I, Valon, am frantically searching for my mother.

Wayne turned his huge head to look at Vivian, who was surrounded by several children and who was trying to pick up a little girl and gently rock her on his lap.

Wayne's deep voice rose, drowning out the children's whispers.

"You seem to really like children?"

Vivian froze, nearly dropping the little girl on her lap, and hurriedly clung to her.

The mage looked up at Wayne, a slightly embarrassed yet self-deprecating smile on her face:

"Well, of course. I used to volunteer at an orphanage, and when they were recruiting monks, one of the requirements was experience with children. Who knew that this is how they handled it after I arrived..."

Because Wayne was currently in the form of a massive golden dragon, he looked down from a great height and exuded an aura of majesty.

In addition, the Golden Dragon held a special symbolic meaning in the hearts of the children of Hel City, almost like a guardian deity and the embodiment of justice. Although most children were grateful and admired him, they dared not really get close to him.

In contrast, Vivian, who is human, always seems to be smiling, and can turn into candy, is surrounded by a large group of children playing and frolicking, and the atmosphere seems quite harmonious.

We've been playing around like this for a while now.

Wayne instructed Sophia to take the children to the house and make do with sleeping on the floor for the night.

As the children left one by one, only Wayne's enormous golden figure remained in the courtyard, along with the purple-robed female mage standing before him, looking somewhat helpless and uneasy.

Vivian swallowed hard, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her mage's robe.

She knew that the moment that would ultimately determine her fate had arrived.

Wayne didn't speak immediately, but simply looked down at her quietly with his sun-like red vertical pupils.

The immense pressure made Vivian almost breathless, and cold sweat began to bead on her forehead again.

Finally, Wayne spoke, his voice calm and even:

Do you think... I'll let you go?

Vivian's body trembled slightly. She raised her head, looked directly into Wayne's eyes, and then honestly shook her head.

"have no idea."

Vivian's voice was a little hoarse.

"I really don't know, Mr. Jinlong. You have your own standards and judgment."

"But I feel..."

Weiwei paused for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"If I really die here today... I won't blame anyone, I deserve it."

"After interacting with those children... I realized even more clearly how lovely they are. If I had been braver, perhaps they would have suffered less harm."

Vivian gave a bitter smile.

"To be honest, Mr. Jinlong, I'm quite envious of you."

"You're so powerful, so free. If you see something bad happening that you don't like, you can just go and do whatever you want."

"If all else fails, we can call on the whole family, relatives, and friends to join in and take him down. We don't have to think twice, weigh the pros and cons, or be afraid of this or that."

"I just can't do it."

She looked down at her hands, which were rough from long-term contact with medicine.

"I'm too weak. I'm just a lowly mage at the first level, barely able to protect myself."

My mother is still in the countryside, and her health isn't good. I need to send her some money every month.

"I've thought about bringing her to live with us, but the houses in Hull are too expensive. I could work for someone else my whole life and still not be able to afford my own house."

"Master Jinlong, I have to live, I have to be of some use, in order to protect her, even if it's with this... dirty money."

"So, I can only be an accomplice whose conscience isn't completely rotten, secretly doing some insignificant, even probably useless, little things in the corners I can manage, deceiving myself into thinking I've done my best, and then continuing to work against my conscience and get paid..."

Vivian took a deep breath, raised her head, and her eyes hardened:

"However, this matter really has nothing to do with my mother. She doesn't know anything. She's just an ordinary, a bit nagging, country woman who worries about me if I send her less money, but more so about whether I'm doing well out there."

"If you're really angry and think I'm unforgivable, then go ahead and kill me, I'll take it."

"My only request is that you don't kill my mother."

"Just do as I say, throw my mom into the goblin cave, and remember to bring her some food from time to time so she doesn't starve to death."

When Vivian said this, her tone carried a sense of resignation and dejection.

Wayne suddenly interrupted her.

"Why a goblin cave? Couldn't it be a troll cave?"

"what?"

Vivian was taken aback, clearly not expecting Wayne to ask that.

A troubled look appeared on her face, and she subconsciously rubbed her hands together.

"W-Won't this be a bad idea? Master Jinlong, the trolls are too big, my mom can't handle them. And going to the trolls' place... how... how are we supposed to deliver food? She'll probably... get... get vomited all over herself!"

666, and there's also the image of an older child driving a small car and being filled with nausea.

Wayne couldn't help but glance at the purple-robed mage lady a couple more times.

In a sense, this person is also a genius.

Next, Wayne inquired in detail about the organization behind Vivian.

Vivian was truly open and honest this time.

She poured out all the information she knew, heard, and even guessed.

Although she was at a low level and knew only limited core secrets, the fragmented information, locations, characteristics, and trading habits still allowed Wayne to figure out what kind of organization it was.

After asking these questions, it was already late at night.

Wayne remained silent for a moment, and finally, looking at the purple-robed girl in front of him who was somewhat listless from talking too much but was forcing herself to stay alert, he asked one last question.

His voice was soft, but exceptionally clear in the quiet night:

"One last question."

"Vivian."

"Do you have a way... to get information about Sofia's mother?"

……

They survived!

Upon hearing Wayne's last words, Vivian knew she had finally survived.

While I could accept death, living is obviously much more comfortable.

A strong will to survive instantly invigorated her, and even her swollen panda eyes seemed to brighten a bit.

She nodded vigorously, speaking rapidly.

"I know! I know! Sir, I know! I really do remember this!"

Her answer was so quick and certain that it made Wayne a little suspicious.

The enormous golden head lowered slightly, its red, vertical pupils scrutinizing Vivian.

Are you that sure?

"It can't be... he's just lying to me by saying he could find it so he can survive, right?"

"Well……"

Vivian paused for a moment when asked the question, and the excited expression on her face froze.

She scratched her head, organized her thoughts, and tried to make herself sound more believable:

"Sir, what you're saying... I... how could I dare to lie to you? That would be like an old man hanging himself—wanting to die!"

"It's mainly this matter... it's a bit special."

She paused, seemingly considering her words, and her expression became somewhat strange.

"If you were to ask any random child, I certainly wouldn't dare say I could find them, but the one you're asking about is different..."