Chapter 59: Mrs. Lawrence |
After agreeing to the price, Shad noticed something off in his expression, prompting Old John to add:
"This price isn't really taking advantage of you. I could even throw in a new cane for free to make it fair for both sides."
He pointed to one hanging on the shop wall behind Shad, used as decoration. The cane, its top shaped like a lion's head, was covered in dust, giving it the look of an antique.
"I guarantee you won't find a better deal even if you shop around... Come back and take care of my business again, and I'll offer you a better discount."
Shad stared at him in disbelief as John Jones chuckled and pulled ten one-pound bills out of a cookie tin beneath the counter.
"You can take your time to think it over."
After some back-and-forth, Shad ultimately left with £12 and 5 shillings, a new cane, and a "membership" at Old John's Pawnshop.
With enough money in hand to cover his debts for the month, Shad felt as though he'd finally resolved the troubles that had plagued him since arriving in this world. A new chapter in life was unfolding before him, and he was brimming with hope. To celebrate, he picked up some food from a restaurant on his way home and shared the meal with Mimia, the fostered orange tabby cat in his care. Of course, he only gave Mimia what was safe for her to eat.
Shad began to think that being a detective might qualify as a homebody profession. He stayed indoors on both Thursday and Friday, simply reading books, and felt no hindrance to his professional progress. This realization left him quite satisfied with his career choice.
On the other hand, Shad successfully mastered the mystical art of Moonlit Illusion. The moonless, shadowy nights were ideal for its practice. Following the instructions, he lay flat on the unlit living room floor, facing the window, and covered his face with a silk cloth adorned with an old divine emblem provided by the academy. Then he coaxed Mimia to leap over his face. After the cat jumped, he sat up while keeping his lower body motionless, causing the silk cloth to oxidize and corrode naturally. With this, Shad had learned the mystical art.
In occultism, the Silver Moon is also associated with the "Protector of Cats." Fortunately, having a fostered cat at home saved Shad the trouble of finding one.
The process may have seemed strange, but Shad now knew how to use Moonlit Illusion. Unlike the unconditional casting of Silver Moon Slash, this illusion required nighttime conditions but no material components.
"Let’s give it a try," he murmured, turning on the gas lamp. Filled with anticipation, he summoned his Fate Wheel and cast the illusion to its fullest extent.
As the rune's luminescence flickered, Shad managed only to produce a faint silver mist in the room, slightly obstructing visibility. This might confuse low-intelligence creatures like Mimia but would hardly affect people. Clearly, he needed more practice and a deeper understanding of the Silver Moon.
Mimia, startled by the mist, was initially spooked but eventually calmed down after Shad reassured her, cradling her until she relaxed. This young cat wasn't very brave, but Shad adored her. If her original owner, Miss Mimia Gold, remained out of touch, Shad was more than willing to adopt her.
"Having a cat at home isn't bad—it keeps the mice away," he thought as he went to bed.
However, on Saturday morning, an unexpected letter dashed Shad's hopes of keeping Mimia. It was a reply from Miss Mimia Gold, the cat’s original owner, who had received word about the tabby and Sparrow Hamilton’s passing. She now knew Shad had taken over the detective agency.
Despite her wealth, Miss Gold explained she couldn't travel across half the kingdom to Tobesk anytime soon, nor did she trust mailing the cat. Thus, she asked Shad to continue fostering Mimia and promised to retrieve her within six months, as family troubles required her attention.
Enclosed with the letter was a £10 remittance via the postal account, a gesture of gratitude for Shad’s care for the mischievous tabby.
"Miss Gold must really trust me. Could it be that elderly neighbor wrote her a glowing letter about my reliability? And why does everyone think you’re so naughty?" Shad mused, scratching Mimia’s chin as she purred contentedly beside him on the sofa.
"Did I pick up the wrong cat?" he wondered. But this was undeniably Mimia.
Between the £10 for the cane and Miss Gold's £10, Shad suddenly found himself financially comfortable. Still, he decided to save the remittance solely for Mimia’s needs, adhering to his principles.
This decision brought Shad an odd sense of satisfaction, so much so that when he received his second letter of the day—a bill for gas, steam, and water—he remained unfazed. It was the end of June, time to pay utilities. Thankfully, the Hamiltons were thrifty, and the combined total was less than 7 shillings.
That afternoon, Shad prepared for a study session at Dr. Schneider's clinic, feeding Mimia before leaving. However, before he could step out, a visitor arrived.
The woman, nearly as tall as Shad, wore a wide-brimmed hat and arrived at 6 St. Derain Square in a carriage. She stormed up the steps in high heels but paused in surprise when the door opened to reveal Shad.
"Are you looking for Sparrow Hamilton?" Shad asked, equally surprised.
"Yes," the woman replied, scrutinizing the young man.
"Sparrow passed away. I handle his cases now. May I ask who you are?"
"Mary Lawrence," she replied.
It took Shad a moment to connect the name. He hadn’t planned to take on that particular case anymore, so it slipped his mind that she was the one who had hired Sparrow to follow her husband’s mistress, Madame Lasso.
Though she expressed regret over Sparrow’s death, Mrs. Lawrence also showed distrust toward Shad. He didn’t mind; he knew he wasn’t a reliable detective. Nonetheless, since she had sought him out, he invited her in. Once seated, he handed her the report Sparrow had prepared.