Investigation Results

Hillston District, Detective Stuart's residence.

"What? You're calling off the investigation?"

Lorry had no appetite for the coffee the maid had prepared. With a slight frown, he looked at Detective Stuart across from him, waiting for an explanation.

"Yes, sir.

"This commission has exceeded my capabilities."

Detective Stuart picked up the documents he had already laid out on the table and said calmly, "You can turn straight to the last page."

"It concerns One-Eyed Cyril's movements last night."

Lorry took the documents and quickly flipped through them as the detective had suggested.

"Team one:

"At 6:15 p.m., an unmarked carriage stopped at the intersection on Neeson Street. Five minutes later, the target appeared with two attendants and boarded the carriage.

"The driver drove the carriage away from Neeson Street.

"Team two took over the surveillance."

"Team two:

"The target's carriage headed toward Hillston District.

"The target's carriage stopped outside the Quelaag Club. The target did not get out immediately, remaining inside until eight o'clock.

"An elderly man in a tailcoat, dressed as a butler, approached the carriage. After a brief exchange, the target got out and followed the elderly man into the Quelaag Club.

"The two attendants remained in the carriage.

"We had been lingering nearby for too long. Concerned that we might alert the target, we had to withdraw early, leaving teams three and four to take turns watching."

"Team three:

"At 8:40 p.m., the target and the elderly man left the Quelaag Club.

"The target returned by carriage to Neeson Street in East Borough. The carriage then departed, and the target entered the Sanson Bar under the protection of his two attendants.

"At 10:15 p.m., the target and his attendants reappeared and proceeded on foot to the apartment building at 3 Neeson Street. They encountered no pedestrians along the way.

"All three entered the apartment building.

"Five minutes later, the gas lamp in room four on the sixth floor lit up. It went out again approximately fifteen minutes later-suspected residence of the target.

"Teams five and six handled the overnight surveillance."

"Team four:

"Alternating with team two, we followed the elderly man who had approached the target. Ten minutes later, he hailed a carriage and headed toward Empress Borough!!!

"A police patrol caused us to briefly lose sight of him.

"The elderly man who met with the target is suspected to have entered a noble residence!"

The other teams' findings followed, but they were of little value.

Lorry set down the documents and let out a long, forceful breath.

"Empress Borough?"

"Cyril has a noble backing him?"

Detective Stuart looked grave. "I'm very sorry, sir, but the risks involved in this commission far outweigh the payment. Please forgive me, but I cannot continue the investigation."

"I can increase the payment further," Lorry said in a low voice.

"How about thirty pounds?"

A flicker of conflict crossed Detective Stuart's pale green eyes. He glanced at the family photograph on the coffee table, then firmly shook his head.

"It isn't a question of payment.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive my cowardice.

"I cannot risk my life, or those of my family and informants."

Lorry gave a slight nod of understanding.

He picked up his coffee, took a small sip, and pulled four pounds in banknotes from his wallet.

Detective Stuart seemed surprised that his client was still willing to pay him in full. In the moment he spent dazed, he saw that Lorry had already risen from the sofa.

Lorry picked up his top hat, put it on, and said with a smile:

"Your findings are worth the price.

"Mr. Stuart, may I take these documents with me?"

"Of course."

Detective Stuart rose as well and personally escorted Lorry to the entrance hall.

"Oh, Mr. Stuart." Lorry suddenly turned around and asked, "Under these circumstances, which private detective do you think would be willing to take over?"

"If possible, please recommend a colleague."

Detective Stuart gave a wry smile at that.

"Sir, I think you've misunderstood. In Backlund, no private detective would dare challenge the nobility and Sivellaus Yard!"

Sivellaus was a street on the edge of Empress Borough where police headquarters stood, so people also used "Sivellaus Yard" to refer to the police.

He paused briefly, then earnestly advised, "Sir, we're all ordinary people. Why provoke a gang leader with a noble backing him?"

Lorry took off his hat in a courteous gesture, put it back on, and said with a smile:

"I understand, detective. Thank you for your kind warning.

"I hope we have a chance to meet again."

With that, he strode toward the carriage parked across the street.

Detective Stuart stood in the entrance hall, silently watching him leave. Suddenly, he turned toward the maid who had come out to clear away the coffee cups. "Lola, you're on leave."

The maid paused and looked up in confusion.

"Sir?"

"Don't worry," Detective Stuart said with a smile. "I'm simply planning to take my family back to the countryside for a holiday, so I'm giving you some time off."

"When we return to Backlund, we'll write to let you know when to come back to work."

64 Iris Street, Hillston District.

"Cyril-or rather, the Wanderers Mutual Aid Association-actually has secret dealings with a noble in Empress Borough. It frightened a private detective so badly that he wouldn't even accept the commission."

Lorry lay in the reclining chair on the terrace, his eyes filled with bitterness.

East Borough was the most chaotic part of Backlund.

Countless gangs, large and small, operated there, and their turnover was extremely rapid.

Several gangs might spring up overnight, while a large gang known to every household might vanish without a trace just as quickly.

The Wanderers Mutual Aid Association was not particularly large, but it had held its ground around Neeson Street for so many years. How could it have nothing to rely on?

He had actually overlooked that before!

"Private detectives won't take it, and bounty hunters probably won't either. But even if a noble is involved behind the scenes, I absolutely won't give up!

"It looks like I'll have to investigate on my own.

"Fortunately, Stuart's investigation over these three days was detailed enough. Cyril's movements follow a fairly regular pattern, which will save me a lot of effort.

"But East Borough..."

At that thought, Lorry's expression grew troubled.

His disguise skills were good,

and he could easily fool ordinary people, but the pickpockets of the Wanderers Mutual Aid Association certainly did not fall into that category.

They had once practiced together and knew one another's various disguises.

"Neeson Street is the Wanderers Mutual Aid Association's home base. Investigating there would be no different from delivering myself straight to Cyril."

Lorry knitted his brows and sank into prolonged thought.

He rose and went to the desk, listing all his current obstacles in order of importance and considering a solution for each.

"A simple disguise won't fool them, but I'm no longer an ordinary person. I can try seeking help at a Beyonder gathering.

"On the other hand, I need to improve myself as quickly as possible.

"My Sequence is stuck at Half a Marauder, so I can't advance. But I can master Hermes as soon as possible and learn some practical Ritual Magic.

"The gap between low-Sequence Beyonders and ordinary people isn't an unbridgeable gulf. East Borough has never lacked Beyonders who died in gang conflicts.

"I can buy firearms at the Bravehearts Bar, but I'll also need somewhere to practice with live ammunition-that part is manageable. Hillston District has no shortage of shooting clubs.

"I paid four pounds in investigation expenses today. Combined with what I spent on materials and equipment yesterday, my savings have fallen below a hundred pounds.

"I hope the underground publisher can review my manuscript a little faster.

"As for the noble suspected of supporting Cyril, I'll have to investigate that myself. Hmm, I could also consider posting an anonymous commission at the gathering."

At that thought, a figure suddenly flashed through Lorry's mind.

A moment later, he shook his head slightly.

"It isn't time yet.

"One step at a time."

Lorry exhaled, walked slowly downstairs, and retrieved his subscription copy of the Backlund Morning Post from the mailbox, turning straight to page five.

He scanned it quickly, his gaze settling on an advertisement.

"Ernst Trading Company purchasing goods..."

Lorry's eyes lit up.

This was the code the elderly gentleman from the Eye of Wisdom used to notify members of a gathering!