WHILE waiting for this 'someone' who had the information about what happened to Finnea back then, the leader's secretary temporary put them in a lounge room to make them feel more comfortable. Well, sitting inside a messy room would not really make anyone feel at ease.
"I hope we could finish these two tasks by tomorrow," Luo Yan said, a bit worried.
Of course, his worry didn't get pass Shen Ji Yun. "Is something the matter?"
"Well, since it's a seven-week holiday, my father decided that our family should go on vacation. We'll leave on Thursday and return on Saturday. So, I only have today and tomorrow to finish our tasks."
A vacation? It's indeed normal for families to go on vacation during this week-long holiday. Shen Ji Yun never really thought of that. Since for him, ever since his father died, holidays were just like any other days. His uncle did try hard to give him a 'normal' family despite everything that happened. But at the same time, he was also very busy with Moonlight Media. The time his uncle became his guardian was the period when the company was the busiest. With the VR project and all that stuff. So, the two of them never went to a vacation during his childhood phase.
Now that his uncle could be leisurely, Shen Ji Yun was already at the age when he no longer cared about things like vacation and stuffs that were similar. But hearing the word 'vacation' from Luo Yan, he suddenly thought that it would be good if he could also go on vacation with him.
With that line of thinking, an idea suddenly formed his mind.
"Where are you and your family going?" he asked, trying his best to sound nonchalant. As if he's really not that interested in the answer.
"In Chengdu. We'll go and see pandas," Luo Yan said, smiling at him.
Shen Ji Yun was suddenly hit by this sweet smile. Added that to him just imagining Luo Yan with a big, fluffy panda and it just became a critical hit to his heart. He definitely, definitely must see that – he thought, pumping the little fist in his heart.
[Mashter, you're going on vacation? Could Eclipse go too?] – Eclipse suddenly asked.
Luo Yan stroked Eclipse's head gently. He felt a bit distressed. Because he couldn't really tell Eclipse that he couldn't go with them since he's a virtual pet and could only exist in this world. He knew that there's no reason to be so thoughtful about the little fox's feelings since he's basically just an AI. But Luo Yan couldn't help himself. It hadn't even been a month since Eclipse's hatched from his egg, but he really considered him as special. Not just as a pet but also as a friend. So, he didn't want him to be hurt.
[You can't go this time. But don't worry, you and me will go somewhere even more beautiful. I'll even buy you your favorite Mana fruit and you can eat as many as you want.]
As expected, after the mention of Mana fruit, Eclipse had no time being sad because he immediately became excited. [Really, Mashter? You can't fool Eclipse.]
[Of course, why would I do that?]
Eclipse showed a toothy grin and hugged Luo Yan's arm. [Mashter is really the best for Eclipse.]
After almost half an hour, the secretary returned. But this time she was not alone, she had a female NPC with her. It was a human NPC with a very obvious reluctant expression on her face. It seemed that she didn't want to talk to them but only came because of the leader of the Crimson Corps. That brown-haired 'Santa' probably even ordered her to talk to them.
"The leader said that you three can talk here. Don't worry, no one will disturb you while you're having conversation," the secretary said before leaving and politely closing the door.
The female NPC sat in front of them. No longer hiding the dissatisfaction on her face.
"Hello, may I ask what your name is?" Luo Yan asked in a friendly manner.
The NPC snorted. "Stop with the senseless talk and just tell me what you needed me for."
Luo Yan didn't know if it was just his imagination but the female NPC seemed to refuse looking in his direction. As if seeing his face would remind her of something. Was it because he's a moon elf like Finnea?
"Then I will do as you wish. We came here at the request of Finnea's husband." Luo Yan saw her visibly flinched at the mention of Finnea. "He wanted to know all the details that led up to her wife's death."
"I don't know anything," she said in an almost automatic manner. As if she was asked this question a thousand of times already and this was the only answer she could give.
"We know that you're the one who's with her with it happened. So, it's impossible that you 'don't know anything' as you say," Luo Yan said. "She was your friend, wasn't she? Is it really alright for you to not give her family the closure that they so badly needed?"
He almost rolled his eyes inwardly. Seriously, why did he have to say all these cheesy lines as if he was in some sort of drama? But he knew that if he couldn't say the right 'keywords' then this NPC wouldn't tell them what they needed.
He secretly glanced at Shen Ji Yun who looked like he was in deep thought. He knew he couldn't rely on this guy when it came to matters like this one. Because he'd probably just threaten the NPC and be done with it.
He put back his attention on the female NPC. She was now shaking. Luo Yan felt like he's close. He just needed to push her a bit more.
"Do you know why her husband asked us this request? Because of their son, Filli. A while back, he went to a dangerous part of the Crescent Woonlands – a forest surrounding our village. Because he wanted to train himself. He wanted to be strong. To go out of the village as soon as he could. So that he could avenge what happened to his mother." He paused and stared at the NPC whose body shook even stronger. "He almost died doing so. But I managed to save him."
The female NPC bit her lower lip and hugged herself as if she could get some comfort from that.
But Luo Yan didn't give her a chance and continued, "If he continued to be ignorant about what happened to his mother, he would continue to put himself on danger like that. Maybe next time, he wouldn't be so lucky. No one would come to his rescue and then he would really fall to his dea—"
"Stop!" shouted the NPC before he could finish what he was saying. "Please, stop."
"I was just telling you of a possibility. So, I hope you could cooperate with us," Luo Yan said. "Not for us, but for Finnea's son. Your friend's child."
The female NPC suddenly burst out crying.
Shen Ji Yun sitting on the side didn't care about the NPC. Because in his mind right now, all he could think of was how to convince his uncle to go on a vacation with him to Chengdu.