Chapter 4126

As the fireplace burned vigorously, the atmosphere inside the house began to grow increasingly lively. The children kept stuffing cake into their mouths while chattering away about the cartoon characters they were dressed as. Sometimes they were talking at cross-purposes, but they didn't care. Even if someone was talking to themselves, they could keep it up for quite a while.

Pride gave Aisha a look, wanting her to steer the topic toward the surrounding natural environment. But just at this moment, the front door was knocked on again.

Pride raised an eyebrow; he didn't think anyone else would be asking for candy at this hour. After opening the door, an exceptionally burly figure stood outside—it was Jason Todd.

"Good god, you look like a genuine Englishman," Pride remarked, looking him over.

When Jason was still in Cat Getan, he particularly liked wearing those biker-style clothes—either leather jackets or hoodies—which didn't fit his artistic youth essence at all. After going to England to study abroad, he had actually started wearing sweaters and trench coats.

He was wearing a light brown sweater paired with dark gray jeans, and then a long, slim-fit black trench coat, a Scottish plaid scarf, and he was even wearing glasses.

"Oh god, stop making fun of me, Professor. Selina has been laughing at me for half an hour," Jason shook his head helplessly and walked inside.

"You haven't lost too much weight, that's a good thing," Pride closed the door and said, "What made you decide to come over at this time?"

"Actually, I should have landed yesterday, but there were massive delays for London flights yesterday, so I had to rebook, which is why I just arrived," Jason sighed, shook his head, and said helplessly.

"I thought you came back specifically to see if I had prepared candy." Pride grabbed a handful of candy from the basket nearby and placed it in his hand. Jason took a close look and then said, "My god, what flavor is this? What the hell is lemon sour bean?"

"If you don't like these new-style candies, there are classic flavors over there. This seems to be a new product launched by the food factory where Harley works..."

As Pride was speaking, Jason unwrapped the candy and threw it into his mouth; his entire face scrunched up.

"God, why is it so sour?!"

"You should have known when you read the name," Pride smiled and said.

The children ran to the backyard to look at the pumpkins, and they sat down by the fireplace. Pride brought him a piece of pumpkin pie, and Jason devoured it.

"How is England?"

"Terrible," Jason said bluntly, "Cloudy, cloudy, cloudy. Rain, rain, rain. Fish and chips, blood pudding, shepherd's pie. I'm really fed up with it."

"What about the teaching standard?"

"Not great either. I feel like I'm attending the Queen's knighting ceremony from the last century, spending half the time listening to them give speeches."

"I think that has a very classical literary atmosphere."

"I don't deny it, but if every morning of yours is spent in gloomy weather listening to those sleep-inducing speeches, you wouldn't have much enthusiasm for learning either. The only reason I've stuck with it until now is because their tuition is too expensive."

"Yes, especially when that tuition is earned by yourself. Do you get a break for Halloween too?"

"Yes, we have a three-day break, but because the old professor is sick, we actually get half a month off, as long as we can pass the exam at the end."

"That's not bad. Have you decided where to go for fun?"

"No, I don't have time to play; I have to go to work," Jason sighed again and said, "The cost of living in Oxfordshire isn't cheap. My credits weren't enough to begin with, and there are many places where I need to spend cash. I have to find a job that can cover my cash living expenses."

"Have you applied to Brainiac?"

"Yes, but you know, in the major of classical literature, there's no other way out besides becoming a classical scholar. I'm already prepared to do some manual labor."

"Don't be too pessimistic. Brainiac might just not know your talents well enough. If you don't mind, perhaps you could go ask Barry if he's short on hands."

"Isn't he working in Los Angeles?"

"No, he's back in Cat Getan. Their office—the Behavioral Science Analysis Department—has set up an office on Green Street, right across from Amanda's Anquan Bureau."

"Shit," Jason evaluated truthfully, "If I had to choose to be neighbors with Amanda, I'd rather endure the high cost of living in Los Angeles."

"Do you know what they do?"

"Aren't they all just doing odd jobs for Brainiac?" Jason thought for a moment and said, "What behavioral science analysis expert could compare to Brainiac?"

"Actually, there is one; they've encountered some trouble recently," Pride said after a slight pause, "Someone used a mysterious device to deceive Brainiac's surveillance cameras, thereby carrying out four child kidnappings. Although no children have been harmed yet, this can't go on like this."

Jason became slightly interested; he leaned his body forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and said, "Someone can deceive Brainiac?"

"Yes, we initially suspect it might be alien technology, but until we get real evidence, no one can say for sure. In this situation, they should be very short on people. After all, because of Brainiac's existence, the Lianbangdiaocha Bureau laid off over 60% of its regular staff, and these employees were all arranged by Brainiac into positions in other organizations; now they can't be transferred back in a short time."

Jason's eyes rolled, and he seemed somewhat tempted. So he opened his phone, and before he could even ask Brainiac, Brainiac popped up a salary report for him on the screen.

