The Master of the Strange Realm

he asked the coachman.

"Sir, they are supposed to be collecting donations."

The coachman replied without looking back, "Winter is coming. We need to raise money for the poor, for stray cats and dogs...who knows?"

Jenkins turned his head and looked back thoughtfully, thinking again of Miss Michael's cause of saving pet cats.

“Chocolate’s ‘city residence permit’ is renewed every three months, right?”

He was thinking that he should go there again if he had time on the weekend.

Now that he thought about time, Jenkins reached out again and took out the damaged pocket watch from his coat pocket. It was a bit late, and the watch shop was probably closed, so I had to choose another day to go.

After giving the coachman a 5p tip and asking him to wait at the intersection, Jenkins and Chocolate walked quickly to the door of Dad's antique shop. Exhaling a breath, white mist formed in the air. Today's temperature is too cold.

Although the cardboard did not say "Open", the faint light of the fireplace could be seen through the crack in the door.

PS: Although the main stage is in Nolan, there are still many interesting things happening in this world. It is time for Jenkins to expand his sights further afield.

Chapter 250 Chapter 246 The warmth of the Reading Festival

"Sure enough, dad has been back a long time ago, so I didn't see him just now."

Jenkins put the chocolate on the ground, then straightened his clothes in front of Aunt Sally's shop window next door, and then knocked hard on the door.

After a while, I heard the sound of slippers stepping on the stairs, and then my father frowned and opened the door of the store.

"Jenkins? It's you~"

He waved his hand helplessly, "Are you done with church matters?"

"Busy working."

He spoke quickly, rubbing his hands together to raise his body temperature. The biggest drawback of this dress was that it didn't keep heat well. He didn't expect the temperature to drop so drastically in the evening.

"Come in quickly."

Dad waved.

"no, I'm fine."

Jenkins shook his head, put his right hand into the large pocket on the inside of his coat, and took out a pair of brown socks: "Happy Reading Day!"

As soon as his father took the socks, Jenkins immediately bent down, picked up the chocolate at his feet and stuffed it into his arms, then buttoned it up again, leaving only the collar one.

He shivered violently. The cat's body temperature was higher than that of humans, and it could barely be used as a hot water bottle when stuffed into his arms.

"Socks? Such a traditional gift?"

He didn't refuse either.

"Yes, I knit it myself."

As Jenkins spoke, he stamped his feet twice, and suddenly felt much warmer mentally. He is not a master of home economics either. He learned how to knit socks in an elective course in another world. Because of the comprehensive comparison, knitting socks is more cost-effective than buying socks, so I have kept this craft.

Dad looked down at the socks in his hands, and then looked up at Jenkins, who was shivering from the cold.

"You knit... you brat, you're a bachelor and you actually learn to knit!"

He held up his socks and shouted loudly. Jenkins smiled and ducked back. While waving goodbye, he turned around and ran towards the carriage with his head shrinking.

Dad just held the door handle and watched Jenkins get on the carriage, then looked down at the pair of brown wool socks, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face.

"Hmph, brat."

He was about to turn around and return to the house, but suddenly he raised his head and looked at the sky in front of him. He took two steps forward, left the black awning in front of the door, and spread out his left hand that was not holding anything. A small piece of crystal snowflake fell into the rough and bloody palm, and then melted.

"It's actually snowing?"

Yes, in the 18th century, 1865 in the universal calendar, the first snowfall in Nolan City came quietly in the third week of the Sage and Harvest Moon.

(Chocolate breathing...)

The reason the Willamettes didn't allow pets was not because anyone was allergic to cat hair, but simply because Jenkins' mother, Mary Willamette, didn't like cats or dogs.

But today was an exception. Jenkins wanted to spend a warm reading day with his family, so the Williams family made an exception and allowed him to bring his cat to the dinner. Jenkins also specially added a back chair behind his own chair, covered with red soft cushions, and let Chocolate lie there to lick the milk and drink.

The whole family is here tonight. Newman Willamt went on a study trip with his teacher a few days ago and came back before the holiday. John Willamt, who is at school, and Robert Willamt, who is working, are also here. They all arrived home on time. They went to the church to attend activities at noon, but they had their own things to do in the afternoon.

The festivals of the Orthodox Church are not official holidays of the Kingdom. So if it's a workday, a kind boss might grant an unpaid day off, and an unkind boss will pretend they don't know.

In short, the Williamte family gathered together neatly after a long absence, and Mary was very satisfied that Jenkins was the first to return home.

