Whispering Verse

It was already noon when we arrived at Pigtail Alley in the north of the city. Although it is an alley, it is actually wide enough to pass a carriage. There are ancient buildings standing on both sides of the alley. The vines cover the outer walls and are almost integrated with the steam pipes. This is the unique style of a summer city. Coupled with the chirping birds and the faint smell of cooking fireworks that can be smelled in the alley, this kind of place with a strong sense of life really suits Xia De's taste. .

Of course he would never move out of Saint Teresa Square.

The interior of the apartment is damp and dark due to sunlight. The smell of the corridor is already a bit unpleasant, and since there are no windows in the corridor and lack of ventilation, the smell of sweat, food and undried clothes mix together, making people very uncomfortable.

While chatting with Captain Rades about the customs and customs of the southern part of the kingdom while going up the stairs, he saw an adult cat that was all white but dark near its right eye jumping down from the stairs. It looks a little thin, but its limbs are very slender and it is not afraid of strangers.

After sizing up the captain and Shade, he walked around them and continued walking.

This cat doesn't look as clean as little Mia, maybe its owner doesn't clean it up often.

"This is the cat owned by Mrs. Cullen downstairs. It is usually very cruel to ordinary people. Why is it so good this time? Detective, it seems that the cat likes you very much."

The captain said curiously, and then continued to lead Shade upstairs. Captain Rades lived on the second floor and shared a bathroom with five other residents.

The wooden floor in the corridor on the second floor has become warped due to moisture, making a squeaking sound when stepped on. When Shade was looking at the environment here, the captain had already opened the door of Room 3 on the second floor. Immediately after walking in, Shade saw the empty wine bottles piled on the desk.

The middle-aged captain laughed awkwardly.

The room is very small and functions as a bedroom, study, dining room, reception room, etc. The furnishings are very similar to the room of Peter the Dwarf Mouse.

Of course, a single officer cannot clean his room often, so he looks a bit sloppy. But at least there wasn't much odor, and he often opened the windows for ventilation.

Captain Rades asked Shade to find a place to sit down, while he went to rummage through the miscellaneous cardboard boxes piled in the corner. With a cautious attitude, Shade used [Echo of Blood] to observe the room. Although there were indeed blood stains, they were from a long time ago and had nothing to do with the current tenant.

[Are you too cautious? 】

A voice came to my ears.

"You can encounter evil gods even if you participate in an ordinary banquet. Now I am worried about anything I do."

He replied.

His eyes casually looked at the table with unwashed dishes and newspapers, and even found his business card in the corner of the table. After getting permission, Shade picked up the newspaper and looked at it.

This is the Daily Steambird. Detective Sparrow has not ordered this kind of newspaper, so Shade is not familiar with it. The date is today, and the top page is the advertising area. The information is circled in pencil. Captain Rades is probably looking for a job.

"If I had not chosen to stay, but left immediately after the death of the previous detective, if I was lucky now, I would probably be living in this small apartment, reading newspapers and looking for a job."

Shade thought.

Daylight slants into the narrow apartment from the window, and the warm summer sun is very comfortable on the skin.

The front page of the Steam Bird Daily reported that Princess Lesia will be returning to her country soon. She will take a boat along the west coast of the Old World, from the Kingdom of Carsonlik back to the city of Coldwater Port, and will stay in Coldwater Port for a week before returning. Tobesk.

Shade was not interested in this and turned to the second page. It was an academic article published by Tobesk University, pointing out the recent anomalies in the astrology. Scroll further back to find the debate over the renovation of steam pipes in the old town of Tobesk. The commentator who published the editorial believes that the current plan is "a money-grabbing plan of the city hall bureaucracy and a shameful conspiracy between academic and political bureaucrats." . Looking through it again, it is still news and articles of the academic report type.

Only then did I understand that the "Steam Bird Daily" should be aimed at students and intellectuals in the Tobesk University District, or middle-class people with some knowledge.

"Well, this kind of newspaper is suitable for publishing my advertisement."

Shade thought in his mind and saw the notice published by the Tobesk University Association that an academic report was about to be held. The notice stated that people from the public were welcome to attend the report.

He was actually very interested in the academic research of universities in the steam age, real universities, not universities like St. Byrons, and wanted to understand the development of materialist science and technology in this era.

After all, Shade was a student at a certain university in his hometown. If it weren't for the mystery and transcendence in this era, and the power that he yearned for, Shade would probably spend the rest of his life in this world studying steam machinery and basic physics. , chemically.

In fact, he can be regarded as an intellectual. If he can spare time from his busy studies as a ring warlock, he is also willing to participate in the scientific development of ordinary society. In particular, the unique steam machinery here is really fascinating.

"Professor Shad Hamilton...a nice title."

There was a slight smile on his face, so he took out his notebook and wrote down the specific date of the academic report, planning to read it when he had time.

Because he didn't have much hope of finding the ornament, Shade was not disappointed when Captain Rades regretfully said that he might not be able to find it today.

Of course, since the "other me" could know which item was a relic, he asked from the bottom of his heart if she could find the ornaments in this narrow room, and received this reply:

[You have to at least see that thing before I can perceive whether there are elements. 】

But if Shade could see the accessory, he wouldn't need to look for it anymore.

Captain Rades and Shade had a good chat. Since the pendant could not be found for the time being, the captain wanted to invite Shade to have lunch at a nearby restaurant, which could be regarded as a formal apology for his recklessness in Lakeview Manor.

Shade received a favor from the Captain, and even narrowly escaped death from the Heart Collector because of the Good Gun, so he didn't want the Captain to spend any money. He opened his mouth and said that he wanted to treat him. After all, the antique revolver was far more valuable than his formal clothes.

When the two poor people were polite to each other, they suddenly heard a noise coming from the Pigtail Alley downstairs. The rough man's voice used very dirty words and said sentences that Shade had no desire to translate.

Then, gunfire rang out.

Shade subconsciously wanted to hide, but the middle-aged officer waved his hand indifferently, as if he was used to it:

"It's okay, it's okay. This kind of thing happens all the time around here, but it's rare in broad daylight. We'll find a place to eat later, and these people will probably leave soon."

Living in a remote lower town, life is completely different from Saint Teresa Square.