Byron's Blade

Sister Du Bo pondered for a moment, then said:

"I know who you're talking about...Lanny, you came all the way here, I won't help you with this. It's just that my ugly words are up front. No matter what you want to investigate, don't Get me into trouble. The mother and daughter are in a special situation now, and we don't actually welcome them here."

"Oh, what's the specific situation?" Lanny asked.

"Oh..." Sister Du Bo sighed deeply, with a look of sadness and pity on her face, "Come with me, I will take you to their house and tell you on the way."

Following Sister Du Bo, Lan Ni and Mu Li walked through the narrow alley, listening to Sister Du Bo while walking:

"The mother and daughter wandered here five days ago. Since they appeared in Alta more than ten days ago, I guess they are Ares who came on foot. The mother's name is Mary, and the daughter's name is Dora. Originally living in the Sarrier region, about six months ago, the mother was completely reduced to a traitor, and was driven out of the detention center together with her daughter, and exiled to the Sarrier slums.

Four months ago, a large fire broke out in the Sarrier slums, and a large number of rebels took this opportunity to flee and go into exile.Most of them have been captured now, but the small group of people who fled first basically managed to escape to Athena.You should have seen Ares surrounded by military and police patrol cars along the way, just to arrest these fugitives.

But you are also aware of the proposition of the master of Ares, Major General Creel, he has always believed that the rebels also have the right to a place of survival, as long as they escape to his territory, the rebels can be sheltered to some extent, Had a pretty good day.It wasn't a good day either, but it was much better than the hellish days in Sarriel's place.This is the fundamental reason why those traitors from Sarriel fled here for refuge.

Originally, my principle was that everyone is a poor person, so help if you can. I heard that the mother and daughter ended up like this because they rebelled from lawful goodness to chaotic goodness, so I accepted them and gave them shelter and food.It's just that I didn't expect that on the second day after I accepted them, they would get me into trouble.

That mother Mary, she has a mental problem.She has three personalities, not only chaotic good, but also lawful evil and chaotic evil. Her usual personality is chaotic good, which looks very friendly. Once she switches her personality, she will become lawful evil If they are stimulated again, they will switch to chaotic and evil people, crazy and completely unreasonable.

On the first night they arrived here, the mother fell ill, switched to a chaotic and evil personality, and almost strangled a neighbor's child to death.I haven't been able to settle this matter, but on the third day, she switched to a lawful and evil personality again, using the rules of food distribution here, to cheat other people's food coupons for three months, and I managed to get the food coupons from her house. Finding out, it can be regarded as temporarily calming everyone's anger.Now they are in a difficult situation here, and it is estimated that if this continues, they will be driven away soon. "

"Hehe, this is really interesting." Lanny said with a cold smile.

Mu Li felt a little uncomfortable, but she didn't say anything, she just asked:

"Why did they change their camp?"

"I asked a friend to check, and I just got a reply. They... are also poor people. Mother Mary was originally from the lawful and good camp, and her parents were a married couple, both of whom belonged to the church. The pastor lived in a very clean and holy environment since she was a child. After serving in the military, she inherited her parents' profession and became the pastor of the church. Later, she met the executive of the No. [-] Armament Factory in Sarrier Region—— Captain Lee Pisco, the two fell in love and got married.

Life was sweet after marriage, and they soon had a daughter, the little girl Dora.

Originally, she lived a very happy life. Captain Ellie Pisco was a member of the lawful neutral camp. She got along well with Mary, who was lawful and kind. Her daughter was also well educated and had obvious characteristics of lawful kindness.

However, just before Dora's 9th birthday, Captain Pisco had an accident.The First Armament Factory sent Captain Pisco on a business trip to the Ice and Snow City in the north to negotiate an important deal with the arsenal there.However, Captain Pisco failed to come back after this trip, and the news came back that she committed suicide by burning charcoal in the city of ice and snow and died.The body was cremated on the spot, and in the end, Mary couldn't even see her lover's last side.

Mary did not believe that Captain Pisco would actually commit suicide. After several complaints, the First Armament Factory and the Salier military police only gave vague explanations, saying that Captain Pisco could not bear the pressure of work and committed suicide. died.Mary firmly believed that there must be something hidden in it, but she had no one to rely on, so she could only take the child, sell the property, and borrow money everywhere, starting a long road of investigation and appeal that lasted five years.

I don't know what they have experienced in the past five years. I only know that ten months ago, Mary was thoroughly diagnosed as a traitor, and she started treatment and forced labor. Six months ago, the treatment failed and her condition worsened, and she developed a split personality. Symptoms, people who belong to the three camps, are extremely rare, and the circumstances are too bad. Mary was exiled into the deepest dungeon prison in the slums of Sarrier, and was strictly guarded.Dora was also sent to the orphanage in the slums, where the people there took care of her.

