After finishing their contact with the school, the five of them each talked about their lives.
Dorothy excitedly told the others that they must subscribe to the Steam Bird Daily starting next week, as her Detective novel was about to begin serialization. Previously, Dorothy's works were directly published as books through publishing houses, but this was her first attempt at newspaper serialization.
If Xia De remembered correctly, most of the editors of the Steam Bird Daily were students of Dorothy's father, Professor Louisa, so no matter the quality of that Detective novel, the space she would get should be quite good... Even if the serialized novel appeared after the news on the first page, Xia De would not be surprised at all.
“Dorothy, even a novel serialized in a newspaper should have a name. What will your Detective novel be called? Is it still the original 'The Mystery of the Bloody Word'?”
Luvia asked curiously.
“No, I plan to write it as a long-form serialized story, and the current title is 'hamilton detective story collection'.”
“Hmm?”
Xia De, who was about to drink tea, choked.
“What's wrong?”
The Golden-haired girl smiled and looked at Xia De:
“Using a real Detective's name can make the story seem more authentic. If my novel becomes famous, Xia De, this will also attract business for you. Besides, Hamilton is not an uncommon surname, so it won't lead people to connect it to you.”
“So, do you have any other plans for next week? Although the Summer exam week is over, I still need to remind you not to relax your studies.”
The Doctor asked again.
“I plan to be promoted to Middle-Ring before the end of the year, and now the Sublimation Words are completely fine.”
She glanced at Xia De.
“And with the forged philosopher's stone as an alternative core material for the ritual, I now need to obtain the ritual materials that don't necessarily need to be replaced by a relic.”
This was Dorothy's plan.
“The Holy Prayer Festival is over, and I have no other important matters in the second half of this year. The church work is very leisurely, and I have enrolled in a new elective course, studying the production of magic potions.”
Priest Augustus said, generally speaking, a Priest's life is actually the most leisurely.
“I've been very busy recently, and the Great City Player rhode cards Tournament is about to start in more than half a month. The Association is now sending out invitations, and players from the Old Continent and New World are gathering here. There's a lot of work for the Association, so I won't have much free time until probably September.”
Luvia said regretfully.
Finally, it was Xia De's turn. He thought for a moment:
“Recently, I've been helping a nobleman with a commission about fish. After I finish this next week, I'll probably deal with two commissions from the previous Detective. Oh, the new school year has started, and with so many books, it will take a long time just to flip through all of them.”
At this point, he asked Priest Augustus:
“Do Ring術士 trained by the Church also have so much study content?”
Xia De seemed to have never heard Iluna complain about having to study normally, only hearing her talk about her days of training in the Papal State.
“Church Ring術士 will have several dedicated years to study Knowledge in a safe location, just like a school. Only after reaching the specified years and being promoted to Two Ring will they be assigned to various dioceses. Although they also have study tasks, they are much less than ours.”
The Priest replied. Although he was not a Church Ring術士, he was very clear about these matters, and Xia De thought of a younger Iluna, fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a uniform and walking in the Church school.
“Then Church Ring術士 wouldn't be as... knowledgeable as us, would they?”
Xia De could only think of this description.
“The Church tends to train practical and specialized Ring術士. The Three Great Arcane Academies want to pass down Knowledge and train academic Ring術士, so of course, it's different.”
Doctor Schneider said from the side, then concluded:
“It's hard to say which is better, but reading more books while you're young is never a bad thing.”
Everyone didn't have much to do this week. The Doctor got a bottle of red wine, and after they celebrated Xia De's promotion to second year together, they left individually after four in the afternoon.
Dorothy still had to teach Xia De in the evening, so she left with him. Although there were many books this time, thanks to the Miracle Toy Manufacturing, there was no need to rent a carriage. Xia De borrowed a large bedsheet from the Doctor, turned the books into lighter toy dolls, and then put them into paper bags. These things were lighter to hold than Mia.
After returning home, the new books, along with over a hundred other books, were temporarily placed in Xia De's basement.
After chatting about Coldwater Port at home for a while, at a little past five, Xia De invited the Golden-haired girl to go out for dinner together. Of course, Mia also followed the two of them; it didn't mind leaving the house for dinner.
After dinner, Xia De and Dorothy went to the University District's boulevard for a walk with the cat, which meant Xia De holding the cat and walking with Dorothy on the street under the setting sun. As they talked about what Leia, far away in Coldwater Port, was doing in the brilliant afterglow of the sunset, and Xia De reached for his time key to open his front door, an urgent city letter from Professor Madison was delivered precisely by the postman. Xia De had mentioned to Dorothy that he was busy dealing with the task of the second time key, so there was no need for further explanation this time.
