Night had already fallen when Haut stepped out of the tea house.
Across the road, a girl sat on the stone steps beside a closed shop. Her head rested on her knees, and quiet sobs escaped her lips. The street was nearly empty.
Haut walked over.
When he stopped a few steps away, he spoke calmly. "Why are you crying?"
The girl lifted her head slowly. Her eyes were red-rimmed, swollen from crying.
"I lost my brother when we were attacked," she said weakly. "I have nowhere to go. We lost our home, our belongings… our people."
Haut watched her silently for a moment. Then he said, "Perhaps I can help."
As soon as the words left his mouth, her expression changed. In one swift motion, she pulled a pistol from her sleeve and pointed it at his chest.
"Things aren't always what they seem," she said coldly. "Give me everything you have. And if you know anything about this area and the people here, spit it out. There's no time to waste."
Haut didn't move. The night wind brushed past the empty street.
"You should hurry," she continued. "I don't like repeating myself."
Haut looked at the pistol. Then he spoke calmly. "That won't work."
Her brows tightened. "What?"
"That pistol," he said quietly. "It can't fire."
Confusion flashed across her face for a brief moment.
Haut raised his hand. Between his fingers was the magazine from her weapon.
Her eyes widened. "When…?"
"When I walked over. What's the first thing you consider when you're approaching a spy?"
Her grip tightened on the empty pistol. Sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Don't talk nonsense. I can still break your skull with this. And you'll be in trouble if anyone finds out you're harassing a woman."
Haut shrugged slightly. "If you want to try." His hand rested on the pistol at his own side.
The girl hesitated. Her earlier confidence had begun to fade.
After a moment, she asked, "Then why did you come here?"
Haut answered without hesitation. "Because you're a spy for the Elite Squadron. They're planning to attack the Shadow Sect, aren't they? And you're here to scout them. The Shadow Sect doesn't know yet—they haven't spotted their spies personally, but they're aware of you. Besides, only the Elite Squadron can afford rifles and pistols. Most sects still use archers."
Silence fell between them. The girl was shaking.
"What do you want from me? What's your purpose?"
Haut simply looked at her. His calm gaze made her voice waver. The street felt strangely quiet. Her instincts screamed at her to leave.
She took a step back. Then another.
But before she could turn away, Haut spoke again. "You're looking for your brother, aren't you?"
Her body froze. Slowly, she turned back. "What did you say?"
Haut's expression didn't change. "I said you're looking for your brother."
Her voice trembled. "How do you know that?"
Haut's eyes rested on her for a brief moment. Then he replied quietly.
"Because I'm the one who killed him."