The two recent light rains have dispelled the heat that lasted for several months.

The weather has become cooler, and you have to wear a coat when going out in the morning and evening. Even Worm can't resist going out to play.

After Rhodes tricked Lucy, he and Mira left the guild and rented a carriage to go to Lavender Village.

It's not impossible to go directly by river crab, but it's more comfortable to take a carriage, and it also has a bit of privacy, so it's more convenient for two people to talk.

We parked the car and rested for a while at noon, then arrived at Lavender Village in the afternoon.

Rhodes saw it from the perspective of the river crab who was responsible for exploring the path along the way. Now most of the crops have been harvested, and only a few scattered fields still have yellow crops that have not had time to be processed.

After less than half a year, a wall has been built outside the village, based on the vine wall that Rhodes had the tree monster build before he left last time.

Most of the incinerators that were originally used to treat rats' bodies and feces have been dismantled, and the strange smell that lingered in the village for a long time has long since disappeared.

Rhodes got off the carriage and carried Mira down again. He found that the land here was not wet, maybe because the rain in the previous few days did not reach here.

Someone was passing by pushing a cart of rice. He recognized the two people who had just got off the car and said in surprise: "Master Sorcerer? Oh, Mr. Rhodes, Miss Mira."

7

"Leitning?" Rhodes still remembers this person. He was responsible for guarding the fire at the entrance of the village.

He is also a very diligent person who helps everywhere before and after running.

"I didn't expect you to still remember me." Lei Ning became happy and suddenly realized, "You are here to participate in the harvest festival, right? The village chief seems to have said this."

"It was indeed Mr. Jasper who invited us here. Is he at home now?"

"We should be preparing for tomorrow's activities in the center of the village, right? You can just go there. If you are not there, you will rest at home. I'm here——----I'm sorry." Lei Ning motioned to the cart he was pushing.

Rhodes waved his hand: "Oh, you are busy with your business, it doesn't matter, we all know the way."

Lei Ning said goodbye to them and left with his cart.

Mira paid the fare, and the carriage driver glanced at Rhodes with envy.

Rhodes was in a good mood.

The two entered the village side by side, and two river crabs were sent by Rhodes to patrol the area.

There were people moving things and threshing grain in the village, and it was a busy scene. The villagers' mental outlook was much better than when the rats were infested.

Many people recognized them on the road and greeted them warmly.

A little girl followed the two for a short distance. Mira stopped and asked, "What's the matter?"

The little girl shook her head: "Sister is so beautiful, can I become so beautiful when I grow up?"

Rhodes took a closer look and saw that the little girl had two Chiu Jiu tied on her head, she had freckles on her face, and one of her front teeth was missing, so her speech was somewhat leaky.

It's actually quite cute, but it looks horrible when she smiles.

Mira touched her head: "Of course, she may be even more beautiful than me."

"Teffy! Don't make trouble, come home quickly!" A shout came from not far away.

The little girl responded, turned around and ran back.

But after running a few steps, she fell flat on her face. She didn't cry or make a fuss. She got up and ran back home without even brushing off the dirt.

The posture of falling on the ground and the proficiency of getting up reminded Rhodes of Wendy, and he didn't know how he was doing recently.

Her hurried return last time must have worried her for a while. She should write a letter to her in a few days, or else just use the communication magic crystal to contact her.

"Bring the wood over there and put it here, right, over there————"

When the two arrived at the center of the village, they saw the village chief instructing others to arrange the venue.

A platform more than two meters high has been set up in front, with an offering table placed on it. It seems to be used for sacrifices. Colorful flags and various decorations are placed around it, creating a strong festive atmosphere.

After approaching, Rhodes shouted: "Mr. Jasper."

Jasper asked without looking back, "What's the matter?"

It's just that after he finished speaking, he felt something was wrong. People in the village either called him Jasper or the village chief. It was rare to see him add the word "Mr."

Jasper turned around and said in surprise: "Mr. Rhodes, Miss Mira? Why are you here?"

Have a question? Rhodes asked doubtfully: "I am a designated mission sent by you, do you want us to be the escort?

"Ah, no, ah, it's——"!

Jasper was a little incoherent, "I mean, the harvest festival doesn't start until tomorrow evening, why are you here so early?"

"Because I suddenly received a security mission, I was worried about what happened here, so I came here a day in advance to take a look and prepare early if necessary." Rhodes explained his plan.

