the man, but Xu Le had-and now he was Xu Le.
So... he chose to tell the truth.
"You've probably already guessed. Yes, Mr. Zhou Ke encountered a Guyinduo Oddity while he was out and, unfortunately, passed away."
"You're lying! The old man might've been a bit of a deadbeat, but he... he was too tough to die. It's impossible. It has to be impossible! You're talking nonsense! Get out! Get out of here!"
Zhou Tingting was overwhelmed with emotion. The moment she heard that her father had died, she was nothing like the indifferent girl she had been earlier.
Her age, her rebellious streak, and their conflicting views had prompted her earlier remarks.
But Zhou Tingting actually had very strong feelings for Zhou Ke.
"I'm sorry, but I can't lie to you about Mr. Zhou Ke's death. Zhou Ke died a hero. His death will be remembered!"
Xu Le added another sentence in his heart.
I'll remember it.
Hearing Xu Le leave no room for doubt, Zhou Tingting began to cry silently.
The mother and daughter held each other tightly. Their only support in this world was gone.
What awaited them now was more than just a difficult life.
Without a man to protect them, they would also have to face the predatory environment of the Lower City.
Xu Le understood that very well, and he knew it had also been Old Zhou's final concern.
This must have been Old Zhou's dying wish.
Xu Le also understood that, at this point, he needed to play the role he had planned for himself.
"I'm sorry. I know you're grieving right now, but I have to interrupt. I haven't finished."
Zhou Tingting wiped her tears with her sleeve.
The restless, rebellious girl from before quickly regained her composure after learning of her father's death.
Perhaps that was simply the fate of children in the Lower City.
Once they lost their support and protection, they had to grow up fast.
Otherwise, in a place like the Lower City, the mother and daughter would be devoured without so much as a scrap of bone left.
Zhou Tingting had always known this, but Zhou Ke's presence had given her some breathing room.
Now that Old Zhou was dead, she had to be strong.
"All right. What else is there? Go ahead."
Xu Le checked that Zhou Tingting had settled down, then spoke in a somewhat formal tone.
"In recognition of Mr. Zhou Ke's heroic actions and his assistance to Lighthouse personnel, our company will apply its regulations for the families of fallen personnel within thirty working days, relocating you to a standard apartment near the moat. Within forty-five working days, Mr. Zhou Ke's family will receive survivor compensation of 7,500 yuan and a death insurance payout of 625 yuan, for a total of 8,125 yuan."
"That much?" the mother and daughter asked in unison.
As a security guard, Zhou Ke had earned twenty-five yuan a month, or three hundred a year.
In the Lower City of Lighthouse, that was already a very good job, more than enough to support a family.
But Zhou Ke had wanted Zhou Tingting to attend Lighthouse University. His wages alone would never have been enough, which was why he had gone outside.
Ordinarily, compensation equivalent to two or three years' wages was considered generous. Some companies paid nothing at all.
Never mind a figure as outrageous as 8,125.
That was almost twenty-seven years of Old Zhou's wages, which was why the mother and daughter were so astonished.
"Is what you said... really true?" Zhou Tingting asked uncertainly.
In answer, Xu Le took out a pair of white gloves and made an inviting gesture.
"If you have no objections, please each give me a strand of hair."
Xu Le looked somewhat detached and distracted, and he offered no explanation for the request.
Although the mother and daughter found it strange, neither questioned him.
A request for hair sounded like something a warlock would ask for. Perhaps only a warlock would pay out so much money.
Xu Le took their strands of hair and wrapped them in a white cloth.
"All right. Once I hand these in, the contract will be formally established. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
He turned to go, silently counting in his mind.
Three, two, one.
"Wait. When can we get the money?" Zhou Tingting called after him.
Xu Le stopped. That was the normal response, and it meant the mother and daughter had not grown suspicious of him.
After all, money might not be the most important thing to the poor, but it was absolutely indispensable.
Xu Le turned around, removing his white gloves as he spoke.
"Normally, you'll be able to move within thirty working days. As for the compensation, it should take the full forty-five working days before it can be delivered. Large companies have complicated procedures. I hope you understand. If there are no other questions, I'll be going."
"Then, Mr. Xu Le... take care."
Xu Le nodded and walked straight out without lingering.
Under the mother and daughter's watchful eyes, he tossed the white gloves to the ground with a hint of impatience.
It was as though visiting their home had been a tedious chore.
His retreating figure grew more distant until it finally vanished from their sight.
After turning through several alleys, Xu Le leaned against a wall, exhausted.
"Looks like everything went fairly smoothly?"
Fake. It was all fake. There was no company, no compensation, and certainly no insurance.
His disdainful expression and detached attitude had all been an act.
Everything Xu Le had said was invented, fabricated. He had to do it because he needed to fulfill Old Zhou's dying wish.
To fulfill that wish, he had made it all up.
But fabrication was not deception, and he had no intention of deceiving them. So he had to arrange the mother and daughter's relocation within thirty working days.
Within forty-five working days, he had to deliver the 8,125 yuan in compensation.
In truth, accomplishing this could be difficult-or it could be easy.
The best option was to become a warlock. That would solve everything.
The second-best option was to seek Bai Jing's help. She should have noticed his ability.
The last resort was to find a way to take a Guyinduo Fruit from the Soul Tree and sell it. Then he would have the money.
Becoming a warlock was clearly the best approach.
And that was exactly what he intended to do next.
Xu Le took out the medal and murmured:
"Old Zhou, your dying wish..."
Before he could say the remaining words, Xu Le felt a surge of warmth.
The warmth flowed into his body, making him involuntarily clench his fists.
Although he doubted himself a little, Xu Le could still feel it.
His strength was increasing! His body felt lighter, and his powers of observation were growing sharper.
The medal was changing.
When Xu Le looked closely at the Veteran Medal, its attributes had already changed...
Before you continue