Chapter 43

" Sister Monica! "

The middle-aged man from the school guard team addressed the nun who had just entered with great respect.

Qin Ran could see that such respect was certainly not just because of her age and status as a nun.

"Leave Lid to me!"

The elderly nun said to the middle-aged man with a gentle smile.

"Alright, Sister!"

The middle-aged man named Lid bowed and moved to the side. As he passed by Qin Ran, a warning appeared in his eyes.

Moreover, he did not move far, standing by the school gate as if he were a guard.

Qin Ran was certain that if he showed any disrespect to the nun in front of him, Lid would rush over immediately, and he would not hesitate to draw his gun.

The intense caution from the other side said it all.

"Lid has no ill intentions; he is a dedicated person, although sometimes... a bit rash!"

The nun smiled gently at Qin Ran.

It was the same smile she had given Lid.

It seemed that Qin Ran and Lid were no different in her eyes.

This attitude surprised Qin Ran.

At least, he could not do the same.

To Qin Ran, friends were friends, and strangers were strangers, and they could not be lumped together.

Although he could not do this, Qin Ran did not mind showing his respect to someone who could, especially given her age.

"Hello, Sister. I am Qin Ran, and I am here..."

Qin Ran bowed slightly and then said.

"It's about Altria Hunter, right?"

"Follow me, this is not a place for conversation!"

The nun sighed softly and gestured for Qin Ran to follow her.

They passed by the new teaching building, and the playground came into view. However, what caught Qin Ran's attention more was the church on one side of the playground.

It was not a large church, one could even say it was small.

It could accommodate no more than thirty to forty people.

Following the nun, Qin Ran crossed the playground and entered the small church.

At the end was a statue of a benevolent goddess, not one Qin Ran was familiar with.

There were two rows of pews that extended to the entrance.

After entering the church, the nun walked straight to the statue and whispered a prayer.

Qin Ran, who was following her, could clearly hear phrases like 'benevolent Bernadette.'

"Please sit!"

"I am Sister Monica, the principal of St. Paul's School!"

The nun turned and said.

"Qin Ran, a detective!"

Qin Ran gave the identity the game had bestowed upon him.

"Ah, I've heard of your name. You are the best detective in the city. It was inevitable that Hunter would seek your help to find Tilly. I am willing to help you find Tilly. That little one, although usually mischievous, has never been so excessive. She knows what she can and cannot do!"

Sister Monica said frankly, a hint of worry appearing in her gentle expression.

"Sister Monica, have you noticed any abnormalities in Altria Hunter, especially recently?"

Faced with Sister Monica's cooperation, Qin Ran immediately asked.

"No!"

"Tilly is just as mischievous as the other children, with no abnormalities!"

"After Hunter's last visit, I asked some of Tilly's close friends, but found nothing!"

Sister Monica thought seriously for a moment before giving Qin Ran a cautious answer.

Qin Ran believed this answer.

Since she was the principal of St. Paul's School, she would not have ignored such an incident.

"Do you know that Altria Hunter has excellent combat skills?"

Qin Ran asked again.

Sister Monica's face showed surprise.

"What?"

Sister Monica subconsciously asked again.

"I mean, including but not limited to swordsmanship, shooting, and other special skills!"

Qin Ran explained in more detail.

"Our school has equestrian courses, but not swordsmanship or shooting!"

"Detective Qin Ran, I am a bit tired and want to rest!"

"If possible, I hope we can continue our conversation tomorrow!"

Sister Monica said, looking at Qin Ran apologetically.

Qin Ran could clearly see that Sister Monica was being evasive. She was not good at hiding her feelings.

Clearly, the nun knew something but was unwilling to say it.

"Detective, please leave!"

Just as Qin Ran was about to press further, the middle-aged man named Lid entered the church, not alone but with a group of people.

They were all dressed in clerical robes and concealed weapons.

Lid was very rude to Qin Ran as soon as he appeared.

"Lid!"

Sister Monica frowned in dissatisfaction.

"Sister Monica, I am the captain of the school guard team and have the right to protect every blade of grass and tree in the school, as well as to drive away those with ulterior motives!"

