Chapter 2477: Not Even a Five-Year-Old Would Think That
To get the Cat Whisker Fruit, Xu Huo encountered other players when he left the Wan residence. Everyone looked quite grim, probably knowing there were many competitors for the same task, and since passing through this method was almost hopeless, none of them had a good expression for each other.
Bubble Bean returned and, seeing Xu Huo holding the Cat Whisker Fruit, couldn't help but sneer, "People who can think of this method, if not thirty, then at least twenty-nine."
Xu Huo glanced at him. "With your intelligence, it's hard for me to explain why I absolutely had to get this Cat Whisker Fruit."
Bubble Bean didn't confront him head-on either, instead giving a cold laugh. "You're so amazing, let's see if you can actually clear the instance with that Cat Whisker Fruit!"
Ling Ling also came over, smiling. "I just contacted a few players. They received an anonymous order on a Message Collection Terminal, requesting a specially made Cat Whisker Fruit to be delivered to Cat Pupil City. It involves a big family's will, and there might be people intercepting it on the way, so they need to arrange multiple routes for transport."
"A will? Can't they just use the Under Dimension?" Bubble Bean said. "Why bother arranging people to deliver it?"
"I wouldn't know about that," Ling Ling said. "But this matter is indeed unusual. The risk might be high, but precisely because of the high risk, it's a special event. No one should have done it before, so the chances of clearing the instance are still pretty good."
"So? Want to give it a try?" She looked at Xu Huo. "It should be much more reliable than what you have in hand."
Xu Huo thought for a moment before saying, "I plan to wait a bit longer."
Ling Ling raised an eyebrow. "Worried it's a trap?"
As Bubble Bean had said, even if it were a will, let alone delivering the heir, there were plenty of methods in the current 001 District. There was no need to hire outside help. Even if someone used instruments to interfere at a fixed location, since it involved inheritance rights, 001 District should have corresponding protection mechanisms. So a government agency would likely step in, and there was no situation where one person could cover the sky with one hand.
Considering these factors, this order looked more like a trap, though it was unclear who it was targeting.
"Forget it if it's targeting us. If it's someone from 001 District, there's no need to wade into this muddy water." Bubble Bean also agreed to wait and see.
However, over the next day or so, they didn't find any better targets. By the day of the Wan family banquet, Ling Ling had decided to team up with a few other players she had met. She still wanted to pull Xu Huo and Bubble Bean in, but Xu Huo didn't nod, so Bubble Bean hesitated.
Xu Huo had been waiting for the old lady from "Small Object Carving," watching to see when she would set off. However, before the Wan family banquet, she came to the Wan residence carrying her basket, asking if they could arrange for two people to escort her to deliver the goods.
If the Wan family had to help with such trivial matters, they would never have enough hands. But the old lady had a good relationship with the Wan family, and when she came out, she had two players following her.
The old lady didn't like using flying vehicles to transport her goods, nor did she want to put them in the luggage compartment. So her half-basket of semi-finished Cat Whisker Fruits was carried on her back, a small metal basket that was both light and sturdy.
When the young man saw them out, Xu Huo happened to walk over and proposed to travel with the three of them. Since he also had to deliver something for the Wan family, it would be good to have company.
The young man hadn't expected him to still be there. After a brief hesitation, he smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you."
Although Bubble Bean didn't understand why Xu Huo chose an old lady as a target, seeing that the Wan family was really willing to arrange two players to escort her, he also wanted to see what was going on. At worst, it would be a wasted trip, and they could start over.
The old lady wasn't very welcoming to the three strangers. When getting into the car, she even shooed Bubble Bean, who was walking beside her, to the back.
"Granny, why not just use a prop to teleport directly?" Bubble Bean wanted to finish the task quickly. "I have a suitable prop that can send you to the destination instantly!"
The old lady gave him a sidelong glance. "Delivering goods is one thing, but can't an old woman like me also enjoy the scenery along the way?"
It was a tourist route after all, so of course she could. Bubble Bean, having been snubbed, fell back two steps and followed behind Xu Huo.
Before getting on the bus, Xu Huo only asked the names of the other two players and didn't engage them further.
Since the bus started from Cat Fruit Town, many people at the first stop were carrying Cat Whisker Fruits, both finished and semi-finished. After the old lady got on, she refused the robot's suggestion to help store the luggage and placed the basket at her feet. As the bus moved, some passengers curiously asked what she was selling.
The old lady opened the lid to show them. The passengers just took a look and left. Nearby, someone selling carved Cat Whisker Fruits smiled and said, "Old lady, we bring semi-finished products because the ordering guests require on-site production. Usually, such semi-finished goods are hard to sell."
Unlike her attitude toward the players, the old lady cheerfully explained, "I also have some here that guests ordered. I brought a few extras. If someone likes them, I'll sell them. If not, I'll take them home."
The other person wore an expression of "I see" and enthusiastically chatted with her, also examining her handmade carvings. He was impressed by her skill and carefully picked out two.
The old lady's price was very high, at least double the usual market price. The man had to put one down and only bought one.
Others who had been tempted also backed off upon hearing the exorbitant price. After all, carved Cat Whisker Fruits weren't rare; they could be bought anytime, so there was no need to buy them on the bus.
The old lady seemed to be genuinely traveling. After covering the basket, she leaned back in her seat to enjoy the scenery. The players had nothing to do but wait boredly for the next stop.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the first small town. Since the town was small, the stop was only thirty minutes long, enough time for passengers who wanted to see the sights to get off and come back without delaying the ride.
The old lady also got off with her basket. The two from the Wan family, plus Xu Huo and his group, followed her in a string, aimlessly wandering around the quaint town, buying some local specialties before getting back on the bus.
"Granny, which stop is your destination?" Bubble Bean couldn't help but ask again.
The old lady glanced at him. "Several big cities. I still have to visit the customers' homes. If you find it troublesome, you don't have to follow."
"How could that be?" Bubble Bean put on a full smile, his disguise still quite affable. "I have elderly at home too. When I'm out, I take care of other people's elders. When I'm not home, others will surely take care of mine."
The old lady stared at him incredulously. "Do you really think that way?"
"Of course," Bubble Bean said firmly.
The old lady's expression was complicated. "Do you think I'm old and easy to fool? Not even a five-year-old child would think that way."
Bubble Bean's face twitched. "Granny, there are still good people in the world."