Mira asked: "Excuse me, what happened near the village? Why did you suddenly pay a lot of money to hire a guard?"

Jasper hesitated and said: "Actually, it's nothing, ah, no, if you want to say it, there is actually something that makes me uneasy—"

"Village chief, where do you put this?" Two young men carried a stone mortar for beating glutinous rice cakes.

"Put it over there!" Jasper turned around and said, then apologized, "It's not convenient to talk here, why don't you go to my house first?"

Mira asked: "What about things here?"

"It will be the same when I ask my wife to come over and take a look at it later. I just need to tell the young man how to arrange it."

Jasper led the two of them home as he spoke.

It was difficult to talk about serious matters, so there was only small talk on the way. Rhodes asked about the situation in the village: "It seems that this year's harvest is very good."

"Thanks to the help of you two, everyone started rushing to plant seeds immediately after the rat problem was resolved. The rain this year was good, and the harvest was great."

Speaking of this, Jasper's face was filled with joy, "No one dares to believe it. It was obviously a year plagued by rats, but the harvest was better than in previous years. That's why we have to hold a grand harvest festival this year."

a little."

"That's great." Mira was very happy, which meant that Rhode's last effort was not in vain.

"But-----I only found out later that these two were such famous magicians, and the reward last time was really--"

Rhodes said: "Please don't mention this matter again. Magicians do not charge based on reputation.

Since it was agreed upon at the beginning, it has nothing to do with other aspects.”

He somewhat admired the villagers' labor efficiency and the speed at which their crops were turned into cash.

Jasper said many more words of thanks before returning home.

Mrs. Tara saw her husband and asked, "Come back so early - are there guests?"

Jasper said: "It's Mr. Rhodes and Miss Mira from last time."

"Ah, I'm going to make tea right away."

"I'll just come. You go to the venue and keep an eye on it. Don't let the boys mess it up. We have something to say here."

Mrs. Tara bowed slightly and said, "Okay, then I'm sorry."

Rhodes and Mira didn't care about this kind of thing, after all, things over there were also important.

Jasper poured tea, and the three of them quickly chatted about the topic.

"As for what Miss Mira asked, has something happened recently?" Jasper hesitated for a moment, then said, "Someone was killed at the beginning of the month."

"Murder? Were people in the village killed?" Rhodes was surprised. Even in this world where magic is prevalent, murders are rare.

In the past, he was able to encounter the Dark Guild or the Black Magic Order and kill people because he always ran to dangerous places. This is survivor bias, and ordinary people may not encounter them once in their lifetime.

Mira had a sad expression on her face. Even if she was called a devil, she couldn't ignore life.

Jasper shook his head and said: "He was not from the village, but a businessman who often came to do business nearby. A total of five people, including the coachman and helpers, were all killed on the way back.

It had been a night when the body was discovered, so no one saw what kind of person the murderer was. All the money on those people was missing, but although the goods had been turned over, they were still in place. Even the horses and

The carriages are all here."

"Robbery on the road, then killed and silenced?" Rhodes frowned and guessed, but felt something was wrong.

If you really want to rob, you should drive away the carriage as well. The goods are valuable, and it would be easier to escape in a carriage or on horseback.

Jasper said: "The town's security team investigated and said that the traces were like a magician committing a crime.

They have no choice but to report it to the Senate."

"The Council—"

The Senate is currently too busy to take care of itself and doesn't know when it will be able to resume normal operations. I'm afraid it won't be able to deal with matters that are just suspected of being committed by magicians.

"Anyway, almost half a month has passed, and there has been no news at all, which makes everyone afraid to go too far. It has been better these past few days."

Mira asked: "Then the case was shelved?"

Jasper nodded: "Yes, the body was taken away by the security team. It should have been taken away by the family for burial now."

Mira said: "I see, is it because of this incident that you are worried that that person will cause trouble or even kill people during the harvest festival, and then you ask me to come over as a guard?"

"It's not entirely because of the unknown murderer. In fact, since we learned about the destruction of the Senate House, we have found that the security of nearby villages and towns is getting worse and worse.

Normally, forget it, be patient and careful, and you can get through it, but holding such a lively event as the Harvest Festival is like telling others that our place is very lively and rich—·

Such an important festival cannot be canceled due to poor public security, so we have to bite the bullet and go ahead with it. It just so happens that we know you two reliable magicians, and with you here, everyone will feel more at ease."
To be continued...