The Returning Doctor

"Detective, you're very lucky. If I hadn't happened to have this relic on hand, this transaction probably wouldn't have gone so smoothly. After all, for a weak Ring Arcanist, excessively mysterious knowledge and excessively powerful weapons are equally dangerous. Detective, I won't concern myself with the Darkness Box anymore. A pleasure doing business with you."

The words of the Lady behind the door seemed to be a dismissal.

Shade closed the ring case and took it from the Maid. As the Maid headed back toward the door, he did not bid farewell and leave. Instead, he gathered himself and spoke loudly:

"Lady, might I have the honor of learning your identity?"

"You do not have that honor for now."

The woman spoke very directly. Shade seemed to hear the Black-Haired Maid, who was pushing the door, accidentally let out a laugh.

"I know what you are worried about. Now that I know your identity and appearance, I naturally have ways to find out your address and the identities of the correspondence Ring Arcanists in your group. But so what? The most important thing for correspondence Ring Arcanists is that the Church must not learn their identities. Do you think I am someone from the Church?"

Just as the woman believed Shade did not resemble a devout Believer of the righteous gods, Shade likewise did not think she was a devout Believer:

"You may tell the correspondence Ring Arcanists in your group about what happened tonight. They naturally understand the rules of this city. You may also speak of our transaction, of course. Do you have any other questions?"

Perhaps because she had obtained information from Shade, despite the initial unpleasantness, she was in quite a good mood now.

"You appeared here tonight..."

"Of course not for you. Meeting you was merely an accident. I came to this indecent place tonight only because I heard that The Club possessed a very rare Rhodes Card."

"Which series was it from?"

"It no longer matters. It was a forged Rhodes Card."

"That is truly unfortunate. Then farewell, Lady. May you touch that Old God's statue as soon as possible."

This was a reminder for her to search quickly, lest Blood of Mercury have time to relocate and she be unable to find the statue, then come back to blame Shade.

"Then until we meet again, Detective. Come to think of it, I rather appreciate young people like you. Your reaction just now, when the relic lost control, was quite good. Most First Ring Arcanists would not have performed as well as you.

"If you need anything, you may contact me through this club. But you understand, all gifts demand recompense."

"Yes, Lady. Have a wonderful evening."

Shade clenched the ring case and turned to leave, but at the doorway, he suddenly looked back toward the half-closed door:

"Lady, regarding the Darkness Box..."

"A rare relic from the Third Epoch. Relics are formed from resentment and hatred accumulated at the end of an era, so there is no need to doubt what you heard.

"The Fifth Epoch was the age of Witches. The war of the last Thirteen Witches Emperors nearly drew terrible existences from beyond the Material World;

"The Fourth Epoch was the age of darkness and chaos. Darkness shrouded the earth, and strange things ran rampant through the Material World;

"In the Third Epoch, alien races and humans coexisted, but terrifying and bizarre humanoid creatures occupied most of the Material World. They were evil spirits born from Whispers. Humans and other normal life forms lived in remote corners, protecting one another."

She said nothing more. Shade gave a slight bow to express his gratitude for the free knowledge, then walked out.

The maid outside was waiting for Shade. She led him from the Third Floor to the stairway on the 1st Floor. There, Shade met up with the dejected Little Franklin, and the two left The Club together.

Returning from the noisy interior to the summer night streets veiled in thin mist eased his oppressive mood considerably.

Shade was still immersed in the series of events from earlier, recalling the moment his fingers had shone and considering the details of the transaction.

Thus, the two did not speak much on the way. They followed the main road lined with Gas Street Lamps through the quiet night, heading toward the apartment rented by the Franklin family.

But just as they were about to reach their destination, Little Franklin stepped into the shadow cast by the sign of an antique shop facing the street, beyond the reach of the Gas Street Lamp, then suddenly turned and ran. Prepared in advance, Shade immediately gave chase. They had not even run half a street before Little Franklin was kicked down by the detective's boot from behind:

"Who exactly did Father hire this time? Have you trained in long-distance running? Are you planning to join the Tobesk Youth Games? Where is the Detective from Last Time?"

Panting heavily, he had both hands pinned behind his back by Shade. As he fired off hoarse questions, he no longer tried to break free. The young man was not good at running.

"Still trying to run? Didn't the Detective catch you Last Time too? Uncle Sparrow died, and I took over his work, but I have never trained in long-distance running."

Shade could feel the strength within this body. It was not merely the power of a Ring Arcanist; the body itself was in remarkably good condition. He had no idea how Detective Sparrow Hamilton had transformed a vagrant into this in just a few months.

As for pretending to be someone else's nephew, that was not really a problem. After all, Shade had truly inherited all of the detective's estate.

"Dead? That guy who pointed a gun at my head and made me leave the gambling table is dead?"