Professor Madison gave good news: the local Ring術士 from the Guiding Light Hermitage agreed to meet with Xia De and conduct the transaction. The other party set the location at the White Swan Restaurant on Silver Cross Avenue, just one street away from Saint Delan Square.
That was a high-end restaurant. Xia De knew the place because the White Swan Restaurant was diagonally opposite the Prophet Association and half a street away from Yodel Palace.
“Is the other party too cautious?”
Dorothy was also surprised when she heard the location:
“It's as if they're afraid you'll do something bad. Xia De, do you really understand this organization?”
“Actually, not at all.”
Xia De said, walking into the study to take out the map left by Sparrow Detective to study the nearby terrain:
“Dorothy, you come with me in a moment. But don't enter the restaurant; stay outside. I'll choose a window seat. If you see me suddenly grabbing my hair hard, come and help.”
In fact, Xia De didn't think the other party would do anything. Within Tobesk City, besides the entrance of the Orthodox Church, Silver Cross Avenue, where Yodel Palace is located, was absolutely the safest place.
As for why they didn't choose to meet at the church entrance, normal Ring術士 wouldn't have such an idea.
After discussing the plan, Xia De left first, and Dorothy would go to Silver Cross Avenue ten minutes after Xia De.
On an early August evening, the air was very warm, and the dim afterglow of the setting sun pierced through the hazy mist, illuminating the ground. After Xia De left Saint Delan Square, he walked through the straight Queen Catherine Pedestrian Street outside the square, then entered Silver Cross Avenue.
On Silver Cross Avenue in the evening, pedestrians and carriages flowed endlessly, royal guards in uniform patrolled the streets, and the entrance of the Prophet Association was bustling with people. Although most people in this world would not finish work at six in the evening, for those working in relatively decent jobs in the city center of Northern Pearl, six o'clock meant the perfect end to a day's work.
Xia De wore a white shirt, a black formal suit over it, and a black hat, walking quickly along the street. He timed it right, arriving at the entrance of the White Swan Restaurant at 6:19 PM.
Two young waiters in uniform at the restaurant entrance, one on each side, opened the restaurant door for Xia De. Then, a slightly plump middle-aged man in a white shirt, black uniform, and bow tie came over:
“Mr. Hamilton, how may I help you?”
“You know me?”
Xia De asked in surprise.
“I know all the local nobles.”
The middle-aged man said with a smile.
“I've arranged to have dinner with a friend here. Please find me a table by the window. Also, please bring me the menu when my friend arrives.”
“Certainly, Mr. Hamilton, please come this way.”
This was probably the benefit of having a prominent title.
He led Xia De to a table by the window. It was a rather large round table, covered with a white tablecloth and adorned with golden candelabras. Xia De placed his hat on his right side by the window, then pulled out a box of candle matches from his pocket and placed it on the hat. This was the token for their meeting.
As expected, in less than five minutes, a middle-aged gentleman with pretty black hair walked in.
Though called middle-aged, his age should have been over forty, but he looked very energetic. He carried a cane, said something to the waiter at the restaurant entrance, and then looked towards Xia De under the waiter's guidance.
The whispering voice in his ear prompted, “Ring術士.”
Xia De smiled and stood up to greet him, and the scholarly-looking middle-aged man also smiled and walked over.
Xia De extended his hand proactively:
“Good evening, sir. I am Xia De Hamilton, the Detective from Saint Delan Square.”
The middle-aged man did not hesitate and warmly shook Xia De's hand:
“Good evening, Mr. Hamilton, I am Sever Randall, and I work in the University District.”
The voice in his ear continued to whisper, “Four Ring.” Xia De's smile grew wider:
“Are you also a Professor?”
“No, no, I work as a secretary at the University Alliance. It's an administrative position.”
Mr. Randall said, then sat down with Xia De. So far, they looked like friends meeting normally, showing no signs of a secret transaction.
The waiter quickly brought two menus. Xia De opened his and first checked the prices, then was very glad he had eaten beforehand.
He claimed to have a habit of eating little in the evenings and, enduring the heartache, only ordered a small fruit salad. Mr. Randall also knew that this visit wasn't for dining, so like Xia De, they tacitly didn't order too much.
“We don't need to be overly polite, Mr. Hamilton. What exactly are you looking for us for? Or rather, is it not you looking for us, but someone else behind you looking for us?”