Why it never ends

Chapter 966 Biting the Hook

Arevalo had a bald head between his graying temples. He was holding a pair of long-handled glasses and looking down at a document. Next to him stood a sturdy and tall man. When Hesta saw him for the first time, he thought he had seen Instructor Arnold from the previous base.

Ximoya also looked at the strange man who appeared in Arevalo's study. The man was wearing a military uniform and looked to be in his thirties or forties. He did not wear any insignia of military rank, so it was difficult to determine his identity.

The man nodded slightly to the two ladies who came in, and so did Hesta and Ximoya.

A few minutes later, Arevalo sighed and looked up. When he saw Hesta and Ximoya, he blinked as if waking up from a dream and put the documents aside.

"The guests are here," Arevalo said, pulling open a drawer and inserting his lorgnette into its groove. "But I didn't hear them. Good afternoon, ladies."

Arevalo stood up and shook hands with Hesta.

The man standing by Arevalo's desk smiled, "Governor, who are these two ladies?"

"This is Ms. Kende's secretary, Ximoya," Arevalo said softly, and then his eyes fell on Hesta, "and this one's background is even more complicated."

Arevalo waited for Hesta to be humble and introduce herself, but he waited for a long time and Hesta did not say anything. She looked like she was waiting for the next words happily, and her expression seemed to say: Good, keep playing, I want to listen.

"This man can be said to be young and promising," Arevalo simply did as she wished, "He is only in his early twenties, but he is already an experienced chelate hunter, a reliable defender of the people, a killer of evil in the habitable area, a brave and tireless front-line fighter—"

"Jane Hesta." Hesta put his hands on his waist and interrupted Arevalo's singing with a smile, "I just came to have a meal today."

"You are worthy of being the Governor," the man in military uniform could not help but stand in awe, "The guests who can visit your house are not simple."

"No," Hesta said, "I have been nagging Baron Trion for the past half month, wanting to meet the Governor. He repeatedly told me that it was impossible. I was wondering if the Governor had already returned to the Third District, so I couldn't meet him here."

Arevalo coughed a few times and said, "…I have a gout attack and I really can't go out recently."

Arevalo originally intended to delay meeting Hesta for a month or two. This was partly because Hesta had not yet taken office, and partly because he expected that the young inspector would be embarrassed and at a disadvantage in the struggle with Kende in a few months. At that time, he had many ways to help her and try to recruit her for his own use.

however……

"They are mercury needles, Idrien," Arevalo said. "They are the last line of defense for our entire human civilization. Only they can fight against chelates head-on."

The man took the initiative to shake hands with Hesta.

Since the two entered the room, he had been observing Arevalo's attitude towards Hesta. After all, few people spoke to the Governor in such a teasing tone, and the Governor seemed to let it go and had no intention of correcting it. This either meant that the two had close private communication and were very familiar with each other, or that this woman did not know her position.

"This is Colonel Adrian." Arevalo looked at the man next to him. "He was just transferred here this month and is responsible for training the new recruits here."

"Is it at the base next to the plantation?" Hesta asked.

"There are three plantations near the base," Idrien replied, "I see you've been there?"

"I've been there. I happened to pass by when I visited the Baron's plantation," Hesta said, "It's quite far from the city." "I've worked with Mercury Needle before," Idrian said suddenly, "Although most of the people there are a little too self-willed, they are a well-trained force overall. What area of ​​work are you in charge of?"

Hesta didn't answer.

"Don't underestimate her," Arevalo said with a smile, "She is the new AHgAs supervisor."

The man was stunned for a moment: "Inspector?"

"Are you surprised?" Arevalo said, "It is indeed surprising. Ms. Jane Hesta should be the youngest inspector in the habitable area after the blackout."

……

A quarter of an hour later, several people walked through the corridor together and went for a walk in the garden behind the building.

On the way, Arevalo complained to Ximoya that every time he invited Kende, she never showed up. Ximoya rolled her eyes and thought to herself, "Who do you think you are?" But she just said lightly that she was busy with work and Ms. Kende couldn't spare the time.

After chatting about daily life for more than ten minutes, Arevalo said nonchalantly, "I heard that last Friday, a mercury needle found traces of the assassin in District 12, is that right?"

Hesta turned around, and this question was like a clue, instantly pointing out the cause of today's dinner.

"Yes." Hesta's voice was slightly hazy. "Your Excellency is well-informed."

"I also heard that this was discovered by a mercury needle who had a head-on confrontation with the assassin in Tan Yi before," Arevalo looked ahead, "Since they are old rivals, there should be no possibility of making a mistake?"

"Of course, Governor," Hesta said, "because the mercury needle that found the assassin's trail was me."

Arevalo looked calm and was not surprised.

"Are you talking about a case?" Idrien asked, "Who is the assassin?"

The air was silent. Everyone was thinking about their own things. No one answered his question. Idrien coughed a few times awkwardly and kept silent.

"So," Arevalo said, his throat moving slightly, "what do you think is the reason why the assassin came to District 12?"

Hesta's eyes quickly swept across Arevalo's silhouette, like a hunter who accidentally discovered the footprints of his prey in the mountains - he had forged the assassin's whereabouts just to transfer Victoria over as soon as possible, but he never thought that before Victoria arrived in District 12, someone else would take the bait first.

"What other reason could there be? A killer would travel across the ocean to commit a crime." Hesta said, "I think there are many nobles in District 12. Maybe some of them had a grudge against her in the past, so she came to take their lives."

"But it's been more than two years," Arevalo frowned. "If she really wanted to kill someone, why did she wait so long?"

"I don't know, Governor. My job is just to arrest people. Analyzing motives and drawing portraits are always the responsibility of other mercury needles," Hesta replied with a smile. "Are you interested in this case?"