Lord of Mysteries: Yao Guang

Sunday, December 26th.

Hugh Dilcha opened the reply letter sent back by Audrey Hall, and regretted that those Russell notes were bitten by her golden retriever Susie, "Hamel" commission It didn't go as smoothly as Xio expected.

Forsi Wall was lazily leaning against the desk and staring at the rain outside the window in a daze. The draft paper in front of her was blank. She would rather watch the water droplets competing with each other at falling speeds than pick up the pen and write down a few words. Line characters.

Hearing the sound of someone walking in, Forsi subconsciously stuffed the cigarette that she had just put in her mouth but had not had time to light up back into the cigarette box. Then she noticed a look of embarrassment on her friend and roommate's face, and immediately said Asked: "What trouble are you in?"

"I just received a commission recently, and the other party asked me to collect the notes of Emperor Russell. I originally wanted to ask Miss Audrey if she still had the collection there, but she said that Susie had bitten it."

Forsi was extremely surprised in her heart. Of course, she quickly thought of the Tarot Club. Mr. Fool had been searching for those "Russell's Diaries". Could it be that the person who entrusted Xio was also a member of the Tarot Club?

If the other party is not a member of the Tarot Club, is he trying to test Xio, or even me? It seems that someone has been looking for followers of "The Fool" for a long time. Could it be that someone is targeting us? ?

Forsi's inner thoughts were racing and he asked hesitantly: "But, did the other party pay a high price for the commission you mentioned? Are there any requirements for notes?"

"She didn't say how many pieces she wanted. The price was twelve gold pounds each."

"Huh? A lady?"

Xio noticed that she had accidentally exposed her nickname, and vigorously scratched her straw-like messy yellow hair, and had to admit: "Yes, she is also an extraordinary person, and the rank should be much higher than us."

Forsi quickly went through the members of the Tarot Society in his mind, unsure whether they would be "justice" or "lovers". However, Miss "Justice" doesn't seem to be short of money. Her social circle should be in the aristocratic class, and she would not secretly buy Russell's diary from a bounty hunter, so it is more likely that she is Miss "Lover"...

"I asked a friend to collect two of them before, and I will send them to her today."

Forsi didn't tell Xio about her collection of Russell's diary, and kept it secretly from her. It was even less possible for her to hand over Russell's diary at this time, so she just comforted Xio a few words. The client became extremely curious.

"But you have to be careful when making transactions. Since the other party is higher in rank than us, they might take things without paying back."

"I know. Although she doesn't feel like a bad person to me, I must be careful." Xio replied. She put away Audrey's reply and packed her things again. This time she really went out. left the house where the two lived.

Forsi took out another cigarette, lit it and took a puff of it with enjoyment.

Isn't it safe for Xion to go alone? Do you want me to go and have a look? If you meet the other person, you can probably confirm directly whether he is a member of the Tarot Club or not. Miss "Lover"'s image is much clearer than the others, and she can be recognized immediately. There is a big difference between her and Miss "Justice".

Even if the other party is not a member of the Tarot Society, I don’t seem to have lost much, I just wasted a lot of time...

I'm too lazy to go. If I admit my mistake, it will only be more embarrassing.

Forsi frowned, took another drag on his cigarette, and continued to stare at the blank draft paper, aimlessly considering whether to join in the fun at night.

No, I really don’t know what to write in this serialized story. How about delaying it for another week until after the New Year? Yes, just treat yourself as a holiday. Everyone has the New Year's holiday, of course I can enjoy it too, it's okay.

Forsi thought so, stretched, left the desk and returned to the sofa.

——

Esther came to the East End wearing a cloak. As soon as the harmonica sound of "Hamel" sounded on the street corner, the attracted children quickly passed the news to each other and quickly arrived.

A skylark flew down from the roof of the building and stopped curiously on Esther's head. It was not afraid of her at all and even chirped twice from time to time along with the music.

However, this skylark was quickly driven away by the dissatisfied Xiao Qi. It seemed very reluctant when it flew away. However, faced with Xiao Qi's sharp beak, claws and larger size, the little skylark did not The courage to fight it.

After driving away the skylark, Xiao Qi flew back to the rooftop next to him and looked at the "followers" gathering below.

After the sound of the harmonica stopped, these street children had gathered quietly and obediently in this alley. The boy nicknamed "Rabbit" squeezed through the crowd in front. He seemed to have run far away and was breathing heavily. The bangs in front of her eyes were scattered in front of her eyes.

After Esther distributed the bread as usual, the children talked about what they had seen and heard during this period. This was already a familiar process to them.

Esther listened silently, basically not straying away from the news in the corners of the newspaper, but the activities of the Aurora Society seemed to be becoming more and more frequent, and several children said that they had encountered someone secretly preaching in residential areas.

Perhaps because the New Year is approaching, nothing particularly novel happens. People are busy with their lives, hoping for new developments in the new year.

After saying goodbye with two more lilting children's songs, the children dispersed sensibly, leaving only the rabbit standing aside.

