The Lakeview Manor dinner on Sunday was the most important event for Xia De that day. He had asked Doctor Schneider yesterday about appropriate attire for an outdoor banquet, and the doctor told Xia De to simply wash up, as such open-air banquets, which allowed strangers to enter, were usually quite large and didn't require overly formal wear.
However, if one was attending a banquet for a pretty girl, then of course, one should dress more presentably. Xia De still remembered Miss Louisa's teasing tone when she said this, seeming quite familiar with these rules herself.
Since Baron Lavende had agreed to reimburse the travel expenses, Xia De didn't need to leave too early.
The morning was spent playing with Mia and reading, and of course, waiting for clients to come. Mia was the most obedient pet Xia De could imagine; she had mostly adapted to life at Saint Delan Square Six these days, and Xia De felt very at ease leaving her at home.
After lunch, believing he wouldn't be lucky enough to wait for a client, he went out again and headed to Old John's Pawnshop.
The address Miss Louisa provided was indeed the shop not far from Silver Parrot Milk Delivery Company. As Xia De pushed open the door, the old man dozing in a rocking chair immediately woke up:
"Oh, a regular customer. I won't be taking that cane again..."
He stood up to welcome the Detective, and Xia De quietly said:
"Forget about the cane. This time I want... something interesting."
He surveyed the crowded shop. All four walls were covered in brass-colored wallpaper, allowing the faint gaslight to illuminate the interior as much as possible. Gas pipes climbed the walls, and between the pipes hung items such as broken lanterns and longswords with only their hilts.
Most of the shop was filled with wooden shelves, on which items resembling junk were placed. Xia De couldn't understand the point of putting ordinary rhode cards and empty glass bottles here.
The shop owner, Old John, had returned behind the counter. To the left of the counter was a stack of old books, and to the right was a small steam engine furnace. The left half was wiped clean, while the right was still covered in Ashes; this wasn't here last time.
Old John didn't show surprise at Xia De's words:
"Everything here is interesting."
He said, then quietly watched Xia De from behind the counter.
The old man was slightly 胖 but had very strong eyes. So Xia De cleared his throat and recited the "code" Miss Louisa had told him. To buy mystical items or even relics from here, one had to be introduced by an acquaintance:
"Because one plus one equals two, the sun will rise in the west. Oh, my Maria, I'm going to kick your... butt hard. Don't go barefoot, or the curly-haired baboon will eat your cavities."
This was the shop's secret code, indicating that Xia De was introduced by a regular customer and was also a Ring術士.
But Xia De highly suspected that this code was Miss Louisa joking with him; she very likely plagiarized the crazy ramblings of patients at Doctor Schneider's clinic.
But Old John understood, waving his hand at Xia De:
"Oh, so you were introduced by Dorothy Louisa. I haven't seen her in a long time. How is her new book, 'The Mystery of the Bloodstain,' coming along? Last time she said she'd send me a copy after it's published."
'The Mystery of the Bloodstain' was a Detective novel Miss Louisa was currently writing. She planned to serialize it in the newspaper and had already contacted the newspaper office. Unfortunately, the exam season interrupted her writing plans, so the book was only at the beginning. At yesterday's study session, Xia De had heard the young Writer complain about this.
"If I had said last time that I was introduced by Miss Louisa, would the price of that cane have been higher?"
Xia De asked.
"Of course not. That was already the highest price, Detective. Are you doubting my credibility? Old John's Pawnshop never deceives customers... Yes, never, no need to doubt, that's how it is..."
Facing the young Detective's suspicious gaze, John coughed and quickly changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, Detective, I didn't expect you to be a Ring術士 too. Well then, what do you need? For the sake of the cane last time, I can give you a discount on the first transaction."
Xia De had given Old John his business card, so the other party knew Xia De's profession.
Old John Jones was certainly a Ring術士, but neither Miss Louisa nor Doctor Schneider knew his specific identity.
They only knew that this was a channel for a large organization to recover relics and other precious items in Tobesk City. As for whether Old John belonged to the Orthodox Church, the Miracle Academy, or other organizations, no one could be sure.
Doctor Schneider's four-person team couldn't even be sure if Old John was also affiliated with Saint Byron's Comprehensive College. The old man, who always smiled at his guests, was tight-lipped about his identity, but at least he had good professional ethics and a rich collection.
If not introduced by an acquaintance, this place would not entertain unfamiliar Ring術士. This was also a convenience of joining Doctor Schneider's team.
"I've been studying Miracles related to the Silver Moon recently, so I want to..."
"Understood. So, what price range can you offer?"
The old man asked, rubbing his right index finger and thumb together.
After paying off the first month's debt, Xia De didn't have much savings left. So far, his biggest income had been from the commission related to Mia.
But Miracles of the Silver Moon concerned his ability to protect himself, so even with the money from selling the cane here, he still worried it wouldn't be enough.
After much internal hesitation, he unilaterally used Mia's ten pounds of "living expenses." Before leaving, he even hugged the cat specifically to apologize and promised to return the money as soon as possible. The Mia, of course, didn't understand; the sleepy cat had no reaction at the time.
"Around 15 pounds."
Xia De said cautiously. Old John nodded:
"This price range..."
He took out a thick ledger from under the counter and flipped through it, then looked up a few minutes later:
"I do have a Poet Grade relic that suits your situation, but at a price of only around 15 pounds, you probably understand that it won't be of much use; it can only help you feel the power of the Silver Moon."
relics were usually very expensive, and Xia De nodded in understanding.
So Old John left through the back door of the shop and returned about a few tens of minutes later, holding a wooden jewelry box.
He placed the jewelry box on the counter and opened it. Xia De saw a round bead resting on red velvet. A tiny golden hook was connected to the top of the bead, and a thin thread was tied to the hook.
The bead was milky white, like a pearl in color, but very small. If it weren't for the thread, it would probably be lost if it fell to the ground.
You have touched 'whisper.'
The voice was late, as if indicating the weakness of this relic.
"This is the Poet Grade relic, 'Orb of the Silver Moon.' The last time it was contained was when Serex Higher Medical College, one of the Three Great Arcane Academies, recorded its information, but that was at the end of the fifth epoch, so even if it's brought out, it won't be considered stolen goods."
Old John pushed the jewelry box to Xia De. Xia De reached out a finger and touched the small bead. A cold sensation immediately welled up in his heart, and he actually saw the Silver Moon before his eyes.