Malz was full of astonishnt inside, but he acted quickly and shouted to the patrolling police officers on the street—
"You two, one of you block off the scene, the other go back and call for more people."
Patrick Bookstore, located in a side alley off West Mok Avenue, was not as bustling as the main street of West Mok Avenue, but it was still within the patrol range of the police officers.
And Malz's position was sufficient to command these officers.
"Yes, Police Chief!"
The two officers responded in unison.
Malz's gaze returned once more to the body inside the bookstore.
'Ambushed from behind, a throat slit with one strike!
Clean and decisive, no hesitation...
Definitely a veteran!'
Malz looked at the neatly cut wound on the neck of the body and the uninterrupted blood spatter on the floor and walls, frowning.
Compared to an amateur, a veteran was undoubtedly more troubleso.
It wasn't their first murder, their calmness and ticulous nature ant they rarely left behind any clues, and so left none at all. It was such that in Shire District and even in the whole of South Los, solving cases often depended on sheer luck—you might think you apprehended a thief, but he turns out to be a murderer, or you inadvertently interrogate a fraudster, and he ends up giving you a clue about a murderer.
However, everything changed with the arrival of Arthur.
Though Arthur was always 'favored by the Grim Reaper', no case could remain unresolved when he was involved.
Almost subconsciously, Malz thought to seek out Arthur.
But rembering that Arthur had just returned to South Los, fatigued from his journey and certainly in need of rest, Malz imdiately shook his head—Arthur can't be relied upon for everything; I am capable too!
The old sheriff reassured himself.
One minute later...
'Maybe I should still consult Arthur?'
It wasn't that Malz didn't find solving cases satisfying himself, but that Arthur solved them much faster.
Having enjoyed the sensation of being whisked through investigations with Arthur, the old sheriff found it hard to go back to the old ways.
Still, the old sheriff continued to gather as much information as possible—
The cash register in the bookstore hadn't been touched.
The items in the shop were all in order, neatly arranged.
He imdiately ruled out robbery murder.
That left only cris of passion or revenge.
As for random killings?
Possible, but highly unlikely.
After all, South Los wasn't a frightening place filled with such lunatics.
Of course, if it turned out to be such a case, Malz would definitely give up struggling and choose to seek help from Arthur—acknowledging his own limitations was certainly one of his few strengths.
"Looney, take a team and inquire nearby for anyone suspicious.
Andy, you take two officers and find out more about the shop owner's personal relationships."
Malz gave his usual instructions.
"Yes, Police Chief."
The two apprentice policen imdiately sprang into action.
Seeing his subordinates dutifully carry out his orders, Malz's face softened considerably—a dependable team always added a hopeful dinsion to an investigation.
If it was still the previous situation?
Malz would have chosen to give up right away.
While Looney and Andy were moving, Malz continued his thorough re-examination around the bookstore.
This ti, his inspection was more thorough than before.
Then, under a bookshelf, Malz made a discovery—
A large gold coin.
Unlike normal gold coins which are 2 grams, large gold coins are 3 grams. Before the Pioneer Era began, while ordinary gold coins circulated in the market, large gold coins circulated internally in the military.
Or more accurately, they were often used among the nobility.
To distinguish themselves from commoners, the nobility had their gold coins made larger.
During the Seven Years' War, Malz, serving as a heavy musketeer, was awarded these coins more than once, so he was very familiar with them.
Like the large gold coin in his hand, it belonged to Count Bert's family from South County.
The symbols 'star, moon, ship' are really easy to recognize.
The ship represents Count Bert's family's pride in their sailing and shipbuilding skills.
To the public, the star and moon also relate to sailing, but rumors lean more toward the Mystic Side.
If Malz had been considering these before, he now tended directly toward the latter.
'Could this case involve Count Bert?' he wondered.
The old sheriff furrowed his brows.
If a murder crafted by an expert was rely troubleso, involving a noble made it enormously so.
For the privileges held by nobles always led matters into an uncontrollable abyss.
The old sheriff quietly secured the large gold coin.
It wasn't out of greed.
He simply didn't want to cause a commotion.
Just as the old sheriff was about to rise—
Smack!
A book fell from the shelf.
It landed right in front of the old sheriff.
'After the War: Affordable Commoner Recipes.' Just looking at the title, the old sheriff knew it was at least thirty years old—dating back to the end of the Seven Years' War when even the affluent nobles had to ration resources, not to ntion the commoners.
To survive, people had to consu things they normally wouldn't look at, including but not limited to elm leaves.
To prevent poisoning, nobles across the regions had these types of books printed and had literate persons read them aloud amongst the population.
Of course, the effect was poor.
Desperate people mostly chose to eat first and deal with consequences later.
In the inland areas, so even turned to eating soil.
That period was also rife with pirates; people starving for food would take desperate asures.
Malz's mories of that period were anything but pleasant.
Because he had experienced more and witnessed even grimr situations.
Picking up the cookbook, Malz intended to put it back, as he didn't want to look at recipes he could recite by heart due to those painful mories.
But perhaps due to his anxiousness, as he slid the book back, the old sheriff ended up bending the book's cover, causing a crease on the title page.
Forced to handle it again, the old sheriff took the book out, preparing to close it and smooth the crease when he noticed that there was writing on the title page.
As the old sheriff read the words, his body trembled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Almost subconsciously, the old sheriff touched the words—
Cotton:
I received the book, but I'll bet you didn't even look inside—it's a cookbook!
Not a book!
Also, rember not to eat wood ear mushrooms that have been soaked for too long! Fresh daylily flowers are also out! And definitely throw out spoiled ginger!
I'm writing this because…
I don't trust you to rember (smiley face)
Stay safe and co back soon.
Loving you: Nicole
…
There was no exact date, but the na on the signature was one Malz would never forget.
Cotton was the comrade sitting by the campfire, who had shared plans of marrying his fiancée after the war, only to be shot dead by the captain.
The na of Cotton's fiancée was Nicole, a na Malz had heard him ntion more than once.
Moreover, Malz had heard about Cotton sending a book as a gift to his fiancée Nicole—aning this cookbook was what his comrade Cotton sent to his fiancée Nicole!
Combined with that large gold coin, the old sheriff's expression imdiately grew solemn as he looked toward the body—
because the last place he and Cotton served was Count Bert's domain.
And both he and Cotton had received large gold coins as rewards.
Subconsciously, the old sheriff murmured—
"Cotton ca back?"
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