21: Chapter 21 The Search for Frank

Shaun cursed Frank in his heart for being so reckless, but on the surface, he remained patient as he asked.

"Did he mention a specific place?"

Fiona thought for a moment. "He said something about... what manor? Robi-something?"

Shaun finished for her, "Robichaux?"

Fiona's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's it! You know the place?"

Shaun's heart stirred as he flipped through the [golden book].

[Character Profile]

Name: Frank Gallagher

Origin: shameless

Status: Alive

Current Location: New Orleans; he seems to have broken into a place he shouldn't be.

The golden book's tracking of Frank had indeed changed, though it unfortunately couldn't pinpoint his exact location.

But if he really went to Robichaux Manor, then he truly had trespassed somewhere he shouldn't have.

This is trouble...

Given this guy's track record, even if he's alive now, if he offends the witches, he'll likely lose his life soon.

Thinking about this, Shaun glanced at Fiona.

The woman stood in the afternoon sun, her hair a bit messy, dark circles under her eyes, and her lips dry and peeling.

She must have rushed here from Chicago overnight without sleeping or eating properly, all to find that bastard father who never cared for her.

In shameless, Fiona gave up everything for her younger siblings, always cleaning up the messes Frank left behind.

She truly was a person with a hard life.

Furthermore... if Frank really went to the witches' manor, then he couldn't just ignore this.

Shaun had a feeling that everything was converging on the witches' manor, as if someone was specifically looking for trouble...

But to say someone dared to provoke witches felt a bit off.

It would be best to find a breakthrough from the deceased Detective White, but unfortunately, his own ability was too weak—he was just a 'three-second' man.

Even if he activated his ability, it would end almost as soon as it started...

...

After weighing these thoughts, Shaun said to the eldest Gallagher daughter, "Fiona, I'll help you find him."

Fiona froze for a moment.

She asked in disbelief, "What?"

Shaun repeated, "I'll help you find Frank, but on one condition..."

Fiona's gaze immediately became wary. "What condition?"

Ignoring her look, Shaun simply said, "You listen to me. From now on, you go where I tell you to go, and you don't go where I tell you not to go."

"New Orleans is a more complicated place than you imagine."

Fiona didn't agree immediately.

After all, Shaun's words sounded like he was trying to kidnap her or something.

But in her bones, she also had an impulsive streak.

That was why, in the original series, she often did things she would later regret.

Right now... looking at Shaun's handsome face, Fiona felt a bit impulsive.

So she nodded and asked, "What's your name?"

"Shaun. Shaun Black."

"Shaun, if you can find Frank, I'll buy you a drink."

For the Gallagher Family, buying someone a drink was the highest form of etiquette.

Shaun glanced at the White house behind him, then at his phone. Ballard was still waiting for him at the cafe.

He thought for a moment; he had to handle his business first.

So he asked Fiona again, "Do you have a place to stay?"

"I just found a motel," Fiona said, "in the French Quarter."

"Give me the address. I'll come find you after I finish what I'm doing."

Fiona pulled a crumpled motel business card from her pocket and handed it to him.

Shaun took it and glanced at it: St. Philip Street, French Quarter, an inconspicuous little motel.

"Fine." He stuffed the card into his pocket. "Go back and rest, eat something, and get some sleep. Don't go looking for him on your own, you hear me?"

Fiona raised an eyebrow. "You're bossing me around?"

Shaun didn't indulge her. "We just agreed. You listen to me."

Fiona stared at him for three seconds, then she shrugged. "Fine, but you'd better be quick."

"Every day that old bastard Frank is missing is another chance for him to turn up dead in some gutter."

She spoke as if she didn't care about Frank, but the concern in her tone was quite obvious.

She turned and walked toward the end of the street.

After a few steps, she stopped and looked back.

"Shaun."

"Yeah?"

"That punch earlier, have you trained?"

"...Something like that."

Fiona nodded and continued walking.

After two more steps, she looked back again.

"You owe me a punch."

Shaun was stunned for a moment.

Fiona had already turned back and walked away.

Crazy woman!

Did she want to punch him back to settle the score?

...

Shaun sat in his car, watching Fiona's back disappear around the corner, but he didn't start the engine immediately.

He needed to organize his thoughts.

White's case, Frank's disappearance, Robichaux Manor, the Coven...

All these clues were tangled together like a mess of yarn; he needed to find the end of the thread.

He closed his eyes.

With a thought,

The golden book slowly opened in his mind.

The sound of the pages turning was clearly audible.

Shaun flipped to the Character Profile section.

Sure enough, a new page was emerging.

[Character Profile]

Name: Fiona Gallagher

Origin: shameless

Status: Alive

Current Location: New Orleans, a motel in the French Quarter

Danger Level: Low (but if she gets angry, it's suggested you stay away)

Favorability: 15/100 (You punched her, then said you'd help find her dad. Her feelings are complicated.)

[Character Introduction]

Fiona Gallagher, the eldest daughter of the Gallagher Family from the South Side of Chicago, and the actual pillar of the family. Since her teens, she has carried the family, taking care of five troublesome siblings and a bastard father who is always causing trouble.

She has worked as a waitress, a cashier, a salesperson—any job that could make money.

She is smart, resilient, and refuses to lose, but life has also given her a prickly exterior.

Her Ability: Surviving in desperate situations. Finding a way in any circumstance. Never giving up on family, even if that family member is Frank Gallagher.

Her Weakness: She is too tired; she has carried the burden for too long with no one to lean on. She claims not to care, but she actually cares more than anyone, and she's afraid to admit she needs help.

[Special Note]

Fiona has developed complex emotions toward you.

You punched her, a solid punch.

But you also said you would help her find Frank.

She came to New Orleans for help, but she didn't expect the person helping her to be a cop who punched her first.

She doesn't know how to view you.

[Favorability Breakdown]

Initial Base: 10 (You are a cop and were willing to listen to her)

Counter-attacked during ambush: -10 (It hurt, and she's keeping track of this debt)

Agreed to help find Frank: +15 (This is her only soft spot)

Total: 15

[Congratulations! Host has obtained a new ability: Basic Survival]

[Basic Survival]

Type: Passive Skill

Effect: Comprehensively improves the host's ability to survive in harsh environments.

Endurance Boost: In cases of sleep deprivation or irregular eating, the rate of physical decline is slowed by 30%.

Accelerated Recovery: Minor injury recovery speed increased by 20%, fatigue recovery speed increased by 15%.

Environmental Adaptation: Tolerance to extreme temperatures, humidity, hunger, and other harsh conditions is improved.

Resource Intuition: In unfamiliar environments, it's easier to discover usable resources (food, water, temporary shelter, etc.).

Note: This isn't magic; this is a skill Fiona Gallagher forged over twenty years.

She started carrying a home at the age of teens, taking care of five children and a useless father, surviving in a place like the South Side of Chicago by relying on this.

Upgrade Condition: Encounter more characters with survival skills...