Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1011: An Acquaintance on the Second Floor

To prevent any other unforeseen incidents, after learning the location of Mr. Victor Fanny, the three bid farewell to the spice merchant. To thank the two ladies for accompanying him today, Shard invited them to lunch since it was already noon.

There weren’t any good restaurants in the northwest district of the city, so the three took a carriage back to Saint Delan Square. After picking up Mia, they dined at a nearby restaurant.

While dining, Shard glanced at the investigative report that Princess Margaret helped record and talked about his story with the Three Cats Inn.

"Last time, Miss Mary and I jointly contained a relic at the Three Cats Inn. Earlier, I went there to investigate a very dangerous Circle Sorcerer."

"I also once received a mission from the Academy to help accommodate a Female Sorcerer who stayed in Tobesk for a few days before heading north to the Academy."

Dorothy also said:

"The Circle Sorcerers in Tobesk have all more or less had dealings with the Three Cats Inn. The northern part of the city is the slum area, where the likelihood of events happening is higher than anywhere else, but it’s also suitable for hiding oneself or conducting trade. Hymn Square is the center of the Northern District, and the Three Cats Inn is the largest inn around Hymn Square, so many, many stories happen there."

"There’s a similar place in Velindale too."

Princess Margaret said, turning her head to look at the fine snow falling outside the restaurant window, which had been drifting down all morning. She was going to introduce Velindale when she saw Miss Writer, who was sitting beside her, gently pull Shard’s collar on the opposite side:

"You’re always not paying attention to this."

Dorothy complained softly, her actions so fluid it was clear this wasn’t the first time she had done it.

"Hmm..."

Since this morning, the Princess from the Southern Nation had been suspicious about the relationship between the Writer and the Detective. Now it seemed that this suspicion was definitely not her overthinking.

In fact, two people working in the same team, and their real-life professions complementing each other, if there were any romantic link, it wouldn’t be an issue. But the problem was that even this Princess of Carsonrick living in Velindale City had heard rumors of "Rejed’s Hamilton" and Duchess Galina Cavendish; there was no reason a female writer in Tobesk hadn’t heard of them.

"Relationships are truly complex."

Margaret Anjou lifted her teacup to hide her expression:

"Since there’s still an investigation in the afternoon, we won’t drink alcohol. I’m quite looking forward to the results. Speaking of which, I once acquired a rather good batch of red wine in Huntington City, but unfortunately, I’ve already given it all away as gifts. When I return to Huntington, I might visit the gentleman who has a vineyard in the New World to ask if he has any stock left. If he does, I could send some to you."

She changed the topic to disguise her emotions.

"I know the wine you mentioned; at the Lakeside Manor banquet, Miss Galina once drank it with me..."

Shard added:

"At the time, your math teacher, Miss Sylvia, was also present, and Miss Galina had a high regard for her."

Dorothy glanced at Shard but said nothing. Princess Margaret also looked at the blonde, noticing Shard mention his "lover" in front of her, yet Miss Writer’s expression didn’t change at all, only feeling that this young and powerful Circle Sorcerer’s life in Tobesk was truly vibrant and colorful.

After lunch, the three returned home to rest for a while. They set off again at 2 PM when the snow was slightly heavier. In Tobesk, people don’t carry umbrellas when it snows, so a layer of white dusted the hats of the people walking down the street.

Although Hymn Square was not as important as Saint Delan Square, many merchants were selling goods there, so they voluntarily cleared the snow, preventing a slushy environment.

Due to the continuous snowfall all day, the temperature in the foggy city was very low in the afternoon. Hymn Square had a few more pedestrians near the southwest side’s "Noble Blacksmith Shop" because the light and heat from the blacksmith’s forge instinctively attracted people during this snowy weather.

With the arrival of winter, there were even fewer pedestrians in Hymn Square, but the shouting of vendors was still incessant. Although Princess Margaret was not visiting for the first time, she still found the environment here novel.

As the three of them crossed the square towards the Three Cats Inn, the Princess from the Southern Nation enthusiastically inquired with Dorothy about the small vendors in the square, even asking about the illegal exchange rates for two national currencies at the "Honest Gold Shop" on the southwest side.

By the time the three of them braved the snow into the inn, the Princess already held a small wooden hair accessory bought for 10 pennies, which Dorothy paid for. Margaret Anjou, unlike the familiar Lecia and Little Princess Angelina, had a different personality. Lecia was serious and had just the right amount of sensitivity, similar to Dorothy, while Angelina loved fantasies and was filled with determination. The Anjou Royal Family’s Princess, probably because of having too few siblings and not experiencing the fierce competition between the Princes and Princesses of the House of Cavendish, showed a girlish whimsy despite being only a few months younger than Lecia.

