[player]Ciri, why don't we take Mojito to the alley over there first? It looks like there are fewer people over there.
[Ciri]Oh? Why should we?
[player]Ahaha... Haven't you realized that everyone is a little scared of Mojito?
[Ciri]I was wondering why it was unusually quiet today... Mojito may look a little fierce, but it grew up in Soul and isn't as aggressive as wild black panthers. There's nothing to be scared of.
[player]That being said... maybe everyone has preconceived notions about black panthers and thinks they will hurt them, right?
[Ciri]Even wild black panthers won't hunt humans. Compared with large beasts such as tigers and lions, they are smaller and tend to choose to live far away from people.
[Ciri]Hmph! Humans are always worried that animals will hurt them, yet they aren't willing to admit that they are the most brutal animals in the natural world.
Upon hearing this, Mojito raises its head and growls like it is agreeing with Ciri's words.
I'm instantly reminded of the recent red-crowned crane incident. I do understand why Ciri is acting like this, but I also get a strange feeling.
Ciri... seems to have something against humans?
I often hear stories about everyone at Soul, but now that I think about it, I don't think anyone has ever mentioned Ciri's past. I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to ask her personally.
[player]I'm a little curious. Why did you bring Mojito today?
[Ciri]I got hurt when I was fighting yesterday. I didn't notice it myself either, but this fellow smelled the blood on me and insisted on coming out with me today.
After hearing Ciri's words, I notice some bandages exposed on her top near the shoulder. I can't confirm where she is injured or whether it is serious.
[Ciri]Don't worry, it isn't anything serious. I'm used to this already.
[player]It's better to not be used to something like this, but at the same time, I'm kind of envious of you... I didn't expect that Mojito is actually a knight and is willing to accompany you especially to protect you.
[Mojito]*Purr*
Unless I'm mistaken, Mojito is looking at me with approval. Moreover, based on my many years of experience in raising a "cat", the sound Mojito made is a happy sound.
However, the most important thing to us right now is to get the staff to let us in. Ciri lowers her head and thinks deeply for a moment before she seems to have an idea and looks up to talk to me.
[Ciri]I understand what you're thinking, but I have an idea better than getting Mojito to hide.
[player]What is it?
[Ciri]If we can convince the staff that Mojito is a gentle and obedient child who won't hurt people, I think they will no longer try to stop us.
[player]That's a good idea! How will you help the staff understand Mojito better?
[Ciri]Simple, I'll get Mojito to play with them for a while. When we perform at Soul, Mojito is best at interacting with children.
[Ciri]Although... it does dislike humans, based on its attitude to you, I don't think it dislikes humans that much, so it should be okay.
[Ciri]You two can just wait for me here.
[player]Okay.
[Mojito]*Grrr*
Ciri walks over to the entrance of Countless Springs and starts talking to the staff. I don't know what she said to them, but within a few minutes, the staff follow Ciri over here and stand in front of me and Mojito.
One of them is a woman who has braids and is wearing a pair of round glasses. After approaching Mojito cautiously, she squats down and looks at it carefully for a moment before looking at Ciri. Judging from her expression, she should still be a little scared.
[Ciri]Relax, you'll be okay.
Mojito seems to understand the situation we're in and tries its best to appear docile, but the staff can't see past the scar on its cool face to see how docile it is.
After struggling for a while, the female staff finally decides to carefully place her hand on Mojito's head and pet Mojito gently.
[Female Staff]Wow! It really is very obedient and won't bite people!
[Male Staff]Um... Let's observe it for a little longer.
When he said he would observe for a little longer, I didn't expect the male staff to squat down in front of Mojito and scratch its chin, stroking down along its neck and back in the direction of its fur. He is a true expert at petting cats!
The two staff pet Mojito for a while and decide to let us enter Countless Springs after confirming that it won't harm anyone.
Kurone Toujou is already waiting for us in the pavilion in the middle of the lake by the time we get inside Countless Springs. She is sitting behind a screen painted with birds singing in a bamboo forest. I can't see her appearance clearly, and all I can see are some indistinct shadows swaying with the breeze blowing through the pavilion.
Ciri doesn't act like a stranger in front of her. She skips the formalities and starts asking questions from the very beginning.
[Ciri]I've come to ask you about the situation that day when you picked up the red-crowned crane. The more details you can give me the better.
[Kurone Toujou]You're as impatient as ever, hehe. However, it's been a few days now, so please give me some time to think about what happened.
[Kurone Toujou]It was around 10 PM that night when I met the red-crowned crane, and I was just coming back from the East Wind dojo... I think someone was chasing it at that time, and it no longer had the strength to get back up again after it fell to the ground in front of me.
[Kurone Toujou]It was when I picked it up that I noticed the serious injuries on its wings and legs.
[Ciri]Were you the only one there at that time?
[Kurone Toujou]Yes, I didn't have anyone accompany me because East Wind dojo isn't far from Countless Springs... Of course, I didn't dare to rashly confront the people chasing after it at that time, so I took it and hid in a nearby 24-hour convenience store.
[Ciri]Didn't those people search the convenience store?
[Kurone Toujou]Maybe they thought the red-crowned crane wouldn't go inside a convenience store by itself... Anyway, they didn't search that place at that time.
[Ciri]Did you see who they were?
[Kurone Toujou]Through the glass at night, I think I could vaguely see... a group of people who were dressed like thugs and had weapons with them.
Upon hearing this, Ciri suddenly punches the pillar next to her and gives me a fright.
[Ciri]They tricked us.
I instantly understand what she is saying. Ciri thinks that the thug Shijukara we met the other day must have been talking about this red-crowned crane. He was probably lying when he said he was looking for a man called red-crowned crane.
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