Deep Sea Embers

Deng Ding calmed down and walked towards the two police officers at the door.

He was honest in his heart - anyway, he had not caused any damage or had any conflicts with the authorities. Although Captain Duncan had a good reputation, what did a moving natural disaster on the boundless sea have to do with him being an honest and responsible antique store manager? Related?

Thinking carefully about his most suspicious behavior, which was attending a cultist gathering - then he enthusiastically reported it after he came out!

Wait...report?

Duncan suddenly remembered this, and immediately vaguely guessed the reason why the two sheriffs came to the door. He suddenly became more confident when he stepped forward. But Nina obviously did not have this calmness. She stepped forward when she saw her uncle coming downstairs. He hurriedly came up to him, and at the same time lowered his voice and said urgently from an angle that the two sheriffs could not see: "Uncle, when the two sheriffs ask questions later, you must answer honestly..."

Duncan staggered suddenly and looked at his "niece" with strange eyes: "Is this the image I have in your mind?"

Nina looked a little aggrievedly at her "uncle" who had a bad reputation and was often called to your door because of drunkenness or fights in the casino: "...otherwise, why would Mr. Sheriff come to you?"

Duncan: "..."

He sighed helplessly, came to the door of the store, and smiled brightly at the two police officers in dark blue uniforms: "Good morning, gentlemen, what can I do for you?"

"Mr. Duncan Strain," the older of the two sheriffs spoke up, politely and businesslikely, "we found this place at the registered address—the one you reported to the patrol officer yesterday. The clues have been confirmed. On behalf of the city hall, we would like to thank you for your contribution to maintaining order in the city-state and send you the reward money.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young sheriff next to him took a step forward and handed over a paper bag that looked quite thick.

Nina, who was standing aside, had her eyes widened.

Duncan had already guessed the purpose of the two sheriffs. He guessed that there should be a follow-up to his previous report on the cultists' den. However, he did not expect that they would directly deliver the reward money to his door. He took the paper with some surprise. On the bag, you can see the words "435 Solas" on the disposable wax seal at the sealing position - for the residents of the lower city, this is a very generous bonus.

"It turns out there is still money to take..." Duncan pinched the paper bag and felt the thickness of the banknotes, "I didn't think so much about it at the time."

"Of course there is a reward - the Archon attaches great importance to cracking down on criminal activities in the city-state, especially in recent times. All effective reports will receive practical and generous rewards," the young sheriff laughed, "What's more, the clues you provided...are extraordinary."

When Duncan heard this, he couldn't help but asked, pretending to be casual: "By the way, I heard something wrong over there, so I didn't dare to go over and take a closer look...what happened over there?"

The two police officers looked at each other, and then took two steps forward into the store. Nina was stunned for a moment when she saw this, and then quickly stepped forward to close the store door after she realized what was happening.

"We didn't go to the scene. The guards were handling the matter, but according to the news... the situation at the scene was tragic," the younger Sheriff said. He had not yet fully learned the official business of the senior officers. In a public tone, "You were right not to approach rashly but to report to the patrol officers as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will definitely be in danger."

After the young man finished speaking, another police officer also spoke: "Ordinary citizens do not need to know the specific situation. We just want to remind you that there have been more and more cult activities in the city recently. Do not mention your reporting and receiving rewards to outsiders."

Duncan was startled for a moment and quickly reacted.

This is the lower city, where the sewage and poisonous barriers converge. The most shady things in Purland are hidden in these dilapidated and winding alleys. When heretics are ready to move, they will inevitably hide in such places.

Although the block where the antique shop is located is considered a relatively respectable part of Xiacheng District and is still far away from the most run-down slums, from the perspective of harboring filth and evil, the entire Xiacheng District is actually similar.

On the other hand, even if we do not consider that there may be cult elements lurking among ordinary people in Xiacheng District, a "person who reports to the authorities and collects a reward" is very likely to be the target of others' vigilance here.

Sheriffs who are familiar with the local situation certainly know this, and their reminder is a routine and well-intentioned one.

Duncan thought about it and felt that he was right to remind him.

