Chapter 37: The Web of Suspicion

“But why would she only tell you about these things she plans to do? If you weren’t the person she knew, how could she trust you with such matters without fearing you’d expose her to everyone?” Hank pressed on relentlessly, a stark contrast to his earlier enthusiasm for Xue Hu. “If the person she knew was me, or Kabasiji, or even that other guy, why wouldn’t she consult with anyone else, choosing instead to confide specifically in you?”

“Allow me to reiterate,” Xue Hu wrote impassively on the wooden board. “She neither consulted me nor informed me of her intention to capture the White Tiger; she merely came to swap shifts with me. What she chooses to do is beyond my control, and I cannot stop her. Her only reason for approaching me was her fear of encountering me in the forest and inadvertently disrupting her plan to capture the White Tiger. As for whether she sought out anyone else, that remains unknown to me.”

“Hank, you shouldn’t constantly suspect others; you haven’t exactly cleared your own name either!” It was at this moment that Kabasiji surprisingly stepped forward to speak on Xue Hu’s behalf. He looked at Hank and declared, “You’re far too agitated about Xingxing’s death, unlike someone who had only known her for a few days. You keep shifting the focus onto Xue Hu, but in my eyes, both of your suspicions are equally valid. The evidence you’ve presented is merely an established fact, not a deduction based on solid grounds. Xue Hu’s explanation, while strained, is marginally plausible. Ascertaining precisely who Xingxing knew isn’t a matter that can be resolved with a few words. Moreover, it could even be that other guy; we’ve never even exchanged greetings with him, and we don’t even know his current whereabouts. Perhaps Xingxing secretly sought him out; otherwise, where would she have found the courage to venture into the forest alone at night to capture the White Tiger?”

“Kaba, my friend, are you suspecting me now?” Hank looked at Kabasiji with surprise, then continued, “I’m telling you, I trust you; you’ve been teamed up with me for monster grinding the longest, and I believe you’re an honest person who rarely lies. I have a question for both of you, and it would be best if you answered truthfully, as that’s the only way to alleviate your suspicions. Is this confidential mission bound to a special mission? Does a person with a confidential mission necessarily have a special mission?”

“That, I’m not entirely sure about,” Kabasiji admitted, scratching his head before turning to Xue Hu. “I don’t have a special mission or a confidential mission; mine are a main quest and a side quest. What about you, Xue Hu? What kind do you have? Currently, Xingxing is the only one we know of who has both a special mission and a confidential mission. I wonder what type you possess?”

“Uncle Hank, your words seem to be an attempt to clear your own name, don’t they?” Xue Hu asked, blinking at Hank. “You’re asking that question to prove you don’t have a confidential mission, and therefore aren’t the person Xingxing knew, correct? I believe you; at least, I believe your mission is unrelated to Xingxing. However, Uncle Kaba, I’m not quite so convinced by your words. I know for a fact that I didn’t know Xingxing before, and Uncle Hank isn’t the person Xingxing knew. Chen Lili has been dead for a long time, and the system keeping that person’s identity a secret indicates it’s not Chen Lili either. That leaves only you and the Shamatte-styled individual. The Shamatte-styled individual appears and disappears without a trace every day, and I’ve never seen Xingxing have any contact with them. Therefore, it can only be you! You claim you don’t have a confidential mission, but I don’t believe you. Your confidential mission must be to prevent anyone from knowing you knew Xingxing!”

“What? No, why must the person Xingxing knew necessarily have the same confidential mission?” Xue Hu noticed a flicker of panic in Kabasiji’s eyes, though it vanished almost instantly, leaving her uncertain if she had imagined it. Kabasiji, however, continued to argue, “Only the person who knew Xingxing would know what their mission is! I believe everyone has fallen into that misconception!”

“No, Xue Hu is correct on that point,” Hank stated, shaking his head. “The person who knew Xingxing must have a confidential mission to prevent others from knowing they knew Xingxing. Because if their mission weren’t set up this way, they could reveal their acquaintance with Xingxing without any hesitation, which would most likely cause Xingxing’s mission to fail. I don’t believe the system would make such a basic error. But coming back to my original point, you still haven’t told me: are special missions and confidential missions bound together? If they are, then the person Xingxing knew is in grave danger, as they could lose this game when we are completely unprepared. I still find you highly suspicious, Xue Hu; Xingxing was far too close to you. To say you never knew each other, I simply don’t believe it.”

“Hank, you shouldn’t speak that way. I don’t believe your suspicion has been cleared either,” Kabasiji retorted. “Perhaps Xue Hu and Xingxing were simply closer because they are both young women; after all, it wouldn’t be appropriate for young ladies to approach us old uncles.” He chuckled self-deprecatingly as he spoke, then added, “You constantly attack Xue Hu, but can you really rule out that unconventional guy? I suspect your current actions have an ulterior motive.”

“That guy…” Hank shook his head. “All I can say is that I’m certain it’s not him, assuming one person can only have a single confidential mission at most. As for why, don’t ask any further; I won’t say. Why have you stopped writing, Xue Hu? Did my words strike a nerve? Are you afraid to speak now? You claim it’s merely because you’re both girls that you were close, yet you’ve never uttered a sound. I’m beginning to doubt if you’re even truly a girl.”