Man in the Three-Body Problem: After facing the wall, I founded the Reception Society!

In the gloomy and vast twilight, an indescribable urgency and confusion surged in Oriel's heart.

He knew that if he could gain direct insight into the intricate secrets from some unknown corner, he would be able to save himself from embarking on the long and exhausting pursuit.

However, reason and caution were like a thick armor, forcing him to bury this urgency deep in his heart and instead examine every word of the elderly jailer in front of him with an almost indifferent attitude.

"Well, maybe," Oriel replied softly, with a hint of subtle temptation in his tone, "I may just have imagined a hardworking swamp shepherd boy as a filial son who was delivering dinner to his father."

His words, like the breeze blowing across the lake, tried to calm the old jailer's emotions, which had become extremely sensitive due to years of imprisonment.

But the old jailer's eyes were like a touch of frost in winter, sharp and full of vigilance.

His eyes seemed to be able to see into the deepest secrets of the human heart. Driven by anger, his gray beard stood upright like an irritated cat, revealing unquestionable majesty and determination.

"You are wrong, sir!"

There was an unquestionable force in his words, and he pointed his finger firmly at the vast swamp outside the window. "Look over there, at that lonely black rock. It is like a huge tombstone, standing in the endless desolation. Look at the low hills wrapped in thorns in the distance. It is the most desolate and rocky place in the swamp. How could it be a place where shepherds are willing to stay? Your idea is simply a fantasy!"

Upon hearing this, although O'Neill had a thousand doubts in his heart, he had to temporarily restrain his edge and responded in a more humble manner: "Please forgive my ignorance. I really know very little about this land, so I made such a superficial speculation." His tone was full of sincere apology, as if he was bowing his head to ask for advice from a wise old man.

The old jailer's anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of smug satisfaction. He realized that his experience and insight had been verified again, which made him more willing to open his heart and share more. "Listen carefully, sir," he said, revealing a confidence that should not be underestimated. "Every word I say is based on years of observation and accumulation. I have witnessed that child countless times, holding a mysterious scroll, and shuttling through this dangerous swamp day after day. Whether it is the dawn or the sunset, his figure is always so firm and persistent."

At this point, the old jailer suddenly stopped and stared out the window, as if he had discovered something unusual. "Wait, Dr. O'Leary, look! Is my eyes blurry? Or is there something really moving quietly on that distant hillside?" His voice was filled with a hint of excitement and nervousness that was difficult to conceal.

Olier followed his gaze and saw a tiny but clear black dot moving slowly against a background of dark green and gray a few miles away. It was like a ghost in the night, silently shuttling through every corner of the swamp, arousing people's imagination. "Let's go and take a look," Olier felt a strong curiosity and impulse in his heart. He stood up and looked at the old jailer firmly, "Perhaps, the answer we are looking for is hidden there."

So, the two of them hurriedly climbed to the top of the tower, one after the other, ready to witness with their own eyes the secret that was about to be revealed.

The telescope, a precision instrument standing majestically on a solid tripod, stood quietly on the flat and boundless lead-gray roof like a guardian in an ancient observatory, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun. The old jailer approached the cold eyepiece expectantly, his eyes sparkling with joy like discovering a treasure, and he couldn't help but let out a satisfied low cry, which contained both excitement about the secret that was about to be revealed and pride in his own correct judgment.

"Dr. O'Learn, hurry up! Don't let this secret messenger slip away from our sight and cross the barrier of the mountains!" The old jailer urged anxiously, his tone revealing a determination that could not afford to hesitate.

Indeed, he was there, clearly visible. Through the magical lens, O'Neill's vision was infinitely extended, as if he was in another world. He saw a thin figure, carrying a small roll of seemingly insignificant but seemingly infinitely heavy objects on his shoulders, climbing the steep hillside with difficulty. Every step seemed so laborious, yet so determined, as if there was an invisible force driving him forward.

When the child finally reached the top of the mountain and stood on the high point that seemed to touch the sky, a shocking scene appeared before Olier's eyes. Against the backdrop of the dark blue sky, a ragged and haggard stranger suddenly appeared. He looked around furtively, his eyes full of vigilance and uneasiness, as if he was always on guard against threats from all directions. His appearance and behavior all revealed a mysterious atmosphere.

However, all these mysteries became more complicated and confusing with the disappearance of the stranger. He seemed to blend into the shadows on the other side of the mountain and disappeared without a trace, leaving only a puzzling back and a series of unanswered questions.

"Well? Am I right?" Upon seeing this, the old jailer raised a smug smile at the corner of his mouth. In that smile, there was both confidence in his own insight and expectation that Dr. O'Leary would witness this moment.