This place is indeed prone to cultists - he still has the sun emblem in his pocket.

"Thank you for reminding me," he said sincerely. Although he didn't know the average level of most of the sheriffs here, at least the two in front of him gave him a good impression. "Do you want to rest here?"

"No need," the older police officer waved his hand, turned and walked towards the store door, "We still have patrol duties."

The young sheriff turned around before leaving: "If you still encounter clues in this regard in the future, you are welcome to report it in time - the security of the city-state affects each of us."

"Of course," Duncan squeezed the paper bag in his hand, with a heartfelt smile on his face, "I have always been a good citizen who cares about the order of the city."

The two magistrates left the antique shop of "Mr. Duncan, an enthusiastic and good citizen", and it was not until the two uniformed figures disappeared on the street that Nina finally came back to her senses and looked at her uncle - Uncle Duncan was opening the Paper bag, counting the blue and green banknotes inside, the pleasant sound coming from the flipping of banknotes made her realize a little bit: "Uncle... is this really a reward from the city hall? You actually... really …”

The girl opened her mouth for a long time, but in the end she didn't have the nerve to ask the question, "You can really do good things."

Duncan knew what Nina was thinking and what she was doubting. He laughed: "I just reported some illegal activities when I went home yesterday - uncle, I have always been enthusiastic about public welfare."

Nina: "..."

"But I'm quite surprised to have such a high bonus," Duncan lowered his head and looked at the money in his hand thoughtfully before Nina could speak, and murmured in a low voice, "This can make money faster than doing business... "

There was something else he didn't say: According to the intelligence he had previously obtained, there were still unknown number of cultists from various city-states hiding in the city.

That's all money!

Nina didn't react immediately: "Uncle, what did you say?"

"Nothing," Duncan waved his hands and said casually while thinking about this new way to make money in his mind, "Isn't it time for you to go to school? Start early and don't be late - by the way, when will Mr. Morris come to visit?"

"Afternoon, I only have one class in the afternoon," Nina said, as if she had thought of something, "Uncle, are you going out today?"

Duncan nodded: "Well, I'm going out for a while, but I'll be home before your history teacher comes."

When Nina heard this, she immediately cast a suspicious look: "Uncle, what are you going to do?"

Duncan smiled particularly brightly: "Uncle is going hunting."

He has already had an idea. Since the Sun Badge is so easy to use and the authorities are so happy to issue money, this skill does not need to be used in vain - anyway, even if there is no factor of "reporting and getting money", just to ensure the stability of his surrounding environment, he will The high and low people are trying to make trouble for the cultists. Now that they are sure that they can make trouble for them again, why not do it?

Nina was a smart girl. Even if she didn’t know other details about Duncan, she immediately guessed what her uncle meant by “hunting”. The girl’s delicate eyebrows immediately wrinkled: “…Uncle, you are not doing this right. Yes, you said yesterday that you would open the store in a down-to-earth manner, and you also said that you would rectify the situation in the store and recruit clerks..."

"There is no conflict between caring about the security of the city and opening a store in a down-to-earth manner," Duncan waved his hand, "You can go to school, uncle, he has his own sense of proportion."

However, what he didn't expect was that when Nina heard this, she found a chair next to her and sat down.

"Nina?"

"Uncle, this is dangerous." Nina raised her head and looked directly at Duncan.

Duncan: "Um...actually..."

"I want to watch you," Nina sat there stubbornly. "The two police officers just said that it is not safe in the city recently... It's okay if something happens accidentally, how can you take the initiative to find those people?" Where's the danger?"

Duncan looked at this seventeen-year-old girl in a daze.

He suddenly realized that the other party really cared about him - in a stubborn way that she thought was correct and safe, caring about Uncle Duncan who in her eyes was "severely ill for many years, weak, reckless, and recently eager to make money." ".

"I don't want a bicycle." Nina lowered her head and muttered softly.

"Go to school." Duncan suddenly breathed out, stepped forward with a smile and pressed Nina's head.

Nina looked up in surprise.

"You're right, this is dangerous," Duncan looked at Nina seriously, "I'm not going anywhere, I'll wait for you to come back in the store."