A child who looked slightly older said in a somewhat hostile tone, "Outsiders aren't welcome here. Please leave immediately!"
The children in the Hope House orphanage were homeless and could only stay here because their parents had all died in the Bridge Incident several years ago.
With so many mouths to feed, the Director was busy keeping the orphanage running and had no time to worry about their psychological issues, nor could she teach them any skills here.
Over time, after they left, they would either become street punks, join gangs, or scavenge for trash. In short, in their eyes, everyone in Zaun except for the Director was bad, and not a single one was good.
Durin gave a kind smile and said, "I don't have any ill intentions. I've just come here to find someone."
"Don't make me laugh! This is Hope House. What'someone' would you be looking for here!" the older child immediately shouted.
One small child was holding a crossbow assembled from scrap parts, his finger tightly on the trigger as if he might fire the bolt at Durin at any moment.
This caused Durin to instantly pull back his smile. He didn't dare gamble on whether this crossbow, which looked like it could fall apart at any time, could still be used, nor was he sure if he could dodge the bolt.
Furthermore, he hadn't come here to fight; there was absolutely no need to cause a conflict.
Thus, Durin quickly said, "Don't misunderstand, I really am here to find someone. His name is Slaut, an old miner. I heard he's volunteering here. I have business with him. You can tell him my name is Durin."
The younger children all turned their gazes toward the child who had been speaking.
"You wait here, I'll go ask! Our bolts don't have eyes!" the boy said, gritting his teeth.
Just as he was about to turn and run inside, a middle-aged woman wearing a volunteer uniform suddenly walked out.
"Peter! Stop it!"
The middle-aged woman frowned slightly, a stern expression appearing on her very kind-looking Eastern face. She first pulled the boy aside and then, facing Durin, made a bow with her hand over her heart and said in a gentle voice, "I offer my sincere apologies for the child's offensive behavior. I am Ailadi, the Director of the orphanage and its only employee. I am a fellow countrywoman from Ionia."
The middle-aged woman had her hair tied in a currently popular bun. Her light blue work uniform fit her well. She was about one meter seventy tall, but she was very thin, far below the range of being considered slender.
Her features were very well-proportioned, giving off a sense of harmony as if they were meant to be that way. A sense of infinite tenderness flowed within her black eyes.
Speaking of which, if one doesn't have a sense of approachability at an orphanage, they probably wouldn't be popular with the children.
"May I ask your name? And what business brings you to see Mr. Slaut?" the middle-aged woman calling herself Ailadi inquired in a voice as smooth as pearls.
An East Asian face? A compatriot from Ionia?
The director of a Zaunite orphanage was actually Ionian?
No!
Durin immediately dismissed his judgment because he saw a pair of black, furry animal ears beneath her long black hair, shaped like those of a cat.
Is this a Vastaya!?
Vastaya is actually a collective term for hybrid creatures that are "neither human nor beast." They possess both human bloodlines and the magical power of certain prehistoric species, and different Vastaya look completely different from one another. In addition to their mixed human and animal forms, they also have very long lifespans; some Vastaya have lived for thousands of years, and legends say some among them can live forever.
In Durin's understanding, these Vastaya were essentially beastmen. However, they weren't like the beastmen in traditional fantasy novels who only knew how to invade and destroy; they were more like protectors of nature, focusing on the ecosystem and opposing anyone who tried to damage the environment.
"My name is Durin. I'm looking for Mr. Slaut to return something very important to him, and I also have some personal matters I'd like to ask his advice on," Durin answered truthfully.
Ailadi looked thoughtful for a moment, then a brilliant smile broke across her face as she said, "Then please follow me. I will take you to see Mr. Slaut. Welcome to Hope House!"
Entering Hope House, the place wasn't large but was kept very clean, which seemed a bit out of place in the filthy and chaotic Zaun.
It seemed to be break time; a dozen children were chasing and playing around the garden in the courtyard. In the middle of the garden was a shallow pool, though the water inside was green and had some small Alchemy toys floating in it.
However, it's worth mentioning that after two or three children noticed the small harp on Durin's back, they actually tried to lift the black cloth and reach out to touch it. This startled Durin, who quickly pulled away to maintain his distance.
He was afraid that if they touched it, they might wake the sleeping Darkin, Stellatu.
Fortunately, Lady Ailadi scolded the children. To ease the atmosphere, a lingeringly fearful Durin asked casually, "Pardon me, Lady Ailadi, how long have you been here?"
Lady Ailadi took a few steps ahead, walked up the stairs, and looked back. "I've been here ever since the Sun Gates were built."
The Sun Gates were completed in the year 772, which was two hundred years ago. This year's Progress Day in Piltover was also its 200th anniversary, which was why the Piltoverians were so furious; the incident would seriously affect their celebration of Progress Day.
Doesn't that mean this Vastayan woman named Ailadi is already two hundred years old?!
After deducing such startling news, Durin was exceptionally shocked internally.
But he still couldn't resist his curiosity and followed up, "Then... how long has Mr. Slaut been volunteering here?"
"Seven or eight years now. He makes sure to come every weekend." Ailadi walked ahead to open the door into the building and held it for Durin.
After Durin entered, she gently closed the door behind her and walked quickly forward.
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