Redfield did not exaggerate about the laboratory. After seeing the scene, Shireen also thought that calling it a "vacant place" was more appropriate.

The open space is located between two dilapidated apartment buildings, about fifty steps wide. Most communities have open spaces like this as green areas, but the open space in front of us is very different. Although the sand on the surface looks like the city

There is no difference in other places inside, but there is no grass growing in the open space.

Tecrus did not let them get close, but stood on the opposite side of the street and watched from a distance. "After the explosion in the laboratory, a lot of alchemy raw materials seeped into the soil." He explained in a low voice, "People from the City Planning Bureau are here.

Flower seeds and grass seeds were sown, but nothing grew. Over the next few months, they tried almost every flower and plant in the kingdom."

"All failed?" Shireen looked at the open space in surprise. There was no greenery on the dusty sand.

"Even a certain southern plant that can bloom in the desert failed to survive here. It is said that the flower seeds barely sprouted a few sickly buds, but they all died in less than a week.

.”

"The only mutant plants that can grow from soil contaminated by alchemical waste are probably mutated plants cultivated through alchemy." Emma said coldly.

"That's right, Madam Commissioner." Tecrus nodded, "The Duke has ordered the Alchemy Guild to start research in this area, hoping to invent a plant that can grow in this soil as soon as possible.

Although this is just a slum area, everyone still hopes to see a pleasant green belt."

Shireen suspected that the residents nearby were not that relaxed and elegant at all. The fact that they did not move out of the apartment after the accident showed how great the financial pressure on these people was.

People who are worried about food will definitely not care whether the nearby vacant land is a green belt. If they have money, their priority should be how to move away from here.

Soon they had to admit that there was indeed nothing worth investigating in the open space. And just looking there, Shireen felt creepy.

So they started looking for witnesses.

Under the leadership of Tycruz, they walked into an apartment building next to the vacant lot. After climbing a few steps and passing through the archway facing the street, Shireen found a heavy lock hanging on the metal door leading to the hall.

.

Tycruz looked inside against the glass on the door. "It's empty." He said, "It seems that this apartment building has been abandoned. It must be because it is too close to the explosion site."

The same goes for the apartment building on the other side of the lot. The metal door was locked tightly, and the keyhole in the lock was thicker than her finger.

The Duke seems to have no plans to rebuild this place. It seems that he plans to close these two apartments until the end of the world?

The only options worthy of investigation were quickly reduced to the apartment building across the street. It looked a bit lively, at least the windows on the street side were mostly hung with curtains.

It seems that no matter how difficult life is, everyone still hopes to maintain some privacy.

There is still no administrator in the apartment lobby, and the seat at the service desk is empty. It is similar to the apartment where Shilin visited Xia Yue and her daughter a few days ago.

She was curious about whether there was an elf garden in the basement of this building, but she didn't really want to know the answer.

After having a close encounter with the killer vine, Shireen no longer wanted to have anything to do with the elves' garden.

They started their investigation from the first floor of the apartment. After some careful probing and awkward silence, they finally got a response from the fifth door they knocked on.

The person who opened the door was a man who looked extremely sleep-deprived. His face was very messy, his hair was messy, he was wearing mismatched pajamas, and his eyes were narrowed into two slits.

"Good day, sir." Tecrus greeted enthusiastically, "I'm sorry to disturb your rest, we are here."

"Are you from the City Guard?" the man said gruffly.

"Yes, sir."

"Okay, then you must know that I am a conscientious night watchman. Every day after you boys in uniforms and receive public pay go home, we poor bastards have to put on black clothes and walk around the streets like cats catching mice.

I go on patrol and can't go home until the sun rises. So if you wake me up from my sleep in the middle of the day, you'd better have a decent reason."

Tecrus was stunned for a moment, "We represent the Alchemy Guild..."

"We are from Avon Insurance Company," Shireen took a step forward. "We are here today to ask a few questions about a magical disaster that occurred five months ago. We have reason to believe that the residents in this apartment are

Witnesses of the disaster."

"Five months ago? You mean when the laboratory across the street was bombed into the sky?"

"Exactly."

His eyes narrowed further, "I remember that five months ago, a guy who called himself an 'evaluator' asked me the same question. I told him everything I knew at that time, after all, that happened

It has nothing to do with me, so there is nothing to hide. Why do you think I can tell more now?"

Shireen and Emma looked at each other, "We have read the report from that time, and the cause of the accident was not written in detail."

