The Missing Note

"A dog... is fine too."

Hope nodded, acknowledging the library's decision to keep dogs.

"Jeffrey just casually made my information public. Can I hold him accountable?"

"What responsibility?"

"Legal responsibility; he violated my right to privacy."

"I'm not a law student, so I don't know much about this," August said.

"Those newspapers all seem to do it this way... If you're still not convinced, I can help you contact one of my classmates who studies law."

"No, no need, I was just saying." Hope shook her head. "But I do need your help with something... Is Dr. Morgan still at the university?"

"Hmm..." August thought for a moment, "I haven't been paying much attention, but he should still be there. He's Dr. Morgan's summer tutor. He's a new teacher, so he probably hasn't learned how to skip work yet... But I don't really know him very well; I only learned his name today."

Don't you understand...?

Hope did not suggest that August investigate Dr. Morgan. Firstly, he and August were not that familiar with each other. Secondly, August was just an ordinary person, and even if he agreed, it was very likely that he would be caught by Dr. Morgan and then confess.

He mentioned to August that he wanted a black robe.

He expressed his apologies for not being able to bring a new translation today, and then told August that he was currently quite busy and could only entrust the task to August.

August gave a strange look, Hope quickly realized that the look seemed familiar.

August laughed the same way when Hope said she wanted a small room.

"Do you mind wearing secondhand clothes?" August asked.

"Secondhand... no, of course I don't mind, look at me now," Hope replied.

August stood up, then tiptoed and groped around on a cabinet. "You know, the manager is a bit short, so he doesn't clean the higher places."

He took down a small box, opened it, took out its contents, and showed them to Hope:

"Isn't it a coincidence? It was a black raincoat, made of waxed cotton. It was an award given to our outstanding dormitory by the school during my final year of university. But they only gave one, not enough to divide into four, so I suggested we keep it for the younger students."

Hope felt that August shouldn't wear black clothes; he should wear blue, a hat, white gloves, white shoes, a white hoodie with a pocket on the front, and finally a red string with a bell around his neck—that way he could cosplay Doraemon.

You can ask him for any props you want.

The raincoats provided by August are universal styles, characterized by being made extremely large to fit all body types.

Although it's still somewhat different from the black robe that Hope had imagined, which could completely cover her body, it can still achieve the effect of blocking others' gaze when combined with other clothing.

August firmly refused to let Hope pay for it, arguing that he had received the raincoat for free.

Hope said that even if it was obtained for free, it was still a reward for August and his dormitory.

August said they received the award entirely because the other three, besides him, all had bright futures ahead of them while still in school. One was about to pursue a master's degree, one already had a law license, and one was going home to inherit his family fortune... In short, the title of "excellent dormitory" had little to do with him, an unemployed person.

"But those are your things too," Hope said.

August shook his head. "This thing has been here for months."

"But the point is..." Hope said, "You're making me feel like a beggar."

August looked at him with a complicated expression, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder:

"Having dignity is a good thing; my professors often taught me to have dignity. But after graduation, I realized that sometimes you also have to face reality..."

His words were spoken with deep meaning, as if he were looking at a refugee who refused to accept charity; his eyes spoke volumes.

You're starving, what are you being so dramatic about?

August ultimately deducted ten cents from Hope's royalties.

Hope suspected it was just symbolic, but ultimately, as a "beggar," he was too embarrassed to mention money again.

He then changed the subject, asking about something else, "There's one more thing I'd like to ask you about."

August let him speak.

Elizabeth.

"Anything else?"

"Hmm... long brown hair and brown eyes, she must be a student at Miskatonic University."

August shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, I don't know such a person. I do know someone named Elizabeth, but she's blonde and has nothing to do with Miskatonic University."

Hope nodded somewhat nonchalantly, which was to be expected. He hadn't held out much hope that August knew Elizabeth anyway; he was just asking casually.

August then said that he was going to the library soon, so he could have the umbrella.

Hope didn't check the time, but it was already past midnight, so August couldn't possibly be reading.

However, since the Gatekeeper said he was acquainted with August, they probably had something to discuss.

Hope, using the excuse that since that was the case, would go ahead first.

He temporarily put the raincoat back in its place, walked out of the room, took a few steps to create the illusion that he was gradually walking away, and then closed his eyes.

Uncertainty led Hope back to her room.

He covered his forehead, instantly realizing he had forgotten the note in his pocket.

If you put it in your pocket, will you forget to check it...?

He took out the note, hesitated for a moment, held it in his hand, told himself to wait ten seconds and then return, and then reactivated the "Uncertainty" and went to the bottom of his bed in the dormitory.

Hope opened his eyes somewhat dazedly. He couldn't quite remember what he wanted to do, only that he had to wait ten seconds.

August was still in his dormitory at this time. Hope didn't disturb him, and after silently counting to ten, she returned...

Hope raised her hand and saw that it was empty; the note had vanished.

Lost in the dorm?

Hope once again unleashed the "Uncertainty" strategy, this time setting himself the task of "finding a note."

Hope returned to the room for the third time.

He searched under the bed but couldn't find anything that looked like a note. The note wasn't lost; it had simply vanished into thin air...

Unable to successfully bring the note with the Whateley House's information to Miskatonic University...

No... or perhaps... Hope considered an even greater possibility...

Perhaps the note didn't disappear... he just couldn't find it... just like the first note in the Memorandum, it was still there, but Hope ignored it while reading...

This is what people often call "blind to the truth"...