Guild Boss's Ambition

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Your sister might just be busy with something secretly. With her neurotic personality, it's possible that she disappears occasionally. Of course, we won't leave her alone. Unless we successfully find her whereabouts, I will continue to look for her." Looking at the little girl in front of me who was about to shed tears, I made repeated assurances.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, big sister!"

"Yes, then big sister will leave first. Gulin, you have to help take care of the house."

"Yeah! Bye, big sister."

Ever since Gu Shanjia left, a gloom has been weighing on my heart.

"Unusual..."

"Gu Shan is not the kind of person who doesn't explain himself."

"If there weren't some special circumstances, there's no reason for her not to leave even a message."

While thinking, I returned to the stone house.

Things like missing persons are no longer something I can handle alone.

I went straight to the president's office and found Meng'er who was enjoying afternoon tea.

Xiaolan and Lian'er were also in the room.

After listening to my explanation, Meng'er widened her eyes in surprise: "You said Gu Shan has been missing for three days?"

Xiao Lan said thoughtfully: "Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in the past two or three days."

Considering that this matter could be a big deal or a small one, I solemnly suggested, "I think the most urgent thing is to notify the city's security team first. If Gu Shan is just playing around, that's fine, but if she really has an accident, we'd better find her as soon as possible, otherwise..."

"I'll ask Ebi to notify the security team."

Hearing this, Xiao Lan immediately stood up and left the room.

At such critical moments, Xiao Lan always works very efficiently.

After she left, Meng'er and I fell into a thoughtful silence.

After a while, Meng'er asked, "Sister Annie, do you think Gu Shan has behaved strangely recently?"

"..."

I replied slightly embarrassedly: "She seems to like me."

"Oh, I see." Meng'er's expression did not seem very surprised, as if she had known about this matter for a long time, and immediately refocused on the issue of Gu Shan's disappearance: "So, do you know where she might go? For example, a place she likes? Or is she going to a certain place to do something?"

"This one……"

My mind went blank and I shook my head in annoyance.

At this time, Lian'er, who had been watching our discussion eagerly, suddenly shouted excitedly!

"Aww! Aww!"

Listening to the gray-haired girl's noise, Meng'er frowned in annoyance, patted her head, and said soothingly: "Lian'er, don't worry, we will find your sister Gushan."

"Aww! Aww!"

However, Lian'er just screamed even louder.

Because of the mute girl's shouting, Meng'er, whose nerves were already a little tense, immediately changed his tone to a heavier one.

"Lian'er, be quiet. We can't think quietly if you're like this."

“Ahh—”

This time, in addition to shouting, Lian'er also kicked Meng'er hard on the calf.

"wrong……"

At this time, even without my reminder, Meng'er understood Lian'er's reaction and asked quickly, "Lian'er, do you know anything? Has Gu Shan told you where she is going recently?"

Lian'er shook her head, nodded, then shook her head again, and nodded again.

I guessed, "Lian'er, you have some clues, but you're not sure?"

Lian'er nodded vigorously.

"Where is it?" Meng'er asked in surprise.

Under our expectant gaze, Lian'er picked up the quill pen on the table and wrote a word on a piece of white paper.

"forest?"

Meng'er couldn't help but hold his forehead and said, "There are so many forests of all sizes in our city of Mopolis. Lian'er, which forest are you talking about? Can you write it more clearly? Is it inside the city or outside the city?"

Lian'er raised her eyes and stared at the ceiling, as if she was trying hard to recall something.

"..."

The room was very quiet at this time.

Neither Meng'er nor I dared to disturb the little girl's thoughts.

After a while, the mute girl put away her cute but serious expression and drew another picture on the paper.

There are flowers, trees, butterflies and stick figures in the picture.

"I have absolutely no idea what it is..." Meng'er smiled bitterly.

"Isn't this just an ordinary forest?" I also don't quite understand Lian'er's famous painting.

At this time, Xiaolan had returned to the room from Hai Lao. She learned about our current situation, then took a look at Lian'er's drawing and soon came up with an idea: "Lian'er's drawing should be a park, right?"

After Xiaolan expressed her guess, Lian'er nodded vigorously to us.

"How can you tell it's a park?"

Meng'er and I looked at each other, and I'm afraid we both had the same complaints in our hearts.

……

……

82. Missing Person Processing (Xiao Lan)

(Ulu-Lannon)

As expected by me as her guardian, what Lian'er painted was exactly a park.

Because I told her that there are many ferocious beasts in the wild forest, but there is only a beautiful butterfly in the painting. In Lian'er's mind, butterflies are harmless creatures and a symbol of joy and happiness. If Lian'er, who has never been to the park, is allowed to make her own associations, the park is probably such a place.

but……

Forest park or something like that, why does it sound familiar?

"Oh! Not good!"

After I put my memories together, I was so frightened that I screamed, "Gu Shan... the forest park that Gu Shan went to, isn't that the place that Hai Lao told me about where monsters are suspected to be? Oh no! Oh no! Gu Shan is so smooth-skinned and looks so silly, could she have been eaten by that monster?!"

Upon hearing this, the president immediately asked, "There are monsters in the forest park? What are you talking about, Xiaolan?"

"I don't really know what's going on. It would be faster to ask Hai Lao instead of asking me!"

As I said that, I ran to invite Ebi to the president's office.

After learning about Gu Shan's situation, Hai Lao also frowned: "If the little girl really went to the forest park and didn't come back for two days, then this matter is really bad..."