O'Neill nodded slightly, his eyes deep: "Indeed, that child is indeed carrying some kind of secret mission unknown to the public. Every step he takes seems so heavy and so meaningful."

The old jailer's expression became serious when he heard this. "As for what exactly the mission is, I'm afraid even those self-righteous county police can't guess the mystery. But what I can tell you is that I will never reveal a word to anyone. Similarly, I also ask you to remain silent, Dr. O'Leary. This is our secret, our bottom line. Do you understand?"

Olier responded solemnly: "As you command. I will keep this secret to myself and never let anyone know."

Upon hearing this, the old jailer sighed, his tone filled with endless emotion and indignation: "They are so unfair to me - so unfair. When I have the opportunity to expose the unknown inside stories of the Queen's government's lawsuits in the future, I believe the whole country will be shocked and angry. In any case, I will not become an accomplice of the police. They want to deal with me, not the straw man who was used as a scapegoat by the gangsters and burned on the pillar. Please be sure to stay and celebrate this hard-earned victory with me!"

However, Oriel politely declined the old jailer's kindness. He knew that he had a more important mission to complete and could not indulge in a moment of joy at this moment. After successfully dispelling the old jailer's desire to walk home with him, Oriel set out on his way home.

Within the sight of the old jailer, Oriel always maintained a steady pace, moving forward along the broad and straight road, each step seemed so firm and calm. However, at the moment when the old jailer's sight was about to be out of reach, Oriel made a decisive turn. He deviated from the road without hesitation and stepped into the unknown and mysterious swamp, with only one thought in his mind - to follow the direction where the child disappeared, the top of that mountain, perhaps hiding the answer to all the mysteries.

For Olier, this journey of pursuit is not only a physical trek, but also a test of his mind and will. He knows that he is standing at the crossroads of fate, and every step he takes may determine the direction of his future. Therefore, he secretly vowed that no matter how difficult and dangerous the road ahead is, he will not miss this precious opportunity given by the God of Destiny because of lack of spiritual strength or perseverance. This firm belief illuminates his way forward like a beacon.

When Olier finally reached the top of the mountain, the setting sun had already slowly sunk like a tired traveler, dyeing the sky with a brilliant golden green. One side of the hillside was bathed in the warm sunshine, looking vibrant; while the other side gradually sank into a gray shadow, as if it were two completely different worlds. Looking far into the distance, the twilight on the horizon surged like a tide, blending the earth and the sky into one, and those strange-shaped rock hills stood in the twilight like ancient guardians, making it even more desolate and mysterious.

In this vast land, everything seemed so peaceful and tranquil, as if time had stopped at this moment. O'Neill stood alone on the top of the mountain, feeling the vastness and loneliness of the desert, and an inexplicable chill surged in his heart. He knew that the mission he was carrying was both mysterious and urgent, and this force made him excited and nervous.

As Olier looked around for the child's trace, his eyes were suddenly attracted by a ravine below. There, several ancient stone houses were surrounded in a circle, as if they were relics from ancient times. Among these stone houses, one still had a roof that could shelter from wind and rain, which was particularly eye-catching. Olier's heart jumped suddenly, and he was almost certain that that was where the man was hiding.

With a nervous and expectant mood, Olier slowly approached the cottage. He took every step so carefully, for fear of disturbing the owner of the house. This feeling was like an experienced entomologist, Scourge, holding a butterfly net high and slowly approaching a landed butterfly. He was full of curiosity and desire for the unknown, but also worried that his actions would destroy the tranquility and beauty.

As the distance shortened, Olier became more and more sure that he had found the right place. Everything here revealed traces of life - blankets wrapped in rainproof cloth, stone slabs where Neolithic people once slept, ashes in the crude stone frame, and kitchen utensils and half a bucket of water next to it... All of these silently told the story of the past here.

What made Olier even more excited was that the empty cans scattered all over the floor proved that the owner had lived here for quite a long time. These seemingly insignificant details gradually pieced together the life trajectory and habits of that person like a puzzle. Olier couldn't help but feel excited and satisfied because he knew he was getting closer and closer to the truth.

However, when he finally stood at the dilapidated door, an inexplicable tension surged in his heart again. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, then quickly looked inside the house - but there was no one inside. At this moment, Olier couldn't help feeling a sense of loss in his heart, but he quickly cheered up because he knew that the man must still be nearby, perhaps hiding in a corner of the swamp waiting for the opportunity to appear.

Olier did not give up and continued to search carefully around the cabin for any possible clues. He noticed that there was a faint path between the rocks around the cabin leading to the distance. This path might be the secret passage for the man to enter and exit the cabin.

