"Wow, that's really impressive, Sister Zhu Ming! You actually thought of a method like this!"

After hearing Lin Yu's proposed solution for the dart masters, Li Nian couldn't help but praise him.

Lin Yu himself reacted quite normally: "Once you've been tricked by someone who can modify memories, it's easy to come up with methods like this."

"I took a loss in a certain [dungeon] before."

Old Zheng immediately protested in their mental communication: "Where exactly did you take a loss?"

"Even if you took a loss in the latter half, that should be blamed on the 『Diviner』, not me."

Lin Yu didn't reply, just continued conversing with Li Nian.

"Sister Zhu Ming, you actually have times where you 'take a loss'? I really never expected that."

Li Nian giggled softly, gently nudging Lin Yu's arm with her elbow.

Lin Yu pursed his lips: "Who can avoid taking losses in this damn Game?"

While the two were chatting, the dart masters over there had already outlined the general situation of the two missing persons according to Lin Yu's instructions.

"The missing ones should be two ordinary dart masters responsible for left-wing protection. They probably haven't been with the escort agency for too long. Both should be skilled with bows, crossbows, or similar weapons. They were on good terms with Wu San and Bai Yuandao, and might have been apprentices under Wu San."

After summarizing the information, Yue Zhenqiao rubbed his temples with his fingers, feeling quite a headache coming on.

He vaguely felt there should be two such individuals, but... even with the information this specific, the outline this clear, he still couldn't conjure up any concrete information about these two people.

Yue Zhenqiao let out a sigh: "Do you two Female Warriors have any thoughts?"

Li Nian narrowed her eyes.

She could see that although Yue Zhenqiao addressed both of them as Female Warriors, his gaze was entirely fixed on Lin Yu.

Li Nian understood quite well that, based on their performances during this period, in Yue Zhenqiao's mind, she was probably seen as some "brave and martial" type of general, while Zhu Ming was the "strategist" type of military advisor role.

No...

Zhu Ming also subdued a Mountain Demon Leader, so she should be the type with both wisdom and courage, while she herself was the type with courage but no strategy.

"Ah, I'm inexplicably being looked down upon, but at least I don't have to use my brain... so be it."

So, Li Nian poked Lin Yu again: "Sister Zhu Ming, he's asking for your opinion again."

Lin Yu sighed: "Don't just slack off, contribute a bit too."

But despite saying that, Lin Yu still offered his suggestion: "Sorting out this general information will give us something to target when we go look for them later... I'm not familiar with those two, so you all think about it—what common characteristics do the two missing people share? Not superficial ones like both using bows, but preferably characteristics that can explain why it was those two who went missing."

As Lin Yu spoke, Yue Zhenqiao scratched his head: "This..."

"It's fine... even if they went missing at two separate times, two samples are still too few," Lin Yu said calmly. "So, you can analyze first, and then continue to wait."

Yue Zhenqiao was somewhat puzzled: "Wait for what?"

Li Nian, however, caught on and said softly: "So calm it's almost cruel, Sister Zhu Ming."

Lin Yu looked at Yue Zhenqiao and spoke in a flat tone: "Wait for new people to go missing—noon is still long, these won't be the last two to disappear."

"The more samples, the more patterns."

"So, I suggest you carve the numbers thirty-one and twenty-six on a stone, then continue counting off every so often."

As Lin Yu spoke, he watched Yue Zhenqiao's grim expression with appreciation.

After a long moment, Dart Head Yue nodded.

"...Alright."

Although what Lin Yu said was a bit harsh, Yue Zhenqiao knew it was also the truth.

Lin Yu rested his chin on his hand, his gaze sweeping over all the dart masters present.

What he didn't tell Yue Zhenqiao was that, although he hadn't deliberately memorized all the dart masters' appearances before, he had now completely memorized the height, weight, and facial features of every single dart master.

So...

If more dart masters went missing, Lin Yu was certain he would definitely know who had disappeared.

Also...

"Old Zheng, give me your absolute full attention. If anyone else goes missing later, tell me as soon as possible."

"Got it!"

Old Zheng immediately responded.

After doing this, Lin Yu glanced at Li Nian beside him and then noticed...

As someone hired to help others pass this trial, Li Nian was also much more dedicated than he was.

She had moved next to 『Flying Knife』 and directly tied a rope around employer Flying Knife's right ankle, winding the other end of the hemp rope several times around her own hand and gripping it firmly.

At the same time...

Having done all this, Li Nian was also discreetly observing all the movements within the stone house.

Clearly, Li Nian was also waiting for the next disappearance, to find the pattern behind the personnel disappearances.

But Li Nian had prioritized ensuring Flying Knife wouldn't disappear unknowingly, more so than Lin Yu had.

And Flying Knife himself, as the employer, was indeed somewhat frightened.

"People just vanishing inexplicably... it's just like those most dangerous [dungeons] with no discernible pattern at all!"

"I thought dungeons like that were more common on the Misty Islands, that the Prison Mountain Realm wouldn't have such a setting."

He said nervously, clearly very worried he might suddenly and inexplicably vanish.

Looking at the jittery Flying Knife, Lin Yu tried to reassure him.

"Relax, if you really get into trouble, the two of us will definitely save you—after all, we haven't received the final payment yet."

Li Nian also nodded: "Yes, you heard it just now... the idea Sister Zhu Ming gave those dart masters was excellent, it shows she's very good at dealing with this kind of situation."

"Right, Sister Zhu Ming!"

Lin Yu nodded again: "Exactly, even if the guy hiding in the shadows has a bizarre style, A Nian's abilities are no less impressive. Even if you get silently taken and disappear, maybe A Nian can 'steal' you back."

"I can't steal living things."

Li Nian timely reminded him.

"Why are you reminding him of that," Lin Yu said helplessly, then added, "At least... A Nian can ensure we see your body if you die, that's not bad, right?"

"How is that 'not bad'? That's toxic!"

Flying Knife said with a headache.

But with the two of them distracting him like this, he was indeed less tense.

A fierce expression appeared on this ordinary-looking man's face: "But, if someone really targets me, I'll fight them to the death!"

"Although I don't have many trump cards or life-saving methods left now, I'm still a 『Second Tier』 player—not someone to be trifled with!"

"Ambitious."

Li Nian gave a thumbs-up.

At that moment, a heavy sound of the stone house's small door being pushed open came.

"Screech—"

The sound of stone grinding against the ground rang out. Flying Knife tensely looked toward the entrance.

"What the hell is that? Who goes there?!"

Yue Zhenqiao also jumped up immediately, his hand on his blade.

It was currently high noon...

Anyone who could open the door from outside at this hour, could they possibly be a simple character?