Whispering Verse

"Luvia, do you think the Prophet Association will acquire a precious relic like [Wise Man's Pyroxene]?"

After Dr. Schneider finished his introduction, Shade asked Miss Xiang the fortune teller, who thought about it and nodded:

"I think so, but what do you want to do by asking this question?"

"I know what he's trying to do."

The blond writer lady smiled and said:

"Some time ago, Shade said that he wanted to buy the founding series of Rhodes cards from the Prophet Association, but was rejected. I think he was guessing whether he could exchange [Wise Pyroxene] for one of them."

"But even if the Seer Association agrees, this means that your identity is known to the soothsayers."

Dr. Schneider said wisely, then hesitated and asked Shade and Dorothy:

"Actually, I was attending a banquet at Lakeview Manor this Tuesday. At around 10:30, did you hear any strange noises?"

"Yes, after those two thunders, the 'other me' captured the message conveyed by the relic: looking for people who cannot be seen in the Tobesk area."

Shade nodded, and Dorothy joined in the conversation:

"Yes, I was at Lakeview Manor at the time and I heard it too."

"This should be related to the [Wise Man's Pyroxene] mentioned by the academy. I don't believe that two different major events will occur in this area at once."

The doctor said, then took out a pen and paper and asked Shade and Dorothy to briefly describe what happened on Tuesday night, and then delivered it to the college through the poem manuscript page together with his letter. The reply was quite fast this time, and an envelope was delivered within five minutes.

This is still a letter from the Student Administration Office. The college confirmed the information provided by the three people, so each person received 1 credit and a reward of 3 pounds.

"It seems that the college has known about this for a long time."

Dr. Schneider divided this windfall between Shade and Dorothy. Seeing that Priest August was deep in thought, he asked:

"Priest, what are you thinking about?"

"Speaking of it this way, in the trial mentioned after the two thunders in Lakeview Manor, the 'invisible person' asked to be found could not be the thief who committed crimes in the Tobesk area recently, right?"

The priest asked doubtfully, Luvia raised her eyebrows, and Shade frowned as he held the soft cat taking a nap:

"It is indeed possible, but just like what Priest August said just now, who can catch him?"

"I think there should be similar bounties offered by the Serkses Higher Medical School and Zarath School of Literature."

Dr. Schneider said, looked at the other four people, and gave advice very cautiously:

"Although the sage-level relics promised by the academy are indeed tempting, safety is the most important thing. For the so-called [Sage Pyroxene], since the academy can issue a bounty, other ring magician groups will also come to join in the fun. If any of us really If you have a clue, never act alone. The five of us in the team can act together, and the one who finds the clue will pay the reward."

"no problem."

Shade nodded, but he still didn't think that the five people in the team could really catch the thief.

"Our main focus recently is on the exam week at the end of the year. The five of us performed well this summer, didn't we? Oh, gentlemen and ladies, I hope we can all pass the winter exam smoothly. I have I can’t wait to have dinner at my place after the exam like last year.”

The doctor said with some nostalgia that he had no close relatives and his best friends were the four people in front of him. After a busy year, having dinner together is the thing he looks forward to most in the year.

Today's group study meeting didn't end until 4:30 pm because there were so many things to talk about.

Everyone dispersed as before, and Dorothy followed Shade. Of course, Shade has not forgotten that tonight he promised to help Old John to retrieve the information from the Apuna Library as a third party. Therefore, after dinner, he informed Lesia, who had already exchanged bodies, that tonight he Might be out for a few hours.

Although this would delay the date, Lesia knew that Shade had important things to do, so she let him go about his own business.

"I'll be back before about ten o'clock. I hope the other party won't be late."

Shade was fiddling with his pen at his desk. On the table was the first draft of Dorothy's novel that would be published in the newspaper next week. In exchange for giving up the date, Lesia agreed to help proofread the manuscripts.

"Speaking of which, I have something good to show you."

Shade said with a smile again. The cat lying on the window sill looked at this scene boredly and yawned. He had a premonition that he would not be able to sleep next to the pillow tonight.

"I got a big one that lights up and we can watch it together at night."

This refers to the stone slab with silver horns. It is rumored that touching it may obtain knowledge and spiritual runes.

The blonde girl showed a narrow smile:

"Xia De, is this reason a bit too old-fashioned? Even if you don't say so, I won't leave tonight. But since you mentioned 'seeing' things, can I understand that you want to Want to be in the study?"

