“Such last words and requests, you can tell something’s off just by hearing them.”
Xia De, whose hand was being held by the bed, didn’t show much expression on his face.
But he knew clearly that for a Detective to accurately foresee his death, take in a not-so-bright vagrant before he died, and even leave all his property for a seemingly simple request—that simple request would absolutely not be simple.
The other party was probably more than just a Detective, but Xia De, who now occupied a new body, was not the original fellow.
Even if the original Xia De didn't know the truth, the current outsider understood that he shouldn't easily get involved in something that clearly felt wrong, otherwise...
“If you don’t agree, I guarantee that after I die, you won’t get even a single penny of mine, and nothing here will belong to you.
You will become a vagrant again, with no gas lamp, no fireplace, no three meals a day, and not even a bed; you will return to your former life...”
But Xia De had to agree; he had nothing in this world.
Comparing becoming a vagrant and starting from scratch versus getting involved in a troublesome matter but acquiring property, Xia De knew neither choice was good, but he had to pick one.
Besides, having already stood here and heard these words, it meant he was already involved, so backing out was impossible.
Xia De understood how to size up a situation and how to weigh his circumstances.
“It’s just, is Mr. Sparrow Hamilton’s death related to the extraordinary? Is it related to the voice in my head?”
He thought to himself, but couldn't analyze any further conclusions, yet the voice in his head appeared again at this moment:
“It is related to the extraordinary; he died because of a relic.
This has nothing to do with you.”
The voice was still so elegant, so composed.
Even though the information was brief, the whisper still sounded like reciting poetry.
“relic?”
In the ancient and elegant language used by the woman, this was a proper noun.
Different languages have different information content, and in the language the woman used, this specific term carried a huge amount of information, with meanings such as “sealed item,” “contained item,” or “cursed item.”
Xia De was very fortunate that he understood this language; he read from the word the meaning of “special item, capable of exercising extraordinary power, but extremely dangerous.”
This gave Xia De a rather ominous guess about this world.
“Then, who exactly are you?”
The voice didn't explain the noun, so Xia De asked back in his mind.
From the other party's answers to his questions, he understood that the other party was also a thinking entity.
“I am you.”
The whispering voice replied softly, the whispered manner making Xia De’s spine tingle.
But Xia De gently snorted; he was very sure this body was male, and the voice in his head wouldn't be the original owner.
Looking at the glow of the bedside lamp illuminating the man's tightly wrinkled, lifeless, and terrifying skin on the bed, Xia De said to him:
“I understand, sir.”
“Xia De, I have ten minutes of life left; now, if you have any more questions, ask them all at once.”
The other party said something remarkable, his tone filled with weariness.
But Xia De knew that if what the other party said was entirely correct, then the next questions would be crucial for his footing in this world, and he had to be cautious:
“Your death... seems abnormal.”
Feigning a slow speech, acting as if his mind wasn't sharp, this way of speaking was quite exhausting.
The first question concerned his situation after the other party's death; Xia De had to ensure whether the cause of this Detective’s death would implicate him.
“We certainly haven’t discussed this before, and I know you’ve been worried... No need to worry about that.
My death might frighten you for a moment, but don't worry.
My death will not implicate you; I need you to complete the task three months from now, so I can guarantee this point.
The person who killed me will definitely not appear again.
After all, ordinary people like us are not worth their attention.”
The amount of information gained was quite good; the man on the bed did not intend to hide anything.
“Ordinary... people?”
Xia De was truly hesitant this time.
“You don’t need to know, in fact, even I don’t quite understand.
Those Ring術士, the mystics who wield the four elements of Miracle, inspiration, blasphemy, and whisper, the Five Great Orthodox Churches and the Three Great Arcane Academies, this terrifying world... Forget what I just said, you’ll live better.
Remember, you don't understand anything.”
The man on the bed emphasized as much as he could, and Xia De could only note down these terms and nod:
“Okay, I don’t understand anything.”
He guessed that “Ring術士” was the title for mystics in this world, and Miracle, inspiration, blasphemy, and whisper were part of the power system, while the Orthodox Church and Arcane Academies were the main mystic forces.
An ordinary Detective couldn't possibly know so much; Detective Hamilton truly had many secrets.
But Xia De didn't continue to ask about this topic.
He had to make the other party willingly reveal more information within a limited time, rather than mutually suspicious attempts to find lies and truths:
“After you die, how should I... live?
I don’t understand Detective work, and I’m not very literate.”
Even though time was pressing, he couldn't speak faster.
Not only because of the disguise, but also because Xia De had not yet mastered this language fluently.
This situation, where he could only walk in a race, made him quite anxious.