"I have no idea what the cause of the accident was. The explosion happened during the day, when I was sleeping at home. You may have noticed that the windows on the side of the building facing the street cannot be opened during the day. I was working on a

Dream, in the dream, my wife and son had not left me. Then there was a dull loud noise, and they disappeared again. I rolled out of bed like a fool, and footsteps and screams came from the corridor.

Voice."

"So you didn't see the explosion with your own eyes?" Shirin raised her eyebrows.

"I didn't even see the scene after the explosion. I was sleepy and tired at the time, and I just wanted to go back to my dream and see my son again. After I confirmed that the apartment building would not explode, I went back to bed and continued to sleep.

In the evening, when I put on my black clothes and left the apartment, I found that the laboratory opposite had become a ruin. Some people were walking through the rubble and gravel, and from time to time they carried out some weird-shaped alchemy equipment. Most of them were in the

It was burned into waste during the explosion."

"Uh, so you totally slept through it."

"That's right. I told the evaluator the same thing five months ago. After listening, he closed the notebook in his hand, thanked me, and then let me go back to sleep. You plan to do the same.

?"

Shirin hesitated, "We..."

"Sir," Emma, ​​who had been watching silently, suddenly said, "did you just say that your wife and son left you?"

The night watchman frowned, "I did, ma'am. But what does that have to do with you?"

"Why did he leave?"

"If I fucking knew the reason, they wouldn't have left. I don't drink, I don't gamble, and I have no interest in drugs or smoking. Although I'm not as good as the rich aristocrats uptown, I'm definitely not a bad father.

.”

"Then when did they leave?"

"A year ago, shortly after those elves who were shouting about 'equal treatment of non-human races' left. That morning I came home and found that the house was empty. They left without even packing their luggage, leaving only a

I wrote a note that said, 'I'm sorry, dear.'" He looked a little sad, but quickly returned to his cold attitude, "I don't need to answer these questions, you should go."

"Of course, we'll leave right away." Emma nodded, "But if you are still having dreams related to them, I suggest you go to the clinic on Orchid Street to find a Dr. Novakri, and tell her it's Ai

Ma Peggy asked you to go. She knows how to help you."

The night watchman looked at her uncertainly for a while, "Emma Page, huh?"

"That's right. Remember, it's Dr. Novakori, she's usually there on weekends," Emma said.

"Remember, ma'am." His expression softened a little, "So, about the laboratory, if I remember anything..."

"You can write a note and send it to Avon Insurance Company." Shireen handed him the card with her office's mailing address on it.

After the night watchman closed the door, Tycruz stared at Emma dumbfounded.

"Talk as equals?" Shireen asked with a smile.

"Respect is the prerequisite for equal conversation, and concern is the best respect." Emma said lightly, "He may not be able to remember any valuable information, but who knows what will happen in the future? You now know the correct way to ask questions.

Yet?"

Shirin nodded, "Listen first, then ask questions."

"Very good. There are still many rooms in this apartment. I suggest that we split up. Maybe we can finish it before noon."

Tycruz was in charge of the top floor, Emma went to the second floor, and Shireen stayed on the first floor and continued to knock on the door.

Although the apartment building has many rooms, most residents are away from home during the day.

She then knocked on the doors of three more households, but never got any valuable information. However, these households all left her contact information and promised that if they remembered any information, they would write to her office.

The inquiry yielded little results, but at least there was still some hope. She hoped that Emma and Tycruz would have better luck than herself, but she didn't have high expectations.

She gradually approached the end of the corridor. When approaching the entrance to the basement, Shireen suddenly felt uncomfortable.

The horrific memories of the garden came back to her. She felt cold all over and could not breathe. The fear of being buried underground almost made her unable to move.

Don't do this, she covered her chest with her left hand, not now! Shirin leaned against the wall and took several deep breaths with difficulty.

The cold feeling gradually subsided. She squeezed out the tears from her eyes and wiped her face with the back of her hand, finally regaining some self-control.

There are two more rooms. Knock twice, and then she can get out of here.

There was no response from the first door, and the second door was...unlocked.

If it weren't for the sudden attack of fear, she would definitely not have made such a mistake. Shirin stupidly opened the door and walked into the room.

"Good morning? Is anyone home?" she asked.

There was silence. The room was a little messy, and old clothes were thrown carelessly on the floor. What's going on?

She took another step forward, this time raising her voice, "Is anyone home?"

Suddenly there was a sound of closing the door behind her, and she turned around and was horrified to find a strange man looking at her with an evil expression. He was very tall, with short brown hair standing straight up, and he seemed to be angry all the time.

Shirin opened her mouth to scream, but the other party stretched out a big hand and covered her mouth tightly.

"What's going on? Did you forget to lock the door?" She heard a voice coming from behind her.
To be continued...