Bloomdale Town is located in the northwest mountainous area of Kenton County, bordering Harmony County. The terrain is elevated and mostly comprises mountains and hills.

The Vista Mountain range meanders southward from Harmony County into Kenton, forming Vista Peak at the junction of Kenton and Harmony counties.

The average altitude within the area is 455 meters, with four peaks exceeding 1,000 meters, and 19 peaks over 800 meters.

Among them, Rearpond Village is the most remote, surrounded by mountains on all sides with only a dirt road for vehicle access.

A 40-kilometer journey.

They set off at two in the afternoon.

By the time they arrived at the village, it was already getting somewhat dark.

The car had just come to a stop.

The back door of Edith Walsh's car opened.

She rushed out, supported herself against a tree, and began to vomit loudly.

This was no surprise.

Dirk Carter himself found the journey rough enough, let alone for a woman.

Seeing this, he pulled out a few tissues from the car and handed them to Edith Walsh, saying, "Deputy Magistrate Walsh, please clean up."

"No need, I have my own."

Edith Walsh turned away.

She pulled out a tissue from her pocket, wiped her mouth, and called out, "Village Chief Yan, take us to see the situation."

Upon hearing this, Old Yan quickly said, "Deputy Magistrate Walsh, it's already dark now. Even if we go to the site, we won't be able to see anything. How about I first arrange accommodations for you leaders, and we head to the site early tomorrow morning?"

Edith Walsh frowned and asked, "Does the village have any flashlights?"

"We do have flashlights, but the mountain road is rugged, relying on the flashlight's light alone to climb the mountain would be..."

Old Yan hadn't finished speaking.

Edith Walsh waved her hand and said, "Go get a few flashlights. We're heading up the mountain immediately."

Dirk Carter, hearing this, quickly went over and said, "Deputy Magistrate Walsh, the mountain road is not like the highway. It's all twisted and winding, and we are not locals; we are unfamiliar with the road conditions. If we go up now..."

He intended to dissuade Edith Walsh from proceeding.

Unexpectedly, she rolled her eyes at Dirk Carter and said, "It's fine, if Deputy Magistrate Carter doesn't want to go, you can go rest."

Like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, failing to recognize a good intention.

Rest it is.

Dirk Carter looked at Old Yan and asked, "Old Yan, where are we sleeping tonight?"

Old Yan scratched his head and said, "Dear leaders, our village has never entertained such senior leaders, nor do we have hotels or inns. Only the village committee has three rooms, how about you leaders make do for one night?"

"It's alright, we'll make do for a night."

Dirk Carter said.

Old Yan said, "Then follow me, Deputy Magistrate Carter, and Deputy Magistrate Walsh, please wait a moment. I'll go get the flashlights."

Just as the two were about to turn around.

Edith Walsh snorted and said, "Putting on airs, talking about urgency, but the first thing you think of on arrival is resting, a bunch of useless people!"

"Deputy Magistrate Walsh, you can't say that..."

Yves Quill heard this and was a bit upset, but before he could retort, Dirk Carter pushed him lightly.

And said in a loud voice, "Unlike Deputy Magistrate Walsh, who is an official that gets things done, I wish Deputy Magistrate Walsh a successful inspection."

With that said.

He led Yves Quill toward the village committee.

Edith Walsh, upon hearing this, stomped her foot. Although angry, she felt helpless.

"Leader, shouldn't we tell Deputy Magistrate Walsh that running about in a pitch-black night would be a waste of effort?"

At the entrance of the village committee.

Yves Quill asked Dirk Carter.

Dirk Carter smiled and said, "Our Deputy Magistrate Walsh is likely aloof and unaware of the hardships of life. She seems full of ambition. Let her take this trip and face some reality."

As they spoke.

Old Yan came rushing out.

And accompanying him was a woman.

"Deputy Magistrate Carter, this is our village's family planning director, named Lillian. She will arrange your accommodations, and I will accompany Deputy Magistrate Walsh on a round."

