Whispering Verse

Old John summarized his words:

"So, although the relic [Lost Arrow] sounds interesting, it can actually only be used as a toy. The origin of this relic is very clear. An alchemist in the Fourth Age made an alchemy tool for his partner, which later became The relic... the appraisal fee is 1 pound, this is a clerical relic, don't bargain with me."

"How much is this relic worth?"

Shade asked as he took out his wallet.

"About 100 pounds."

"Huh? Didn't you say it's useless?"

Shade paused while taking out his wallet, and the old man explained:

"It's of little use to medium-level warlocks, but it's still very useful to low-level warlocks. Bullets are still very deadly for new level warlocks who are new to the occult. This bracelet is equivalent to one more chance. Since you don't like it, keep it. Are you selling it here?"

Shade thought for a moment, shook his head and refused. This bracelet was of no use to him, and he was afraid of becoming unlucky even if he kept it with him. But it didn't take up space in the hidden space in the basement, and he thought someone might need the bracelet.

At Old John's place, he put out the purchase list for some materials for the [Black Moon Talisman] learning ceremony, and then hugged the cat and prepared to return home. Because he had nothing to do today, he did not take the carriage, but instead watched the spring scenery of the city with Mia.

I thought I would spend the afternoon in the study after returning home, but I had just entered Saint Teresa Square and was listening to two men on the roadside talking about the Green Lake negotiations when I saw a man in black standing at the door of my house. A tall man in a trench coat. He had obviously knocked on the door to confirm that no one was home, so he was looking around anxiously at the door. He immediately passed the bustling pedestrians in the square and recognized Shade, who was wearing a black coat and hat:

"Detective Hamilton!"

He greeted him eagerly and greeted him:

"Detective Hamilton, you are finally back. I have something very important to entrust you to investigate."

"Don't worry, we'll talk after we get in."

Shade said as he took out the key and opened the door, and the man followed him into the house. And when Shade closed the door and turned around, the black muzzle was already pointed at his forehead:

"Shad Hamilton, hand over your weapons, put your hands up. Don't resist, this is no joke."

Shade opened his mouth slightly to express surprise. The man who looked kind just now said viciously:

"Back off now, I know your fighting ability is very strong. If you dare to do anything unusual, I will shoot you directly."

Shade didn't quite understand what happened to him, but his good mood was completely ruined.

Although he couldn't die even if he was hit by a gun, he still took a step back and comforted the cat that was being held. The cat was now purring in its throat. If it hadn't been held by Shade, it would have probably died. He pounced on the malicious man in front of him:

"what you up to?"

Shade asked calmly:

"Robbery? Or something else?"

"I want you to write a letter to Carina Cavendish and ask her to come and see you at your house this evening."

The man said, taking out his pocket watch with his left hand that was not holding the gun and looked at it nervously:

"I don't want to hurt anyone, nor will I hurt the duchess. I just want to express some of my demands, do you understand? Don't move, I have paper and pen here. Write a letter as I said, no more than one letter Don't be wrong, then wait here with me all afternoon, and when I see Carina Cavendish, I will let you go."

"I want to know, what appeal do you want to express?"

Shade asked. If he didn't accept the pen handed by the man, the man threatened again:

"This has nothing to do with you, go and write quickly. I know you are very powerful, but can you be faster than a bullet?"

"It's impossible. I mean, there's no way I could write a letter."

He shook his head and refused:

"How could I harm Miss Carina? Since you know my relationship with her, you should understand that although we are not married, she is still my lover... It is really shameful to say that. Compared to Life and love are more important.”

He said to the man calmly:

"Either tell me your demands, or just shoot. Or you can surrender to me. I have acquaintances in MI6 and can find someone to treat you better."

"I am threatening you now, not you threatening me!"

"It's really hard to say who threatened whom... I mean, since you had the courage to kidnap me at gunpoint in Saint Teresa Square, didn't you have the courage to tell me what exactly you wanted to do?"

Shade asked, holding the cat with one hand and taking the initiative to take the pen in his hand. He did not use any spells or thaumaturgy, he just used his powerful mental power to interfere with the other party, making the other party think that he was trustworthy:

"Tell me what you want to do and I'll write. Now that you have control over me, what else is there to worry about?"

The corners of the man's mouth trembled a few times because of the huge ups and downs in his mood:

"Well, I'm Francois, do you understand now?"

