The sun slowly rose above the town, filling the house with golden light.
When Jason rubbed his sleepy eyes and went down the stairs, the delicious smell spreading from the kitchen hit him like a slap.
On the table, fresh bread, warm buns, butter, jams, cinnamon rolls were arranged in a dazzling order.
And in the middle stood Albert, smiling proudly.
As Jason stared with his mouth open, the others also entered the kitchen one by one.
Marcus (squinting): "Albert… did you secretly train in the royal kitchen, or did fairies work while we slept?"
Albert (laughing): "Just a classic table I prepared for my brothers."
Sunny (taking a bite from a bun): "I think we shouldn't lose this guy, forget the town — we already won."
Millie: "To be honest… Albert, this breakfast you made doesn't even feel real. It's like we just got a bonus item in the game."
Duncan (with his mouth full): "If this is the bonus, I'll take that quest every day."
Amid laughter, everyone sat down at the table. The conversation deepened, and the subject turned to "what to do in town."
Jason: "I think we should adapt first. The more trust we gain from people, the easier it'll be to solve the mystery."
Marcus (shrugging): "How hard can it be? You look at some horses, visit a couple shops… perfect life."
— Fast scene transition —
Marcus, alone in the stable, standing with a big shovel in his hands. In front of him lay a massive pile of horse manure…
Stableman (laughing): "Here, take that shovel and clean up that mess, cowboy!"
Marcus looked at the shovel and wrinkled his face, remembering the words he had said at the table.
Marcus: "…How hard can it be… huh?" (he mutters, stomach turning, as he gets to work)
—Scene transition —
Albert, skillfully kneading dough in the bakery, placed them into the stone oven. The master baker stood nearby, watching in admiration.
At one point, Albert easily lifted and stacked flour sacks in the back of the bakery. Normally it would take two men to carry them, but he moved them with one hand.
Baker: "You… you're a true master with golden hands!"
Albert smiled with pride.
— Scene transition —
Sunny, in the small town hospital, was holding the hand of an old man who had been bedridden for a long time. A bright light beam spread from her palm, bringing warmth to the man's face. He smiled and sat up.
The nurses around watched in awe.
Townswoman: "You're like a miracle! Everyone will be talking about you!"
Sunny slightly lifted her nose with pride: "I know."
— Scene transition —
Jason, inside the sheriff's office, was shaking hands with the middle-aged man who seemed to be the town's head authority.
Man: "We've been without a sheriff for months, you came just in time."
Jason smiled, picked up the old sheriff's badge from the corner of the room, and pinned it on his chest.
—Scene transition —
Millie and Duncan were sitting in the living room. Duncan was looking out the window, while Millie rested her elbows on the table, her fingers supporting her chin.
Millie: "We don't have a job… what are we going to do?"
Duncan: "Idon't know… maybe we can explore the town."
Just then, the door knocked.
When Millie opened it, a cheerful, middle-aged woman stood in front of her.
Woman: "I'm Veronica. I thought I'd show you around the town and enroll the young gentleman in school."
Millie (smiling): "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Veronica. Come on, Duncan, get ready."
Duncan sighed softly and stood up. The two of them followed Veronica outside.
The sun was right above, as if warning: "Anyone without a hat will burn." The dusty roads of the town carried stray pieces of hay with the wind, while the sound of distant horse neighs filled the air.
With her ever-cheerful smile, Veronica led Millie and Duncan toward the town center, almost like a tour guide.
"This is the heart of our town," she said, spreading her hand wide. "The blacksmith on that corner makes horse shoes, and next to him are the best leather boots. But your feet are a little small, Duncan."
Duncan raised his eyebrows as if he had just suffered the biggest insult in the world.
"Not small, compact," he corrected with a serious expression. Millie bit her lip to keep from laughing at his reaction.
A little further along, an old lady sitting on the street noticed them. She suddenly stood up and squeezed Duncan's cheeks so hard that his face squished like cotton candy.
"Oh, what a sweet boy! The girls at school will chase after you."
Still with his cheeks trapped in her hands, Duncan mumbled in a muffled voice, "That… wasn't necessary…" Millie burst into laughter.
Veronica, as if nothing had happened, kept walking. "That place over there is the town bakery, they have fresh buns every morning. And… there's the school!"
The school was a two-story wooden building with white-painted shutters. In its yard, there were swings, children skipping rope, and a group playing dodgeball in the corner. One of the children threw the ball so hard it almost hit Duncan's head. Duncan sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding it.
"This is exactly why the gym was invented," he muttered.
Veronica proudly pointed at the door. "This is the school. Tomorrow morning, we'llenroll you. I'm sure you'll learn a lot here."
Duncan leaned toward Millie and whispered, "Yeah, like how to skip rope…" Millie laughed, "Taking care of you is really fun, little sir."
Duncan smiled faintly. "Yes… I like being called sir."
Millie shook her head and opened the door. "Then, little sir, let's go home. Tomorrow you'll need to use that 'compact' intelligence of yours."
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"Today I published several chapters at once, I hope you're enjoying them 💻✨"