"Speaking of which, of the girls I know, it seems only the sixteen-year-old Angelina and the seventeen-year-old Iluna are younger than the age of this body... Miss Sylvia seems about the same age as this body."

As he followed the girls into the inn, Shard thought to himself.

After braving the snow to enter the Three Cats Inn, Dorothy and Princess Margaret found a seat on the first floor while Shard approached the counter alone. Afternoon was the least busy time for the inn’s guests, and the female shopkeeper, Mrs. Sangmi, stood idly behind the counter.

When the three entered, she noted Shard’s return and teased:

"Detective, you’re truly remarkable, bringing along two beautiful ladies again. I think one day, every beautiful lady in Tobesk City will be brought here by you."

"Then you should thank me for regularly patronizing your business."

Shard laughed and said: ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"Three hot drinks, without alcohol. The weather is really cold, I wonder how long this snow will last."

"It’s like this every winter. But bringing the ladies here, you wouldn’t just be drinking hot fruit juice, would you?"

Mrs. Sangmi asked, and Shard thought for a moment:

"Then let’s change to butterbeer..."

Then he asked worriedly:

"You don’t have small, medium, large, and extra-large cups, do you?"

"Detective, it’s not your first time here, what kind of odd question is this? If you really feel it’s not enough, I can let you use a bigger cup for free."

Mrs. Sangmi asked curiously, then called a nearby waiter to prepare the drinks for Shard:

"That young lady from the Southern Nation looks really nice."

After instructing the waiter, she whispered to Shard. She was referring to Princess Margaret, who, despite disguising her face, still had the Carsonrickian look.

"Oh, Mrs. Sangmi, although I sometimes bring different ladies here, I’m not up to anything bad."

"Yes, yes."

The middle-aged woman with an apron laughed and said:

"You only do bad things with the Duchess, everyone in the city knows that."

She laughed happily, teasing a familiar young man in this snowy winter afternoon was quite an enjoyable pastime:

"Come on, detective, who are you here to investigate this time? Considering you have a store discount, I can lower the price of information slightly for you."

"This time I’m just visiting friends."

Shard shook his head, as Mr. Victor Fanny, who sells boxes, lives in the inn, and he knows how to contact him. Considering he doesn’t know what will happen later, there’s no need to inquire for information from Mrs. Sangmi right now. If something really happens, asking Mrs. Sangmi for information would mean directly telling others why he’s here.

The waiter quickly brought butterbeer to the table for the three. The wooden tables used by the Three Cats Inn have very pronounced wood grain, providing a certain atmosphere for those who like pubs, but Shard didn’t care much for it.

He took a sip from his cup of the supposedly non-alcoholic drink, finding the taste quite odd, while Princess Margaret held her cup to feel the warmth, and Dorothy took off her gloves and retrieved her notebook:

"Are you going up alone, or are we following you?"

Shard considered for a moment:

"Not sure of the situation yet, I’ll go upstairs alone for a reconnaissance round later."

Actually, he’s thinking of relying on ’her’ perception to confirm what the opponent is.

"Then we’ll decide on an action plan. If the opponent is too strong, I’ll report the matter to the Church; I have acquaintances there."

The two ladies chuckled, as it’s evident that Miss Iluna Beath from Wednesday night shares quite an unusual relationship with Shard. Though Princess Margaret Anjou still doesn’t understand why that Angel-Level relic believed Shard to be an ordinary person, the parchment Iluna Beath held back then clearly had information on more than just ordinary people.

"If we can handle this ourselves, then let’s visit that gentleman together; I think he will learn a lesson."

Dorothy and Princess Margaret also agreed on Shard’s plan, but Shard didn’t immediately stand up and continued chatting with them for another ten minutes. When Mrs. Sangmi headed to the kitchen, he finally stood up and walked towards the staircase, heading towards the fourth floor of the inn.

Thinking about what he might encounter on the fourth floor, but as soon as Shard reached the second floor, he stopped.

Frowning, he looked towards the second floor. There were quite a few patrons here on Monday afternoon, ordering a drink and sitting all afternoon with friends or gambling Roder cards with familiar card players are good ways to pass the time.

The air was permeated with a strange smell of food mixed with alcohol, and Shard stopped because he saw someone he knew. Hesitating, he retreated back to the stairs, found no one around, then changed into a different coat and applied the Witch’s eyeshadow.

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