Now Shade understood.

The concept of "Francois" does not actually exist, because the Principality of Francois, located in the glacier zone in the northeastern part of the Old World, was annexed by the Kingdom of Delarian twenty years ago, that is, in 1834. The principality is very small, about the same size as the entire Green Lake area. It is now the logistics supply point for the ice mining corps in the northern part of the kingdom. It is famous among the nobles of the Pearl of the North for the ice it produces every year and transported to Tobesk. The annexation that year did not break out much conflict. It was an evolution that combined a palace coup and the intervention of foreign forces.

But even so, there are still Francois who are not willing to become a part of Delrayon. This "Francois Fugoism" has spawned large and small terrors in the northeastern part of the kingdom in the past twenty years. xi/ji incident - this is the official characterization of the kingdom.

Outsiders don’t know much about this, they just heard Lecia mention it a few times. After all, this is not a big deal compared to the problems the kingdom is facing now, such as the development of the New World, successive fiscal deficits, the relationship with the Five Gods Church, and the deteriorating air environment year by year.

"I actually admire you."

Shade said, taking the letter from the man again. He obviously came prepared. The letter paper was quite high-end. Not only was it of good texture, but it was also imprinted with gold thread, and there was a faint orchid imprint in the lower right corner.

Although this is indeed a letter paper only used by wealthy nobles, the problem is that men have no idea that when Shade writes letters to girls, he usually tears a piece of paper from the notebook casually. Even if he uses special letter paper, it is still cheap stuff he bought from the post office.

"The Principality of Francois has been annexed for so long, and you can still miss your motherland. I really admire you."

"You don't have to say these nice things, how can someone like you understand us? Let me tell you to write it. Don't play tricks on me. Don't write any more letters."

The man warned, Shade nodded:

“The last question, I’ll write it right after I ask it: Does choosing this time to come to me have anything to do with the negotiations in the Green Lake area?”

He still used the little technique of mental interference on this ordinary person, and the man gave the answer without realizing that he said too much:

"Duke Carina Cavendish is the negotiator and it would be great for us Francoisians at this time if she could speak up for us, or at least take a photo of the meeting and let the newspapers know that we have met her. Important. Kassenlick's newspaper will not refuse such news. Look, Hamilton, I don't want to hurt anyone, but only if you listen to me."

Shade nodded, put the cat on the shoe cabinet, stroked the hair on its back a few times, and then sighed softly:

"I didn't lie just now. I do admire people like you. For the motherland, that's right. But you shouldn't attack me."

He stretched out his hand and pinched the man's hand holding the gun. Before the latter could react, he felt as if his right hand was being squeezed by a vise. Then in his astonished expression, he saw Shade's left fist tightening more and more. The closer.

Peng!

The unconscious man fell in the hall of Shade's house. Shade removed the bullets from his pistol and threw it on the shoe cabinet, then looked at the closed door.

"There must be a companion, otherwise no one would deliver the message. He paid attention to the time just now, which means that if the door does not open when the time comes, his companion will know that something happened to him. In this case, the companion cannot be too far away."

Shade approached the door and closed his eyes. There were three heartbeat sources in the room, including Mia, and he also captured the clear heartbeats on the street outside the door. He doesn't need to judge other people's mood by the frequency of their heartbeats, he just needs to find the heartbeat sound that is always nearby and never leaves.

It's fairly easy:

"Just one companion? Are you worried that too many people will cause trouble, or are there just insufficient manpower?"

Half an hour later, after seeing off the police officers at Ridwich Field and saying goodbye to Mr. Michelson Scott, the deputy director whom he had met during the riding competition around the city, Shade closed the door and hugged him. Little Mia returned to the second floor.

The duchess, who was standing by the wall and looking up at the honorary degree certificate, withdrew her gaze and looked at Shade apologetically:

"Do I need to apologize to you? After all, it was me that caused this to happen to you."

Miss Carina walked towards him.

"No need, but this is the first time, someone wants to threaten you through me, right?"

"It means people trust the two of us and have a pretty close relationship."

The witch approached Shade and hugged him gently:

"I guess this won't be the last time. Have you really considered moving to my manor?"

"Carina, we've already discussed this."

Shade said, smelling the scent of the witch's hair and looking at his home:

"I'm not leaving this house. No matter what happens, absolutely not."