Chapter 25: Cat Search Commission |
Leaving the Schneider Psychological Clinic, Xia De found the city already cloaked in the hues of a setting sun. The misty air reflected the twilight, and as he walked along the street, he felt an odd sense of disconnection from reality. Half a day ago, he was just an ordinary person. Now, he could light a piece of paper with sheer willpower.
“Though, it’s not that big of a change,” he muttered.
Reflecting on it, he realized he had gained all this without much effort. It seemed almost too fortunate.
“But as the doctor mentioned, apart from earning mandatory credits through study, every academic year also requires completing practical tasks assigned by the academy. Without those, even if I advance to the second ring, I’ll have to repeat the year.”
Life seemed to be settling into a new rhythm, making yesterday's concerns about collecting relief food feel like a distant memory. With his new abilities, he could now focus on continuing his work at the detective agency. His immediate plan was to complete the late detective’s outstanding three-month assignments—though, of course, he’d first need to test his suitability by successfully completing at least one formal case.
To save money, Xia De chose to walk home. However, to celebrate his new beginning, he treated himself to dinner at a restaurant.
It was already 7 PM when he returned home. After briefly studying the doctor's notes, he learned that both Mystical Arts and Arcane Arts were formally taught at the academy. However, personal exploration of one's runes could lead to unique Mystical Arts, which could either be shared with others or kept private. Xia De decided to wait for textbooks to study the standard Mystical Arts before delving too deeply on his own. Still, curiosity got the better of him, and he spent the night experimenting with his runes.
“Thought influences matter; the mind intervenes in reality,” he mused. But despite his efforts, he was unable to channel the power of Time and Space. The best he could achieve was a faint silver glow at his fingertips, a Mystical Art derived from the Silver Moon rune.
The glow was serene, and staring into it calmed Xia De’s thoughts.
With these mundane worries, he drifted off to sleep.
The night outside was illuminated by the light of three moons, with the Silver Moon being the brightest. Its peak phase had passed, but it still shone brightly over Xia De.
Although the doctor and Miss Dorothy believed the transition to Ring Warlock would take a toll, requiring bed rest for three days, Xia De awoke at 6:30 the next morning feeling no different than before. Lying in bed, he pondered life's mysteries—until the harsh reality of his financial struggles brought his thoughts back to earth.
Stretching out his hand, he stared at the faint silver glow on his fingertip for a while, sighing in relief as the sight lifted his spirits. The previous night’s worries about utility bills felt less pressing.
After washing up, he waited at his door around 7 AM for the delivery of milk and newspapers. The previous day, he had missed the papers due to waking up too early, but he found them—Tobesk Morning Post and Kingdom Times—discarded on his doormat the previous evening. Starting next month, he would need to pay for his newspaper subscription himself.
After drinking two bottles of milk, he placed the empties in the milk crate outside and headed out for breakfast. Though the doctor had suggested resting for three days, Xia De felt fine and attributed it to the strength of his foreign soul. He decided to test the cases left behind by the late detective. If unsuccessful, he could always pawn off the detective’s inheritance to pay his debts.
The case involving Mr. Lawrence’s mistress investigation was shelved for now. He planned to consult the doctor about the pebble ring in a few days before proceeding further. Among the remaining cases, two were particularly challenging: finding Miss White’s missing sister and locating a doctor capable of treating eye diseases. For today, Xia De chose the simplest task: retrieving Miss Mimia St. Gold’s missing orange tabby cat.
The previous detective had already located the cat but had left the case incomplete to provide Xia De with an easy start. All Xia De needed to do was pick up the cat and deliver it to the client.
After breakfast near St. Derain Square, Xia De tucked the newspapers under his arm and walked eastward along Charlid Avenue. At the next intersection, he paused briefly, observing the foggy Monday morning crowds heading to work. Turning left, he entered the narrow Purple Iris Alley, avoiding overgrown weeds and dodging barefoot children playing in the alley.
According to the detective’s notes, he stopped in front of a building labeled "Good Peter’s Pet Shop." The smell of animal waste was already apparent. Just as Xia De raised his hand to knock, the door opened unexpectedly, and a young woman with brown hair stepped out, holding a red handbag. She paused upon seeing Xia De, nodded politely, and walked eastward down Purple Iris Alley.
Xia De watched her disappear into the morning crowd.
“She…”
It wasn’t love at first sight. Instead, Xia De felt an odd sensation as if, for a moment, the surrounding light dimmed, leaving a single spotlight on the woman as the star of the stage.
“She’s from the Church of the Sun,” came a gruff voice from behind. “Young man, don’t get any unnecessary ideas.”
Startled, Xia De turned to see a middle-aged man with a bulbous nose standing in the pet shop doorway. The man’s clothes reeked of animal waste and food scraps. He wore a dirty blue jumpsuit over a stained shirt, with muddy black boots completing the look.
“Can I help you?” the man asked.
“Hello, I’m from Hamilton’s Detective Agency. I’m here to pick up…” Xia De paused, double-checking the notes:
“An orange tabby, about six months old. Its tail is pure white, its front left leg has orange markings, and the other legs are all white. The cat’s name is Mimia.”
After describing the cat, the man’s face suddenly changed.
“Don’t tell me... That cat’s missing?”
Xia De’s expression turned equally grim as he pressed against the doorframe, lowering his voice. The late detective had already paid for the cat’s boarding, and the client—a generous lady described as “wealthy”—had offered 2 pounds and 3 shillings for the cat’s return, even allowing reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred during the search. Such an unusually high reward spoke to the owner’s desperation. If it weren’t for the pet shop’s weekend closure, Xia De would have chosen this case over the mistress investigation without hesitation.