Chapter 51

Qin Ran believed that what he could guess, Sheriff John could also guess.

Moreover, it would be even easier for him.

After all, he was just a 'newcomer' and his identity was merely that of a detective, while the other party was a genuine native, with a corresponding status and position.

The natives, the new term given to veteran players like 'Lawless' for NPCs.

It originated from that sense of authenticity.

Qin Ran did not object to such a term, although he was still somewhat unaccustomed to it, he believed that this authenticity would eventually make him adapt.

"What should I do?"

Sheriff John countered.

But Qin Ran no longer needed an answer.

The anger hidden beneath Sheriff John's rough exterior was enough to explain everything.

Although the sheriff had remained silent before, it absolutely did not mean he was retreating.

The justice he upheld in his heart would never allow such things to happen.

"Damn worm!"

"I will make him understand what the law is for!"

The sheriff gritted his teeth and forced out these words.

To some, such words might seem laughable, but Qin Ran, looking at the sheriff before him, did not find them in the least bit amusing.

Because the other party was very serious.

Not just in expression, but in heart as well.

"Do you need help?"

Qin Ran asked.

Such a question came naturally.

Mostly because Qin Ran had discovered this was another side quest, but it also contained some other elements that he deliberately ignored.

Hearing Qin Ran's question, Sheriff John raised his head and looked at Qin Ran in surprise.

This surprise lasted for two seconds before it was replaced by a smile.

A genuine smile appeared on that rough face, still looking somewhat fierce.

"Thank you!"

"But it's not the right time yet!"

"I need to join forces with others! With just you and me, there's no chance of success!"

Saying this, Sheriff John walked out.

However, when he reached the door, he stopped, turned his head, and said to Qin Ran.

"Don't worry, I won't forget about Altria Hunter!"

"After all, you are now one of the people I need to join forces with!"

With that, the sheriff walked away without looking back.

Qin Ran rolled his eyes.

This kind of teasing from a friend was something he was not used to.

Or rather, he was not used to having friends.

As someone who ran around for his own life, friends were a luxury.

Because maintaining a friendship also required time and money.

Coincidentally, Qin Ran had neither.

"This side quest is probably beyond the normal level of a first-time player in a scenario!"

Qin Ran thought to himself.

This was not baseless, but based on the strength displayed by Schubert and his gang.

A normal, first-time player in a scenario would have no chance of turning the tide, even if they detonated the entire building like he did.

The most likely outcome would be a complete and utter failure.

"Another excessive side quest!"

Sitting in the sheriff's chair, Qin Ran's lips curled slightly.

Qin Ran was not worried about the difficulty of the task, but rather about the lack of tasks.

As for the task being too difficult, or even failing the game?

Qin Ran had certainly thought about it.

But doing anything required taking risks, and given his impending death, did he have any other choice?

The answer was obvious.

Qin Ran had no choice.

So, he might as well take a bold gamble.

Although Qin Ran did not particularly like such risky actions.

"Really, I have no choice!"

Qin Ran muttered, then stretched, but the pain that followed made him wince.

This made Qin Ran more inclined to choose the bed over the chair.

He did not want to wake up the next morning with even more pain.

...

The sunlight dispelled the darkness of the night.

The city streets were bustling with people, a constant flow.

When the newsboys weaved through the crowd, the atmosphere became even more lively.

"Extra! Extra!"

"Great Detective Qin Ran solves the case of the unknown woman's corpse!"

"Extra! Extra!"

"Great Detective Qin Ran dismantles the gang's hideout!"

...

The clear voices of the newsboys carried far, involuntarily drawing the attention of passersby.

Especially the explosion last night, anyone who wasn't completely asleep would have noticed it.

However, the explosion at night was too dangerous for ordinary citizens, and they dared not go out to check what had happened.

This only made them more curious.

Therefore, even those who usually didn't read newspapers were willing to spend a dime to buy one.

And there were many such people.

A crowd gathered around each newsboy, and the newspapers that usually took half a day to sell out were sold out in just half an hour.

This brought smiles to the faces of the newsboys.

Similarly, those whose curiosity was satisfied also smiled.

And the merchants who had extra prints and gained more profits were also beaming.

Almost everyone who saw the front-page headline, which almost took up half the page, showing Qin Ran wearing a deerstalker and holding a pipe, was smiling.

The reason it was "almost" was that Qin Ran himself was not smiling.

When he got out of his soft bed, it was already mid-morning.

A full night's sleep had made his pain disappear completely, and his health had been restored to full.

After changing clothes and packing his essentials, Qin Ran headed to a restaurant not far from his residence.