Then four months ago, a fire allowed the mother and daughter to escape.Now, here they are. "

As soon as she finished speaking, the three of them came to the door of a low shack. The dilapidated door creaked in the breeze. At the door, a girl who was fairly clean and tidy was squatting there, holding a A wooden stick, I don't know what is drawn on the ground.

Mu Li knew this girl, and he had personally rescued her, only now did he know that her name was Dora Pisco, and she was only 14 years old this year.That day, the two men who intended to rape them claimed to be collecting debts legally. Mu Li now understands that five years of prosecution and investigation have exhausted the family property. The mother and daughter are probably already heavily in debt, and debt collectors will come to their door. Not surprising either.And people like them are not protected by the law. Even if they are violated, the offender does not violate any laws. No wonder it is called "legal debt collection".

It's just that debt collectors can find them, but the military and police can't find them?This made Mu Li very puzzled.

"Little Dora, where's your mother?" Sister Du Bo slowed down and asked.

The girl squatting on the ground raised her head, silently glanced at Sister Du Bo, and then her gaze fell on Lan Ni and Mu Li behind, her lifeless face finally changed.Especially when she saw Mu Li, she bit her lip almost instantly, and her whole body tensed up.Obviously, she still clearly remembered the benefactor who saved her more than ten days ago, and now she recalled it at a glance.

"Dora?" Seeing that the girl didn't respond for a long time, Sister Du Bo called out again.

The girl stared at Mu Li and shifted her gaze back to Du Bo. After glancing at her, the girl turned and entered the room, saying at the same time:

"Come in, mom is inside."

The three of them followed Dora into the house, and as soon as they entered the house, an unpleasant musty and stale smell hit their faces.A visually estimated ten-square-meter space includes functions such as the kitchen, bedroom, and living room. The lighting is extremely poor, and it is dark in broad daylight. There is no bathroom, and I don't know where they wash.However, it was very clean. In the center of the room was a foot-operated sewing machine with a sense of age. Mother Mary was sitting beside the sewing machine, doing needlework.

"Mom, someone is looking for it." Dora said weakly, and then sat in the corner with the stove by herself, watching the fire.This is the most primitive wood-burning stove, and there is no gas in the slums. Only people with connections outside like Du Bo can use a can of gas packs every month.

Something was cooking on the stove, and there was a sweet smell, as soon as Mu Li came in, he could smell the aroma of sweet potatoes.Mary looked up at her daughter and saw that the three had already entered, she hurriedly put down what she was doing, stood up and greeted her.She looked a little better than ten days ago, but the haggard look on her face hadn't changed at all. Her humble, low-browed eyes made her feel sour.As soon as Du Bo came in, she kept apologizing:

"Sister Du Bo, I'm really sorry a few days ago. I...I know that I have something wrong, and I didn't hide it from you on purpose. I will definitely take care of myself from now on. Whenever I get sick, I will let my daughter tie me up at home , I won’t trouble you any more, don’t... don’t drive us away, okay?”

Du Bo waved his hand and said:

"The matter is over, just pay attention in the future. I didn't come here today for this matter. I brought two friends here. They have something to do with you."

After all, Du Bo stepped aside, invited Lan Ni and Mu Li to Mary, and introduced:

"This is Major Lanny Freesman, and this is Second Lieutenant Mu Li. You guys talk, I'll be back right away."

After that, she turned around and walked out, closing the door behind her.Du Bo was very knowledgeable and understood that the question Lanny asked probably wasn't suitable for him to be at the scene.Lanny was not polite to Dubo, but instead quickly focused on Mary in front of her. Those beautiful blue eyes seemed to see everything, sharp and bright. Mary was afraid of her instantly and clutched her hands uneasily. Hold on to your own apron.

"Relax, I'm not here to take you back, but I just want to ask you something. Hmm...won't you invite me to sit down?" Lanny smiled, her tone relaxed and cheerful.

"Oh, good, good..." Hearing this, Mary started looking for a stool in a hurry. First, she brought the stool she was sitting on to Lan Ni, and then gave the small stool that her daughter Dora was sitting on to Mu Li, and put it on the bench. When Mu Li was in front of him, she even wiped the surface of the stool with her sleeve, and bowed slightly to Mu Li, it seemed that she also recognized who Mu Li was.

There were only two stools in the house, and they were given to Lan Ni and Mu Li. Mary could only sit by the bed, while Dora simply sat on the floor, staring at the fire with her head down, without saying a word, and ignoring anyone.