Dirk Carter nodded, grabbed Old Yan's hand, and said, "Old Yan, make sure to keep Deputy Magistrate Walsh safe."

Old Yan patted his chest and said, "Rest assured Deputy Magistrate Carter, you all are the great benefactors of our Rearpond Village, I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

With that said.

He grabbed the flashlight and rushed away.

"Hello Deputy Magistrate Carter, I'm Lillian."

A woman, about thirty years old, greeted Dirk Carter with a cheerful smile.

They say Kenton County has beautiful women, and it's true.

This family planning director from a remote village sure is attractive, despite her simple clothing, her elegance is undeniable. Every smile and gesture gives off an air of rural charm.

"Hello, Director Pan."

Unconsciously, Dirk Carter said.

Lillian looked embarrassed, and said softly, "Deputy Magistrate Carter, my surname is Jin."

Dirk Carter was stunned.

And embarrassedly said, "Hello, Director Jin."

Lillian waved her hand, saying, "It's fine, it's fine, please follow me."

With her leading.

The three of them entered the village committee.

In front of them was a row of small huts, with only three rooms in total.

The slightly better one was the office, with a few broken tables inside, and nothing else.

The second room was the meeting room.

Besides three tables pushed together and a few chairs, it was completely empty.

The third room was a warehouse, and when the door was opened, it was very dusty inside, full of miscellaneous items.

The conditions were basic, but habitable.

However, not a single window in these three rooms was intact. Even when closed, the wind blew through, and there was a forest behind them. In the moonlight, shadows shifted, giving the eerie feeling that something was standing there.

"Yves, you and Xiao Zhang sleep in the meeting room, I'll take the storeroom. Leave the office for Deputy Magistrate Walsh, after all, she is a woman."

Dirk Carter said.

Yves Quill was anxious to hear this.

He said, "Leader, you should sleep in the meeting room, I'll take the storeroom with Xiao Zhang, it's fine, we can tidy it up."

After that, without waiting for Dirk Carter's response, he entered the storeroom and began to tidy up.

At this moment, Lillian came in with a quilt and said, "Deputy Magistrate Carter, we sincerely apologize, but the local conditions are limited. However, these quilts are clean."

Seeing this, Dirk Carter quickly took them.

And said, "Director Jin, it's alright, making do for a night is no big deal."

Lillian remained enthusiastic, helping Dirk Carter spread the quilt.

Then she hurried to the storeroom to help.

There was no TV to watch here, not even a signal for cell phones, let alone any washing facilities. Dirk Carter took a look around the environment and was about to enter and rest when he saw three beams of flashlight at the door, indicating they had returned.

Edith Walsh had a sour face.

Upon closer inspection, the down jacket she had worn upon arrival was caked with mud, and she was limping, likely having sprained her ankle.

"Deputy Magistrate Walsh, what happened to you?"

Dirk Carter saw this and quickly asked.

Edith Walsh completely ignored him, faced the guilty-looking Old Yan, and asked, "Where do I stay?"

Old Yan pointed to the first office with his finger.

Edith Walsh said nothing, walked straight in, and closed the door.

"Old Yan, what happened?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Old Yan shook his head helplessly and said, "I told Deputy Magistrate Walsh to follow my steps, but she wouldn't listen and insisted on having her way, then fell into a ditch."

Dirk Carter, upon hearing this, would have laughed out loud if it weren't for knowing the place had poor sound insulation.

In a consoling manner, he patted Old Yan's shoulder and said, "It's okay, go rest early, we'll head up the mountain first thing in the morning."

"Alright, then I won't disturb you. Leader, please rest early."

Old Yan nodded, turned and left.

Dirk Carter was about to return.

He reconsidered, still worried about Edith Walsh, so he went to her door, knocked, and asked, "Deputy Magistrate Walsh, are you okay? Do you want me to help with your sprained ankle?"

"I'm fine."

From inside came a cold response, and then the light was turned off.

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