Whispering Verse

Sunday's Lakeview Manor dinner was the most important event of Shade's day. Yesterday, he asked Dr. Schneider about the attire for an open-air banquet. The doctor told Shade to just freshen up. This kind of open-air banquet that allows strangers to enter is usually quite large, so there is no need to dress too formally.

However, if you are going to a party for a beautiful girl, then of course you should dress decently. Shade still remembered Miss Louisa's teasing when she said this, and she seemed to be very familiar with this set of rules.

Because Baron Lavender promised to reimburse the round trip expenses, Shade did not need to leave too early.

I spent the morning playing with the orange cat and reading books, and of course, waiting for the client to come to my door. Little Mia is the most obedient pet that Shade can imagine. These days, she has basically adapted to life at No. 6 Saint Teresa Square. Shade is very relieved to have her at home.

After lunch, I thought I had no luck waiting for the client, so I went out again and went to Old John's Pawn Shop.

The address provided by Miss Louisa was indeed the store not far from the Silver Parrot Milk Distribution Company. When Shade opened the door, the drowsy old man sitting in the rocking chair immediately woke up:

"Oh, he's a regular customer. I won't use that cane again..."

He stood up to welcome the detective, and Shade whispered:

"Putting aside the cane thing, I want...something interesting this time."

He looked around at the crowded store. The four walls were covered with brass-colored wallpaper, allowing the weak gas lamp to illuminate the interior as much as possible. Gas pipes climbed up the wall, and objects such as broken lanterns and long swords with only hilts hung from the pipes.

Most of the store is filled with wooden shelves, and items that look like garbage are placed on the shelves. Shade couldn't figure out what the meaning of putting ordinary Rhodes cards and empty glass bottles here was.

The owner of the shop, Old John, has returned behind the counter. There is a stack of old books on the left side of the counter, and a small steam engine furnace on the right side. The left half has been wiped clean, and the right half is still covered with ashes. It was not there last time. This thing.

Old John did not show surprise at Shade's words:

“Everything here is interesting.”

He said, then looked at Shade quietly behind the counter.

The old man is slightly fat, but his eyes are very powerful. So Shade cleared his throat and said the "secret code" Miss Louisa told him. If you want to buy occult supplies or even relics from here, you must be introduced by an acquaintance:

"Because one plus one equals two, the sun will rise in the west. Oh, my Maria, I'm going to kick your... ass hard. Don't go barefoot or the curly baboons will eat it Lose your cavities.”

This is the store's contact code, indicating that Shade was introduced by a regular customer and is also a ring warlock.

But Shade doubted whether Miss Louisa was joking with her. She might have plagiarized the crazy words of the patients in Dr. Schneider's clinic.

But Old John understood and waved his hand at Shade:

"Oh, it turns out you were introduced by Dorothy Louisa. I haven't seen her for a long time. How is her new book "The Mystery in Scarlet" going? Last time, she said she would give me a copy after it is published. Woolen cloth."

"The Mystery of the Scarlet Letter" is a detective novel that Miss Louisa is writing recently. She plans to serialize and publish this book in a newspaper and has already contacted the newspaper. Unfortunately, the exam season interrupted her writing plan, so she only wrote the beginning of the book. At yesterday's study meeting, Shade heard young female writers complain about this.

"If I said last time that I was introduced by Miss Louisa, would the price of the cane be higher?"

Shade asked.

"Of course not, that was the highest price. Detective, are you doubting my credibility? Old John's Pawn Shop never deceives customers... Yes, never, no need to doubt, that's it. ....."

Facing the young detective's suspicious eyes, Old John coughed and quickly changed the topic:

"Speaking of which, detective, I didn't expect that you are also a ring magician. Well, what do you need? Because of the friendship with the cane last time, I can give you a discount on the first transaction."

Shade had given Old John his business card, so he knew Shade's occupation.

Old John Jones was, of course, a ring wizard, but neither Miss Louisa nor Dr. Schneider knew his specific identity.

They only know that this is a channel for a large organization to recover relics and other precious items in Tobesk City. As for whether Old John belongs to the Orthodox Church, the Academy of Thaumatology, or other organizations, no one is sure.

Dr. Schneider, a group of four, was not even sure whether John Sr. was also affiliated with St. Byrons Comprehensive College. The old man who always smiles when he treats his customers is tight-lipped about his identity, but at least he has a good professional ethics and has a rich collection.

Unless introduced by an acquaintance, no unfamiliar ring warlocks would be received here, which is also a convenience of joining Dr. Schneider's group.

"I've been studying thaumaturgy related to [Silver Moon] recently, so I thought..."

"I understand, so what price can you pay?"

The old man asked, twirling his right index finger and thumb.

After paying off the first month's debt, Shade's savings were actually running low. His biggest income so far was the commission related to Xiao Mia.

But [Silver Moon]'s thaumaturgy is related to whether he has the power to protect himself, so coupled with the money from selling the cane here, he is still worried that it is not enough.

After much hesitation, I misappropriated ten pounds of Xiao Mia's "living expenses" without permission. Before going out, I held the cat in my arms to apologize and promised to pay back the money as soon as possible. Of course the orange cat didn't understand. The sleepy cat didn't react at all.

"About 15 pounds."

Shade said cautiously, and Old John nodded:

"This price..."

He took out the heavy account book from under the counter and looked through it. After a few minutes, he raised his head:

"I do have a poet-level [relic] in my hand that suits your situation, but it only costs about 15 pounds. You probably understand that it won't have any big effect, but it can only help you feel the power of Silver Moon."

[Relics] are usually very expensive, Shade nodded to express his understanding.

So Old John left through the back door of the store and came back after about dozens of minutes holding a wooden jewelry box.

Putting the jewelry box on the counter and opening it, Shade saw a ball bead placed on the red velvet cloth. The top of the bead is connected with a tiny golden hook, and a thin thread is tied to the hook.

The beads are milky white, like pearls in color, but very small in size. If it is not connected with a wire, it may not be found if it falls to the ground.

[You came into contact with ‘Whispers’. 】

The voice came belatedly, as if to illustrate the weakness of this [relic].

"This is a poet-level relic [The Orb of Silver Moon]. The last time it was contained was by Sirkessus Medical College, one of the three major thaumaturgy academies, to record its information, but that was at the end of the Fifth Era, so even if it is taken out It won’t be treated as stolen goods.”

Old John pushed the jewelry box to Shade, and Shade stretched out a finger to touch the small bead. A cold feeling immediately came to his heart, and he actually saw the silver moon in front of his eyes.