"So, I'm starting?" Lanny said in a confirmed tone. Seeing Mary nodded, she asked:

"First of all, I want to know if you have anything to do with the upper echelons of the military."

This first question shocked Mu Li, she couldn't help but stare at Lan Ni from the side with wide eyes, and opened her mouth slightly.What is Lanny talking about?It’s not that Captain Pisco committed suicide in Ice and Snow City. Mary and Dora have been traveling for five years to investigate this matter, exhausting their family property.If they were related to the upper echelons of the military, how could this matter have dragged on for five years?

Apparently this question also surprised Mary, she changed color instantly, and before she could answer, Lanny said:

"I'm going back this afternoon. In order to save time, I won't go around in circles with you. There was a fire in the Sarrier slum. You and your daughter fled here all the way, and you were the first to escape. If you want to say it's yourselves I have doubts about your ability. What really made me suspicious was the fact that you were being chased by debt collectors. I was there that day. You and your daughter were in trouble and there was no one to help. I am sorry. Lieutenant Mu is a warm-hearted People, she helped you. I didn't pay much attention to this matter at the time, but after thinking about it, I think it was wrong. The intelligence network of debt collectors must not be as good as that of the military. The debt collectors can find you, but why the military knows nothing about your whereabouts , let you enter the Ares region and be sheltered?

My guess is that there are three possibilities. One is that the upper echelons of the military do know your whereabouts, but they let them go because someone secretly blocked you and hoped that you could get asylum.The second possibility is that the military really does not know your whereabouts, and your whereabouts were secretly leaked to the debt collectors by unofficial well-informed people.The third possibility... is that you deliberately leaked your whereabouts and clashed with debt collectors in the square in the center of Alta, in order to signal some people who were hiding in the dark, or for other purposes .Of course, this third point is based on the first point.

In terms of possibility alone, the second is obviously the smallest, and the first is more likely. As for the third, it is purely my own speculation. "

"Sir, I don't understand what you're talking about. How could I get in touch with the upper echelon of the military? If I had that ability, the matter of my lover would have been cleared up long ago." Mary said with a pale face and trembling voice.

"Okay, you don't need to answer this question." Lanny suddenly changed her mind, as if she no longer needed Mary's answer, and then she asked again:

"Did you know you have three personalities?"

Mary nodded slowly.

Lanny pondered for a moment, then asked:

"With all due respect, at the square, you were cornered, why didn't you switch your personality?"

"I...I don't know..." Mary stammered.

"Hey! Why on earth did you come here? Why do you force me to ask my mother like this? It's none of your business?" Dora, who was silent on the side, couldn't stand it any longer, and jumped up and yelled angrily at Lanny.

"Dora! Shut up!" Mary said urgently.

"Little girl, don't worry, I have one last question, I will leave after I finish asking, and I won't bother you again." Lanny said calmly without any fluctuations in her emotions.Then turned his gaze back to Mary, and continued to ask:

"Have you lived in Sarrier during the five years since your lover's accident?"

"No, Dora and I traveled between Sarrier and Ice City, and we stayed in both places for a long time." Mary replied.

"Very well, I'm done asking." Lanny stood up, smiled at the mother and daughter, then opened the door and walked out.Mu Li looked at her with a puzzled expression, and followed her out.

"Major, you...you were too aggressive just now!" After leaving the door, Mu Li frowned and whispered to Lan Ni.

"Aggressive?" Lanny laughed, "I just asked some questions, and people with ghosts in their hearts will naturally feel aggressive."

"Why do you ask this, what does this have to do with you?" Mu Li was a little annoyed.

Lan Ni glanced at her, then sighed, she stretched out her index finger and tapped her temple, looking at Mu Li with mockery in her eyes.Mu Li's face was flushed with anger, this woman was clearly laughing at her stupidity!But who can keep up with her thinking?Regardless of the questions she asked, Mu Li couldn't figure it out.

Lan Ni didn't answer Mu Li's question, but instead said: "Second Lieutenant, the matter of the mother and daughter is not over here, I may come again. They are indeed very pitiful, and I would like to ask the Second Lieutenant to take care of them."

Lan Ni's conversation turned too fast, which made Mu Li feel baffled. One moment, she was pressing the mother and daughter as a villain, and the next moment she showed kindness and asked Mu Li to take care of them. What does this mean?

She sighed deeply, feeling a little tired, and looked around, and saw that Sister Du Bo was no longer there, and there were many people nearby who were secretly spying on the place, and the surrounding atmosphere made her a little uncomfortable.

The sight accidentally fell on the pattern that the girl Dora had scribbled on the ground with a wooden stick just now. Looking carefully, she found that the girl drew a crying woman holding an umbrella in the heavy rain.

For some reason, Mu Li's heart ached.