Secret: Those years when I was a foreign aid for the Aurora Club

163

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the passenger ship entered the waters of the Rhoside Islands. Although early winter has arrived on land, there is still some warm wind at sea. The ocean is always synonymous with opportunity and chaos. People of all kinds mix in the city, bringing a lively atmosphere that is completely different from the northern and southern continents.

After the ship docked at a small port he was familiar with, Richard Ernst unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, carried his small black suitcase, and slowly got off the ship with the people arriving at the destination. Most of the people working in the port are dark-skinned lower-class people from the Southern Continent and indigenous people with distinctive clothing styles. They work under managers who hold canes and wear top hats. If they slack off even a little bit, they will be severely criticized or even whipped.

The colonists in the Northern Continent have almost omnipotent privileges here. Even if they kill one or two natives, the worst punishment they receive is deportation, and they can even open their joints with a small amount of money. Bureaucrats in the civilized world will not refuse the opportunity to make money, and local people will not make enemies with superiors because of a human life. As for the price of compensation...it's so low that the businessmen who can come here don't care at all.

Richard was not surprised by all this, but he was not accustomed to it, because once upon a time, he was one of them.

The child of the invaders, the mixed-race son of Fusac, the colonist father he had never met, was unable to raise his slowly declining mother.

The shoe polish tool in his bag, the mud and vegetable leaves that fell on him, the aunt and sister from his neighbor who were taken away by slave traders and never seen again, the royal family and the Church of the Bound God, who were indifferent to the suffering of the people, blamed Their war of resistance was a barbaric act by the countries of the Northern Continent.

Richard Ernst truly felt that Temperance ideals had become distorted and needed a radical change.

When the Highland Kingdom was still there and the Rose School was still the "Church of the Bound God", as the national orthodox church, it certainly had the ability to restrain the people from living a simple and peaceful life. But now that the Highland Kingdom has been subjugated for decades, it would be too stupid to still dream of such a clean life, which is somewhat escaping reality and self-deception.

If you adhere to the concept of "control yourself and restrain your heart", you can either have the ability to make others follow you willingly, like the legendary saint, even your enemies will be impressed by your character; or you can move yourself. Otherwise, when the enemy's butcher knife falls, when people's cries are heard, when anger and hatred are burning, but you still choose moderation, this is escape.

Otherwise, if you just control yourself, will you want to explode?

Richard took a deep breath.

Hate?...No, I have given up hatred.

Forgiveness? No, this is a sin that can never be forgiven.

Sure enough, there are always some things that cannot be controlled. For example, the desire for freedom, the yearning for dignity, and the love for hometown.

164

The Temperance Angel wiped his nose with his hand, hired an old local man as a guide, and asked him to take him to the nearest affiliated institution of the Ernst Foundation. The old man was still a little afraid of his civilized and upright manners and tall stature, but he spoke fluent dialect, which quickly dispelled the old man's guard and started talking to him in a relaxed manner.

So, Richard was surprised to learn that the old man had worked in the Ernst Foundation for decades. Because he has no education, he can only work as a chef. Later, when he got older, he lost his right hand in a robbery attack (the old man shook his empty sleeve). Without the ability to work, he left the workhouse voluntarily after he was able to take care of himself. Ten years have passed since he found another way to make a living.

Hearing that the young man who asked him to lead the way had something to do with the foundation, the old man's sad face revealed a faint smile, and the wrinkles between his brows that had been hard-edged smoothed out a little.

"When I was working there, there was a little girl who... really liked to eat the food I cooked, ahem..." the old man said slowly, his eyes filled with memories of the good old days, "She sang very nicely. , and is very lively and active, and has light blue hair. The way she smiles is exactly the same as my missing little daughter..."

Richard thought for a while and asked with a smile: "Is your name Cosette?"

"It seems...I can't remember clearly." The old man thought deeply at first, and then sighed deeply, "Ahem, it's been so many years...If she grows up smoothly, her child should be that old..."

The two of them chatted and walked through the bustling port and city center before arriving at a two-story building on the outskirts of the city.

"Here we are, sir."

"Thank you for your help." Richard did a little trick and turned the five-pound banknote into a one-sule note and handed it to the old man.

The old man thanked and left. Richard looked into the small building and found someone moving in the small yard behind, so he tentatively called out: "Mr. Solera? Is that you?"

First a bald head popped out from behind the wall, and then three little heads popped out. Then a middle-aged woman came out generously and opened the door for Richard, then turned back and stretched out her hand on the bald head. Pat it hard, and it will make a crisp sound like a ripe watermelon.

"...Oh my god, Richard! It's really you, you're back!"

Mr. Solera, who was bald and beaming with joy, ran over with a bumpy belly that made him feel safe, and gave Richard a big hug. Then he realized that he had just reached Richard's chest, and quickly pushed him away, looking up and down: "Have you grown taller again?"

Richard smiled and said: "You said the same thing last time."

"It's good to be young, it's good to be young, you can still grow taller." Mr. Solera, who is not short but not very safe, was very emotional. He patted the young man's shoulder hard and laughed. "How long ago was the last time you left? Three years ago? Five years ago? The little girls you sent have grown up, and there are only a few children left to accompany me!"

"By the way, how old are you this year? Are you in your twenties? You're already here, why don't you just have a drink with me before you leave!"

"Don't listen to his nonsense." Mrs. Durda complained to her husband and pointed out the children hiding behind her and peeking out in the small garden. "Remember? They are all the slave traders you bought from The babies we snatched back. Well, the girls have grown up, gone out to get married and have their own families, and they will come back to see us every year."