She patted the desk lightly with her palms, biting her lower lip and looking at Shade, her face turned red and her eyes seemed to be shining.

Shade felt that Lesia might have misunderstood what he meant:

"There are really glowing flying things for you to see."

he emphasized.

Lesia showed an ambiguous smile and put her arms around Shade's neck:

"Yes, it is really a luminous object. Then I will wait for you to remember to come back early."

The cat on the windowsill felt that he might be able to sleep in the bedroom tonight.

While Shade was away, Lesia helped him take care of little Mia at home, and read and checked Professor Manning's letters, trying to find unusual details. Shade kissed his beloved girl goodbye downstairs, and then broke into the long night in Tobesk in the heavy fog.

The meeting place agreed between the Apna Library and the Guiding Light Monastery was not in the city, but in the city public cemetery to the east of the city. There has been heavy fog in the city in recent weeks, and the fog lingers even at night.

When Shade arrived at the cemetery outside the city, the cemetery was shrouded in fog, just like in a horror story. The unspeakable corpse might emerge at any time and attack the unlucky citizens who visited the cemetery at night.

Shade was wrapped in a black warm robe. The hood was not worn, but there was a mask on his face. The agreed time to meet and pick up the goods was nine o'clock in the evening. He started early because he was worried about being late, so he arrived at the cemetery fifteen minutes before nine o'clock.

When he saw the cemetery from a distance, he was already missing the warm and comfortable home, the soft and cute cats, and the energetic girl.

Using [Raga's Jump] to cross the fence, his boots left no trace on the ground. There was still light in the chapel in the distance, and the lights in the tombkeeper's cabin were turned off. There is a faint burning smell in the fog, and the people sleeping here sigh silently in this silent fog.

Although it looks like a scene where a ghost story could happen, there are no blind ghosts to disturb Shade tonight. He waits patiently under a pine tree in the northeast corner of the cemetery.

At nine o'clock in the evening, another ring warlock in black robes came out of the fog in the cemetery. He was carrying a black suitcase with a small copper lock hanging on it. After seeing Shade standing under the dead tree, almost blending into the night, he did not get too close. Instead, he stopped on the cemetery path and asked softly:

“What do curly baboons like to eat?”

This was Old John's secret code for communication, in order to prevent the wrong person from being identified when handing over information.

"Tooth decay."

Shade replied in a deep voice.

“What would happen if I walked barefoot?”

The strange ring sorcerer asked again. Although he deliberately disguised his voice, Shade could tell that he was a man, and Tobesk's accent was very skillful. This is not an accent that can be mastered through study and language talent. Only those who have been hanging out in pubs all year round, interacting with the poor, and being influenced by the language since childhood can speak this kind of language.

In the words of outsiders, this is an "old Tobesk man", and using this accent in other places can even highlight his identity. It seems that although the Apna Library is very small, it still has permanent staff in Tobesk.

"He'll get his ass kicked hard with Lady Maria's boot."

Shade said, and then he asked the third question. The joint riddle agreed between Old John and the Apner Library was very interesting:

“Is it the corruption and inefficiency of city hall civil servants that most despairs the citizens of Tobesk City?”

"No."

The strange man shook his head firmly and replied through gritted teeth:

"It's the housing prices that are rising year by year."

This answer comes from the heart.

Shade breathed a sigh of relief and took a step forward:

"Yes, sir, it's the price, damn the price. Now, please put the box at your feet and take five steps back."

The stranger put the suitcase down and took five steps back as Shade said. After the other party stopped, Shade walked over and picked up the box.

There was a key in the lock of the box. Shade opened the box and looked at the documents inside. He needed to confirm whether what the other party gave him was a stack of scrap newspapers. Of course, he just symbolically checked the first two pages and then closed the suitcase:

"Very well, the transaction is over sir. I assume you don't need me to issue a receipt?"

He made a small joke, and the other party laughed dryly. Both of them looked at each other and then slowly backed away. When the distance was enough, they turned around and left:

"Really, it's so complicated, it's like an underground transaction of an illegal organization."

After making sure that the other party had also left, Shade complained softly in his heart while walking in the cemetery.

【Is not it? 】

As Shade walked into the depths of the fog, "she" asked with a smile. Shade did not answer, but looked at the suitcase in his hand:

"The question now is, do I want to take a peek before handing it over to Papa John?"