According to the contract Mr. Mandis had signed with the late Detective Sparrow, if Mr. Mandis voluntarily declared the commission terminated, then aside from the deposit, he would also have to pay an additional fee of no more than one-third of the total, depending on the progress of the investigation.
Shade had not intended to take the man's money, though he would not return the deposit either. But Mr. Mandis insisted on paying. In the end, Shade received 13 shillings for the commission and left Mr. Mandis's residence with the maid.
It was four in the afternoon, and there was still no sign of twilight in the late summer sky.
"I think this money is only enough to cover our carriage fare for today."
On the carriage ride back to Saint Derain Square, the maid said this to Shade.
A pair of cotton stockings cost around 5 shillings, a decent women's work outfit cost 1 pound, boots cost 11 shillings, and hired carriages charged 1 shilling for distances under 2 miles within a 4-mile radius centered on Yodel Palace, then 5 pence for every additional mile.
That was why Tifa, judging by the prices she knew, had made such a remark.
"Yes. If we include Detective Sparrow's preliminary investigation, this commission was undoubtedly a loss. But for me, wasn't this a huge profit?"
Shade shook the Black Iron Ring on his finger, and the Black-Haired Maid smiled as well.
"Looking at it this way, the detective profession really is well suited to Ring Arcanists."
"No, no. I just don't know why it happened to be such a coincidence that this was connected to a relic. Usually, the commissions I receive are ordinary things like playing cards or finding people."
Shade said as he took out the parchment scroll.
"I happen