Chapter 1481: A Long-Awaited Chat |
"What are you looking at? I've noticed you've been staring upward this whole time. Have you taken up astrology lately? Perhaps I can help."
Jenkins asked. Mr. Hood's behavior was rather peculiar.
"Astrology? No, that's far too complex for me. It's just... seeing the stars made me realize it's already May. Half of 1866 has passed in the blink of an eye, yet I feel like I've accomplished nothing. It feels like such a waste of life."
Mr. Hood lamented.
"In times like these, just staying alive and healthy is a remarkable achievement in itself. Speaking of which, what have you been up to? I noticed we haven't met for two months. That's unusual for us."
Jenkins posed a sensitive question, one that could potentially touch upon Mr. Hood's true identity, but the man didn't seem to mind:
"I'm actually a merchant—a fairly successful one, at that. As you know, the Nolan harbor thaws out in March, making it the busiest time of the year. This year has been exceptional, though. Wartime embargoes, increased international trade taxes, and the fact that the Dock Area was torn to shreds... it's all been a mess. Business has been truly awful. Sometimes I'll get a headache that lasts all afternoon just from staring at the ledgers."
"When it comes to Gold Pounds, having enough to get by is all that matters. You don't need to ask for much more."
So remarked the wealthy Jenkins.
Mr. Hood inquired in turn.
"You know how fixated Magic Miss is on the 'Heart of the Ocean.' That's her personal business, however, so I can't say much more. As for what I've been doing... I actually left Nolan after the riots on the beach."
"Laying low? Very wise."
Mr. Hood remarked. Jenkins didn't correct him. He just lowered his gaze, kicked a small pebble aside, and went on:
"I embarked on a rather exciting adventure abroad after that. I had the chance to experience the charm of a remote town and even uncovered a forgotten piece of history hidden within its local legends."
"That sounds absolutely wonderful. Did you perhaps explore a forgotten tomb in some remote corner of the world? Or maybe read the cryptic diary of a madman amid the ruins of an old house? I've lived in the city for so long... Sometimes I yearn for a stroll through the countryside myself."
Mr. Hood said wistfully.
"Well... something like that."
Though Mr. Hood's fantasy was a far cry from the truth, Jenkins didn't correct him.
"You only just returned, then?"
"Yes, I came back on a steam-powered airship."
"A steam-powered airship?"
A woman's voice echoed from the back door. Magic Miss and Silver Flute Miss had arrived together, though whether by plan or by chance encounter on the way was anyone's guess.
"You have to be joking. You can't just get a ticket for a steam-powered airship. Whose place did you take? A deckhand? Or maybe a clown hired for entertainment? The kind who can do the splits mid-air?"
Magic Miss teased.
"No, I actually spent most of my time in the inner cabins. I only came out during mealtimes."
"I can hardly imagine how long you had to hide. It must have been dreadful. Well, I wish you good health."
And the woman actually clasped her hands in prayer.
Amidst the idle chatter, Mr. White Cat and Hathaway arrived. Mr. White Cat was a few minutes late, explaining that his wife had nearly caught him sneaking out of the house, which had delayed him.
"You see? The trials and tribulations of a married man. I run into the same problem when I try to go out for a drink with friends at night."
Mr. Hood winked at Jenkins. He wasn't covering his face, since everyone present already knew what he looked like.
"How do you know Mr. Candle is male, and unmarried?"
Hathaway asked.
"See? Only a lady would ask such a question. While Mr. Candle maintains his air of mystery, after a while, it's easy to tell he's a young, unmarried man. Younger than me, at the very least."
Considering Mr. Hood was in his forties, that still left a rather wide range of possibilities.
"A man's demeanor is completely different, depending on whether he's married or not. It's quite easy to spot."
Mr. White Cat chimed in in agreement. This prompted Hathaway to cast a puzzled glance at Mr. Candle. Remembering the clue from their last meeting—the vanilla hidden in his breast—her suspicions about his true identity deepened.
Following their usual custom, they began by exchanging information. Since two months had passed since their last meeting, everyone had plenty of fresh news to share.
Perhaps having learned their lesson from the last incident, no one tried to rally the group to action. Instead, they commented on every major event that had transpired in Nolan over the past two months, speculating on the Orthodox Church's next move and wondering how many more villains would dare set foot in their city.
"The good news, however, is that with Mr. Candle's help, I finally obtained the gem."
Magic Miss herself revealed the news, earning a round of congratulations from the others.
"The 'Heart of the Ocean' is without a doubt the most perfect gem I have ever seen. I don't think I'll need a new research subject for at least a decade. But it's also brought trouble. I know people have been looking for it. The news that the Church failed to secure the gem has somehow leaked."
"Who's looking for it?"
Jenkins asked.
"The 'Gear Artisans' Association.' It's them; that much is obvious. But they'll never find me. I've made extensive preparations to protect this gem."
On the subject of the Gear Artisans' Association, Mr. White Cat had news of his own. He informed the group that while prospecting for new mines in the mountains north of the city last week, the city council stumbled upon some unregistered mining pits. Further investigation revealed traces of the cultists. The Church is now involved, but the pits are a tangled maze of tunnels leading deep underground. For now, no one knows just how far down the Association's members are hiding.
"But I've heard whispers on the black market that the Association has already found what it was looking for down there. They're planning to bring something enormous to the surface."
Hathaway said.
"Are you serious? Based on what I know, the Gear Artisans' Association was searching for a dangerous, sealed artifact—something more hazardous than most Class 1 Cursed Items. They actually found it?"
Jenkins asked in disbelief.
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