Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

After agreeing on the trading price, seeing that Shard had a troubled expression, Old John added,

"This price actually isn't too much of a disadvantage for you, I can even give you a new wand for free, so we're even."

He pointed to the one hanging behind Shard on the wall of the shop, used as a decoration, with a lion's head at the top. The dust that settled on it made it look very much like an antique:

"I can assure you, even if you check the prices elsewhere, you won't find a better deal... Come back next time to support my business, and I can offer you a discount."

Shard stared at him, as Old John, smiling, took out ten one-pound notes from the biscuit tin under the counter:

"You might want to think it over."

After much arguing, Shard finally left with twelve pounds and five shillings, a new wand, and a membership of Old John's Pawnshop.

With enough money in hand to cover his debts for the month, Shard had essentially solved all the problems he had faced since arriving in this world. A new life was beckoning to him, and he was filled with hope for the future. Thus, when he returned home at noon, he had packed meals from the restaurant to share with the cat Mia, who was staying in his house.

Naturally, he only fed her what she could eat.

Shard found that being a detective might be considered a home-based job, as he didn't leave the house on Thursday and Friday, just stayed in and read books, but didn't feel at all like his career progress was being hindered, which made him quite satisfied with his choice of occupation.

The two days of study were quite fruitful; Shard had gained a basic understanding of all 19 compulsory courses. However, the study of Arcane Technique and Sorcery, "Perception of Time" couldn't proceed due to a lack of materials, and "Cyndia's Silvermoon Blessing" was hindered by the continually overcast nights.

The Arcane Technique "Illusion of the Moon Shadow" was mastered by Shard during the nights when the moonlight was obscured. According to the requirements, he laid flat on the living room floor in the dark, his head facing the window.

He covered his face with a silk cloth embroidered with the emblem of an Old God, provided by the Academy, and then enticed Mia to jump over his face. After the cat jumped over, keeping his lower body still, he sat up, and the cloth naturally corroded, enabling Shard to learn this Arcane Technique.

Within the realm of Mysticism, Silvermoon also has the meaning of "Protector of Cats." It was fortunate that he had a client's cat entrusted to his care; otherwise, Shard would have to find a cat himself.

Although the above steps were odd, Shard had mastered the "Illusion of the Moon Shadow" in this way. Unlike the unconditional casting of Silvermoon Slash, the Illusion Technique had to be performed at night, but it did not require any spellcasting materials.

"Let's give it a try."

He turned on the gas lamp, eagerly conjured up the Ring of Fate, and tried to cast the illusion technique to its utmost limit.

However, as the Spiritual Light of the Core Rune flickered, all he could manage was to produce a thin silver mist that slightly obstructed the vision. This might confuse a creature of low intelligence like Mia for a moment, but it would probably be difficult to have an effect on humans.

He still needed more practice and to further enhance his understanding of Silvermoon. Meanwhile, the orange cat Mia, bewildered by the faint silver fog for a while, was quite frightened by this strange phenomenon. After the silver fog dissipated, she immediately clung to Shard's feet, and it took him a while to calm her down.

She was a young cat and not very brave, but Shard liked her very much, and if her original owner, Miss Mia Gold, did not get in touch, then Shard was willing to adopt the cat.

"Keeping a cat at home isn't bad, at least there's no need to worry about mice."

That was his thought before going to sleep.

But early on Saturday morning, an unexpected letter informed that Shard's idea of "stealing the cat" was impossible.

It was a reply from Mia Gold, the original owner of the orange cat Mia. She had received the information from Detective Hamilton, learning that the orange cat had been found, and also that Sparrow Hamilton had passed away, and now Shard Hamilton was operating the agency.

But this fairly wealthy lady informed Shard in the letter that she couldn't cross half the kingdom to pick up Mia from Tobesk City anytime soon. She was equally uneasy about having the cat transported by mail.

Therefore, Miss Mia Gold commissioned again, asking the young successor detective to continue sheltering and looking after Mia. She would make time to come to Tobesk City as soon as possible, but that would definitely be in six months or later.

Miss Gold's family had undergone some changes, and she needed to handle troublesome domestic affairs.

Besides the letter, Miss Gold also sent ten pounds in cash to Shard through a postal account via remittance. She hoped the young detective wouldn't be too harsh on the mischievous orange cat and would treat it kindly.

"Does Miss Gold really trust me? Could it be that old woman next door who wrote to her describing my reliability? And why does everyone think you are so mischievous?"

Shard sat on the couch, holding "A Detailed Explanation of Herbs of the Pan-Continental Northern Region" in one hand while stroking the orange cat beside him with the other. The cat squinted its eyes and twitched its whiskers to softly 'meow,' expressing its contentment, probably the most obedient cat Shard had ever encountered.

"Could it be that I got the wrong cat?"

He thought in amazement, but this cat was indeed Mia.

The ten pounds from the cane and Miss Gold's ten pounds made Shard, who had been somewhat strapped for cash, suddenly well-off, but Shard didn't plan to spend these ten pounds. Instead, he decided to save them for exclusive use on Mia.

He was a very principled man; in situations where his own life wasn't urgently in need of money, such a significant remittance should be spent on the cat rather than on himself.

This behavior gave Shard an inexplicable sense of self-satisfaction, so much so that when he received the second letter of the day, which included the gas bill, steam fee, and water bill for his apartment, his mood wasn't too adversely affected.

It was now the end of June, and these bills were due. However, being very frugal, which was typical of any Hamilton, the total of the three bills came to less than seven shillings, a sum that Shard found satisfactory.

Because that afternoon was the time for the study gathering at Dr. Schneider's Clinic, Shard ate his lunch and fed the cat early, wanting to start his journey as soon as possible—it was quite a distance to the doctor's clinic.

But before he could leave, a visitor arrived.

She was a woman in her thirties, almost as tall as Shard, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, who arrived directly by carriage at the entrance of No. 6, Saint Delan Square.

She stomped up the steps in her high heels with a commanding air but appeared very surprised when a young man opened the door.

"Are you looking for Detective Sparrow Hamilton?"

Shard asked in equal surprise.

"Yes," Your next read is at empire

said the lady, sizing up the young man who had answered the door.

"Uncle Sparrow has passed away, and I now handle all his cases. May I ask who you are..."

"Mary Lawrence."

Shard should have immediately realized who this was, but since he was no longer planning to pursue that commission, it took him a moment to recognize that this was Mrs. Lawrence, the client who had commissioned the tracking of her husband's mistress, Lady Lassoya.

It was evident that Mrs. Lawrence, though regretful of Sparrow Hamilton's death, also felt dissatisfied, expressing distrust towards the young detective in her tone.

Shard didn't mind because he indeed wasn't a trustworthy detective. But since the client had approached him proactively, he could only let her in, and after they seated themselves, he handed her the report already prepared by the former detective.