After finishing their work meal and resting at the company for a while, Luther and Klein, who had returned from the Divination Club, went to their combat instructor Gawain's home to continue their fighting practice. They did not stop until late afternoon. After changing out of their training knight uniforms and taking a bath, they bid Gawain farewell, left the house, and took a public carriage back to Daffodil Street.
Throughout the process, Klein occasionally glanced at Luther as if observing him.
He must want to ask how well I've digested the potion.
Luther guessed with confidence.
So Luther met Klein's gaze and smiled faintly.
"Klein, the method you mentioned really works. I feel the potion's influence has weakened considerably!"
"Huh? Ahem... It works? Good, as long as it works."
Klein coughed, then said seriously, "Then I think this method can continue to be promoted. Once you and I have completely mastered our potions, we can share it with the other members..."
The two chatted casually for a few more sentences before parting in front of their respective homes.
"Cecilia, how long has the mutton been simmering?"
The moment Luther pushed open the door, he called into the house, grinning as he chatted with his sister.
Could he really be a blessed of the True Creator?
Klein stood outside his own home, watching Luther's retreating figure with a strange expression. He hated the Aurora Order so much, had personally killed three cultists, and had stopped several evil god rituals... A blessed one so blasphemous could not possibly exist, could he?
Shaking his head, Klein closed the door with mixed emotions.
Tender chunks of mutton and radish soaked in milky-white broth. As the soup bubbled, the fatty, succulent meat trembled and swayed. The kitchen was filled with a savory fragrance and a faint mutton smell that was oddly refreshing.
Good mutton needed few seasonings. A little spice to remove the gaminess was enough to draw out the meat's natural sweetness. Seeing that it was nearly done, Luther turned off the heat, sprinkled in fine salt, and stirred it evenly. Salt could not be added too early when boiling mutton, or the meat would turn tough. After waiting a few minutes, he scooped out the mutton and radish along with some broth, served them in bowls, and scattered bright green basil leaves over them as garnish.
After sprinkling on pepper, they picked up the mutton and took a bite. It was tender, smooth, and pleasantly chewy, its fresh flavor and rich aroma filling their noses and mouths. Then they took a sip of the steaming broth... Good heavens, the Rondal siblings ate without even lifting their heads.
"Cecilia, I just realized something serious."
"What is it, Brother?"
"Well, um..."
Luther took a sip of soup and said somewhat guiltily, "I just remembered that I should have prepared a dress for you to wear to the theater."
Cecilia looked at him in surprise.
"Luther, you actually noticed something like that? No, some thoughtful lady must have reminded you, right?"
"Little sister, do you have that little faith in your brother? Fine... someone really did tell me this time."
Luther raised his voice slightly before quickly lowering it again. "Anyway, the performance is at night, so we'll go out during the day and buy a ready-made one."
"Ready-made clothes will cost quite a bit more, won't they? Your weekly salary may be high, but you can't spend money so recklessly." Cecilia said, "Brother, I don't really care about those things. As long as you can accompany me, we don't have to go to the theater. Anywhere is fine."
Sis, why do you sound less like my sister and more like my mom?
Luther blinked, then laughed.
"That won't do. Everyone else has one, so how can my sister not have one? Don't worry, the money will come soon enough."
Knock, knock, knock!
As they spoke, someone knocked outside. Leonard had come to pick him up.
"Who is it?"
Cecilia asked.
"Someone bringing you money for a dress."
Luther rose with a smile.
After reminding his sister to be careful at home, Luther and Leonard got into the carriage waiting outside the door.
As soon as he sat down, he suddenly became worried about his sister's safety. She was such a beautiful little girl—what if someone had evil intentions? It seemed he would have to teach her some close-combat techniques later, at least enough for self-defense...
With that on his mind, he spoke little to Leonard along the way and quietly let the carriage carry them to the dock district on the outskirts of the city.
Tingen City had excellent geography, with two main rivers: the Khoy River and the Tussock River. The Khoy River joined the Tussock River outside the city, which then flowed all the way to the capital, Backlund. Countless passenger ships and cargo vessels traveled back and forth along the river, docking in the dock district.
Thriving on the traffic from those ships, the dock district had developed rapidly. Trading posts, warehouses, and slums stretched out in clusters. Dockworkers, beggars, streetwalkers... people of every kind gathered here, mingling in a complicated mess that made this the most lawless area in Tingen City.
Night had fallen, yet the dock district remained noisy.
Dockworkers returning from their shifts drank cheap liquor in taverns, while those who had earned more went to have heart-to-heart talks with the ladies. Beggars huddled in corners to escape the wind, and shirtless children sucked their fingers, their eyes wide as they watched the lively scenes beneath the lights.
In the river bend behind them, ships lay silently in the darkness, like man-eating beasts drifting back and forth across the water.
Luther and Leonard crossed a patch of muddy ground and arrived at the transport company where Mr. Pound worked. The William Transport Company mainly handled cargo transportation along the Tussock River. The company owned five cargo ships in total, and it was said to be doing very well.
"Names of long slumber were etched in the sunset,"
"One was awakened by your night..."
The guards at the entrance were no match for Leonard. He merely recited a few lines of poetry from afar, and the poor fellows immediately shut their eyes and collapsed in a heap.
"Reciting poetry at night... At this moment, I can count as a true Midnight Poet, right, Mr. Secrets Suppliant?"
He smiled at Luther.
Is he hinting at the Acting Method?
One after another, they all know these secrets...
Luther merely nodded, pretending not to understand at all. "You're right."
Leonard's face fell slightly at that, but he quickly recovered and strode boldly into the company building with Luther.
Orange gas lanterns lit the corridor. They followed the signs floor by floor and soon found the manager's office, its door tightly locked. Just as Luther was considering how to pick the lock, he saw Leonard pull two pieces of wire from his pocket and insert them into the keyhole. After fiddling with them a few times, there was a click, and he deftly opened the door.
"I specifically learned it from the little thieves at the police station."
Leonard put away the two wires, smiling rather proudly.
There was really no need to be proud of that...
Luther followed behind him. The instant the door was pushed open, the lantern illuminated the area ahead, and there seemed to be a thin white thread stretched across Leonard's path. Leonard did not notice it and stepped forward, snapping the thread.
Probably a spiderweb.
Seeing that Leonard had already entered, Luther could not be bothered to warn him and followed him into the office.
Before you continue