"Three little pickpockets weaved through the crowd, and if it weren’t for Spiritual Vision, Chen Ke might not have been able to follow them closely."
"Contrary to what he had expected, their hiding place was not inside the Big Ben clock tower but rather, they skirted around it and ran straight to a secluded street."
"This street was so chilly that it didn’t seem to fit with the rest of Langdon, with its residents moving slowly and deliberately, and the carriages from the outer streets never venturing this way."
"Chen Ke slowed his pace just in ti, noticing that as soon as he stepped into this mysterious community, nurous eyes had already fixed on him."
"The craftsn busy with their handiwork, the peddlers hawking goods, and the won washing clothes at their doorsteps—all sneakily watched Chen Ke. There wasn’t any murderous intent, but the wariness and suspicion in their gazes were equally discomforting."
"Stop there." A calm female voice erged from one of the houses.
"Standing in the street, Chen Ke realized that the spokesperson of this place was about to make an appearance."
"It seems my children have brought back a tail, who are you? What are you doing here?" the female voice asked.
"Chen Ke looked up to see a group of youths erging on the rooftops on either side of him, their hands clutching crossbows, aiming right at him."
"I an no harm," Chen Ke said, opening his hands.
"Answer the question, stranger," ca the female voice again.
"You’d better co out and talk to , or else..." As soon as Chen Ke began to speak, three arrows shot into the mud in front of him, stopping just half a step away.
"You don’t have the right to bargain," said the female voice.
"Your children are pickpockets," Chen Ke said.
"So, are you a constable? I’ve already bribed the necessary people; you can’t expect to squeeze another penny out of ," the female voice retorted impatiently.
"No... I’m not... I used to know soone in Langdon City who took in child laborers and orphans, and his children were pickpockets too. He should have so eye problems; I spent so money to have soone take care of him... I am here to find him," Chen Ke said.
The female voice quieted for a mont, as if to muse sothing over.
"How do you know him?" After a while, the female voice asked again.
"I haven’t said his na yet," Chen Ke said with a smile.
Nearby, the second-floor balcony door of a two-story building opened, and an old lady with white hair tied up, wearing a purple coat, stepped out, supported by a younger woman by her side.
"You’re here to find Jacob, aren’t you?" the old lady asked.
"Yes! Then... who are you?" Chen Ke countered.
"I’m his sister, Ivy," Ivy said.
She looked towards the rooftops on either side, and the archers retreated.
"Co in," Ivy said, then turned and walked back inside.
Chen Ke quickly entered the two-story building, which was a very neatly kept apartnt. Ivy descended the stairs slowly with the young woman’s help, and upon seeing Chen Ke, she gestured for him to sit anywhere he pleased.
"Make our guest so coffee, Boloz," Ivy said to the young woman.
The woman nodded and went to the kitchen.
"Ivy? You’re Jacob’s sister?" Chen Ke reconfird, taking another look at the old lady with her hair up. her face as sharp as a carving knife. Even in old age, she must have been a beauty when she was young.
The old lady, leaning on a cane, took a seat across from Chen Ke, her gaze cautious.
"That’s right. Didn’t he ntion to you?" Ivy asked.
"You don’t seem... surprised at all? When I knew Jacob, it was 29 years ago..." Chen Ke said, figuring that if Ivy knew about him, it must have been Jacob who had told her.
"He told soone had paid to cure his eyes, and ntioned he t a man from the future. So I was prepared for this," Ivy revealed.
"Did he know I would co back to find him?" Chen Ke inquired.
"I think it was just his own idea. My brother always had a head full of fantastical thoughts," Ivy said with a chuckle.
"Where is he?" Chen Ke cut to the chase.
"You tell first, what do you want with him? And what are you here for?" Ivy asked.
"I... I have so business to attend to here and needed a place to stay. But there was a mishap, and I arrived 29 years late... I was supposed to co when you were all younger..." Chen Ke said.
"Well, that’s a reasonable excuse, but you still haven’t told what you’re here for," Ivy asked.
"It’s better for you not to know about this matter," Chen Ke said.
"I’m not like my brother; if you want our help, then you need to be honest with us," Ivy didn’t back down.
"The more you know, the bigger the trouble might be, and it could even affect your little community. Are you okay with that?" Chen Ke asked.
Ivy fell silent for a mont, seemingly in thought.
Chen Ke didn’t speak either, waiting for Ivy to make her stance clear.
"Coffee."
Boloz placed two cups in front of Chen Ke and Ivy, then poured coffee from a small iron jug into the cups. The scalding brown-black liquid hit the bottom of the cups and splashed onto the blue checkered tablecloth, leaving so ink spots.
"You really have a way with words, cutie," Ivy said with a smile.
"I need Jacob... and your help, but I don’t want to put you all in danger," Chen Ke said.
"I know, Jacob told about you. Co on, have so coffee," Ivy said as she stirred the coffee in her cup with a silver spoon, steam billowing.
"So... where is Jacob? Upstairs? His eyes should be fine, right?" Chen Ke asked.
Ivy didn’t speak, continuing to stir her coffee.
Chen Ke sensed Ivy’s anxiety.
"Chen..." The door was pushed open, and a stocky young man stood at the threshold.
Chen Ke looked at the young man who was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a brown coat, and a hunter’s cap on his head. There was a brown goatee on his chin and a crossbow slung across his back.
"And you are?" Chen Ke didn’t rember him.
"I’m Big Yage. I had you in the sights of my slingshot when you were climbing through the window, rember?" Big Yage smiled.
"Wait... let think..." Chen Ke squinted as the mories from 1859 raced through his mind at six tis the usual speed.
He rembered... That night, after they had dealt with Baron Mox and Lady Katherine, Jacob had taken him to the unfinished workers’ dormitory, speaking of a wall-climbing competition or sothing...
"My God, Big Yage, you’re old enough to be my brother now..." Chen Ke exclaid.
"You’re still so young, Chen, isn’t it marvelous?" Big Yage also laughed.
"And where is little Jack?" Chen Ke asked with a smile.
Big Yage’s smile slowly faded from his face, turning into a hint of helplessness. He looked toward Ivy, unsure of whether to speak.
"What happened?" Chen Ke asked, turning to Ivy.
"Chen Ke, this is sowhat difficult to say, but Jacob might need your help again," Ivy said.
Chen Ke straightened up a bit.
"Little Jack is missing. Jacob has been looking for him. He used to co back before, but a few months ago, even Jacob disappeared without a trace..." Big Yage said.
"So you an, they’ve disappeared? With all the eyes you have on the streets, you still can’t find them?" Chen Ke asked.
"If Jacob and Jack don’t want to be found, then they won’t be found. I’d love to go look for them myself, but I’m too old," Ivy said.
"Do you an to say that Jacob has gone into hiding on his own?" Chen Ke asked.
"That’s my guess, and if it’s true, then it’s not too bad. But if it’s not, then it’s a problem," Ivy said.
"Chen, can we ask for your help?" Big Yage said.
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