Iya Continent: Card God

Sandel City.

The workshop of the goblin Bruce Stone Craftsmen.

The bear-man Pinecone, with his excessively large and imposing stature, couldn't move freely in the goblin's house, which was even shorter than a dwarf's, despite it being a two-story building. He could only sit against the stone wall, fiddling with the failed magical artifacts he had crafted.

The little fishman darted around on and off the eaves, gazing with curiosity at the mechanical structure that the fishmen would never see in their lives.

Shia sat there indifferently, her eyes closed, silent.

Linta looked at the objects in the room with great boredom, daring only to look and not daring to touch them.

"Hey!"

When the door opened, everyone turned to look at it in unison.

Jin Gong returned from outside without any sign of joy.

After Linta proposed investigating the truth behind the goblin stone murder, everyone agreed. However, no one knew how to investigate. Frustrated, Linta had to take matters into his own hands.

First, we need to know the whole story.

So, Jin Gong went out to inquire and find out, while everyone waited there.

"How is it?" Linta asked as he stepped forward.

Kim Gon let out a long sigh and blew on his beard. "Troublesome, very troublesome!"

"I know it's troublesome, but tell me, how did you find out?"

With a troubled expression, Jin Gong sat restlessly on the chair next to the table, clenching his fist and pounding it on the table with a "bang".

"An adventurer named Malen went to buy a magical artifact from Luc Reno, the owner of the magic item shop on Cone Street, today. Then, he saw Stone kill Luc with a sharp weapon. The evidence is irrefutable!"

Jin Gong slammed his fist on the table again in anger, "That idiot! Was it really necessary?"

Shia said coldly, "Indeed stupid."

Linta paid no attention to their conversation; her mind was racing and her thoughts were wandering.

Why did your friend kill Boss Luke?

Jingong said, "What else could it be? Business, of course. Luc Reno does the same business as Stone."

Linta glanced around the craftsman's workshop and asked, "Does Boss Luke also forge magical artifacts?"

Jingong's eyes flickered slightly, and he shook his head. "Well, he doesn't craft them. That Luke sells magical artifacts directly, while Stone crafts magical artifacts according to the buyer's needs."

Lin Ta said, "One sells whatever they have, while the other sells whatever others want. That's different. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be much conflict in business."

One restaurant sells only a fixed menu, while the other serves dishes ordered by customers. Even if there's some friction between them, it shouldn't be too significant. Something's not right; something's not a little off.

“Anyway, he was seen killing someone,” Kim Gong replied.

Lin Ta's eyes narrowed, and he said solemnly, "Let's go find someone."

"Looking for someone? Who?" Jin Gong asked, puzzled.

……

Sandell, as the first city in the county, has no fewer than ten hotels, each varying in size, specifications, and price.

The most popular spot for adventurous travelers was the "Hibiscus Inn" in the southern corner of the city.

After all, this is the cheapest place.

For adventurers, whose income is unstable and who often don't know where their next meal will come from, cheap is always a good thing.

"Boss, check out."

A young man, dressed simply and patched up, with somewhat disheveled hair, came to the counter and said anxiously.

"Five copper coins a night, you've stayed four and a half days, so give me 25." The innkeeper, who had seen countless customers, said with a numb expression. He wouldn't show mercy to the poor man before him. Not a single coin less would be owed.

The man didn't say much, just said "okay," and left.

The rule at Fuhua Inn is to agree on the length of your stay before you check in. Then you pay the room rate based on the length of your stay. When your time is up, the inn will naturally ask you to leave. If you leave early, you just need to settle your bill. The inn will refund you for the time you didn't stay.

The shopkeeper's brow twitched, somewhat surprised. He'd thought the young man would ask for a refund of 3 or 2 copper coins for that half-day. He hadn't expected him to leave so readily. But since he was so quick to agree, he decided not to ask any further questions. Why not just leave? It's not like you don't know how long you've been staying.

The man, wearing a hooded cloak and with his head down, walked from the street into the alleyway, heading towards the south gate.

"If you were scared, why didn't you leave in the first place? Why did you have to go back to the hotel to get those few clothes?" Linta asked with a smile, blocking their way.

The man's expression darkened slightly, and he remained silent.

Linta laughed and said, "Are you really worried about that little bit of money?"

Going back to the hotel to get clothes, and then asking the owner if there was any chance of getting a refund for the room fee—it was all about trying to get a little money back. Linta saw right through it, so he found it somewhat amusing; this adventurer "Maren" was rather funny.

"Tap tap!"

Suddenly, Maren turned and fled, accelerating at full speed.

"call!"

A gust of wind swept by, and a figure appeared beside Malen.

Maren froze for a moment, then his body went out of control and he fell forward and rolled.

"Hey!"

Linta didn't do anything; he simply rushed to the side and tripped the bronze adventurer with his foot.

"when!"

Just as Malen raised his head, about to do something, a hammer slammed down in front of him. The dwarf Gingon Bronzehammer, as imposing as a barrel, looked down at him menacingly.

"You're the one who slandered my friend Rock, aren't you?!"

Maren's fearful face showed slight bewilderment. "Huh? What slander? I... I didn't."

"Still not admitting it!" Kim Gong picked up the hammer handle and swung it down suddenly.

"I'll talk! I'll talk!" the adventurer Malen cried out in panic.

Kim Gong's hammer landed just inches from the head.

"Say it!"

Mullen trembled with fear, looking completely bewildered, and said, "What...what did I say?"

Jingon's eyes gleamed like a beast's, his beard bristling. "Kid! Still playing dumb? Did you frame that goblin for killing Luc Reno?!"

Malen said bitterly, "There was no slander... I saw it myself..."

“What did you see? Explain clearly, and give me the details,” Lin Tasu asked.

Maren swallowed hard, his thoughts racing, and said tremblingly, "I went to buy a magical artifact from Boss Renault. I saw the door was open, so I went in. Then, I saw that goblin standing in front of Boss Renault, holding a crystal blade. Boss Renault was lying in a pool of blood, lifeless. And that crystal blade was covered in blood..."

Jingon was furious; this was almost exactly what he had found out. It further proved that the goblin stone was the murderer.

Linta, however, had a different idea.

In other words, no one saw the goblin stone kill someone! They only saw him holding a murder weapon, with the corpse just in front of him.

"Was it you who summoned the guard knight, Flame Fox Moke?" Linta asked again.

"I just saw the Flame Fox Knights and soldiers patrolling nearby when I arrived. So I shouted loudly outside, and they came running when they heard the noise," Ma Lun said.

"And then what happened to you? I haven't seen you around," Linta asked.

Mullen said in a low voice, "I saw the murderer was caught, and since it had nothing to do with me, I left first..."

Linta's thoughts froze, his eyes darkened, and he said coldly, "You're lying."