But he couldn't show his anxiety, which made him even more anxious internally.
“It’s fine; what I taught you is enough.
You just need to stay here for three months.
After three months, sell everything and go live in the countryside; it’s more suitable for you, enough for you to live a peaceful life... After all, prices are lower there.”
Perhaps he truly had no strength left, as the man on the bed didn't finish his sentence.
But Xia De had no past memories and didn't know what the other party had taught him.
He sought help from the voice in his head, but that voice did not appear.
“Is there anything else you need to tell me?”
Xia De asked for the third time, this question also carefully considered before being spoken.
“Remember what I told you over these three months; remember the simple commission I left in the memo, you can try to do it to maintain the Detective Agency’s operation; also, the rhode cards in this diary...”
The weakened man pointed towards the bedside; he let go of Xia De’s hand, and Xia De bent down to pick up the diary.
With a brown leather cover, fastened by a magnetic clasp, this diary was well-preserved by its user.
Xia De handed the diary to Mr. Hamilton on the bed, but the latter shook his head; he could barely speak anymore.
So Xia De opened the diary himself and quickly flipped through it.
Each page had different consecutive dates, used on both sides.
Most pages only had one sentence: “Nothing happened today, not much left in savings,” while a small portion recorded the progress of commissions received by the agency.
Flipping to the middle of the diary, the rustling of pages stopped, and a hard rhode card was folder ed there.
Xia De controlled himself not to raise an eyebrow, seeing that it was a rectangular rhode card, smaller than a palm.
After taking it out, he felt as if the surface of the rhode card had a layer of completely transparent wax, protecting the rhode card itself from environmental damage.
But upon closer inspection, it felt like a layer of transparent skin, and for some reason, Xia De suddenly thought of human skin.
The rhode card was not thick; it could be seen through the faint light in the room.
What Xia De considered the back was an abstract pattern of the sun, moon, and stars, a strange combined graphic superimposed on each other; what Xia De considered the front depicted a lady sitting sideways on a high stool, holding the moon in her hand, with her head turned away so her full appearance couldn't be seen.
Silver hair, a slight smile outlined on her profile, wearing a long robe.
But the rhode card's colors were not rich enough, only white, black, and cool tones near those two colors.
The upper right corner of the front was marked with the number 3, and the upper left corner had a small sun symbol.
Between the two, in the center of the top edge of the rhode card, a black vertical line was drawn within a white circle.
Below the woman's illustration, at the bottom of the front, there was some blank space where a line of small text was written:
“When using this rhode card, the number can be adjusted within the range of 1 to 5.”
The rhode card did not look very new.
Looking at it from the side against the faint light in the room, subtle damage could be discerned, but it was also clear that the owner had carefully preserved it.
Xia De actually completely understood the text on the rhode card, just as he could understand the man and woman speaking.
“How strange, after transmigrating, I can understand and read, but I can’t speak.”
He thought to himself and asked in a low voice:
“What is this?”
“A very valuable rhode card, compatible with the common 54-card deck we usually use.
It represents the sun 3 card among the four suits: sun, moon, stars, and flowers.
But this rhode card is a special issue, with rare patterns, making it highly collectible.
Keep it in the diary; do not get it wet or fold it, and do not easily show it to others.
But if you’re truly desperate, go to the Birmingham Collection in Tobesk City; the people there know its value... rhode cards, my most important collection in my life...”
Xia De nodded, noting down the term “rhode cards,” understanding that this was a common rhode card game in this world, and that the sun 3 was similar in nature to commemorative coins or stamps.
He then put the rhode card back into the diary.
Although this rhode card was more exquisite, judging from the productivity of the era inferred from the bedroom’s decoration, this world could produce such items, so there was no need for excessive suspicion.
“Sir, do you have anything else to say?”
Xia De asked again.
At this point, letting the other party speak voluntarily was better than asking questions himself.
“Xia De.”
Mr. Hamilton grasped Xia De’s hand again, his eyes looking at the young man by the bed, his gaze softening a little:
“I know I’ve never been a good person, but I’m truly sorry for involving you.
After three months, leave Tobesk City; this capital City is not suitable for you...
But I think, if you can understand, you will also believe that bringing you away from a vagrant’s life was the correct choice.
Your mind isn’t sharp; remember, don’t easily trust others’ words in the future, especially don’t easily trust those who try to make you spend money... I have already contacted Tobesk Public Cemetery and chosen a grave.
The corpse transporters will arrive soon; you don’t need to follow them.
Live in this house for three months, following the life skills I taught you.
Xia De, I’m very sorry... I wish you good luck.”