The lieutenant colonel's hidden beauty
"Can you two stop fighting the moment you see each other?" Fors came out of the Kitchen carrying a plate. "He's just teasing you; the plot of Volume Two is complete."
"But don't look anymore, eat first."
She casually snatched "Great Detective Sherlock" from Hugh's hands, closed it, and put it on the bookshelf, then called the other two to help her get her things.
After setting out a sumptuous meal, the three sat down at the table to enjoy their dinner.
"Ahem, I'd like to ask you for a favor. Could I borrow your Emperor Roselle's notes to make a copy?" Fors looked at the person opposite him with sparkling eyes.
As soon as he finished speaking, Lorry's heart stirred.
Fors already knows about Roselle's Diary from the Tarot Club?
After thinking for a moment, he picked up his homemade Sweet Iced Tea, took a couple of sips, and nodded nonchalantly, saying, "Of course, it's just a small matter."
Then, with a light laugh, he raised the glass containing the brownish-red liquid:
"It tastes great."
"I think it tastes much better than the ones you buy outside -- if you don't mind, could you tell me the Secret Recipe?"
These words gave Fors and Hugh the same thought:
He seemed more interested in the Sweet Iced Tea in front of him than in the mysterious notes left by the revered Emperor Intis.
Don't scoff at a playboy who only knows how to talk pretty.
But the reaction of Fors, who was sitting next to her, was completely different. He coughed lightly, slightly uncomfortable.
"It's hardly a Secret Recipe... I just adjusted the Ratio of Sugar and Lemon to my own taste. If you like, I can write one down later."
"That's good, it'll serve as payment for those diaries and notebooks." Lorry chuckled and asked, "When will it be delivered to you?"
What was said unintentionally was taken to heart by the listener.
Upon hearing that half-syllable, Fors's pupils suddenly contracted.
He knew it was a diary after all! But if that's the case, why didn't he Sacrifice himself to Mr. "Fool" in exchange for a reward?
Could it be...? This thought flashed through her mind, and she felt her heart skip a beat. Her gaze softened further. "Whenever it's convenient for you."
Remembering that the Lieutenant Colonel had promised him an answer within seven days, Lorry said:
"Then let's do it before next Sunday."
"I might need your help with something else later."
He knew I was attending Tarot Club on Monday and didn't want to delay my presentation to Mr. Fool. Fors felt a sweet warmth in her heart and readily agreed.
She ate the meal with exceptional relish.
Even after Lorry left, she remained curled up on the Sofa, secretly pleased.
"Clatter!"
The Washroom door opened.
Just now, Xiu, who had excused himself to wash up and left the two of them alone, walked irritably toward the Single Sofa while drying his wet hair with a towel.
"I said, that's enough, the person's already gone."
Fors suddenly snapped back to reality, her face slightly flushed, and she vehemently denied it:
What nonsense are you talking about?
I'm happy because of what happened to you.
"Are you happy because of me?" Hugh knew the other person was deliberately changing the subject, but he couldn't help asking anyway.
"Yes," Fors nodded vigorously and smiled.
"He saw someone selling the Beyonder Characteristic of a ' Sheriff ' at a Beyonder Gathering, and the price was fair—only six hundred pounds."
"Real?!"
Hugh became excited, but quickly pursed his lips.
"What's wrong?" Fors asked.
"I don't have enough money." Hugh scratched his head in frustration. "I'm still short half... Miss Audrey doesn't have any cases that require our help lately."
Fors answered without hesitation, "I can lend it to you."
"You?" Xiu frowned.
"You spent four hundred pounds on the ' Trickmaster ' costume, and you still need to Main Ingredient, which will cost around six or seven hundred pounds. How can you lend me the rest?"
She knew very well about her friend's income.
Although making money is easier for me, I've been living off my savings and only recently started writing a new book, so my savings are probably only this much.
Thinking about it, she suddenly widened her eyes and looked at the other person suspiciously:
"You're not really being kept by him, are you?"
I heard that he received at least a thousand pounds in royalties from his three most recent books.
"Stop!" Fors felt her face burning and snorted irritably, "Are you going to lend it to me or not? Are you going to buy that Beyonder Characteristic or not?"
"Also, don't talk nonsense in the future. I only helped him sell a Sealed Artifact and earned some money for running the errand."
"Why can't I have such a good opportunity..." Xiu muttered softly, hesitatingly saying:
"Keep your money for now. I'll go see Viscount Glaint and Miss Audrey tomorrow. If they refuse to lend it to me, I'll use yours first."
"By the way, Mr. A is having a party tomorrow night, are you going?"
Fors thought of the commission from the Sun Believer and said without hesitation:
"Certainly.
"I also hope to purchase the Main Ingredient as soon as possible."
Xiu nodded, not giving it much thought.
Feeling guilty for deceiving her friend yet again, Fors sighed and tried to change the subject, "Hugh, why do you always want to argue with him?"
"You're clearly no match for them; you always end up losing."
"He's Swindler, after all."
Xiu paused for a moment, speechless at the question posed by his friend.
However, her eyes soon lit up.
Yes, why should I use my weaknesses to compete with that guy's strengths? It should be the other way around... She thought to herself, clenching her fists tightly.
"Arbiter" is Pathway skilled fighter.
--One's verbal skills are far less powerful than one's fists.
After handing over the payment demanded by the "Hanged Man" to Fors and arranging two visits on Sunday and Monday, Lorry plunged back into the ocean of knowledge.
Perhaps it's because of the experience of learning a second language in a previous life, or perhaps it's because modern language systems share a common origin.
After thoroughly mastering several languages, his learning progressed rapidly.
The book "The Curse of Knowledge" even specifically praised Lorry for this, although Rory himself was not happy about it.
"Much better Albert!"
--Lorry believes that anyone else would have reacted the same way to such praise.
Of course.
The premise is that he knew Albert was a dog.
Time flies.
It's already Wednesday.
Lorry received a letter in the afternoon, delivered by someone sent by the Lieutenant Colonel, arranging to meet tonight.
After a whole day of studying, feeling completely drained, he decided to splurge and use "Teleportation" to get somewhere quickly, giving Albert a chance to catch his breath.
Around 7:30, Lorry finished the dinner that Joe had brought and realized that the tea leaves were all gone and hadn't been replenished, so he decided to go ahead and leave.
Under Albert's subtly excited gaze, he stroked the White Bone Ring, his body rapidly becoming ethereal, and he vanished from the office.
"Awoo!"
The Arbitrator Hound excitedly howled to the sky, its tail wagging wildly.
I don't have any homework this time!
at the same time.
Inside a Detached House in the West Borough.
Lorry's figure gradually appeared in the Sofa area, and he met a pair of eyes. Their eyes locked, and the other person's light green eyes suddenly widened.
The next second, a shrill soprano voice echoed throughout the Living Room.
"Ah!!!"