"Mr. Gulao, Mr. Gulao? Do you want to go out?"

"Ah, I just wanted to find you."

"Okay, we're probably talking about the same thing."

I glanced at the two men in dark green cloaks behind Mr. Bradley, and Mr. Bradley immediately explained:

"They lost Miss Xue and found no trace of her after searching for a long time. I came to see you as soon as I heard their report."

"When did you lose me?"

"We followed her into the Cross Bank, but there were too many people inside, and for some reason... we suddenly couldn't see her."

One of the "dark green cloaks" answered in a smooth voice.

"Have you met the police officer?"

"No."

"I have sent people to——"

"Please don't do this yet."

I interrupted Bradley:

"We still don't know Xue's situation right now, and the risk of taking rash actions is too great. Please wait a little longer. Maybe Xue just happened to do some personal business and will be back in a while."

"...Okay, so be it."

"Thank you."

I nodded to Mr. Bradley, then closed the door and locked it again.

I grabbed the keys hanging aside, put on my coat, and walked toward the back door of the basement.

"Has Mr. Bradley left?"

"Hmm."

"Then I'm going."

After confirming with Gale, I stepped into the tunnel with confidence.

"Why did you refuse their kindness?"

"I believe in myself more."

The authentic lighting equipment emitted a faint light, and the gloomy atmosphere made me imagine that I was slowly heading towards hell.

My footsteps sounded particularly harsh, as if there were always a few bats flapping their wings around me.

The air around me seemed to have been secretly replaced by water, and I gradually felt a little depressed. The feeling of suffocation hit my chest, and my breathing became heavier and heavier.

Could it be magic? A [New Pressure Technique] was applied in the tunnel... In order to prevent pursuit, Mr. Bradley was really cautious.

It would be nice if I brought some medicine.

Every five meters you walk, you will encounter two or three intersections. If you choose the wrong one, you will lose your way - this is Mr. Bradley's cover-up to deal with emergencies.

Relying on my memory and Gale's tips, I finally arrived at the destination successfully after walking in the maze-like tunnel for about fifteen minutes.

The effect of the new pressure technique also disappears.

"Huh...key, key..."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, opened the lock with the key, and slowly raised the movable wooden board above my head——

"What are you doing?"

A familiar sound mixed with the sound of friction of straw reached my ears.

——A burly man was staring down at me.

"...Come down first and then talk."

......

I decided to return after making sure everything was correct.

"What's wrong? Is there an accident?"

"I arrived at the bank and found several plainclothes police officers. They kept following me. I walked a long way before I got away from them."

"Why are they following you?"

"..."

"Forget it, you'll be fine."

I glanced at the snow behind me which had returned to its original appearance:

"Aren't you cold? Remember to wear more clothes, it's still winter."

"Hmm."

"Just take a good rest in the near future and don't use your mate-finding ability - does it really have no side effects?"

"No."

"It's better to be cautious, unless absolutely necessary... You stayed up late yesterday. Go to bed early tonight. It's very important to maintain a healthy schedule. I used to know a boy who worked on a farm. The farmer always

Assigning extra tasks to him kept him busy until the early hours of the morning. Later, even though he was only twenty-seven years old, he looked like an uncle in his fifties or sixties. I tried to persuade that kid more than once, but he just gave up.

Can’t afford the high amount offered by the farmer——”

"I know."

"Well..."

Is there a new pressure technique in this tunnel... I can actually chatter as if nothing happened.

"Uh, what are you holding in your hand?"

"I brought you wine along the way."

"...Wine? Oh, what are you going to do in a tavern...A place like that is full of people, and you'll be in trouble if you get caught by someone with bad intentions."

"In other words, you don't like it?"

"Now is not the time to drink."

"..."

"...But it's okay to drink some occasionally, so thank you."

"You're welcome."

......

Sitting on a chair in the basement, I spent a lot of effort to pry open the bottle cap of the wine Xue brought back.

After taking a few gulps into my stomach, I took the small note torn from the bottom of the gift box that Xue handed me.

"What are these names?"

"It's the police officers responsible for searching our area."

I returned the small note to Xue:

"Do you have a packet of cypress powder?"

"Already used up."

"Where's the fluffy grass ash?"

"Yes."

"Spread that thing in the palm of your left hand, hold it tightly, then hold the piece of paper in your mouth, close your eyes, and use the [Shaking Wood Sound Wave Curse] without opening your mouth. After about five seconds, you will hear a sentence -

—It will be repeated three times. Don’t open your eyes until you have completely memorized it.”

"...This is a method used by the military. Why do you know?"

"Oh, it seems you understand it quite well. As a well-informed immortal, it's normal for me to be involved in this aspect, isn't it?"

"...I understand, but why don't you do it yourself?"

"I can't use magic."

"In other words, you haven't learned the Shaking Wood Sound Wave Curse?"

"No, I don't have any magical properties at all."

"..."

"You don't believe it?"

"I hate wasteful people, in other words, you are abusing my trust."

"Have you seen me perform any magic so far?"

"...the reason is?"

"Divine Purpose Side Effects."
To be continued...