"The budget Mr. Garland gave us was enough for us to adopt five children, but we also had jobs, so we funded a few more... Our eldest son went to study in Loon, graduated two years ago, and is now back in Zhongsunia He works in a company. This is a very respectable job. We are already planning marriage for him. Oh, we also have a young son..."

Richard listened with a smile, and Mr. Solera, always impatient with his wife's chatter, had returned to the backyard with a cheer to play with the children. The organizational management methods at sea are different from those on the northern continent, because the flow of people in the city is too large and too chaotic. Too many vulnerable people gather together and become easy targets for human traffickers and the most vicious people.

Therefore, there are almost no orphanages or workhouses in the true sense. Instead, families adopt and sponsor the lives of children. Not providing accommodation for all will leave a lot of expenses, but it also cannot guarantee the safety of the children to a certain extent. There is no way.

"Who is your youngest son?" Richard asked.

Mr. Solera laughed and gathered all the children with his arms: "They all are!"

"Stop making trouble." Mrs. Durda couldn't help laughing, pointing to one of the children with slightly red hair and said, "This is our child."

"He is very cute." Richard looked at the shy little boy seriously and smiled, "He will definitely become an outstanding person."

"Since you're here, let's have dinner before leaving. I'll treat you to the wine and bacon I brewed by myself!" Mr. Solera said quickly, "If you are willing, come and tell stories to the children. I will I’m also curious about where you have been over the years and what you are doing when you come back this time.”

165

Maria knocked on Isengard Stanton's door. An apprentice-looking person wearing a brown vest poked his head out warily. Seeing that it was a lady, his expression and tone softened: "Hello?"

"Hello, I have a commission and want to see Mr. Stanton."

The apprentice nodded, turned around and closed the door. After a short while, he reopened the door and made a gesture to invite Maria in: "Mr. Stanton has no schedule now. Madam, you can come in and talk in detail."

Maria was overjoyed and hurriedly entered the door. She neatly arranged her appearance and clenched the document bag in her hand. She put on a disguise today, covering the most representative scar on her face, dyed her hair and put on a skirt and high heels. She looked like a slim young beauty. No one would compare her with her current appearance. Contact the principal of the lawyer in the East District who is very skilled in group fights. Essinger was waiting in the living room. When the guests came, the old gentleman stood up to greet them. The two briefly said hello, and after sizing each other up, Maria took the initiative to explain her purpose:

"Mr. Stanton, I have heard of you for a long time. I would like to ask you to help me investigate something..." The apprentice brought hot tea. She took out a few pieces of paper from the document bag in her hand and spread them out on the coffee table. "I am I am a businessman who does a simple processing business. I have a processing factory in the East District. But Mr. Capin used some unfair means to rob my goods, injured my workers, and demanded ransom from me, otherwise he threatened me. Can’t do business anymore.”

"I planned to report this matter to Silveras Field, but the case could not be accepted because there was no evidence. Soon I reached the deadline requested by Capin. I would like to entrust you, a famous private detective, to help me do something. Investigation... These are the photos of my missing workers. I suspect that they were imprisoned by Kapin. I hope you can help me find the place where they are being held. I want them to return to their families."

Essinger frowned slightly, holding the archive document provided by Maria and reading it attentively, but he did not say a word and just slowly blew out bursts of thin white smoke from his pipe.

Maria waited quietly, and finally heard Essinger speak: "Sorry, madam, I cannot accept this commission."

"I understand your concerns. Kaping has a large number of manpower in the East District. I don't mind if you distribute this commission to more detectives. I...I have sufficient funds to reduce risks for you." Maria touched it. The accounts and checks in my pocket were very heartbreaking, but I felt confident.

"That's not the case, madam... You want to rescue your workers. I am touched by your kindness. However, Kaping has been entrenched in the East District for too long. Even the police dare not take action rashly. We private detectives can It’s very limited.”

Essinger politely declined.

"No, sir, I just hope that you can understand the structure of his house a little bit, no matter what method you use..." Maria's voice was a little dry, "Even if it's just the change of members within the mansion... it's OK. ...I must bring them back."

"Ma'am, I really want to help you, but this is beyond my ability. You should call the police and file a record instead of asking for help from a detective."

Essinger sighed and emphasized the police, trying to hint to the lady opposite him not to try to play tricks with Kaping. The other party had deep connections and secret support. But in order not to make the lady sad and despair, he comforted her: "But Emperor Russell said: Wherever you walk, you will leave traces. Kaping will definitely leave a lot of clues after doing these things. Maybe you need some patience." As long as the evidence is found, we will certainly be able to bring him to justice."

Of course I know... Well, this incident actually happened in April last year, and the case is still refused because there is no evidence. If I hadn't personally killed him and snatched him back, the grass on his grave would probably be one meter high by now...! Maria forced a smile, and the two played Tai Chi for a while. She knew that she could not persuade Isengard, so she had to leave.

After leaving Essinger's house, Maria looked at the list of available detectives in her hand, Stuart, Kaslana, Moriarty... She suddenly felt that her future was bleak: if even the strongest possible detective Isengard Stanton refused because he was worried about the power behind the other party, so it was even less likely that other little detectives would agree, not to mention that Maria herself would not be able to conceal information or use coercion or inducement for her own purpose.

It may not be useful if the leaders of other cities come, since everyone is Sequence 6 or lower. The only person who may be able to help is Mr. Garland, the "gatekeeper" on the Rhostead Islands, but it will take several days for the other party to arrive, and it is difficult to predict what will happen during this time.

What to do...

TBC

——————

"My son works for the East India Company. It's a very respectable job..."

In the transitional chapter, I planned to skip the plot of Klein Sharon and the others fighting the Rose School, but it didn’t seem possible.

I’ll put one up tonight (I’ll do some research on what a VIP chapter is), and I’ll update it as usual at 12:30 tomorrow.