Chapter 672: The Stowaway: I'm Here for Ad Ric

They caught him.

Li Wufang at full speed was considerably faster than "Gongyang Jiao." As a peak-level hunter going all out, the intruder didn't even see who'd grabbed him before his feet left the ground and he was deposited before Cheng Shi.

The Investigator's technique was so crisp that when the intruder found himself on his knees before Cheng Shi without warning, Cheng Shi instinctively stepped back — half-expecting Li Wufang to be using the man as a trap.

But his cautious reaction instantly changed Li Wufang's expression. The Investigator snapped to high alert, scanning the surroundings while backing toward Cheng Shi, tense and uncertain: "More trouble?"

"..."

A trace of embarrassment crossed Cheng Shi's face. There was indeed "trouble" — Li Wufang himself was the trouble. Setting him aside, this place was perfectly safe.

But Cheng Shi could hardly admit he'd been so cautious that he'd suspected his own teammate, so he laughed it off: "Just testing your reflexes. Pretty fast."

"..." Now it was Li Wufang's turn to be speechless. He sighed, looking like he wanted to say something, but with a peculiar expression, swallowed it back. He simply pointed at the intruder beside them and fell silent.

Cheng Shi chuckled awkwardly, grateful the man hadn't pressed. He wouldn't have known how to continue the conversation otherwise.

His face was caked with dirt, clothes in tatters. Apart from a small pack at the small of his back, he carried nothing of value. He was far more wretched-looking than the vast majority of stowaways Cheng Shi had encountered that day. Yet the reason Cheng Shi could identify him as a stowaway was because this man had the same shrewd, calculating eyes as the inn's guests.

Falling Gate's stowaways were all shrewd. They had to be — spotting opportunities here was the only way to accumulate enough wealth to buy their ticket out of the Underworld.

This man had obviously come for wealth too. Whether he was here to steal people or steal ore would have to be determined through questioning.

Cheng Shi wasted no time. He tossed a scalpel at his feet and asked with a smile:

"Here's your chance to live. Tell me who you are and why you're here. Make it clear and you walk. Fail, and you bleed."

"..."

The stowaway was terrified. Trembling head to toe, he collapsed to the ground and immediately began begging for his life.

"Don't kill me, don't kill me! I'm not here to steal anything! I came to find someone — I know a miner here. I came to him for help. We agreed on a time to meet, but he never showed, so I came to check on him!

It's true, it's really true! Please don't kill me!!"

It was indeed true. Cheng Shi frowned and pressed further: "One more chance. I told you — be clear."

"Yes, yes, I'll be clear, I'll explain everything right now.

My name is Ger Si. I'm from the surface— no, from the Underworld, from the Underworld.

I'm a mixed-blood child of a Pomeder and a Far Furnace native. My father's name is—"

WHAM—

Before Ger Si could finish, Li Wufang kicked him flat.

"We told you to explain the situation clearly, not recite your family tree. What use is it knowing your parents?

And are you from the surface or the Underworld? At a time like this, you're really going to try lying in front of him?"

Li Wufang jabbed a thumb at Cheng Shi, grinning brightly. But the words sent a jolt through Ger Si — and through Cheng Shi as well.

What was that about?

What had this Investigator figured out — or what did he know?

In front of a hunter, Cheng Shi didn't dare let suspicion show. He could only glance at Li Wufang with studied casualness, quietly raising his guard while keeping his ears pricked as the terrified Ger Si continued his frantic defense.

Ger Si had been kicked senseless. He curled up on the ground, shaking violently.

"I understand, I understand now. I'm from the Underworld. I was born here. But a few months ago, I got to the surface through Proxy Hand connections and became a citizen — no, a vagrant in Gasmira.

The city ruled by scholars really is wonderful. Life on the surface is so glamorous. But for people like us with no identity, city life is impossibly hard. We can't eat, can't stay warm, have no civil rights. If you die in the street, the ones who collect your body won't be research institutes or the cemetery — it'll be other hungry vagrants.

I was terrified. I knew I couldn't keep drifting like this. So when I heard that the Tower of Logic needed people to explore ore veins in the Abyssal Volcano, I signed up — hoping to earn legitimate Gasmira citizenship.

But then — while exploring — I fell back down!

I'd spent every last coin I had to buy a ticket to the surface! I'd clawed my way to Truth's paradise! And now it's all gone — I'm back where I started!

Destiny — how could you do this to me! How could you do this to me!!"

At this point, the grown man broke into sobs. He wailed with heart-wrenching anguish, as if falling back into the Underworld had murdered his future and erased every last trace of hope.

But listening to this, Cheng Shi found the taste... off.

'Buddy, this is what you decided to do with your own life. Why are you dumping blame on my Benefactor?'

'And the Abyssal Volcano's interior is extremely dangerous — even peak players rarely venture inside. Surviving one trip to the surface was already a miracle. And you survived the fall back down too? Don't you think that's because of Destiny's protection?'

'He went that far for you, and you still leave a bad review? Tsk — serves you right.'

'People like you are exactly why His reputation keeps tanking.'

Cheng Shi rolled his eyes and continued listening to Ger Si's tearful account.

"I was this close to getting Gasmira citizenship! This close! How could I just accept it? So I wanted to find my friend again and ask him for one more favor — to sneak me another spot to go back up. As long as I can get up there, I can become a real Tower of Logic citizen!

I can help them recruit business down here! I can be their contact person! I'm hardworking, I'm capable, I can endure anything, I—"

"Then why don't you endure hardship down here in the Underworld?"

"...?" Cheng Shi's question cut through Ger Si's wailing. He looked up in bewilderment, choking for a long moment before stammering: "The Underworld is nothing but suffering... I've already eaten it all... and there's no end to it... waaah..."

"..."

'I have a retort so massive I don't know how to get it out.'

Cheng Shi was equal parts amused and exasperated. Falling Gate really was a spectacular place. Everyone here was a genuine prodigy.

"Your friend works for the Proxy Hand? What's his name — don't tell me it's... A Rad?"

"A Rad? Who's that? I don't know any A Rad. My friend's name is Ad Ric. He's just an ordinary miner."

"?" Both players froze, stunned. "Who?"