Since the advertisement was only placed in the newspaper in the morning, Xia De didn't expect any visitors in the afternoon. He thought there wouldn't be anything important today, only needing to re-authenticate the Origin · Silver Moon at the Prophet Association tomorrow, and then there wouldn't be any major events this week. So, he arranged his afternoon for reading and translating.
Xia De considered himself quite diligent, and Mia, who was napping, also conscientiously didn't disturb him.
However, this leisurely afternoon was soon disrupted at 1:30 by the ringing of the doorbell downstairs. Mia, still half-asleep, sprang up from the sofa, and Xia De also got up, puzzled, to tidy up his sensitive textbooks:
"That's strange, who could be looking for me? Is it someone looking for Sparrow Detective again?"
Looking down from the living room window, due to the angle and the rain eaves at the entrance, he couldn't see the visitor's appearance. He went downstairs to open the door and saw a young woman with long brown hair.
Standing at Xia De's doorstep, the young woman with long brown hair, probably less than eighteen years old, wore a white ruffled-collar shirt with two rows of silver decorative buttons on the chest, covered by an unbuttoned brown vest, making for a very capable summer outfit.
A black silk scarf was tied at her collar, she held a brown checkered handbag, and a small golden ring was on her right hand. Below, she wore a simple skirt, its hem resting just above her feet, which were clad in black leather shoes.
Although women wearing trousers had already appeared in this era, skirts were still the primary attire for ladies.
As she stood before Xia De's house, Xia De once again had the illusion that all the light in the world seemed to shine upon her alone.
Xia De's face froze instantly. It was Miss Iluna Bayas of the Sun Church, the young woman whom Miss Annette considered “one of The Chosen Thirteen” and whom the woman in his head considered “the protagonist of destiny.”
“It's not what I think, it's what you think.”
She said softly.
Last time, Miss Annette said she would try to pretend to be a Prophet to approach Miss Bayas, but unexpectedly, the other party took the initiative to appear before Xia De.
“No, Miss Annette is a Prophet, that's not pretending.”
Xia De reminded himself, then remembered that Miss Annette had also instructed him to act like an ordinary Detective in front of Miss Bayas.
“Are you Hamilton Detective?”
Seeing that Xia De had only opened the door a crack, holding the door and not pushing it fully open, the young woman outside asked, her eyes scrutinizing the Detective's expression. This was the first time Xia De had heard Miss Bayas speak; her voice was very clear, and compared to Miss Louisa and Miss Annette, it carried a few more touches of youthful vitality.
“Why is she looking for me... Am I exposed?”
Xia De thought to himself, but didn't forget to answer aloud:
“Yes, this is the Hamilton Detective Agency... Good afternoon, madam, hmm? Have we met before?”
Upon hearing this question, Miss Bayas blinked but did not answer. After all, when they met at Lakeview Manor last time, the captain of her Ring術士 team had made Xia De forget their encounter, and now it was probably just residual memory.
She then introduced herself:
“Good afternoon, Mr. Hamilton. I am Iluna Bayas, an employee of the Black Stone Security Company, but also a nominal police officer hired by Leedweich Field in Tobesk City. I'm here today to inquire about Mrs. Lasoya, Mr. Lawrence's mistress. Recently, due to Queen Diana's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Leedweich Field is short-staffed, which is why I'm here. This is an official matter in cooperation between Black Stone Security and Leedweich Field, and your cooperation is appreciated.”
“Leedweich Field” is the name of the Tobesk City Police Department, responsible for maintaining public order in the entire capital of the Delarion Kingdom, Tobesk City, and its surrounding areas. It is located on Silver Cross Avenue, along with Yodel Palace and the Tobesk branch of the Prophet Association.
And “nominal police officer,” like titles such as “Detective consultant,” is an official status that security companies or Detectives like Xia De, who cooperate with Leedweich Field, can obtain. After all, the police also have limited funds and are always short-staffed. For private security companies and clumsy Detectives like Xia De, having an official identity makes things much more convenient.
Since Miss Bayas claimed to be a police officer from Leedweich Field and an employee of a security company, it made Xia De understand how the Ring術士s of the Orthodox Church cooperated with the kingdom's official authorities.
This was indeed efficient and convenient for concealing identities.
“Alright, Miss Bayas, I will cooperate.”
He nodded hesitantly, maintaining his persona as a normal Detective, then stepped aside from the doorway to let Miss Bayas enter. Mia, who had been following at Xia De's heels,, being somewhat afraid of strangers, abandoned Xia De and darted up the stairs first.
As they went upstairs, Xia De was still marveling at her youth and the fact that a woman could become a police officer in the police department.
“Detective, do you believe women are not capable of this?”
Miss Bayas casually asked, glancing at the blocked passage on the first floor. Xia De, of course, denied it:
“Of course not, Miss Bayas, I have always believed that women are also an important force in social production. It’s just that you are too young.”
Miss Bayas, who probably hadn't undertaken many independent missions, then remembered to take out her identification and show it to the Detective, thinking that the Detective saying she was “young” was him doubting her identity.
Because there were some sensitive items in the study, Xia De entertained Miss Bayas in the living room. He still used the excellent black tea left by the previous Detective to host guests. After thanking the Detective, Miss Bayas also praised the Detective's good taste.
She surveyed the interior decor of the Detective Agency, and after both were seated, they began to discuss the main topic:
“Hamilton Detective, I wonder if you know that Mrs. Lasoya, whom your uncle Sparrow Hamilton Detective once investigated, has now been listed as a wanted criminal by Leedweich Field.”
“Are you referring to Mr. Lawrence's mistress? How could that be? Last week when I saw the client, Mrs. Lawrence, she hadn't mentioned anything about this.”
Xia De feigned surprise:
“I also met Mrs. Lasoya; I never expected such a Noblewoman to become a wanted criminal!”
He thought the tone of that sentence might have been a bit exaggerated, so he planned for his next sentence to be calmer.
But in reality, both people facing each other knew that “Mrs. Lasoya” was dead, with not even a speck remaining. Yet, Xia De knew that the young woman opposite also knew, and he also knew that the young woman opposite didn't know that he knew, which greatly facilitated Xia De's disguise.