But this did not prevent her from constantly discussing his fiancée with Jenkins' eldest brother during dinner, and she kept hinting to him to bring Jenkins into the conversation. Obviously, the tall Newman only cared about the content of the conversation and the bacon on the table, and did not understand his mother's hint.

Let’s forget about the exchanging of gifts and the traditional gathering of the family to read in front of the fireplace. After dinner, Jenkins and Robert went to the study to talk. The latter was very satisfied with the performance of his son who looked most like his.

From a layman's point of view at least, Jenkins Willamette was indeed a promising young man, and Robert was glad that he had been able to maintain his friendship with the church.

Mary forbade the men in her family to drink alcohol, even wine, outside the dinner table. Therefore, the two men sitting under the dim gas lamp could only hold a tea cup each. During the conversation, Jenkins intentionally or unintentionally brought the topic to the plague thirty years ago. He wanted to know more details and was also very interested in the history of the ordinary Williamt family.

"A relative?"

Old Willamt looked up at the cat struggling in Jenkins' arms, picked up the pen on the oak table and turned it around. This was his habitual action:

"Our family has settled in Green Town, Gouvrel City in our country a long time ago. I can't tell which generation I belong to. Your grandparents passed away very early, and I have no brothers or sisters, so when I fled, , and I don’t have much to worry about. As for the plague, I don’t know much about it, but it was really a terrible disaster..."

He shook his head slightly, his eyes a little cloudy: "I still remember that scene. Mr. Steele, who had been a neighbor of the Williams family for more than 60 years, died in front of me. When I first came to Nolan, I I would often dream about him, but then I would gradually forget about him. If I didn’t bring up this topic today, I wouldn’t even be able to remember his appearance. It would be a damn plague.”

As an ordinary person, Robert Williams didn't know much about the great plague caused by strange things thirty years ago. But he knew very well that that kind of plague could spread through the air, and burning the corpse with fire was the safest way... and it was also the way to desecrate the corpse.

Today, the crow's mouth masks worn by doctors fighting the plague began to become popular at that time. Although the plague named "Black Death" has completely disappeared for more than 20 years, once someone shows similar symptoms, doctors can still immediately recall that terrible disaster.

The eldest brother, Newman Willamt, walked in while the two were talking. He was wearing a pair of ridiculous rabbit-shaped cotton slippers, which formed a sharp contrast to his tall image. He was also holding a teacup. Jenkins didn't notice it at first, but it wasn't until he noticed that Chocolate stretched out his paws towards him dissatisfiedly that he smelled the faint aroma of wine in the air.

Chapter 251 Chapter 247 Unexpected Customer

Jenkins glanced at Newman's teacup sitting in the armchair nearby. There was a purple-red transparent liquid in it.

"you......"

"juice."

He said in a steady voice while covering the rim of the teacup with his hand, blocking Robert's inquiring gaze.

"Believe it or not, you will be a ghost."

Jenkins stroked the chocolate's soft fur and cursed in his heart.

Robert also talked about his experience of studying abroad, but compared to Jenkins' exciting life, it seemed a bit unremarkable.

Even so, Jenkins was still attracted by what he said was the customs and customs of various parts of the mainland. Unlike Jenkins, who only physically left Nolan once, Newman often traveled abroad with his teacher.

"If you have the opportunity, it would be great to go to other places and experience the scenery of this world."

Jenkins slowly thought about it, a little envious of Miss Miller who was ready to leave the city. No matter where she goes, she can always see new scenery.

As he was thinking wildly, Newman's topic had shifted to schools in Nolan City. The school where he worked and studied was called St. Louis Public School, which was not very famous in the city. This is also because at the time when Newman was studying, the Willamette family had not yet become prosperous.

"In the school, Mr. Clark, who teaches history, has disappeared..."

The topic continued, but Jenkins felt like he had heard the name somewhere.

He scratched his hair and then remembered that he had ridden in the same coachman's car twice. The coachman told him that there was a kind-hearted Mr. Clark who would stop at the coachmen's gathering place for a period of time before going to school every day to read a few pieces of news to the illiterate coachmen. But since the night of the workers' riot, Mr. Clark has disappeared.

"Does he read the newspaper to the coachmen every morning?"

Jenkins asked.

"I'm not familiar with this teacher, I just heard about it."

Newman shrugged, which was normal.

Tonight, Jenkins will stay in this house for the night. His previous room is still the same as before, and it is very clean. Mary will ask the maid to clean it every day.

