Capítulo 1608: Chapter 1608: The Attack at the Doorstep
Old John concluded his words:
“So, the relic ‘Arrow’s Enemy’ might sound interesting, but it’s basically just a toy. Its origin is quite clear, an alchemical tool crafted by a Fourth Era alchemist for his partner, which later turned into a relic… Appraisal fee is 1 pound, it’s a Scribe Level Relic, don’t try to bargain with .”
“How much is this relic worth?”
Shard asked while reaching for his wallet.
“About 100 pounds.”
“Hm? Didn’t you say it’s useless?”
Shard paused his action of reaching for his wallet, while the old man explained:
“It’s not useful for Inner Ring Sorcerers, but for Low Ring Sorcerers, it’s still quite valuable. Bullets are still very lethal to Circle Sorcerers new to Mysticism, and this bracelet basically gives them an extra chance. Since you don’t like it, would you like to leave it with
to sell it?”
Shard thought about it and shook his head to refuse. This bracelet wasn’t useful to him either, and he worried it might bring him misfortune if he carried it. But storing it in the Hidden Space in the basent wouldn’t take up any room, besides, he felt soone might need this bracelet.
After listing so materials for purchasing the ‘Black Moon Insignia’ learning ritual at Old John’s, he held his cat and prepared to return ho. As there wasn’t much happening today, he decided not to take a carriage and instead enjoy the scenery of the city in spring with Mia.
He originally thought he would spend the afternoon in his study after returning ho. However, just as he entered Saint Delan Square, listening to two n by the roadside discuss the Green Lake negotiation, he noticed a tall man in a black trench coat standing by his door. The man had evidently already knocked to confirm there was no one at ho, and was anxiously surveying the surroundings when he quickly recognized Shard in his black coat and hat:
“Detective Hamilton!”
He greeted eagerly and approached:
“Detective Hamilton, you’re finally back, I have a very important matter to entrust to you for investigation.”
“No need to rush, let’s talk inside.”
Shard said, pulling out a key to open the door, and the man followed him inside. But as soon as Shard shut the door and turned around, the black muzzle of a gun was already aid at his forehead:
“Shard Hamilton, hand over your weapon, raise your hands. Don’t resist, this is no joke.”
Shard slightly opened his mouth, visibly surprised. The man who had just looked so amicable now spoke harshly:
“Back up now, I know your combat skills are strong. If you make any unusual moves, I’ll shoot imdiately.”
Shard wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but his good mood was thoroughly ruined.
Even though he wouldn’t die even if he were shot, he still stepped back a bit, soothing the cat he was holding. The cat was now making a grumbling noise, and if not for being held by Shard, it might have already pounced on the malicious man in front:
“What do you want?”
Shard asked calmly:
“Robbery? Or sothing else?”
“I want you to write a letter to Galina Cavendish, asking her to et you here at your house this evening.”
The man said, nervously checking a pocket watch with his left hand, which wasn’t holding the gun:
“I don’t wish to hurt anyone, nor do I want to harm the Duchess. I just want to express so of my demands, do you understand? Don’t move, I have paper and a pen here. Write the letter as I say, don’t get a single letter wrong, and then stay with
here for the afternoon. Once I et Galina Cavendish, I’ll let you go.”
“I’d like to know, what are your demands?”
Shard asked, not taking the offered fountain pen. The man then threatened again:
“That’s none of your business, just write. I know you’re very capable, but are you faster than a bullet?”
“That’s impossible. I an, I can’t possibly write such a letter.”
He shook his head in refusal:
“Why would I harm Miss Galina? Since you know our relationship, you should understand even though we’re not married, she is still my lover… Saying that is rather embarrassing. Love is more important than life.”
He said to the man calmly:
“Either tell
your demands, or just shoot. Or you could surrender to , I have contacts in MI6 and can get you better treatnt.”
“I’m the one threatening you now, not the other way around!”
“Who’s threatening who, it’s really hard to say… I an, since you have the guts to hold a gun to abduct
at Saint Delan Square, don’t you have the courage to tell
what you actually want to do?”
Shard asked, holding the cat with one hand, and took the pen from him proactively. He didn’t use any sorcery or arcane techniques, just his powerful spiritual power to influence the other, making him feel trustworthy:
“Tell
what you want to do, and I’ll write the letter. You have control over
now, what is there to worry about?”