Little Franklin was somewhat surprised, but his tone was full of delight:

"An Evildoer like that is better off dead."

But according to the commission records left behind by the detective that Shade had found, both times he had taken Little Franklin away from underground slum casinos and clubs, he had relied on the power of words. Detective Sparrow Hamilton had described himself as a man full of Charm, exceptionally skilled at persuading others.

"Looks like I cannot completely trust his records either. Did he really lose his gun? Or did he hide it somewhere I have not found?"

"By the way, how about you let me go? If I win my bets, I'll give you more Gold Pounds."

Little Franklin still tried to struggle free.

"I truly feel sorry for your father."

"Give it a rest. You came to catch me for money."

The young gambler mocked him. He expected a verbal counterattack from the detective, but the detective actually nodded:

"Yes, Gold Pounds are important too, of course. Otherwise, why would I come out on a foggy night to catch you instead of staying Home with the Gas Lamp on, looking after my adorable Cat?"

Although there had been an accident at The Club, at least the process of submitting the commission and receiving payment had gone smoothly. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin did not make things difficult for their son. Shade merely received half a pound as payment at the door, along with the two-pound gambling debt that had been paid in advance, then left directly.

As he departed, he even saw Little Franklin inside the house making a vicious gesture at him. Shade was not angry, but he truly pitied Mr. Franklin somewhat.

"Every era and every family has its own story. I should take care of myself first."

With both hands in his pockets, he stepped into the long night, bidding farewell to his first official employer.

It was already late at night. The detective, short on money, still did not take a carriage and instead walked Home. He had to gather ten pounds within a month. Even though the relics in the house could be pawned, he still needed to develop the habit of being frugal.

Thus, by the time he arrived Home, it was already the latter half of the night. Leaving the hazy mist outside and climbing the dim staircase, he felt unusually lonely and isolated. After entering, he had worried that the orange Cat, "Little Mia," would relieve itself everywhere. Fortunately, it had obediently left its "mark" on the pile of sand Shade had prepared in the corner of the balcony before leaving.

As for the Cat itself, the moment the exhausted detective opened the door, it darted over and grabbed his trouser leg, demanding to be held. It was exceptionally excited by Shade's return. This made Shade, who had walked alone through the night for several hours, feel especially moved and warmed inside.

"Even if your owner does not come to take you back, I will adopt you."

"Meow~"

After picking up the very well-behaved Cat, he said this. The orange Cat Mia rubbed her soft little head against Shade's chest to express her affection. The detective then used a blanket on the desk in his bedroom to make Little Mia a temporary little nest.

It was already late, so he did not continue studying the Blood Ring. Yet although he had gone to sleep very late that night, he woke up again at a little past six the next day, without feeling sleepy at all.

The goat milk and cow's milk he had ordered yesterday were delivered together with the newspaper. For the first time in this house, Shade ate breakfast with the well-behaved orange Cat Mia and planned out his schedule for the day.

Today was Tuesday. He did not need to see Doctor Schneider until tomorrow, but because of the note he had left yesterday, he definitely needed to make a trip to the doctor's place.

Completing two commissions in a single day yesterday had also greatly increased Shade's confidence in taking over the detective agency's business.

But he did not plan to deal with the cases left behind by the previous detective today. After returning from the doctor's, he planned to carefully search the house for that handgun, continue reading the doctor's notes and the old commission records, and study his Spirit Rune.

He once again left Little Mia behind to watch the house. Shade carried the relic Blood Ring with him as he crossed the city through the thin mist.

Walking from the center of Tobesk City to the doctor's clinic in the East District took up several hours of his morning, but the distinctive scenery of the unfamiliar Steam Epoch and the European architectural style fascinated Shade.

As he walked along beautiful Röntgen Avenue in the wealthy district, he saw the Four-wheeled Carriage parked outside the psychological clinic and the gentleman in a black top hat stepping down from it. Shade was still worried whether the doctor had returned.

Fortunately, the journey of several hours had not been in vain. The Blue Eyes doctor had returned, though he looked quite troubled while receiving Shade.

Shade remembered Miss Louisa saying that his Luck was usually terrible, and this time he had run into another troubling matter:

"That is why I have always hated dealing with nobles. If I can treat them, they do not take their psychological issues seriously; if I cannot, they think it is a problem with my skill.

"This case of gluttony is very strange. That Lady has probably concealed some Secret she is unwilling to speak aloud. People never trust doctors. Shade, if you encounter a commission from a noble, you will certainly understand what I mean. Please sit. I saw your note, but what exactly is the matter?"

PS: During the new book period, the editor suggested two thousand words per chapter. This chapter is three thousand. Please vote with recommendation tickets. The current results are not very ideal. I do not know whether the writing is poor or the subject matter is simply slow to warm up. (Covering face.) But do not worry, no matter how bad the results are, I will finish the book. The current plan is for at least two million words.