The carriage left the affluent neighborhood.


    The curtains were drawn, and Lulu, sitting inside the carriage, didn''t see Lin Da and Kafni passing by with several boxes of constion gifts.


    After reconsidering, Lin Da had bought some milk and magical beast meat to visit the injured Oru.


    Meanwhile, Isa took Lulu,


    to the Sparrow District, to the small cottage that Lin Da had rented.


    When they arrived here, Lulu''s expression became very strange.


    "Sparrow District, Harvest Road, Adventurer''s Shortcut District Building 3, Room 305?"


    Lulu silently recited the address ''Li Cha'' had given her.


    This was Harvest Road.


    This was the Adventurer''s Shortcut District.


    Then, Isa brought her to the third floor, to Room 305.


    Lulu was stunned.


    So, that ''Li Cha'' and Snow Goose from the Snow Goose Adventure Team were the same person?!


    Lulu was confused—why would ''Li Cha'' purposely deceive her?


    "Seems like there''s no one home," Isa knocked on the door, but there was no response inside.


    Lulu silently walked up to the front.


    With a swipe of a beast w.


    The chain broke, and with a click, the simple wooden door opened.


    Isa looked at her in surprise: "Miss Lulu, what are you doing?"


    Lulu did not answer, her azure eyes filled with a coldness.


    She remembered the look in the cave, that fleeting gaze reminiscent of the captain''s.


    Li Cha was likely the person she was looking for.


    Lulu couldn''t help butugh bitterly to herself.


    Three years had passed, and the leader who was known as a genius adventurer had be so weak, not even having the courage to face her?


    His personality change was also significant, from a lifeless magic machinery operator into a living person.


    What had happened over these three years?


    Lulu had a belly full of doubts.


    But she also realized amid her full-blown doubts and anger, there was a me-like fragile joy. She might have understood why Lin Da would expose something like the Witch Purification ability just to save her.


    The ''Beastman friend'' Lin Da knew must be her.


    Did he feel guilty about kicking her out of the team, so he decided to extend a helping hand?


    Avoiding, hiding, not daring to face...


    ''Lord Captain, this really isn''t like you!''


    Lulu stepped into the rental house, surveying every corner. It was dpidated and stifling hot inside, apparently not even having a Cooling Magic Array.


    Disappeared for three years, just to hide in such a broken ce...


    But, she had finally found it.


    Lulu lifted the corners of her mouth.


    Even if she had to press Lin Da''s head down, she would make him properly apologize!


    "May I ask, what exactly is the rtionship between you and Lin Da?"


    Isa, who had followed behind her into the room, asked tentatively.


    Lulu thought for a moment and said, "Former teammate."


    That was a relief.


    Isa breathed a sigh of relief.


    But then she heard Lulu add, "Now... also a teammate."


    Isa: "???"


    Indeed, there must be some unspeakable connection between Lin Da and this beastman girl!


    Why would an adventurer of nearly the same level as her be willing to join Lin Da''s team?


    Isa''s hand clenched the strap of her shoulder bag involuntarily,


    and her heart skipped a beat with a wildly improbable thought—could it be that Lin Da really had a chance of catching up to the Ice Flower Adventure Team in the strategyyers?


    ording to their agreement, once Lin Da surpassed her, she would have to join Lin Da''s team.


    That sort of thing,


    Please, no!


    Isa''s heart raced with anxiety, feeling a bit regretful for agreeing to Lin Da''s terms.


    Meanwhile, Lulu wandered into the rented house''s washroom and noticed several lines of twisted and crooked handwriting on the wall next to the mirror.


    Front and foremost was ''Be the number one adventure team in White Dove City.''


    She continued reading down the wall.


    The line at the bottom, neat like it had been printed by a magic device, was all too familiar to Lulu.


    It was the captain''s handwriting.


    ''I hope to safely reach the summit of the World Tree.''


    Was this the captain''s goal?


    Were the ones above written by his former team members, the members of the Snow Goose?


    Just from reading the words, Lulu could sense the joyful atmosphere that surrounded that team.


    In contrast to the Primordial Adventure Team Lulu had been a part of, where the ''Lin Da'' she received was always a cold, pressure machine; with the captain around, the members had to be cautious even with their breathing.


    She didn''t want to be criticized, didn''t want to be kicked out of the team, stripped of her equipment...


    But the Lin Da that the Snow Geese got was a kind-hearted captain who quietly wrote an inconspicuous line in the corner, wishing for his members'' safe ascent to the summit?


    Lost in thought, Lulu touched the top-most, worn yet brazenly confident line ''Be the number one adventure team in White Dove City,'' feeling a sharp bitterness well up in her chest.


    If only that captain had shown her one-tenth of the affection he had for this writer, she wouldn''t have ended up bing a witch.


    It was from lessons learnt from the ''former former teammates'' like her that were cast aside, which allowed theter Snow Goose Adventure Teams to benefit.


    Clenching her teeth, Lulu''s beastly ws left several vicious marks on the wall writings!


    Although she didn''t have much conflict with the Snow Goose Adventure Team, for the first time, Lulu felt a strong repulsion towards an unknown adventure team!


    Just then, Isa''s voice came from the living room, "There''s a note left by Lin Da; it seems he won''t be back for a few days."


    "What?"


    Lulu quickly stepped out, frowning as she took the note to read it.


    It read: I''m going to visit an old teammate and then make a trip to Red Heart City, returning in about three days.


    "Tch."


    Lulu gnashed her teeth with frustration, feeling like she had lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.


    She had sent Lin Da to Red Heart City to recruit that kid,


    purely to test if Lin Da was the captain or not.


    Only the captain of the Primitive Adventure Team could persuade the other party to join the team.


    "Three days... Alright, I''ll wait for you toe back," Lulu scanned the rental house, nning to stay there.


    If Lin Da actually brings that kid back, it will be irond proof of his captaincy, and she would not believe anything else he says, no matter how many lies he tells.


    "You...aren''t leaving?"


    Isa looked surprised at Lulu, who sat cross-legged on the living room table, rather impolitely.


    Lulu shook her head, "I''m waiting for Lin Da toe back."


    "I see," a hint of disappointment shed in Isa''s eyes.


    Isa wanted to try talking to Lin Da as well, to see if they werepatible. She had a good impression of this intelligent, handsome adventurer known as ''Eye of Wisdom.''


    But there were just too manypetitors.


    Isa could think of at least three or four off the top of her head.


    ...


    "Achoo."


    Lin Da, carrying a box full of milk and magical beast meat gift boxes, sneezed without reason.


    "What''s wrong?" Kafni, with a candy in her mouth and a bag of skewers in her arms, walked and ate at the same time.


    Kafni, who imed digging up Demon Cores was a great contribution, naturally took half of the 25 gold coins.


    That rounds up to 13 gold coins.


    The Inner City District had many snack stalls at night, and Kafni bought whatever she saw, boasting wildly.


    Lin Da, on the other hand, had spent ten gold coins on milk and the meat of a level 3 Magical Creature, the Great White Dove.


    Combined, they would promote healing of injuries.