“Alright, you two dearies, decided on your dinner yet?”

Ding Yi cast a glance at the menu, but the ever-reliable steamed bun was nowhere to be seen.

However, it mattered not. Even in its absence, she still declared, “Steamed bun. I want a steamed bun.”

Jenny peered at her self-penned menu, then offered a smile. “How did you discern that our humble town’s specialty is stewed head?”

“But alas, my dear,” Jenny said with a touch of regret and apology, “the hour is not yet upon us.”

“You must wait two more days,” Jenny said in a conspiratorial whisper. “In just two days, when our semi-annual carnival arrives, you’ll have the chance to indulge in any head you desire.”

“All freshly prepared, I assure you. Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll find yourself lingering here for this very dish.”

Ding Yi and Qin Yuan exchanged a look. “…Stewed head?”

“Indeed, stewed head,” Jenny explained kindly. “After the carnival ends, every household will be occupied with preparing stewed head.”

Qin Yuan inquired, “Does this ‘stewed head’ involve the stewing of animal heads?”

“Precisely.”

Ding Yi asked, “Are all varieties of heads available?”

“All manner of heads,” Jenny mused for a moment. “Though the heads of herbivores are the most abundant, and arguably the most delectable.”

A vagrant Wisher near the bar chimed in, “Just what in the world is this ‘carnival’?”

“That, I cannot divulge,” Jenny demurred from answering, but added, “In any case, you will undoubtedly be here when the carnival arrives, and all will be revealed then.”

At the mere thought of the carnival’s grand spectacle, Jenny’s face bloomed with fervent anticipation and excitement. “I truly yearn for that day to arrive swiftly, so that you might witness the allure of the carnival for yourselves.”

A sense of unease welled up in Ding Yi at her passionate tone. “Animal Town… yet no animals are to be found. Why is it called ‘Animal Town’?”

“Why, because of our profound affection for animals, naturally!” Jenny countered with a question. “And you, my dear? Do you harbor a fondness for animals?”

Ding Yi sidestepped her query, instead mirroring her line of questioning. “What manner of animals do you hold dear?”

“Me? Puppies are my absolute favorite. You see, puppies are humanity’s most loyal companions.”

A shadow seemed to fall over Jenny’s cheerful demeanor, and the others instantly sensed that this question had struck a nerve. Just as they were about to press further, George’s booming voice echoed from the kitchen, announcing that the food was ready.

Jenny swiftly composed herself, pivoting and heading into the kitchen. She emerged carrying the ordered meals for the other Wishers, delivering them to their respective spots in quick succession.

As she approached, the nearby Wishers immediately pressed, “Have you ever raised a puppy before?”

“A puppy? No, never in my life.”

“What about George? Has George ever raised a puppy?”

“Not to my knowledge, no.”

“And your families? Your kin, George’s kin, or even your children? Have any of them ever raised one?”

Jenny shook her head. “Regrettably, no one has.”

The group, having gained no ground, once more fixed their complex gazes upon the woman with the singular band of color upon her arm.

It appeared she possessed some measure of ability, after all.

In the end, Ding Yi settled for a simple bowl of plain noodles. No matter how fervently Jenny extolled the virtues of the tavern’s meat dishes, she remained unmoved.

Her subconscious harbored a deep-seated aversion to all the meat dishes and even the dairy products within this town. She couldn’t quite place the source of this unease, but a strong instinct urged her to abstain.

Following Ding Yi’s brief description of the noodles, Qin Yuan also placed an order for the same.

Scarcely had the noodles been set down when a figure slumped into the vacant seat beside Ding Yi, collapsing onto the bar with utter disregard for propriety.

“I am going to die… I am going to die.”

Jiang Xianqing’s eyelids fluttered halfway open, her cheeks flushed crimson, and her breath came in ragged gasps.

Observing this, Ding Yi asked Jenny for two glasses of warm water and looked over at Yan Ming, whose head was also drooping. “What happened?”

“It’s incredibly hot,” Jiang Xianqing complained, his tone stretched in annoyance. “The heat, the crowd… I was so afraid of accidentally touching something I shouldn’t that we didn’t even dare take a sip of water or eat anything during the journey.”

With considerable effort, she hauled herself up and weakly leaned against Ding Yi’s shoulder. “Ding Yi, I truly believe I am on the verge of death.”

“You’re still very much among the living,” Ding Yi handed a glass of warm water provided by Jenny to Yan Ming, then considerately brought the other glass to Jiang Xianqing’s lips. “Drink some water first.”