Olier walked forward cautiously along the path, every step filled with vigilance and expectation.

He knew that he was getting closer and closer to the mysterious person, and the sense of adventure made him feel extremely excited and thrilled.

As Olier's eyes gradually adjusted to the fragmented sunlight that sprinkled through the gaps between the mottled leaves, the light and shadows seemed to be jumping elves, weaving a complex picture of light and shadow in front of his eyes. He slowly found the inconspicuous metal cup in a corner of the simple hut. It lay there quietly, next to a half-filled bottle of slightly turbid wine, like a companion of a lonely traveler, quietly telling stories of the past.

In the center of the hut, an uneven stone was cleverly used as a dining table. On it lay a cloth bag alone. The familiar outline instantly evoked O'Neill's memory - it was the mystery on the child's shoulders that he had seen through the telescope before. He gently unwrapped the cloth bag, revealing simple food: a piece of hard bread, a can of opened ox tongue, and two cans of peaches that were still well preserved. They were quietly arranged, as if they were a small feast specially prepared for an unexpected visitor.

However, when Oriel reorganized the items and prepared to put them back in place, his eyes were attracted by a note hidden under the food. On the note, the handwriting was hastily written in pencil, but it clearly conveyed a message: "Dr. Oriel has been to Akali." This line of words was like a flash of lightning, instantly breaking the tranquility in Oriel's heart.

He stood there with the note in his hand, and time seemed to freeze for a minute. Olier's thoughts were like leaves falling in the wind, scattered in all directions. What was the deep meaning behind this short note? Obviously, the secret spy did not target Sir Jack, but himself, Olier himself. The other party did not show up in person, but sent a child who might be the one he saw that day, to follow him like a shadow, record his every move, and weave reports based on this.

Since stepping into this swamp, O'Neill suddenly realized that his every step might be under the surveillance of the other party, as if he was tightly bound by an invisible net. The mesh of the net was large enough to make them relax their vigilance until the most critical moment, when they suddenly realized that they were deeply trapped in it with nowhere to escape.

An inexplicable chill surged in Olier's heart, but he did not retreat. On the contrary, this sudden sense of crisis aroused his inner fighting spirit. He began to search the house carefully, hoping to find more clues about the mysterious guest or the other party's intentions. However, apart from the note, there was nothing else in the house that could reveal information. There were only simple furnishings and dust all over the floor, silently telling of the owner's roughness and carelessness.

Olier looked up at the crumbling roof, imagining how this mysterious man had held his ground in such a harsh environment during the pouring rain. Olier could not help but respect his persistence and determination in his goal, and at the same time, he was more curious about his true identity and purpose.

He wondered in his heart, is this mysterious person a friend or an enemy? Is he a vicious enemy who wants to kill them, or a guardian angel who secretly protects them from harm? This question is like a huge stone, weighing heavily on his heart, making him unable to let it go.

So, Oriel made up his mind to solve the mystery no matter what and not to walk blindly in the dark. He sat quietly in the dark depths of the cabin, patiently waiting for the arrival of the mysterious resident.

As the sun gradually sank to the west, the sky blossomed with brilliant red and gold, and the afterglow spread over the entire swamp, embellishing the distant Grimpen Mire like a huge ruby, flashing an alluring light. In the distance, the two towers of Jack's Manor looked particularly solemn under the setting sun, while Grimpen Village was shrouded in a layer of hazy smoke, looking particularly peaceful and tranquil.

However, in front of this beautiful painting, O'Leary could hardly feel the slightest peace and beauty in his heart. His heart was filled with the upcoming meeting, and an inexplicable confusion and fear surged like a tide, making him tremble slightly. But he knew that he could not retreat, nor be swayed by these negative emotions. He had to remain calm and firm in order to take the initiative in this unknown contest.

Finally, he heard footsteps in the distance. The sound of leather shoes stepping on stones was clear and powerful, approaching the hut step by step. Olier quickly retreated to the darkest corner, his finger tightly gripping the trigger of the revolver, ready to give the opponent a fatal blow at the critical moment. He knew that he could not act rashly and had to wait for the right time to hit the target.

The footsteps paused outside the house for a long time, as if observing the movements inside the house. Then, the footsteps sounded again, and a black shadow projected in from the opening of the stone house, splitting the darkness inside the house in half.

A familiar yet strange voice sounded in the darkness: "What a lovely evening, dear Oriel. I really think you will feel much more comfortable outside than staying inside."

The sound was like a thunder, exploding in O'Neill's ears, instantly tensing up all the nerves in his body.