"Ebi, what exactly is this monster you are talking about?" Annie asked.

Hai Lao answered uncertainly, "I don't know the details, but there have been reports of people going missing in the forest park. However, when the guards went to the scene to inspect, they found no trace of the missing persons, nor any evidence to show that there were demons in the park. Therefore, the authorities only treated this as an ordinary missing person."

People are missing...

I have absolutely no useful advice to offer on this emergency.

This is not my expertise, and there is nothing I can do except calling the police for help like any other citizen.

wrong……

I can also ask Bai Ye for help!

No! Bai Ye went out on a mission the day before yesterday!

In an atmosphere of helplessness, Meng'er stood up and made a decisive decision.

"In short, let's go to the Forest Park first. The park is not big, and it's not small either. Maybe Gu Shan just got lost in it. Besides, judging from the current situation, it doesn't mean that Gu Shan didn't go to work in the Stone House because she went to the Forest Park. Everything we say here is just our guess."

Although what the president said makes sense, my intuition tells me that Lian'er's information should be credible.

So, we hurriedly prepared our luggage at sunset. The president took her own battle axe, Annie found a set of bows and arrows from somewhere, and Lao Hai hung up a sign on the third floor to have a rest. Even though he usually scolded us two, he was still quite nervous when something happened.

After getting ready, we got on a carriage and headed to Mopolis Forest Park in the city.

In the carriage, Hai Lao reported, "The guards will keep an eye on all the twelve-year-old girls nearby for us, but they are not very active in the forest park because of the rumors. They said they searched the forest park yesterday, but no one saw the girl with the twin ponytails we mentioned."

"In other words, Gushan is really not in the park?" I asked while holding Xiaoban, who was brought by Meng'er to help.

"The guards are just irresponsible bastards."

Hai Lao shook his head and said, "I think it's best for us to go to this forest park in person. After all, a person would not disappear without a reason, and that silly girl is not stupid enough to run to those dangerous places. Judging from the current clues, the forest park, which seems safe but is actually very strange, is the most likely place to find her."

Anne agreed and said, "Yes, the timing is perfect."

At this time, the president suddenly broke through the blind spot: "But Gu Shan had nothing to do, why would he suddenly go to the forest park?"

Because of her question, our attention fell on Lian'er.

"Sister", "want", "flower".

Lian'er made three clumsy gestures to us in a row.

Anne asked, "Lian'er, what is she talking about?"

I guessed and translated: "What if Gu Shan wanted a certain kind of flower, so she went to the forest park?"

At the end of my speech, the mute girl nodded and responded to what I said.

At this point, we are heading in a relatively correct direction, but this also brings with it more concerns.

Hai Lao's expression became even more solemn because of this: "Before we go to the forest park, there are two things I must declare."

"First of all, Lan Nong and Lian'er, you two kids must wait at the entrance of the park. This is to prevent you two from encountering any danger in the park, and secondly, as a double insurance. If we don't come out of the forest before dawn, you will be responsible for reporting our situation to the guards and Corvina in the Snake House so that they can provide additional support."

Corvina at the Snake House…

I was stunned for a moment, then nodded resolutely and agreed: "Okay, we will wait for you at the entrance of the forest."

"You can wait for us at the carriage inn at the door. It's brightly lit and there will be people there all night. It should be a safe place if nothing unexpected happens," said Anne.

I nodded slightly to Annie, and Hai Lao continued to explain the deployment: "The second thing is for the two of you, Meng'er and Annie. When we get to the forest, you must stay alert at all times. Even if other people around us think our demeanor is strange, you must hold on to your weapons and be ready to fight every minute and every second."

Hearing this, Annie and Meng'er both nodded to show that they understood.

At this point, in the midst of great uncertainty, no one could say anything constructive. The silence that fell unanimously made the carriage solemn. Even the lively Lian'er did not dare to breathe loudly. She could only look at the scenery outside the carriage window, or lower her head and let her right hand play with her left hand...

Halfway through the ride, Annie suddenly covered her mouth with an uncomfortable look on her face.

“Ugh—”

She made retching sounds but did not vomit.

"Are you carsick?" I asked with concern, "I have some medicine here, would you like to take some?"

In response to my concern, Annie waved her hand in disdain and said, "It's okay. It's just that old illness that has triggered an attack. I just need to rest for a while. Don't worry."

Noticing Annie's abnormality, the president frowned and said, "Annie, since you are not feeling well, it would be better if you don't come with us to the park. After all, the risks of this matter are still unknown."

"No." Annie stubbornly rejected Meng'er's kindness and said through gritted teeth: "Gushan must have disappeared because of me, and I also promised her sister that I would bring her home, so I want to go into the forest with you."

"No! You look too bad! You're not in any condition to fight!"

After seeing Annie's unusual reaction, the president's voice of opposition was equally firm.

In fact, I also think Meng'er's judgment is correct.

Anne's current condition is indeed not suitable for any kind of adventure.

Unexpectedly, at the moment when the two ladies were arguing, the old man suddenly interrupted and broke the balance of opinion: "No, no, no, Meng'er, let Annie come with us this time. She will need this adventure."

"But……"

"But? What but? Before everything is known, the danger is equally dangerous to everyone present. Unlike us, if Annie retreats at this moment, that would be the real danger."

Meng Er said blankly: "I don't understand what you mean."

Hai Lao did not answer, and Annie nodded to the old man gratefully: "Thank you, Hai Lao."