Having quenched their thirst, the two slightly dehydrated Wishers began to revive and promptly ordered the same noodles as Ding Yi.

Once their simple meal was concluded, the four discussed retiring to their respective rooms for some rest.

The tavern boasted a total of three stories, with the staircase situated beside the bar.

Jenny and her husband resided in the small room adjacent to the kitchen. The second floor housed five guest rooms, while the third floor offered four more.

At this hour, vacant rooms were still available on both the second and third floors. Jiang Xianqing, reluctant to ascend that extra flight of stairs, led the four of them to claim two empty rooms for themselves.

“Did you gather any important insights today?”

After Ding Yi recounted her discoveries and conjectures, Jiang Xianqing exclaimed her relief at her cautiousness.

Earlier that day, women had also been selling trinkets, much like Catherine, trying to push leather or bone-adorned bracelets and necklaces on them.

Initially, she had been drawn in by the beads, which resonated deeply with her aesthetic sensibilities, but thankfully, she had ultimately resisted their allure.

“It’s merely a supposition,” Ding Yi couldn’t state with certainty. After all, the town’s residents all sported similar styles of jewelry. The crux of the matter was whether the materials were identical. “The true conditions for death remain shrouded in mystery.”

“What are your thoughts on this task before us?”

Yan Ming shook his head, his thick brows knitted together in contemplation. “This ‘evil’ mentioned in the task… could it imply some form of mutation? Perhaps they transform into zombies? Or even… vampires?”

Jiang Xianqing slapped him with a look of utter speechlessness. “The task speaks of the evil within their hearts, not of what monstrous beings they might be.”

“If you were to ask me,” she continued, “it’s about unearthing what nefarious deeds the entire town has collectively committed.”

Ding Yi nodded in agreement, turning her gaze to Qin Yuan at her side. “And time is limited. The task given to us by the instance must, by its very nature, be clearable, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Indeed.”

Yan Ming, ever quick on the uptake, steepled his fingers at the tip of his nose, his tone more grave than ever before. “Time is a precious commodity, the map spans a considerable area, and numerous town residents are implicated. Therefore, what we are tasked with investigating must be the most heinous act they have perpetrated together!”

Jiang Xianqing: …

Qin Yuan: …

A subtle curve graced Ding Yi’s lips as she observed the reactions of the other two. “Well spoken, well spoken indeed. It appears we have already established a general direction for our inquiries.”

Upon receiving Ding Yi’s praise, Yan Ming’s serious expression quickly transformed back into his typical cheerful self. “Hehe, I was just reflecting on the guidance you offered so wisely.”

“The ‘correction’ hinted at in the task…” Ding Yi furrowed her brow. “Perhaps there exists a long-standing error within this town, one that we are meant to uncover and rectify.”

“The crux of the matter, however, lies in discerning what this error pertains to.”

Qin Yuan, breaking his silence since entering the room, stated, “As long as a precise direction is established, the answers we obtain will invariably draw us closer to the truth.”

Ding Yi inquired, “Are you suggesting that the town’s residents will willingly divulge this information to us?”

“They will certainly not disclose the method of resolving this instance. However, given the time constraint, certain limitations must be in place, and with those limitations, corresponding advantages for success. Every question answered is a step towards that advantage granted by the limited time. Only in this manner does fairness prevail.”

Yan Ming gazed at Qin Yuan with newfound admiration. “Brother Qin, your wisdom is truly profound.”

Qin Yuan cast a glance in his direction, Yan Ming’s appearance inexplicably stirring a memory of 0723 – the similar hairstyles, the similar… intellect.

“It is nothing of consequence.”

Jiang Xianqing pondered for a moment, then recounted that what she and Yan Ming had encountered after their separation differed little from Ding Yi’s observations.

The sole distinction lay in the direction they had ventured, which led to a vast circular square. In the very center of this square stood a bronze statue depicting a human torso crowned with the head of a sheep.

“If one were compelled to identify something peculiar about that bronze statue,” Jiang Xianqing rubbed her chin thoughtfully with her index finger and thumb. “The craftsmanship and the meticulous attention to detail could certainly be lauded as a work of art. But here… what truly demands your attention is undoubtedly something else entirely.”

Jiang Xianqing closed her eyes, her mind replaying the image of the bronze statue she had witnessed in the square that day. “It… possessed a distinctly maternal air, wouldn’t you say?”