99 Western Garden Street, the terrace.
After Tarite brought out tea for the guests, he stood there feeling sowhat uneasy and embarrassed.
Similarly, when faced with strangers, Linda Camille felt equally uneasy and embarrassed.
Arthur watched the two and couldn't help but find humor in the situation—didn't both of them have experience in social situations? Yet, here they were, plagued by social anxiety.
It was like how the lady in Arthur's mory, despite having a face that could bring disaster to a country and rumors of a hundred boyfriends, had never actually held a boy's hand. To avoid awkward situations, she never denied those rumors. Moreover, to avoid trouble, she always presented a cold and aloof deanor to strangers.
And once you got close?
Prepare to be crushed by malicious words!
What stuck in Arthur's mory most was how this lady had once reduced a suitor who dared to co calling to a state of ntal collapse, causing him to flee with a tear-streaked face.
'I wonder how my dear Aunt Cassandra is doing at Inner Bay Girls' School?
She must be quite comfortable!
After all, it's an all-girls school, so there shouldn't be any annoying people around!'
Arthur sighed inwardly and then suddenly thought of Marinda.
'Hmm, Marinda is special, isn't she?
There shouldn't be anyone so unique in a girls' school, right?'
Arthur thought, stroking his chin.
Soon after, the young 'Spirit dium' withdrew his thoughts and looked towards the young girl.
"Linda, go across to the grocery store and buy so tobacco—'Old Iron Armor,' right? The new or the aged one?"
Arthur looked toward Tarite.
Owing to Marinda's influence, Arthur's understanding of tobacco and pipes had skyrocketed.
At least he could tell that Tarite smoked 'Old Iron Armor,' a brand of shredded tobacco that was chaotically flavored when new and scorned by many as not true tobacco.
It was quite popular among smokers in South Los.
"Whichever is fine,"
the 'Pigeon Breeder' said repeatedly.
After the girl stood up, she bowed slightly before heading downstairs and running to the grocery store across the street. The young 'Spirit dium's' gaze followed the girl, and naturally, the 'Pigeon Breeder's' gaze was drawn to her as well. Beside the 'Pigeon Breeder's' ear, the young 'Spirit dium's' voice sounded softly—
"If your daughter hadn't died, would she have been like Linda, knowledgeable and well-mannered, yet bashful?
She wouldn't have been as pretentious and dominant as Edith; she was just an ordinary, shy, kind young girl. That's why I hope she takes control of the 'Pigeon Club.'
Because only Linda's kindness can prevent that kind of thing from happening again.
After all, you wouldn't want your daughter's tragedy to repeat, would you?"
Arthur's voice was soft and drawn out.
The word [Bluff] kept flashing.
The 'Pigeon Breeder' watched Linda in the grocery store asking the owner for prices, his eyes softening as if he really saw his grown daughter buying tobacco for him.
The 'Pigeon Breeder' felt tears well up in an instant.
It was a scene he did not dare to envision even in his dreams, despite having imagined it countless tis in his heart.
Tears blurred the 'Pigeon Breeder's' vision.
In the haze, the silhouette of the girl blended with that of his daughter.
All the while, the voice of the young 'Spirit dium' continued.
"You may still be dwelling on your mistakes.
But such brooding isn't a good choice.
Doing sothing worthwhile is a far better option.
Go and help the innocent and kind Linda; she deserves your help.
You should know—
A fool like Clay is more than enough."
As Arthur spoke, he watched the 'Pigeon Breeder's' expression, when suddenly he frowned slightly.
"By the way, are the grocery stores on your street always this deceitful?
They would even trick a young girl like Linda?"
"Selling fresh 'Old Iron Armor' at the price of aged 'Old Iron Armor'?"
Arthur's voice was full of surprise.
But Tarite couldn't sit still any longer.
The 'Pigeon Breeder' stood in front of the balcony and bellowed across the street—
"Ussack, if you dare sell Linda the freshly-cut 'Old Iron Armor' at that price, I swear I'll beat you black and blue!"
After his shout, the 'Pigeon Breeder' nodded to Arthur and hurriedly went downstairs.
Following were the 'Pigeon Breeder's' roars inside the grocery shop and the shopkeeper's apologies.
Arthur sat in the chair on the balcony, watching everything that happened across the street in the grocery departnt, lifting his teacup with one hand, slightly sipped, and then his lips curled up into a smile.
You see, breaking the ice is just that simple.
All you need is the right person, a not-so-bad timing, and a little bit of "Bluff" is enough.
And by the ti Arthur put down his teacup, the 'Pigeon Breeder' had already led the girl out of the grocery store, with her holding a double-wrapped roll of tobacco leaves, and the 'Pigeon Breeder' continued to babble non-stop to the grinning shopkeeper—Arthur's smile grew more pronounced.
However, when the familiar rickshaw appeared, the young 'Spirit dium' couldn't help but sigh, got up, and walked downstairs.
"Please make sure to take Linda ho safely."
Arthur instructed the patrolling policeman who drove the carriage.
"Don't worry, consultant."
The policeman gave his assurance.
Then, Arthur turned and walked toward Linda and Tarite.
"Sothing ca up, I need to handle it."
Arthur gestured to the rickshaw behind him, and Marinda sitting inside nodded in acknowledgnt.
The girl recognized Lady of the Eternal Night and imdiately curtsied, bending at the waist.
The 'Pigeon Breeder' also removed his hat and gave a respectful bow.
Without further interaction, as Linda watched Arthur get into the carriage, worry filled her eyes—she hoped Arthur would be safe, but her own power was too weak.
She still couldn't hear the 'world's' voice.
Seeing this scene, the 'Pigeon Breeder' imdiately made up his mind.
"Linda, do you want to protect Mr. Arthur?"
"Mhm."
The girl nodded.
"Perhaps you will have extraordinary powers in the future, but before you co into your own, I think so guys are still useful.
Please forgive for saying useful.
But they only deserve to be used—
Follow , I'll show you so of the information they exchange."
As he said this, the 'Pigeon Breeder' headed toward number 99.
The girl holding the tobacco leaves hurried after him.
Moonlight gradually stretched behind the girl, the bright color slowly spreading along the entire street, and when it shone upon the rickshaw, overlapping shadows fell to the ground.
Sitting inside the carriage, Arthur and Marinda instinctively shied away from the brightness, seated across from each other in the darkness, watching the girl's figure.
Only after the figure of the girl had disappeared did the two start to speak.
"Confird?"
"You've already given such an obvious clue, of course, it's confird—both 'Bell Ringers' are Blood Descendants of that 'Blood Descendant.'
And, you would never guess where that 'Blood Descendant' is!"
Saying this, Lady of the Eternal Night looked at the young 'Spirit dium' with a slightly challenging gaze.
Obviously, Arthur had easily spotted Haite's clues, but her own subordinates had spent an entire day with no result, which made the lady eager to turn the tables here.
"Childish!"
Arthur gave back to her the word she often used to describe him, and then his brain started working rapidly.
rely seconds later—
An answer erged in the young 'Spirit dium's' mind.
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