In short, after three weeks, Xia De finally concluded his full exploration with the first time key, witnessing the final story of God. While gaining immense rewards, it also meant that Xia De could try to activate the second key.
He obtained a key from the fifth epoch, 3002, from Old John on Monday. After summarizing his gains, he tried to use the new key to push open the door.
Then, as he expected, the key could be inserted into the completely mismatched keyhole, but it couldn't turn the lock. The rule of a one-week interval between uses of a time key applied to all keys.
Therefore, if Xia De wanted to embark on an adventure to the past with the second key, he would have to wait until Thursday morning next week.
As for the relic, 【Another Face】, which he obtained from the Black-haired maid, Xia De placed it behind a hidden wall in the basement. This item had significant side effects, but its containment conditions were very simple: merely ensure it didn't touch the face of any wisdom creature.
While placing the relic, gazing at the ancient god statue in the center of the circular space, Xia De clutched the wooden box containing the “white stone crystal”. After much thought, he didn't immediately try to activate another spatial landmark.
He was already very tired tonight, and he wasn't sure if long-distance teleportation had a cooldown period like the 【time key】, or if it required no waiting like the last “Saint Delan Square to Saint Delan Square” transfer.
However, if he suddenly went to a very distant place and couldn't return immediately, the cost of taking a steam train was secondary; the major problem was that no one would look after the cat at home.
Therefore, Xia De decided to wait until he had resolved all pending matters and had time for a long journey before attempting to use the ancient god statue. Anyway, the statue was right there; it wouldn't run away just because Xia De didn't use it.
As for the most important gain tonight, the leaves representing Ling Rune and Miracle, Xia De didn't know how to use them. Soaking them in water, eating them directly, or sticking them on his head were all possibilities.
To avoid damaging the two leaves through reckless attempts, he decided to ask some reliable people tomorrow.
After dealing with a series of troublesome matters, he finally concluded this magical day.
Before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep, he recalled everything that had happened throughout the day and was very certain that, even compared to the night at Lakeview Manor, today was an incredibly magical day.
(Mia is running...)
On Thursday morning, when Xia De went downstairs to get the newspaper and goat milk, he found five letters addressed to him, which was a rare occurrence.
The first two letters were from Doctor Schneider and Miss Bei Ya Si, both inquiring about Xia De’s health. Both of them had witnessed Xia De suddenly lunging out to block a bullet at Tobesk Station yesterday. Although they later saw he was fine, they were still somewhat concerned and thus wrote to inquire about the specific situation.
The third letter was from Priest Augustus, using the church's special high-quality, scented stationery. He invited Xia De to be a guest at Dawn Church this afternoon, stating that Bishop Owen had something to discuss with Xia De.
“Hmm... about the commemorative coin?”
Sitting on the sofa and looking up at the coffee table, the commemorative coin, still embedded with the bullet, lay quietly there. After yesterday's scene on the street, it would be strange if Dawn Church didn't want to do something.
Coincidentally, he had nothing planned for today, so going to the church in the afternoon was fine. However, he had to be careful to feign injury, otherwise it might raise suspicion about his identity.
The fourth letter, as expected, was from Captain Rades. Due to Xia De's accidental shooting, Captain Rades completed all the interviews after the woman involved in the child disappearance case was apprehended. He didn't leave Leedweich Field until 8 PM yesterday, but he didn't feel it was a waste of time.
The Captain excitedly told Xia De in the letter that because he was also a key figure in solving this major case, he received news from a friend after leaving Leedweich Field. Once the police department honored the case and he also received a reward, the Royal Army would consider reinstating him to his original unit, returning to the front lines as a Captain.
Captain Rades was truly very excited, so much so that his already poor handwriting became even more distorted and illegible.
Xia De looked at the letter in his hand and smiled easily. He was very happy for Captain Rades. The Captain's current difficult life was due to a relic. If he could return to his familiar place and resume his life, then this was the best compensation the Captain could receive at the moment.
The Captain said in his letter that he planned to visit Xia De tonight to express his gratitude. He knew that compared to his own minor contributions, the Detective truly made a great contribution yesterday afternoon. Therefore, he guessed that Xia De would be very busy recently, which was why he chose to visit at night.
The last letter was more like a note than a letter. It was signed by Xia De's nominal superior, Mr. Anlos from MI6. In the note, he informed Xia De that he would visit Saint Delan Square at 8 AM today and asked Xia De not to go out.
“What could Mr. Anlos want with me?”
He speculated on various possibilities, and an hour later, the first thing the middle-aged gentleman did upon entering was to pull out a thick envelope and hand it to Xia De.
