283 Dock Union (1/2)

Xio has been in the bounty hunter business for a very long time. Many things were done on instinct without any thought.

When she saw the patron who entered was nearly two meters tall, she instinctively lowered her head and continued to eat her pork sausage and French fries as if nothing had happened.

Although the food entered her mouth, Xio didn't taste it at all. She endured dozens of painful seconds before she slowly raised her head and pretended to look around casually.

Soon, she saw that the patron who had just entered was sitting in front of the bar counter, waiting for his booze and lunch.

Soft, curly pale yellow hair, dark brown beast-like eyes, a slightly drooping mouth, an aura of solitude and malevolence… Little by little, the details came into Xio's eyes, overlapping with the image in her head.

It's him!

It's the suspected murderer!

The man who killed Williams!

Xio lowered her head again and slowly stuffed the rest of the food into her mouth.

After a few minutes, she set the tray down on the bar, along with the glass, and left the Workers Alliance Tavern without looking back.

Due to her high boots, they effectively masked the most obvious feature of her body.

Outside, Xio slowed her pace and found a secluded spot to observe the people entering and exiting the tavern.

After waiting for a while, she finally found an acquaintance, a technician named Burton, who lived in East Borough and worked at the East Balam Dock.

The young man liked to treat himself to a cup of shoddy rye beer at noon or in the afternoon, and his salary only allowed him to afford such a beer, and he couldn't drink it every day.

Xio nimbly darted over and patted Burton on the shoulder. She lowered her voice and said, ”It's me, Xio.”

”Xio?” Burton looked up and down at the short man and nearly failed to recognize him as the famous Arbiter Xio Derecha of the streets of East Borough.

”I have something to ask you.” Xio pointed to a nearby corner.

Burton followed in puzzlement, only to come to a realization when he arrived in a secluded corner.

”Are you doing a bounty mission?”

He had heard that Xio was also a bounty hunter.

”Yes.” Xio nodded perfunctorily, fished out five pennies, and tossed them around. ”Do you know that tall man at the tavern?”

”You mean the one that's this tall, has pale yellow hair, and wears a fierce look?” Burton gestured.

”Yes.” Xio took out the folded portrait and unfolded it. ”You have to be sure.”

”That's him. He's been coming to this tavern often for the past two to three months. I've never seen him before that. He's very fierce, completely unreasonable, and he's good at fighting. It's best that you don't provoke him.” Burton glanced at the portrait carefully and gave some sincere advice.

Yeah, when I saw that person just now, it was just like my encounter with a ferocious beast when I was young. I felt that I was in danger and wasn't a match for him, so I had to immediately avoid him… Xio secretly exhaled and asked, ”Do you know anyone he's in close contact with?”

”No idea. He's not very sociable and he seldom speaks. We don't even know what his name is. We have given him a nickname, 'Giant.'” Burton curled his lips and shook his head.

Xio thought for a while before asking again, ”Where else have you met him, besides the tavern?

”You can ask your friends the same question. Remember, it has to be a trusted friend.”

Burton recalled and said, ”When I went to the Dock Union to do some work, uh—the East Balam Dock's Dock Union, I would occasionally see him appear there. Xio, why aren't you a member of the union? You're so just, and those guys not only charge us 1.5 soli a week. But when the other docks go on strike, they'll pay us half our salary just because we have to support our families!

”Lord, let's just forget about it. In order to live a good life, we must help each other. However, once they organize a strike, they'll come to an agreement with the lawyers sent by those rich people. Our situation doesn't improve at all!”

”Stop, stop.” Xio lowered her right palm and said, ”Apart from that, have you seen 'Giant' anywhere else?”

”No, my friends probably haven't either. After all, we often discuss him in private,” Burton answered in a firm tone.

Xio didn't say anything more and gave him five copper pennies.

”Drinks on me.”

”Don't tell anyone about what I just asked. It'll be very dangerous.”

Before she finished her sentence, she had already turned around the corner and headed towards the Dock Union located at East Balam Dock.

About ten minutes later, Xio saw the two-story yellow building.

She wore her canvas coat inverted and exposed the patches beneath, instantly transforming herself from a short worker to a vagabond.

Xio looked at the homeless people huddled around the corner, pinched her nose, and went over to sit down beside them. She glanced at the Dock Union on the opposite side of the street where people were coming in and out.

As the minutes passed, Xio endured the cold and the harsh environment while tenaciously observing the situation around the Dock Union and the surrounding area.

She clearly remembered Williams's insistence on drinking, and she also remembered how she felt when she saw the newspaper that fateful day.

These feelings made her even more patient than usual.

At that moment, about eight people came out of the Dock Union, and they headed for the café across the street to have lunch in groups.

Xio narrowed her eyes and carefully scanned every passer-by to confirm their appearance.