Chapter 66: Cloak

"Creak."

Accompanied by a teeth-grinding, sluggish sound, the wooden door was slowly opened.

A moist and cold airflow, carrying a faint metallic rust smell, poured in from the crack.

Blonde, medium-length hair completely soaked by the heavy rain, along with the standard short plate armor still dripping with water, came into view.

"Sorry to disturb you."

The sheriff of Kalanfur, "Ingram," looked at the eyes looking at him in the restaurant and said in a low voice.

His slightly reddened eyes swept lightly over the messy dining table, stopping on Xia Nan and Alton.

"If possible, could the two of you please come out for a moment."

The door wasn't completely closed but left slightly ajar by a quarter.

Allowing both those outside and inside to roughly observe each other's movements.

Though the voices might not be clearly audible.

But it was quite obvious that after Xia Nan and the other walked out of the room, the adventurers in the restaurant seemed to have returned to their previous noisy atmosphere.

Though the overall volume was much lower.

Occasionally, one could spot a few undisguised glances sweeping toward the door.

"Two gentlemen, I am truly sorry to disturb you so late."

Ingram stood before the door, with two guards behind him, also looking serious.

"First, I must state that I do not suspect the two of you; this visit is only to inquire about some specific circumstances."

Xia Nan looked at the sheriff's inexplicable words without answering, only frowning and nodding to signal the other to continue.

"Joey is dead."

Sweat mixed with raindrops slid down his chiseled cheeks.

Ingram turned his head, his gaze shifting downward, his azure eyes reflecting the figure of the Halfling Alton, his voice slow and slightly hoarse.

"Just tonight."

The name mentioned by the other was vaguely familiar; after a slight recollection, it connected with the young pickpocket they had encountered this afternoon.

"After all, such a thing happened today. Even if I know the two of you have nothing to do with Joey's death, but... duty calls, please understand."

Xia Nan crossed his arms, roughly understanding the situation through the other's expression.

The thief Joey had attempted to steal from Alton this afternoon, and although he failed, he had thus formed a connection with the two of them.

Now that the person had suddenly died, as the sheriff who witnessed the whole process, it was natural for him to come and inquire about the situation.

Xia Nan didn't mind this much.

Anyway, he and the Halfling had stayed with the adventurers in the caravan ever since returning to the inn before dark.

Anyone could prove it.

Alton, on the other hand, seemed a bit excited.

The suddenly interrupted meal and the murder case happening around them caused the naturally enthusiastic and curious Halfling's interest to rise like a flame.

Of course, provided the other didn't waste too much time here.

Otherwise, repetitive and boring questions, along with a case that made no progress, would quickly extinguish the flame in the Halfling's heart.

Both the Halfling and Xia Nan had solid alibis.

And before coming, the sheriff seemed to have already confirmed that the two were unrelated to the case.

Therefore, after just over ten minutes, the questioning ended quickly.

"Thank you both for your cooperation. If you discover anything later, please do not hesitate to contact me."

Ingram said to Xia Nan and Alton with a sincere expression, his gaze flickering toward the restaurant behind them through the half-open wooden door.

While saying goodbye, he raised his right hand, wiping the water droplets falling from his forehead with his sleeve.

Xia Nan's gaze followed, aiming at the inside of the other's sleeve.

The golden sun pattern, which had been exceptionally conspicuous when seen this afternoon, was now completely soaked by the rain.

Under the dim light of the inn corridor, the sun emblem looked withered, yellow, and distorted.

Seeing the sheriff about to leave, the Halfling couldn't stop his inner curiosity and pursued the question:

"I heard that strange murder cases have occurred in town recently, where the victims' limbs and bones were all pulled out."

"Was that thief the same?"

Hearing this, the sheriff fell silent abruptly.

After a moment, he nodded and spoke slowly:

"Yes, the same case appeared in town before your caravan arrived in Kalanfur."

"This is also one of the important reasons why I don't suspect you two at all."

"That's all; I should go. I wish you a smooth mission."

After saying this, Ingram disappeared at the end of the corridor with two guards.

Xia Nan and Alton had just returned to their room.

Captain Jeff, who had been waiting at the door since the sheriff appeared, greeted them with a worried face.

"How was it? Is everything okay?"

"I know Ingram quite well. If there's any misunderstanding, do you need me to help you communicate?"

Xia Nan shook his head, signaling that it was nothing major.

He glanced at the Halfling beside him, and seeing his indifferent expression, he took the initiative to tell the other about their encounter on the way back this afternoon.

As soon as he finished speaking, an adventurer who was drunk and red-faced slammed the table and said indignantly:

"How could this have anything to do with you! You were clearly in the inn with us the whole night!"

"I think... *hiccup*, this sheriff is just looking for trouble, seeing that we are newcomers and easy to bully, coming over to show off his power!"

Beside him, another adventurer reeking of alcohol chimed in:

"When the little guy and Xia Nan left, wasn't that sheriff still with that thief?"

"If you ask me... who knows who killed him!"

"You're drunk, you're drunk." A companion who was still sober quickly went up to pull his teammate away, fearing the other would say something else that would be hard to resolve.

Jeff sat at the dining table, looking somewhat awkward.

On one side was an old friend he had known for a long time, and on the other were adventurers he had finally built a good relationship with and who had escorted the caravan all the way.

Neither side was easy to offend.

So he just lowered his head and ate.

Returning to his seat, Xia Nan couldn't help but recall the case Ingram mentioned earlier.

Seeing the Halfling's bored expression after receiving the sheriff's affirmative answer, he lost interest.

He asked:

"Did you... know something?"

Although Alton looked like a child, as a Lightfoot Halfling developing in the direction of a "Bard," he must have traveled to many places.

The people and things he had seen far exceeded his own.

With such an expression, it was clear he had already discovered something.

And just as Xia Nan guessed, facing his doubt, the Halfling shrugged immediately.

He stirred the sticky beans on his plate with a spoon, looking uninterested, and said casually:

"What else could it be?"

"Cultists, obviously."

"Those lunatics are everywhere on this continent, like cockroaches; they usually hide in corners, and you never know when they'll jump out to disgust you."

As he spoke, he took out his lucky coin from his bosom and flipped it lightly.

"You can never catch them all."

"Boring."

The coin, scattering a brass luster under the light, spun and fell.

Xia Nan's gaze was drawn to it involuntarily.

Then, for the first time,

He saw the coin land in the Halfling's palm, revealing its reverse side—

A cloak floating in mid-air.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 67 =====