After knocking on the door of the Cat Detective Agency, Charlotte saw a girl about Sylvie's age. She sat in a small room beside the entrance and greeted him with a sweet smile. "What business can I help you with, sir?"
Charlotte glanced at the nameplate on her desk: Miss Mimi, Apprentice Detective, graduate of Nightingale National Academy.
He smiled faintly and said, "I have something I'd like to consult Miss Arsene about. I don't have an appointment, but we know each other. My name is Charlotte Mecklen."
Mimi tugged on a rope inside the room. The Empire of Fars did not yet have telephones or telegraphs, so indoor communication had produced some rather peculiar methods, such as this rope-pulling system. Different signals conveyed different messages.
However, powerful countries on the Old Continent had Magic Alchemy Communication Devices. They were less convenient than telegraphs or telephones for long-distance communication, but their transmission range was sufficiently great.
After a while, a small bell rang in the room. Miss Mimi smiled and said, "I'll take you upstairs."
A clear, lovely voice rang out. "Sister Mimi, I'll take him upstairs."
Sylvie Martin jogged downstairs, nodded slightly to Mimi, and added, "Charlotte is my cousin."
Mimi wore an expression of realization. Gathering her long skirt, she lowered her head and dipped her chest slightly in a lady's customary greeting.
Charlotte placed one hand over his chest and returned a standard Imperial salute before following Sylvie upstairs.
Sylvie chattered away, "Sister Mimi is nice. She graduated a year before me and is already an excellent apprentice detective. Maybe she'll become a detective's assistant next year, but you're not allowed to get any ideas about her."
Charlotte was slightly embarrassed. "Can we not bring up the past?"
Sylvie turned back and said, "All right! My dear