Lid glared at Qin Ran.

It was clear who the person with ulterior motives was.

"Detective Qin Ran, please don't mind. Lid is just nervous because of some recent events!"

"I apologize again!"

Sister Monica apologized once more.

"It's fine, Sister Monica!"

"I'll come back tomorrow!"

Qin Ran smiled and walked out.

Lid followed Qin Ran with his team until Qin Ran left the school and the street before returning.

However, the captain of the school guard team did not notice the abnormality in the shadows.

Qin Ran's Expert-level [Stealth] allowed him to easily evade the guard team's vigilance.

He followed them.

Lid quickly returned to the small church.

Sister Monica knelt before the statue and prayed.

This prayer lasted nearly twenty minutes, clearly a formal one.

Lid stood respectfully to the side, waiting silently.

When Sister Monica finished her prayer, he walked over, helped her up, and prepared to lead her to a pew.

"It's fine, Lid!"

"That detective Qin Ran has no ill intentions!"

"He is different from those greedy people!"

Sister Monica waved her hand, walked to the pew herself, and advised Lid.

"To me, they are all the same!"

"My task is to protect you and this place. I will eliminate any danger!"

The captain of the school guard team stubbornly shook his head, insisting on his stance.

Sister Monica looked at Lid and finally sighed, saying, "Lid, go continue your patrol. I want to rest!"

"Yes, Sister!"

The captain of the school guard team left the church in large strides.

After the captain left, Sister Monica did not rest as she said but left the church and walked along a path on the side of the church, heading deeper into the campus.

Sister Monica's age did not allow her to walk quickly.

After several stops, she arrived in front of a small wooden house.

This was the most secluded corner of St. Paul's School. Apart from the small wooden house, there was only a forest.

Creak!

Just as Sister Monica stopped, the door of the small wooden house opened.

An elderly man with white hair and a tall, muscular build walked out, wearing simple linen clothes, barefoot, and with his arms bare.

The muscles on his arms were robust, giving off a sense of explosive power.

"Monica!"

The old man smiled and greeted the nun.

"Golanson, are you the one teaching Tilly—Altria Hunter?"

Compared to the old man's warm welcome, Sister Monica frowned and asked in a rare stern tone.

"Yes!"

Golanson did not deny it.

Denying the truth was not in his character.

"That girl has extremely excellent talent. Ignoring her would be a waste!"

Golanson said bluntly.

Huff, huff, huff!

With Golanson's admission, Sister Monica began to breathe heavily, angrily questioning him, "Have you forgotten what you promised me? Do you know that this will put Tilly in danger?"

"I'm just teaching the girl some skills, and they will protect her, won't they?"

Golanson shrugged.

"But Tilly is missing now! My guardian knight!"

Sister Monica was thoroughly enraged by Golanson's indifferent attitude and shouted.

Then, she began to cough violently.

Clearly, Sister Monica's body could not handle such intense emotional fluctuations.

Golanson instinctively moved towards Sister Monica, wanting to check on her, but the next moment, his gaze fell on a shadow in the forest.

"Who's there?!"

"Come out!"

With a low roar, Golanson pounced towards the shadow, his fists swinging like a fierce wind.

Whoosh!

The heavy wind from his punch made Qin Ran, hiding in the shadow, feel a sharp pain on his face.

There was no more time for Qin Ran to regret being discovered because of the term 'guardian knight,' which had shaken him and disrupted his breathing.

However, Qin Ran was still amazed by the strength displayed by the old man.

Although his physique and build told the world of his immense strength, Qin Ran did not expect it to be so powerful!

It definitely exceeded the E level!

And it was even higher than the E+ level!

Because Qin Ran's current legs could reach the E level, and it was not difficult to deduce the E+ level.

Only someone with strength exceeding the E+ level could produce such a wind with their punch!

Qin Ran was surprised by his own judgment.

He did not expect to encounter such a naturally powerful being in his first mission.

However, Qin Ran was immediately excited.

No one understood better than Qin Ran what encountering a particularly powerful being in a mission meant.

Profit!

Huge profit!