CH 375

Lin Xiao thought that because they took their sweet time on the way here, they should be late and there wouldn’t be many people at the office. But it was the exact opposite, he never expected the alliance office to be packed with people.

“What happened?”

Lin Xiao and ShenDai Ying looked at each other at a loss, so they could only forcibly squeeze into the office with the others and find the manager to question.

“Uncle, what happened? Is there an important mission?”

“Don’t even mention it… it seems like a team went missing again, so princess Claire is assigning a rescue mission, that’s why everyone is waiting here.” The manager was organizing files while absentmindedly responding.

“Missing again? What does that mean… have there been a lot of teams that went missing?”

“Sigh, of course. No one knows what kind of dangers there are in the plagued areas, there are many teams that have gone and never come back, don’t even mention how strange it is.”

“Hm, that is strange… but I heard that the church already sent people to help, how is that going?” Lin Xiao didn’t forget to ask about what was happening with Snow.

“Are you talking about that fraudster from the church? Hmph, like you can count on a brat like that to help, keep dreaming! … Everyone thought she would bring medicine to cure the plague, but all she did was ‘purification’ and ‘removing the sins’, it sounds good but all she did was using pretty holy magic to burn the corpses to deceive people and a lot of people actually believe her bullshit, sigh.”

Hearing the manager’s complaints, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but inwardly sigh.

“Although it may be deception, it’s not a bad move… the situation is complex and there are great risks of rashly entering the outbreak zone, so the next best thing would be taking care of the corpses that can still spread the plague. That way you can simultaneously reassure people and earn the trust of the locals… Snow, it seems like you remembered everything I taught you.”

Lin Xiao had peace of mind after hearing what happened and also was a bit sentimental.

“Oh? Based on what you said, then that brat has been a big help… strange, Saintess Snow just arrived a couple of days ago and I just heard about people talking about her today morning, how do you know about everything so well? … Hm? Wait… who are you?” The manager felt something off when he heard Lin Xiao talking to himself, so he looked up and was shocked.

He had thought that he was chatting with some investigator, but it ended up being a child!?

The youth looked no older than 15 or 16, and there were also a couple of similarly aged boys and girls behind him. They all looked to be inexperienced fledglings, there was also a big breasted maid that was as beautiful as a doll and stunned him.

Whether it was their appearance or their aura, they didn’t fit into the environment. Even though they didn’t cause a commotion when they arrived, but the surrounding people were secretly observing them and trying to eavesdrop to see who they were.

“Never thought children like you would know that much.” The manager bitterly smiled, “But kid, the plague has nothing to do with you, that’s for the adults, so you don’t have to worry… I’m busy, so stop messing around and go play somewhere else.”

He guessed that they were kids of some investigators and came along with their parents, so he couldn’t directly chase them away and just continued organizing his files.

“Uh… why would it have nothing to do with us?” Lin Xiao could tell that the manager was belittling them as he helplessly looked back at his team.

They were all used to this kind of situation since Lin Xiao likes keeping a low profile. If he was as well-known as Caesar then he wouldn’t have so many troubles.

But then again, being low profile had its benefits, it just depended on how you use it…

“Uncles, we’re also investigators and specifically came as support.” Saying that Lin Xiao handed over his badge.

“Hm, you’re also investigators?”

He frowned and thought they were joking, but they were actually serious after taking a look at the badge.

“Oh, so you’re E rank investigators… usually the lowest rank E wouldn’t be qualified to take missions cross-borders, but this time’s mission is special so there were no restrictions and you guys are qualified to participate, but…”

He stopped before finishing what he was saying, but his suspicions already revealed his thoughts.

“Wait a bit.”

He took out a thick book from a cabinet and looked through it but didn’t find what he was looking for.

“Sigh as expected, E ranks aren’t in my roster.”

He originally wanted to verify their information, but rank E was too low and his roster didn’t record any E rank investigators, so he could only question them.

“So, what’s your name? How strong is your team?”

“I’m Lin…”

“Hey, isn’t directly asking like that too much? They’re still kids.”

