Abulei looked at her backpack, showing a sympathetic expression: "Gu Yina had a rough childhood, not only being abused by her family but also being sold to a hideous noble, who eventually cut off all her limbs. Thankfully, she was rescued by the Guide who gave her a new life."
"She’s kind and understanding, and I really sympathize with her experiences, so we became close friends."
Abulei spoke lightly about Gu Yina, clearly fond of her.
Angel raised an eyebrow: "Is this how Gu Yina told it to you?"
Abulei nodded: "Yes, is there something wrong?"
Angel sneered internally, everything is wrong. Gu Yina is not the naive lily in Abulei’s words; her heart is already corrupted.
He had suspected that Gu Yina mingling with Abulei had ulterior motives. Now, hearing the story Gu Yina concocted and seeing Abulei’s belief, Angel was certain that Gu Yina had other intentions in befriending Abulei.
Abulei said she lent the evolved Tricolor Deer to Gu Yina, and its Rainbow Antlers were cut—probably part of Gu Yina’s scheme, as the antlers are highly valuable to some wizards.
Looking at Abulei’s puzzled expression, Angel softly said, "Nothing wrong, just thought that perhaps you’ve been sheltered too much in the Barbarian Cave, it’s time to go out and see the world."
Abulei felt slightly dejected and lowered her head: "Do you think so too, sir? Sigh, Gu Yina also said so, which is why I accepted this mission to meet with Boro at the White Shell Sea Market and take over the Barbarian Cave’s branch there."
Meet with Boro? Taking over the White Shell Sea Market branch?
Angel was surprised Abulei’s mission was this. He had visited White Shell Sea Market, and it was quite desolate; going there meant either self-exile or retirement.
What could Abulei experience there, anyway?
Right, Gu Yina suggested she go.
The White Shell Sea Market is so far from the Barbarian Cave; if Gu Yina wanted to stir trouble there, who would know?
Angel seemed to grasp Gu Yina’s intentions.
"Is Gu Yina going with you?" Angel asked.
Abulei shook her head: "Gu Yina has things to do, so she can’t go with me. But she gifted me a doll she made herself, saying I could look at it when I miss her."
Abulei spoke while taking her backpack down and pulling out the doll Angel had been focusing on.
When the doll was placed on the table, Angel finally saw it fully.
It was a slender little boy about 20 centimeters tall, with a pale complexion and slightly reddish cheeks—like blood vessels spreading. His mouth formed a smile, a very innocent smile, but prolonged observation revealed it growing increasingly eerie.
"This is the doll Gu Yina gave me." Abulei introduced excitedly, "She said she made it in the likeness of her brother, and always kept it with her. It’s because I’m traveling that she’s lending it to me."
Angel stayed silent, quietly observing the doll.
Gu Yina wasn’t lying; this doll did resemble her brother. And Angel had seen this brother before, the one who killed the kindly Nini for a morsel of food and was subsequently avenged and killed by Nini’s mother. Chaila, his name was.
The reason this doll was always carried by Gu Yina was that its skin was painstakingly stripped from Chaila’s corpse.
And now, this human-skin doll was given to Abulei.
Gu Yina absolutely harbored sinister intentions.