The man trembled at the corners of his mouth due to the huge emotional turmoil:
“Fine, I’m a Francois, now do you understand?”
Shard understood now.
The concept of “Francois” doesn’t actually exist, because the Francois Duchy located in the northeastern glacial region of the Old Continent was annexed by the Draleon Kingdom twenty years ago, in 1834. The duchy was very small, about the sa size as the entire Green Lake Region, and is now a logistic supply point for the kingdom’s northern Ice Harvesting Corps, known for supplying ice blocks to Tobesk every year, and famous among the nobles of the Northern Pearl. The annexation at the ti did not cause a major conflict, it was an evolution combined with a court coup and foreign intervention.
Yet, even so, there are still Francois people unwilling to beco part of Draleon. This “Francois Nationalism” has given rise to various large and small terror/attacks over the past twenty years in the northeastern part of the kingdom — as defined by the kingdom’s official stance.
The Outlander wasn’t very familiar with this, only having heard Lecia ntion it a few tis. After all, compared to the issues the kingdom currently faces, such as the developnt of the New World, continuous financial deficits, relations with the Church of the Five Gods, and a deteriorating air environnt, it’s not a major concern.
“I actually admire you guys.”
Shard said, taking the letter paper from the man again. He had evidently co prepared; the paper was quite high-quality, not only feeling nice but embossed with gold lines and a faint orchid insignia in the lower right corner.
Though it’s the kind of stationery only wealthy nobles would use, the problem was the man had no idea that when Shard wrote to girls, he usually tore a page from his notebook. Even if he used special stationery, it was the cheap stuff he bought from the post office.
“Francois Duchy has been gone for so long, and you still think of your holand. I truly admire you.”
“No need for flattery. How could soone like you understand us? I’ll speak, you write. No funny business, and don’t add any extra letters.”
The man warned, and Shard nodded:
“One last question, and then I’ll write: does approaching
now have anything to do with the Green Lake Region negotiations?”
He continued using a small ntal interference trick on this ordinary man, who thus answered, unaware he’d said too much:
“Duchess Galina Cavendish is the representative for the negotiations. If at this ti she could speak up for us, or at least have a photo taken at a eting to let the newspapers know we t her, it would be important for us Francois. Carsonrick’s newspapers wouldn’t reject such news. Listen, Hamilton, I don’t want to hurt anyone, provided you listen to .”
Shard nodded, placed the cat on the shoe cabinet, and gently stroked its back fur before letting out a light sigh:
“I wasn’t lying earlier; I truly admire people like you. There’s nothing wrong with doing it for your country, but you shouldn’t have attacked .”
He reached out and grabbed the man’s gun-wielding hand. The latter didn’t have ti to react before he felt his right hand being squeezed as if by a vise, and then, with a look of amazent on his face, saw Shard’s left fist coming closer.
Bang!
The unconscious man fell in the hallway of Shard’s house. Shard removed the bullets from his gun and tossed it on the shoe cabinet, then looked at the closed door.
“There must be a companion; otherwise, no one would send the ssage. He was very mindful of the ti, suggesting that if the door didn’t open by a certain ti, his companion would know sothing went wrong. If so, the companion can’t be far away.”
Shard approached the door and closed his eyes. Inside the room, including Mia, there were three sources of heartbeats, and outside on the street he captured the clear sound of heartbeats as well. He didn’t need to deduce people’s emotions through heartbeat frequency; he only needed to identify the heartbeat sound that had been nearby without moving away.
This was quite easy:
“Just one companion? Is it because too many people could cause problems, or were there not enough hands to begin with?”
Half an hour later, after sending off the Riddlevitch Field police and saying goodbye to Vice Director Michaelson Scott, whom he had t during the city horsemanship competition, Shard closed the door and went back to the second floor with little Mia in his arms.
Standing by the wall, looking up at the honorary diploma, the Duchess withdrew her gaze and looked at Shard with so apology:
“Do I owe you an apology? After all, because of , you encountered this situation.”
Miss Galina walked towards him.
“No need to apologize, but this is the first ti soone tried to threaten you through , right?”
“This indicates that people really believe we have a very close relationship.”
The witch approached Shard and gently hugged him:
“I guess this won’t be the last ti. Have you really never thought about moving to my estate?”
“Galina, we’ve already discussed this.”
Shard said, inhaling the fragrance of the witch’s hair as he looked at his ho:
“I won’t leave this house. No matter what happens, I absolutely won’t.”
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