Jason's eyes widened immediately, and after coughing, he said, "Ahem, the perpetrators of these child kidnappings are really too much. Although I'm not a professional, if I can contribute to this case, I won't refuse."

Then he chatted with Brainiac on his phone, seemingly asking about the specific progress of the case. Just like that, he finished the entire piece of pumpkin pie, let out a sigh of satisfaction, and said, "I really can't get used to British food. Whether it's famous restaurants in London or country restaurants in Oxfordshire, I can't find a single delicious dish."

"Then you can look forward to the Halloween banquet later," Pride glanced at his watch, "It's not even seven o'clock in the evening yet, and the banquet doesn't start until eight; they can wait a little longer."

At this moment, a group of children ran in from the backyard. Fortunately, Greed didn't let them step in mud; their shoes were clean, so they ran from the backyard to the front yard in one go, and no one came to stop them.

Aisha led the way, followed closely by Billy, and Paul was still the last one in the group. Just as the children were all running to the front door, Paul slowed his pace, walked to Pride's side, and said, "Thank you, Professor, you're a good person. That was the most delicious cake I've ever eaten."

"You're welcome, Mr. Austin, would you like to take some candy with you?"

A look of hesitation appeared on Paul's face, but he still beckoned to Pride. Pride crouched down, and then Paul whispered a few words. Pride nodded and took another handful of candy for him from the basket nearby.

Paul ran to the front door, waved at him, and then ran out to catch up with the children in front.

"What did he say?"

Pride shook his head and just said pointedly to Jason, "A person who drinks and gambles has no bottom line. If there's an opportunity to exchange things around them for money, morality cannot restrain them."

Jason seemed to understand something as well. He turned his head to look out the window; the children hadn't run far yet, seemingly studying the newly trimmed hedges in Schiller's yard. The light from the porch flowed across their faces, flowing over their light golden hair and eyelashes, their blue, green, and brown eyes, like spring streams and summer evening breezes, without a trace of sadness or haze, as if they were out of place with this city, yet as if they were dancing with it.

This reminded Jason of his childhood days, but it wasn't a bad feeling. He was surprised to find that those days of running through mud, barely filling his stomach in leaky cellars, walking between muddy lanes, with ice and grass clippings stuck to the edges of his shoes, actually appeared somewhat lovely under the erosion of time. Unlike the total sweetness tasted by these carefree children today, finding joy in bitterness was another kind of fun.

However, he was still glad that the children no longer had to toil and run around to fill their stomachs, no longer had to walk the streets like a bunch of little mice, eyes wide, nerves taut, constantly guarding against stray bullets.

They walked in the night, laughing, counting the differences in every fence, noisily knocking on every door, getting enough candy to pile their baskets into a small mountain, turning this holiday that originally had a bit of a terrifying meaning into something as bright as the lake in the afternoon, like April honey, June wheat fields, and September chestnuts and pumpkins.

Pride walked over to pull the curtains, took the gift he had prepared earlier, and looked down at his watch. If they left now, they should just be able to make it in time for the start of the banquet.

"Let's go," he said to Jason, "Everyone hasn't seen you for a long time; they'll be shocked to see your changes."

Jason laughed, put on his hat, and walked into the car. On the way to the manor, almost every household had their porches lit up; some were filled with large pumpkins, some had witch hats and scarecrows, some had small pumpkin and bat string lights, and some had even painted their front doors in yellow and purple.

Squad after squad of children ran wildly on the street, knocking on this house's door one moment and studying that house's pumpkin the next. Social workers and pastors followed helplessly behind them, helping them pick up the candy that fell out.

However, it wasn't as lively near the manor. Most of the residents here had moved away, but because most of the houses were quite old and belonged to protected buildings, Brainiac seemed to be planning to develop this place into a cultural and artistic district; construction teams could be seen everywhere, and many intersections were blocked off.

After taking several detours, Pride finally became a bit impatient. He called Harley, and after some guidance from Harley, he was already two miles off course from his destination.

Finally, Raven used a magic flash to appear in front of the car and led them toward the manor somewhat helplessly. Because some time had been wasted, everyone was waiting for them.

No one expressed any confusion about two Schillers appearing at the same time, or rather, those who came this time were acquaintances, and they all knew exactly what was going on. But that didn't mean Schiller and the others were welcomed; they were mocked for at least half an hour for getting lost.

"I'm very confused," Victor said, "Isn't this your own house? You actually don't know where your house is?"

"Of course I know, but they blocked the road I usually take."

"I don't think it's the 'one you usually take,' but the only road you've ever taken," Victor knew him too well, and he said, "You've lived here for years, but you've actually only walked that one road, and you haven't even walked that fork leading to Wickwood."

Pride pulled out a chair and sat down, then said, "Come on, what need do I have to go there?"

"That place name is one I made up; you don't even know what places are around your house."

"Of course I know, because you can take that road to the airport, fly to England, and you can always find a place called Wickwood, or some other 'wood'."

"That road actually doesn't lead to the airport either."

"Thanks for the reminder!"