Although his residence was on the second floor, the first floor did not have a landlady named Mrs. Hudson to provide breakfast.

However, as soon as Qin Ran entered the restaurant, he noticed something was off.

Everyone seemed to be looking at him.

With curiosity and inquiry!

With disdain and jealousy!

From the time he sat down, ordered, and the food arrived, in less than ten minutes, he felt as if he was being targeted by hundreds of sharp swords.

And the situation was getting worse.

Because more people were joining in.

At the same time, the murmurs made Qin Ran understand the general situation.

When he saw two women with burning eyes preparing to approach him, Qin Ran quickly packed his breakfast and left the restaurant.

Of course, getting rid of women with burning eyes was not difficult for Qin Ran.

The premise was: not too many!

When more than a dozen, or even twenty, such women stared at Qin Ran, even with his proficient [Stealth] skill, he could not escape.

In the end, Qin Ran had no choice but to head to St. Paul's School—although it was his original destination for the day.

Relying on the police and the school guard team, Qin Ran finally managed to shake off those crazy women.

"Drawing bees and butterflies!"

The captain of the school guard team looked down on Qin Ran's behavior.

However, he did not stop Qin Ran from entering the school.

Clearly, he had received orders.

Of course, this did not completely change the captain's impression of Qin Ran.

Qin Ran did not mind.

Compared to the peace and quiet he received, these were nothing.

"Mother Superior is praying and will handle official business; she will have time to see you at noon!"

The school guard captain said.

"I can go see Sir Gonglansen first!"

Qin Ran replied.

The school guard captain did not say anything more to Qin Ran, only led him to Gonglansen's residence and then left.

"I will keep an eye on you!"

The captain warned Qin Ran before leaving.

Qin Ran smiled in response.

After the school guard captain left, Gonglansen came out of the wooden house, still dressed in simple linen clothes, barefoot, and with his arms bare.

"Good morning!"

Qin Ran greeted.

"Any leads?"

The other party asked straightforwardly.

"No!"

"I was planning to take action, but some things happened, and I had to come here temporarily... to avoid them!"

Qin Ran shook his head with a bitter smile, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

Then, without waiting for the other party to ask, he directly explained everything.

"Ha ha ha!"

This earned a hearty laugh from Gonglansen.

"In such a situation, you don't need to run away; you should boldly face it—this is also a kind of reward!"

The other party said.

"As a knight, is it appropriate for you to say such things?"

Qin Ran countered.

"How do you know my original purpose for becoming a knight wasn't to be more popular?"

The other party countered, leaving Qin Ran speechless.

"I think we should get back to the original plan I had!"

Qin Ran did not dwell on the issue and got straight to the point.

"Go on!"

Gonglansen also became serious.

"Yesterday, after I left here, I was followed!"

"I can't determine the identity of the follower, but I have at least a fifty percent certainty it was those guys!"

"They are closely monitoring every move at St. Paul's School!"

"Not letting anyone in or out!"

Qin Ran briefly recounted what happened yesterday.

"You should have caught that guy! With your skills, it wouldn't have been difficult!"

Gonglansen said regretfully.

"True! But only if no one interfered!"

Qin Ran explained the street assassination with a bitter smile.

This made the last guardian knight of the Dawnlight Church admire Qin Ran.

"A person favored by fate—had it been in our time, you would have been given such an evaluation!"

The other party said.

"Then, would I have also been given the title of 'unlucky'?"

Qin Ran smirked.

"Ha ha ha!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

"Truly a great detective, you are incredibly smart!"

Gonglansen laughed again, slapping his knees in delight.

"I think such ridicule is detrimental to your identity as a knight!"

Qin Ran reminded the other party.

"Only if that identity is still recognized by people!"

"I am now the night watchman of St. Paul's School!"

Gonglansen did not hide his smile, laughing even louder.

This made Qin Ran fully understand the other party's despicable character.

He did not mind building his own happiness on others' 'suffering.'

Qin Ran swore that the person who made the other party a guardian knight must have been blind.

"I think we should get back to the original plan!"

Qin Ran reminded the other party.

The other party seemed to have some principles, and when it came to serious matters, he did not hesitate, reined in his laughter, and said seriously, "Continue!"

"My original plan was to lure the snake out of its hole!"

Qin Ran continued.

"But now your plan has been disrupted and is hard to implement!"

Gonglansen frowned.

"No! On the contrary!"

"My plan has become easier to succeed!"

"Because they will also see today's newspaper!"

Qin Ran couldn't help but smile.