Chapter 54: 53. If Forgotten

53. If Forgotten

"Do, Dorothy..." Li Ang was very surprised.

"Dorothy Campbell."

"Oh right, it's been too long, I was a bit unsure."

Li Ang didn't consider himself the type with a particularly good memory, but as long as the people he had adventured with had been decent to work with and easy to talk to, he rarely forgot them.

He remembered the girl before him, but he didn't dare confirm if the name matched the person.

Many years ago, she had worked with Li Ang in an adventuring party for a period of time; that was before he joined Soul Apex.

Because she was overly beautiful, she stood out like a crane among a flock of rough adventurers, making her even more memorable.

At the time, she was only fifteen or sixteen, her noble temperament revealing an extraordinary background. Now, the mature version of her had added allure; exquisite earrings, upturned corners of her mouth, and a faint peach-colored flush on her cheeks formed an elegant charm.

"Why are you here?"

Li Ang asked, "Also, did you dye your hair? And other things are different too; I hesitated a bit when calling your name."

Dorothy raised a delicate hand wearing a black silk glove, her fingertips twisting the rough, ginger-colored ends of her hair.

"You still remember me."

Her tone was flat and indifferent, as if to imply that it was merely a coincidence they were recognizing each other here.

"I remember," Li Ang smiled. "You ran out during your vacation to experience adventuring, and your healing spells were quite good; they were very critical to the adventures back then."

"Healing spells," Dorothy paused for a moment, "I haven't used them in a long time. I am now a clerk at the Spark Port City Hall."

"Oh? A big shot?"

Li Ang's tone carried a question. The administrative systems and management details varied greatly across different parts of Newbis. Dorothy sounded like she had some status, but he couldn't be entirely sure.

"It's passable."

Dorothy propped up her chin and asked casually in a nonchalant tone, "Why did you come to Spark Island?"

Li Ang scooped a spoonful of shaved ice into his mouth. The icy sweetness made him very satisfied, and his thoughts became much lighter.

He was thinking about how to explain this issue, given the big scene he caused this morning.

Wait, Count Finat had sealed the news; he didn't need to say he had caused a ruckus at the airport, he could just pretend he was passing through.

Wait again, the welcome ceremony this morning was so grand, and he had seen many people who looked like nobles and officials—shouldn't a clerk have been at the scene?

Li Ang said, "Are you here to investigate me?"

The girl's expression opposite him seemed to change for an instant, but it might have been a trick of the light. Li Ang blinked, and she was still calm and indifferent.

Facing someone he hadn't seen in a long time, Li Ang remained cautious and gave a formulaic response: "I know people from the Order Air Cavalry, so I'm handling some business with them."

Dorothy crossed her arms and didn't speak again, so Li Ang didn't open his mouth either, focusing on finishing his shaved ice.

When the snow-like fluffy ice had melted into half a bowl of ice water, Dorothy spoke up.

"I was just a little curious."

"About what?"

"I wanted to see if you still remembered me."

"And after satisfying your curiosity?"

"I also want to know, do you want to know if I remember you?"

Her tone was modulated, like a way of speaking practiced specifically for social and important occasions.

Li Ang was a bit dizzy from her circular logic and had to repeat it to himself twice before he understood what she was asking.

"Since you're here, the answer to that question is already there."

"Do you want to know or not?"

Li Ang didn't know how to respond.

"Then let's change the question."

Dorothy's speaking speed suddenly increased.

"Do you still remember what you said before leaving that little pathetic party?"

The "little pathetic party" likely referred to the team Li Ang and Dorothy had adventured with together.

At that time, he already had a preliminary understanding of the Spellcaster profession and could act as an all-rounder for the party, but because he had no reputation and was limited by the Spellcaster profession, he would go wherever someone was willing to take him.

As for Dorothy, although he couldn't remember how she joined the party, he could guess a thing or two based on his experience now. As a healer, she was already in high demand, and with her beautiful face, she was likely tricked into joining while passing through.

Thinking about it carefully, that was seven or eight years ago. Not long after leaving that party, Li Ang joined Soul Apex while the old leader was still there.

"What did I say back then?"

Li Ang had no clue.

That roadside party had many problems: unclear adventuring goals, chaotic tactics, embezzlement of loot, and ditching others for personal reasons.

Li Ang would rather have no party to stay with than be tortured again, so he had decisively run off.

"Can't remember?"

Dorothy tilted her head, her ginger hair covering half her face.

"Then take your time to think; I'll wait for you."

"..."

The shaved ice in front of him had melted into nothing but water, and Li Ang stood up and walked out of the cold drink shop.

Dorothy followed behind him without any attempt to hide it.

"So, what did I say back then?"

"Think about it some more."

Li Ang didn't know what she was up to, so he followed the bustling road forward.

Aside from looking for gifts, he had another purpose for coming out of the Count's mansion today: to increase his exploration percentage of Spark Port.

He still remembered that after maxing out the exploration percentage on Satus Island, it unlocked the "Hidden Location" of the Island Heart World; although there were powerful bosses inside, the rewards were also plentiful.

He was very curious about what the "Hidden Location" of Spark Port would be.

Currently, his exploration percentage was 67%, which included the areas he had explored here in the past.

Walking down a street increased the exploration percentage by about 3%, so Li Ang toured it carpet-style, one by one.

The strange thing was, he hadn't been alone the whole time.

"Oh, this bridge is a scenic spot, shouldn't you take a good look?" Dorothy said when they passed a stone bridge.

"Aren't you an Air Knight? Why not take a couple of missions?" Dorothy chimed in when they passed the Air Knight Guild office.

"Why are you looking at these little trinkets for girls?" Dorothy asked when they passed a merchandise stall.

"It's not for me to use."

"Buying for a wife or a girlfriend? Or buying for both?"

"I'm single."

"Oh—"

I shouldn't have done anything bad, right? He gradually began to doubt himself.

Something wasn't right.

He had clearly just taken a small revenge on the members of Soul Apex, he was clearly about to establish a new party to adventure with, and he clearly shouldn't have any worries in the short term—why did it suddenly feel like he owed some debt from eight years ago?

"So, what exactly did I say?"

Li Ang asked Dorothy very seriously: "If I really did something bad or said something I shouldn't have, the person I'm traveling with is a cop; you can have him come and arrest me."

When he said this, Dorothy brushed her hair and looked elsewhere.

She said softly and quickly: "I just wanted to confirm, do you keep your word?"

In this situation, Li Ang became increasingly suspicious of himself.

What did I do back then?

Dorothy took half a step forward, coming very close, and the faint, lingering fragrance on her body seeped into his nostrils.

Her almond-shaped eyes stared straight at him.

"Do you keep your word?"