Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 381 - 374: Dead Cat Tavern

Chapter 381: Chapter 374: Dead Cat Tavern

Looking at her tear-streaked face, Luo’er appeared deep in thought. Her tears made her face blotchy, stained in various places by tear-soaked dirt, prompting a frown on his face.

"Do you want to come with me?" Luo’er suddenly asked.

Zhenli looked at him blankly, and after a long pause, she nodded enthusiastically.

"Then work hard and I’ll decide whether or not to take you with me based on your performance." Luo’er waved his hand, signaling her to stop nodding.

He thought about the fact that the Ming-Ming Plan might need many children like Zhenli. He had always felt that taking pity on these unfortunate children and bringing them back to Headquarters was irresponsible, but now that he knew about this plan, he had no reservations.

The drugs developed by the academy allowed inhabitants from the Otherworld to safely stay on Earth for a limited period of time, usually about three months, after which they must return to the Otherworld for adjustment.

The factors affecting the survival of Earth’s inhabitants and Otherworld inhabitants in each other’s world are numerous, with magic being just one of the key ones. The different physical laws of the two worlds mean that their body systems are different. Thus, even if the harm caused by magic to the inhabitants of the two worlds is suppressed, they can only stay in each other’s world for a short time.

The only people known to be able to stay in the Otherworld for a long time, apart from the hybrid humans, are probably those summoned and transported by the central intelligence agency. Through precise summoning, they disintegrate the body of Earth’s inhabitants and transport them to the Otherworld for reassembly. The reassembled person then becomes a true inhabitant of the Otherworld, and their body’s system also changes to that of the Otherworld’s inhabitants.

There are many hybrid humans like Zhenli who face discrimination, and instead of having Headquarters look for them all over, it would be easier for the advance team to find and recruit them.

"Uh..." Zhenli squirmed as she looked at him, looking conflicted.

"Yes? What’s the matter?" Seeing her conflicted expression, Luo’er asked.

"Can I, can I know your name, sir?" Zhenli asked shyly.

"Oh, I completely forgot to introduce myself!" Luo’er slapped his forehead, as if suddenly coming to a revelation.

"My name is Luo’er, and as you can see, I’m also a half-elf, half wood-elf..." said Luo’er.

"Luo’er..." Zhenli murmured the name, which she would likely remember for the rest of her life.

"The two guys outside the door are my friends. You don’t need to be afraid of them. They might look stern, but they’re actually very gentle." Luo’er pointed to the door as he said this.

What he said wasn’t wrong. Since coming into contact with Luo’er for a while, Hu Daoke and others had indeed become much gentler. It was probably the influence of Luo’er’s unique charisma.

"You should go and take a bath now. I’ll have them find you a set of clothes. Although you’re going to gather information, your current appearance is a bit grubby." Luo’er said, scanning her from head to toe with a frown.

"I understand. I’ll go right away!" Zhenli immediately lowered her head in embarrassment under his gaze.

"Have something to eat first. We have to go out and sort some things." Luo’er said, getting up to walk towards the door.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Hu Daoke and Xu Zhongqi sneaking around, eavesdropping. Seeing this, he sighed and said, "I’m sorry you couldn’t hear what you wanted."

"Boss, I’m so touched, I need a hug..." Hu Daoke said excitedly, reaching out for a hug.

"Enough, don’t be disgusting." Luo’er stepped back, saying this with a look of disgust.

"Have you arranged everything, having heard our conversation?" Luo’er asked, pointing his chin in their direction.

"Yep, we booked the room next door. It’s still a triple-room though." Hu Daoke patted his chest and announced.

"That’s good." Luo’er nodded. Hu Daoke was reliable and didn’t just wait for his orders, but took initiative.

"Boss, is there any reliable information?" Hu Daoke leaned in and asked.

"No," Luo’er shook his head, then looked at him and said, "I want you to meet the rest of the team. We’re going to the ferry crossing together to look for the whereabouts of the Hound Gang."

"Isn’t that a bit dangerous?" Hu Daoke asked with a worried look on his face.

"That’s why we need to bring enough people!" Luo’er said matter-of-factly.

"Then shall Old Xu and I go to the streets to find them?" Hu Daoke asked.

"Go ahead, be careful!" Luo’er nodded.

Hu Daoke nodded, called out to Xu Zhongqi and left the corridor. Luo’er went alone to buy some simple clothes for Zhenli.

Zhenli is a snow elf hybrid, known for their endurance to cold and being unfazed by it. Therefore, Luo’er didn’t need to buy any particularly warm clothes. Also, considering that Zhenli had to gather information at the hall, Luo’er intentionally chose some raggedy-looking clothes to prevent her from appearing too conspicuous.

