Tintin makes his way back over to the Shanghai cluster. Bows to Lan Xichen. "Lan-gongzi, I apologize for intruding again, but there is news that I thought might be interesting to you, and did not want to assume you had already been informed."
"I assume you have noticed that the Anglo contingent is... more confused than they might usually be. This is because the Chicago enclave was somehow destroyed, or so they believe, and so a significant number of their new freshmen are from mundane families. I learned this from a girl, the one wearing silk, who bartered with the newcomers for their hair."
"That's very strange. I wonder if there's a connection to the disappearance of Song Lan."
He doesn't want to think there are dozens of kids who are easier prey than Wen Ning but that's what he thinks. None of the kids deserve to die but only some of them are his.
mystery!!!!
"I am very sorry to hear it. If I learn anything that could be related I will certainly tell you - I do not imagine anyone would have a list of the people who tested in, that would be extra weight, but if anyone would have - no one would memorize dozens of names for so little reason - I am sorry, you must have thought through this already."
"Oh, I was not assuming that he was untouched for no reason. I would assume first that someone had surreptitiously weighted his backpack or some similar tactic in order to induct someone who had not passed their test, in collusion with that individual. They would not be confused."