At the end of the night talking to his family, Jenkins asked his brother John where there was a shop that could repair pocket watches. As it turned out, the store he recommended was the same watch store that Jenkins went to after the strange scene in the castle.

"Go there if you have time."

He planned in his mind, then turned the knob of the gas lamp to extinguish the light, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly.

"My name is Jenkins Willamette."

He said to himself before going to bed.

B-07-4-7711 had been hidden in the inner pocket of Jenkins' black coat, and he did not even take it out to check it this night. Because he didn't want this ordinary family to have anything to do with weird things.

Friday was not only the day of the rumored black market gift auction, but also the second day of the Reading Festival, so Dad allowed Jenkins to arrive at the store late.

He said goodbye to his family, gave a big hug to the crying Mary, and then got on the carriage to return to his home.

The characteristics that Miss Alexandrite said were correct. This item can only be used when multiple gift givers inject spirits. It is meaningless to hold it alone.

He wanted to copy Mr. Constantine's ritual so that this item can play a greater role. But Constantine is dead, this is impossible.

Coincidentally, just after putting away the painting, as soon as I opened the newspaper, I learned through the code that Mr. Hood's party will be tomorrow night.

This is a very rare thing. For insurance, even if the date is random, Mr. Hood will find a way to make the notified party time three days or more later than the notified time point, so that everyone can find a way to make time.

"Maybe I can ask Miss Magic tomorrow night. She may have a way."

This idea is very good. After all, the priesthood of the god that this lady believes in just corresponds to "ritual".

If the calculation is correct, then today should be the day to receive the reply letter from Elderon. But the black market today is very dangerous, and after thinking about it, Jenkins did not go.

He changed his clothes at home, put away his formal clothes, and then put on a brown sweater, a double-layered coat and a double-breasted dark coat, and then hurried out.

Although it snowed lightly yesterday evening and at night, the temperature during the day rose again today. Jenkins originally thought that the snow last night was the earliest sign of winter, but unfortunately it was not. Like Jenkins, the gentlemen and ladies who hurriedly walked on the street also put on extremely heavy clothes. People made a wrong judgment.

The temperature and weather are changing, only the mist covering the city has not changed. An hour later than usual, Dad has already started business.

In addition to copying those tadpole-like texts on a daily basis, Jenkins also has to write a report on yesterday's task and submit it today. Dad did not stand next to him, but wiped the gold while staring at the burning fireplace, wondering what he was thinking.

The cat lay lazily on the soft carpet in front of the fireplace, squinting his eyes, not knowing whether he was asleep or taking a nap.

"It's too quiet."

He sighed in his heart while watching the pen in his hand write a long paragraph of descriptive text on the paper.

The story structure of "Frozen" has almost been written, but it still needs some polishing. He is not in a hurry. After Miss Mary's letter is sent out and then collected, he will enrich the description of the ice and snow kingdom, and it will be almost done.

Although, the letter to Miss Mary has not been sent out yet.

"Dad, what are you thinking about?"

He asked with his head down, feeling satisfied with his writing progress.

"Nothing, the postman brought me a package this morning. It was a book festival gift sent by an old friend who I haven't seen for a long time. I was wondering how he suddenly thought of me..."

Dingdang~

Before he finished speaking, the bell in front of the store rang, and a cold wind blew into the door, causing the flames of the fireplace to shake.

The guest who came in was a middle-aged man with ordinary looks and glasses. He had a yellow and black scarf tied around his neck. The end of the scarf had long, thin stripes shaped like branches.

Jenkins looked at the old man in shock. The nut hanging on his chest was emitting amazing heat. This person was not an ordinary infected person. This person was the source of infection of the gear bacteria!

The old man also looked at him, shook his head gently, and signaled Jenkins not to alert the enemy. Then he adjusted his expression to a business-like smile and took the initiative to greet him.

Chapter 252 Chapter 248 Capture and Sanctification

"Welcome to the old man's antique shop, sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Hello."

The man stretched out his hand, shook hands with the old man, and then walked into the door to block the cold wind outside.

"It's like this. My boss at the law firm is about to have a birthday. I want to give him an antique vase as a birthday gift. He likes this kind of thing. Excuse me, do you have any recommendations?"

As he spoke, he took off his hat and looked around the entire store. When his eyes met Jenkins's, the two just nodded to each other.

"An ordinary person, but with a black aura on his body, confirmed to be the source of infection."

Jenkins held the pen in his hand, lowered his upper eyelids to cover his eyes, and made a judgment in his heart.

"Oh, so that's it!"