If we talk about the best outfit for reconnaissance, Zhenli’s current clothes and appearance are the most suitable. But Luo’er couldn’t stand her in such a disheveled state, and she would have certainly been kicked out of the inn if she had entered it alone in such a dirty condition. So after much thinking, Luo’er decided to let her dress a bit more decently.

After making arrangements for Zhenli, the Murong group and Cheng Ziang were brought back by Hu Daoke. When Cheng Ziang heard about Zhenli from Hu Daoke, he looked at Luo’er with a peculiar smile on his face.

"What’s with that look? I didn’t do anything wrong..." Faced with his gaze, Luo’er guiltily looked down and said.

"Oh no, you’ve done a great thing!" Cheng Ziang said, an eerie smile on his face that didn’t fade.

"Enough small talk, let’s head to the shore and see if we can find any traces of the Hound Gang. If we find them, let’s see if we can find Fu’en through them." Luo’er said seriously.

"Have you thought about what you will exchange with them?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"I haven’t figured it out yet, we’ll find out once we get there." Luo’er answered honestly.

"Well, isn’t it a bad idea for the two of us cops to go?" Cheng Ziang pointed to himself and Yalunte and asked.

"You two just watch from a distance. If we’re in danger, come to our rescue as soon as you see the signal." Luo’er ordered.

"I got it!" Cheng Ziang nodded.

"Murong, I can negotiate alone. You take the others and ambush around me. If anything goes wrong, come and help!" Luo’er said to Murong.

"Hmm, understood!" Murong nodded emphatically.

"Little Ke, you come with me to find them." After hesitating for a moment, Luo’er decided to bring a helping hand.

"Yes, sir, I’ll protect you!" Hu Daoke patted his chest resoundingly.

After arranging, they all headed towards the shore. This was the busiest area in the eastern district, where many commercial ships departed daily, including some advanced iron ships billowing thick black smoke.

Luo’er and Hu Daoke arrived at the dock where the crowd was not too large. A few sailors huddled together, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol from Earth.

"Hey, you guys!" Luo’er walked up to them and called out.

"Who are you?" The sailors looked at Luo’er, exchanging puzzled looks.

"I have a question for you!" Luo’er flicked a shiny gold coin into the air with his thumb. One of the sailors immediately caught it.

After holding the gold coin and biting it slightly with his yellowed teeth to ensure it was real, his look towards Luo’er completely changed.

"What can I do for you, sir?" the sailor asked respectfully.

"Do you know how to find the Hound Gang?" Luo’er asked outright.

"This..." The sailors looked at each other, one of them couldn’t help asking, "what do you need the Hound Gang for, sir?"

"That’s none of your concern, I just want to know how to find them." Luo’er said indifferently.

Exchanging glances and understanding each other, the sailors unanimously pointed out cautiously, "You can find them at Dead Cat Tavern, that’s their territory..."

"Dead, where is the Dead Cat Tavern?" Luo’er mumbled mentally about the name, almost laughing out loud.

"Go down along the river, about ten minutes’ walk..." the sailor offered carefully.

"Thanks!" Having obtained the useful information, Luo’er and Hu Daoke exchanged glances, then nodded and said.

"Sir, please don’t tell them it was me who told you..." the sailor carefully reminded.

"I know!" Luo’er nodded.

"Dead Cat Tavern, what an unlucky name!" On the way to the tavern, Hu Daoke couldn’t help but complain.

"Maybe they think it can ward off the bad luck." Luo’er shrugged.

With that, he turned to glance at Murong, who was leading the others at a leisurely pace behind them, as if strolling without purpose. At the furthest distance, Cheng Ziang and Yalunte were also walking leisurely. As soon as the sailors saw them, they panicked and dispersed.

"These cops really are these guys’ nemesis..." seeing this, Luo’er couldn’t help but comment.

After about ten minutes, a tavern by the river came into sight. The words on the sign were noticeably spelled out in Tasta alphabet.

"It really is called Dead Cat Tavern, wonder how they passed the name through commercial regulations..." Hu Daoke shook his head.

"Where did an otherworld get commercial regulations?" Luo’er glanced at the sign, then beckoned Hu Daoke, and the two walked straight into the tavern.

The outside of the tavern was hot, but the inside was even more muggy. Unlike others, apart from the usual smell of a tavern, this place had a heavy smell of fish, reminding Luo’er of their meeting with the contact from the Assassins League.