“That’s right, aren’t you just trying to embarrass them?”

Before Lin Xiao could say his own name, some good samaritans stopped him from being questioned.

“Uh, right… sorry.”

The uncle awkwardly smiled and didn’t continue questioning them.

Actually, he could speculate how strong they were without even asking.

Young E rank investigators, that information was already enough to explain everything.

If they were strong, why would they be E rank? E rank means that they just got their badge and possibly haven’t even completed a single mission. Everyone here was at least D rank, most were C rank, they were all capable people in their own right, otherwise Claire wouldn’t have gathered them here.

“You just said that you came from Lombard kingdom?” The uncle shook his head and changed the topic.

“That’s right.”

“There was also a group that came earlier, why were you guys so late?”

“Uh… we met some trouble on the way.” Lin Xiao scratched his head, and gave a random excuse.

It couldn’t be helped, it’s not like he could say there were delayed because he was happily playing around with ShenDai Ying.

“Some trouble huh…”

The uncle repeated his excuse and shook his head once again.

Now, he was even more sure of it, this team just came to get points!

There were weaker investigators like that who would join large teams to muddle by and collect points.

They would usually lag behind and slack off, although they not necessarily drag the team down, but it was also difficult to count on them for anything.

Anyways they were clearly a team like that and would make no difference whether if they were here or not.

“Sigh, but… alright.”

The uncle sighed and didn’t continue.

Actually, it’s not like they were completely useless.

Even if they were just here for points, they could at least add to the numbers and increase morale a bit. They were kids anyways so it’s not like they would be expected to be of much use. As long as they could listen to orders and do some logistical work, that would be enough.

After all, every bit of help was precious at a crucial time like this. It wouldn’t be bad to have a couple of extra hands to help out.

“Find a place to wait, princess Claire is in a meeting that will end soon, we’ll need to wait for her orders before continuing.”

“Okay.”

Lin Xiao obediently nodded, beckoned the others and found an empty table in the corner to wait at.

“Hehe, it seems like he’s looking down on you a lot.” ShenDai Ying leaned close to Lin Xiao while smiling and said.

“It’s fine, I came for the mission not to show off, as long as he accepts us.” Lin Xiao nonchalantly shrugged.

“Hmph, he’s just a snob! He doesn’t know how strong brother Xiao is, he’s going to suffer when he sees!” Xiao Tian clenched his fist as he helped Lin Xiao fight that injustice.

“Q-quiet down, or they’re going to hear and come beat you up!” Yao Zi quickly covered her brother’s mouth.

The foolish siblings began their usual shenanigans.

“But Lin Xiao, I’m curious, it seems that manager paid particular attention to investigators from Lombard Kingdom?”

ShenDai Ying sat to the left of Lin Xiao and moved closer worried he couldn’t hear. Seeing that, the maid sitting to his right also moved her chair, but in the other direction.

“Hm, you’re right, I also noticed that. It’s probably because of Caesar, with his reputation and the team he lead, they probably earned their respect.”

“Hm, maybe. I wonder how they’re doing, they probably already entered the outbreak zone and started investigating, right?”

“With his personality, it’s very likely he would charge headfirst in… I just don’t know how much he’s found.”

While Lin Xiao and ShenDai Ying were quietly chatting, Yao Zi and Lin Tian were messing around like usual and Elena also had her usual indifferent expression.

At that time, the door suddenly opened!

Everyone thought that it was Clair finally going to give orders, but it was an unfamiliar man that came out.

“It looks like a member from Caesar’s team… why did he come back alone? Could something have happened to them?” The manager quietly muttered to himself.

The middle-aged man that escaped out of the meeting room was clearly embarrassed. He lowered his head and avoided everyone’s gaze and trying to hide towards a corner of the room and suddenly saw the five youths that were out of place sitting here.

“Lin Xiao… Lin Xiao!?”

He quietly repeated his name twice, the first time was slow and sluggish, the second was filled with excitement and ecstasy!