Professor Martin was a slight, bespectacled middle-aged man with remarkably thick black hair, appearing to be in his forties. After confirming Shade's identity and shaking his hand, he began to explain his situation.
The professor's Delarion Language was extremely standard. Among the people Shade knew, only Miss Pawo could compare to him:
"I asked Louisa to find you because of my troublesome son."
With a helpless expression, the professor handed Shade the framed photograph standing on the table. It showed Professor Martin with a young man who did not look very happy. Their features were quite similar.
"My wife passed away from illness more than ten years ago. I never married another woman, and raised Herbert alone. I must admit that children from single-parent families often grow up with certain flaws in their character. In any case, my seventeen-year-old boy ran away from home for a woman. Yes, it happened last weekend. I thought he would return soon, but I've been waiting ever since, and he still hasn't come home."
"You want to hire me to find Mr. Herbert Martin and bring him back?"
Shade asked. Professor Martin nodded, looking deeply sorrowful:
"I am certain he would never leave Tobesk City. He does not have that kind of courage. Please find him and persuade him to return home. You may use any means that do not cause permanent harm. Also, please do not tell anyone else about this commission. Though if Louisa wishes to publish it, she may use pseudonyms."
"No problem. If he is still in the city, I don't think this sort of missing-person commission will be difficult for me. May I ask about the other protagonist in this story? What sort of person is the lady your son has taken a liking to? I think I can