Xia De squeezed it, confirming that if it wasn't filled with paper, then it must be filled with money.
“300 pounds.”
Mr. Anlos said as he followed Xia De up the stairs. Xia De's hand gripping the envelope tightened suddenly, leaving a mark on its surface.
The Outsider had never encountered such a large amount of cash in this world, although the doctor's share from the money he planned to cash out from the academy wasn't even this much.
“100 pounds is the reward set by MI6 and City Hall for your success in solving the child disappearance case. It was originally supposed to be given to you in a few days, but I helped you get it early. The other 200 pounds are my personal thanks to you.”
Xia De stopped, turning in surprise to look at the middle-aged man standing one step below him on the stairs. The latter, holding his hat, nodded slightly to Xia De:
“Thank you for everything you did yesterday, Mr. Hamilton.”
His tone was very serious, and his expression was also solemn.
“It's my honor.”
Xia De also nodded slightly, then continued to lead his superior upstairs. Only now did this veteran kingdom intelligence officer's respect for Xia De finally stem from more than just Miss Jialinna.
Xia De's MI6 identity, unless he betrayed the Delarion Kingdom, was now firmly established and almost impossible to change.
Mr. Anlos's personal visit to Xia De was not entirely to deliver pounds. He brought two pieces of news. The first was that the investigation into the serial child disappearance cases in Tobesk was progressing very smoothly.
This seemed to be a large human trafficking organization, and the person caught yesterday was an important leader. Currently, Leedweich Field, in conjunction with MI6, was conducting a nationwide investigation based on the intelligence they had.
Even though everyone knew it was impossible to find all the missing children, at least this unsettling matter had finally come to an end.
The second piece of news was also good: Xia De's “Delarion Honorary Knight Medal” had been approved. On Sunday night this week, the King would present awards to those who contributed to the “child disappearance case,” including Xia De, at the royal manor in the city's outskirts.
Besides Xia De, two other lucky gentlemen received awards, but those were lower-grade Delarion Contribution Medals. One was an old agent from Leedweich Field who had been responsible for investigating this matter. The other was the current Chief of Police at Leedweich Field; the medal was actually not very important to this gentleman, who held a viscount title.
“How was the award ceremony decided so quickly? Didn't this just happen yesterday? In one night, the Royal Family and City Hall made a decision?”
Xia De asked, puzzled. He had no doubt about the official's slow pace of work.
“To reassure the public, and, of course, to give Queen Diana a suitable reason to appear in public and dispel some rumors.”
“Rumors?”
Mr. Anlos's answer was very cautious:
“After yesterday's assassination attempt, rumors of Queen Diana's death from a gunshot wound immediately appeared. The Royal Family needs to handle this matter with extra care, so there needs to be a suitable occasion for Queen Diana to appear...”
“Mr. Anlos, actually, I feel that yesterday's assassination itself was problematic, and aren't these rumors spreading a bit too quickly?”
Xia De asked, then thought of the words the Black-haired maid had stopped Mr. Anlos from saying yesterday.
“Is it really...”
He extended his finger, pointing in the direction of the kitchen, from whose window Yodel Palace could be seen.
Mr. Anlos showed a profound expression:
“Such topics cannot be spoken lightly, Mr. Hamilton. Don't speculate further; it has nothing to do with you. Also, your identity is that of an enthusiastic ordinary citizen; your MI6 background will not be exposed.”
This suggested that the background of the entire assassination attempt seemed even more complex than the Outsider had estimated.
“But why Sunday night again?”
He asked again.
“Again? Do you have other plans for Sunday?”
Mr. Anlos asked in return. Xia De shook his head. He just sighed, lamenting that since he came to this world, Sunday nights had never been idle. But thankfully, this time he didn't have to play rhode cards.
“Oh, remember to bring your rhode cards. At such a high-profile banquet, after the King leaves, it will become very relaxed. If your purpose is to make friends, rhode cards are an excellent tool. Since Miss Jialinna values you so much, getting to know more friends will be very helpful... Oh, this black tea is truly excellent.”
Mr. Anlos exclaimed. Xia De glanced at the teacup, and for some reason, he thought of Sparrow Detective. When the former Detective was alive, he probably never would have imagined that his house and his black tea would host the Chief of MI6.
Mr. Anlos was also a very busy man and left after staying at Xia De's place for twenty minutes.
Xia De then left as well, taking Mia with him. First, he mailed his replies to the doctor and Miss Bei Ya Si at the mailbox on the street corner, then, holding the cat, headed straight for the Prophet Association.