He was particularly silent today. He didn't say anything to Esther. He just nervously crossed his arms over his chest, rolled two pebbles on his toes nervously, and stood closest to her.

Seeing that everyone had left and the boy was still leaning against the wall, Esther had no choice but to call him: "Rabbit, are you in any trouble?"

The rabbit raised his head and opened and closed his lips, but no sound came out.

"If it's very difficult, you don't need to tell me. You should put your own safety first." Esther nodded his forehead, "It's time for me to go. How about seeing you next time?"

"Wait, Hamel! I have something very important to tell you!"

Before Esther's figure disappeared around the corner, Rabbit mustered up the courage to rush forward, then grabbed her cloak and pulled her back to the depths of the alley.

"What do you want to say?" Esther smiled, and Rabbit's determination was within her expectation.

Rabbit tightened his grip on Esther's cloak, letting the hood slide off her head, revealing her hair and face covered by a silver mask.

"I, I went to see Penny, Hamel." Rabbit seemed to realize that he was pushing too hard and quickly let go. "She is living a good life now! She has food to eat, a place to sleep, and she can even follow the church. The priest is studying the holy scriptures...she can already write a lot of words!"

Esther still maintained her gentle smile, unchanged.

She seemed to know what the rabbit wanted to say.

"I told her a lot of things. She said they saw the 'Black Emperor', and that the church helped girls with families return home, and many more... Then I told her, maybe that 'glossy female thief' 'It's you Hamel!"

Rabbit took out a thinly folded newspaper from his arms. It was a torn corner of a certain report, which contained the victims' wonderful descriptions of the "glossy female thief" and the "black emperor of thieves."

When the rabbit said these words, he carefully looked at "Hamel"'s expression, but could not see anything.

"She probably doesn't remember me."

"...Why, has her memory been erased? Was it done by those in the church!?" Rabbit shouted sadly, "This is not fair!"

"No, Rabbit, it's not them, it's me." Esther said softly, revealing the truth that the boy was unwilling to face.

"B-but you have no reason to do this! How could you do such a thing?"

Esther held down Rabbit's shoulders and squatted down so that she could look at the boy levelly: "Even if I don't want to, she will forget about me, including you, and you."

The rabbit's eyes widened in horror.

Esther took back the right hand that was pressing on his shoulder, opened it and clasped it, and said what the boy wanted to question: "'Why did you let us forget you'? This is not something I can decide. This is the way the world is. It’s so baffling, you’ve obviously seen so many injustices in the East District.”

Only then did Rabbit realize that his idea had been stolen. He backed away in fear: "You, how did you..."

Esther stood up straight again: "You are a very smart child. You should have noticed my specialness long ago, right? Those gangsters didn't trouble me or you, just because they would forget."

Rabbit said nothing, he was trembling because of this unreasonable development. The abilities displayed by "Hamel" are obviously not within the scope of ordinary humans, including the magical power that magically attracts them during her performance. The leader once warned him not to get too close to "Hamel", as the rabbit would never let go. In the heart.

He had always known it, he just didn't want to think about it.

Esther raised a finger and pointed at her temple: "One day, you will also forget me."

It's a pity that we can no longer use this intelligence line. Esther swallowed a little bit of the bitterness of sadness and turned around and walked towards the alley.

The torn piece of newspaper fell to the ground.

The rabbit caught up again, and he suddenly grabbed Esther's wrist:

"I don't want to forget you! If Penny has a choice, she definitely doesn't want to forget you! She has always wanted you to teach her how to play the harmonica!"

Esther's eyes suddenly turned red.

Isn't she used to this kind of thing? This has long been a "separation" that she is accustomed to. Except for fellow villagers who also do not belong to this world, no one can remember the existence of "Esther".

"Hamel! You can't just leave and leave everyone alone! I know that you may not belong here, you don't belong in the East District, and you seem to be in two different worlds from us, but you can't just disappear like this..."

Esther wanted to laugh because of these childish and willful words, but she wanted to cry because of Rabbit's lame excuse. She calmed down her emotions before speaking: "I was just a passerby. I have been using you, Rabbit, you should face this. a little."

"I know! We all fucking know! So what!?"

The rabbit's angry roar hit the ground, almost shattering all of Esther's disguises, revealing her weak and unwilling heart.

Esther turned back. The too complicated look in her eyes prevented Rabbit from asking "Hamel" any more questions, nor could he beg her to stay.

The boy let go of Esther's wrist and took two steps back. However, "Hamel" walked towards him and picked up the broken newspaper next to the boy's shoe.

Esther plucked out a few strands of hair, quickly braided them into a ball with her fingers, tied them into a knot, and then folded and wrapped them with the old newspaper.

She grabbed the rabbit's hand and put the paper bag into the boy's palm:

"If you have a really, really desperate desire, just pray to it, anything. Maybe it will bring you good luck."

"Hamel..."

"No need to call me 'Hamel', my real name is 'Esther'."

Rabbit clenched the paper bag in his hand and nodded vigorously.

Esther patted the child on the head for the last time, knowing that she would never come back: "Goodbye."

May fate bless you.

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