"Oh, it was all a misunderstanding, buddy. Do you know the inside story? Could you tell us more?" Seeing that the investigation had yielded results, Xu An hurried over, put an arm around Paro's shoulders, and asked.
"Uh, haha, of course." Seeing how familiar Xu An acted, Paro gave a bashful smile.
"After all, I was on the same shift as the guys who got sick. I saw their Ether Corruption flare up with my own eyes... sigh." As he spoke, a hint of heaviness appeared in Paro's eyes.
"Hey, it's okay. It wasn't your fault." Xu An patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"From the sound of it... the workers producing Bright Porcelain in the Hollow were corrupted? But... shouldn't there be appropriate anti-corruption measures for working in a Hollow?" Belle asked with a frown.
"You're right. When operating in a Hollow, we have to wear protective suits and take anti-corruption medication according to regulations. Otherwise, we'll get corrupted.
"Most of us willing to work inside the Hollow contracted Ether Corruption when the Old Capital fell, and we need to take anti-corruption medication long-term as an ongoing treatment.
"And Hui Crystal Meike can provide us with that medication. That's also why we're willing to risk our lives working for them... but this time, the problem seemed to be with those corruption suppressants." Paro offered his guess.
"That stuff? Did someone tamper with it?" Xu An asked, seemingly finding a direction for the investigation.
"Yeah... after my coworkers drank the medication, they soon collapsed and couldn't get up. Some even had their Ether Corruption flare up on the spot. Our people went to a great deal of trouble to get them to the hospital.
"As soon as those guys found out about it, their first thought was to issue a gag order and forbid us from telling anyone.
"Later, Dr. Lor, who often helps us, said there were quality problems with that batch of medication! They were downright defective... that heartless company didn't care about our lives at all!" Paro grew increasingly agitated as he spoke.
Watching him, Xu An grew a little worried that this guy might suddenly start freaking out.
He silently moved a little farther away.
Listening to this, Belle couldn't help getting angry too. "How could they! Hui Crystal Meike actually did something so outrageous?!"
"That's right. Damian also ordered the affected area sealed off, saying it had been abandoned and forbidding us from going near it," Paro said.
"Where is that area?" Xu An asked.
"Yes, you need to tell us. To be honest with you, I'm an investigator sent by the mayor. My goal is to find out exactly what happened inside the Hollow.
"If you're willing to assist us, I can help you and your coworkers fight for your rights and get more compensation."
Belle really does have a way with words, Xu An couldn't help thinking to himself.
"Uh... I... I..." Paro stammered.
"An investigator from the mayor?" Komano Masato repeated quietly.
"Paro! This is your chance! Don't you want to get fair compensation so you can treat your family's Ether Corruption?" Komano Masato hurriedly urged him.
After thinking it over, Paro said, "You're right. Besides, Mount Yunkui helped a lot back when the Old Capital fell. I do trust you."
"All right, I'll help you! Head over to the Hollow cable car when you have time. I'll have my coworkers sneak you in!
"As for the corrupted area... I can't take you inside, but I know someone who can! And he knows more about this corruption incident!"
At this, both Xu An's and Belle's eyes lit up. Things seemed to be progressing quickly.
Almost in unison, the two said, "Really? Thank you so much! Don't worry, we'll definitely get to the bottom of this!"
"Yeah... if you need my help, I'll give it my all too," Masato offered from the side.
"Thanks, buddy. Let's add each other on Knock Knock, then? It'll make keeping in touch easier. By the way, I think I saw you when I first got here a few days ago. There was a girl in red with you, with a raccoon on her. Could you send me her contact? She seemed pretty, and I'd like to be friends with her." Xu An put an arm around Masato's shoulders too.
Damn, no wonder people call this guy a male mom. Those shoulders, that chest-his gains are one of a kind, holy shit.
"Speaking of which, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you... have you seen the person in this photo around Waifei Peninsula? Or do you know where this photo was taken?" As Belle spoke, she took out a photograph.
While Masato was entering his Knock Knock ID into Xu An's phone, Xu An glanced at the photo and realized it was Belle's teacher.
It seemed Belle's real purpose this time was to find news of her teacher. Thinking about the siblings' situation, he couldn't help sighing inwardly.
But he quickly recovered, because Masato had promised to send him Yuzuha's Knock Knock contact once he got back.
Hehe, one more character. Why does this feel like I'm playing a game?
Paro looked at the photo in Belle's hand and thought for a moment, his brow still furrowed.
"Well, I haven't seen this person. And while this place looks like it's inside a Hollow, I really couldn't tell you exactly where."
Masato took a look and shook his head as well. "I haven't seen them either, but don't worry. I'll ask a well-connected friend to help ask around."
"Take a photo of it first, then. That'll make asking around easier." Xu An gestured with his lips toward the photograph in Belle's hand.
Belle replied in a low, thoroughly dejected voice, "I see... thank you anyway. I'll ask some other people!" Before long, though, she perked up again.
"Sorry for the trouble! Thanks, buddy! We'll head back to the temple now. Sorry to bother you! Oh, and Masato, make sure you send me that contact!" With that, he took the downcast Belle along and prepared to leave.
Belle wasn't in the mood to think about what Xu An wanted Komano Masato to send him.
"Senior Brother Xu, do you think my brother and I really have a chance of finding our teacher?" Belle suddenly asked on the way back.
Xu An paused, then thought for a moment and said, "You've kept at it for so many years, and now you finally have a lead. What, can't keep going anymore? Now that there's hope, you've got all the more reason to keep at it."
"It's not that. It's just that every time we start getting somewhere, it's like everything suddenly gets shrouded in fog, layer after layer, and our hopes get dashed again and again." Belle lowered her head, her thoughts unknown.
"Hey, come on. Having hope is a good thing. It's better than having nothing to look forward to, right?" Xu An comforted her.
Belle said nothing more.
Xu An didn't know how to comfort people either. Sigh.
The two soon returned to Yunkui Summit.
"Did I forget something?" Xu An thought back.
Seems like... a certain An is still wandering around the streets.
Oh well, I'll have Belle message her later.
"Master! We're back!" Xu An shouted. (*^▽^*)
"Did everyone's investigations go smoothly?" Seeing that everyone had arrived, Yixuan nodded in acknowledgment before asking.
"I didn't find any leads on my end," Senior Brother Pan said glumly.
"Me neither... it seems Hui Crystal Meike issued a gag order to the workers. None of them would tell us what happened.
"I also went to check out the cable car... it felt like there was no way to sneak in." Fufu scratched her head.
Xu An watched her. So cute, (๑＞ڡ＜)☆.
"Looks like we'll have to find another way into the Hollow to investigate... hmm... should we contact that boat captain from before and have him take us over?" Fufu suggested again.
"No need to worry~" Belle said happily. "Hehe, Senior Brother and I found a worker willing to help us. He's willing to take us into the Hollow!"
Seeing everyone look their way, Xu An continued, "And he personally experienced that accident. Apparently, the cause was a problem with that batch of corruption suppressants from TOPS, which caused a lot of workers to develop corruption symptoms."
Fufu looked as though she finally understood everything. "So that's what happened. No wonder some people were talking about compensation and demanding medical expenses and things."
Yixuan's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Belle, is this source reliable?"
"Emmm, although he seems very credible, we'll still need to go see for ourselves to be sure.
"But after he heard we were from Mount Yunkui, his attitude toward us softened a lot. He also said we helped them back then... what was that about, Master?" Belle's eyes were full of curiosity.
Xu An leaned in to listen as well.