Elder Lin's journey through the heart of Pinecrest Village brought him to Donni, known for his laid-back attitude and seemingly detached perspective on village affairs. Elder Lin hoped to glean some insight from Donni, who often observed village life from a distance.
Donni's abode was a blend of traditional and modern, reflecting his easy-going nature. There was a sense of casual comfort in the space, with cultivation artefacts casually intermingled with various tech gadgets.
"Hello, Elder Lin," Donni greeted him with a relaxed smile. "Quite the stir in the village, huh?"
"Yes, it is," Elder Lin replied, getting straight to the point. "Donni, you're known to keep a low profile, but I need to know if you observed anything unusual during the festival, anything at all."
Donni leaned back, considering the question. "Well, I like to watch people, you know? Mike was being his usual self, throwing his weight around. But I didn't see anything that screamed 'murder' to me."
Elder Lin probed further. "Your relaxed nature makes you an excellent observer. Did you notice anyone acting out of character, or perhaps too in character?"
Donni chuckled lightly. "Interesting way to put it. There was this one moment – I saw Becca. She looked more unsettled than usual after crossing paths with Mike. And Beth, she was observing Mike like one of her book characters. But hey, that's just Beth being Beth, right?"
Elder Lin's interest piqued at these observations. "And what about you, Donni? How did you feel about Mike?"
Donni shrugged. "Never liked him much, but who did, right? Still, I'm more about living life easy. Getting involved in conflict, let alone murder, is not my style."
Donni's observations added another layer to the complex tapestry of the investigation. His laid-back nature provided him with a unique perspective, one that saw beyond the obvious. Elder Lin left pondering the subtleties of village life, where the quiet observations of a detached onlooker could hold the key to unravelling a mystery shrouded in layers of cultivation and technological intrigue.