Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 236 The Old Woman's Commission

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"What do you mean?"

The Duchess's slender index finger tapped the armrest of the single sofa, apparently showing her inner restlessness:

"A certain grand prophecy, I cannot speak of it, not a single word. It concerns the future of this world, and you can consider it some sort of ritual, or an epic from a knight's tale about to begin. That's why I've returned to Tobesk. The True God Church, the Academy, the Council, and many ancient organizations are all bustling for it, yet the common Circle Sorcerers know nothing..."

Shard looked at her, not saying a word, about Miss Beyas's matter, he would not divulge it to others. And Miss Galina took Shard's expression for confusion:

"The Council has sent word that there's a new direction in the interpretation of the prophecy, the first one... is about to appear... Do you understand?"

She asked hesitantly.

"Not at all."

Miss Galina covered her forehead:

"Oh, I knew it would be unclear speaking like this, but it's not something you should be lightly involved in. Better not to understand. In any case, if you come across a Female Sorcerer from the True God Church with strange powers, remember to tell me."

She looked at Shard somewhat anxiously:

"Truth is, I don't quite understand what that prophecy means myself, maybe it's the Apocalypse, maybe it's the beginning of a new era, maybe it's the return of the gods. No one understands, but it is bound to happen... The Council wants to find them, and if they're female, to bring them into the Council. I suppose other organizations aware of the prophecy feel the same, so everyone is searching."

"What is bound to happen?"

Shard asked knowingly, and Miss Galina hesitated:

"I'm sorry, Detective, I really can't say. But... it is bound to happen. The grand epic is about to begin, but no one understands what it truly means. Everyone wants to find them, no exceptions."

A knock at the door interrupted them; it was the Maid returning with a jewelry box. Miss Galina shook her head at Shard, signaling him to drop the subject before letting Maid Tifa enter.

Afterward, Miss Galina outlined Thursday night's plans for Shard. Her plans were indeed more detailed than those of Shard and his two companions, but the more complex the plan, the more likely it was to encounter problems.

Compared to that, Shard felt the chance of mishap in their plan to break into the Ruins the night after next was even less likely.

By the time the carriage dropped him back home, it was already eight o'clock at night. Miss Galina had treated Shard to dinner at the manor and had even intended to have him stay the night, had he not been worried about the cat.

So Tuesday passed uneventfully, with the Scribe Level Relic "Bodor Candle" and the precious Sage-Level Relic "Witch's Golden Necklace" adding to the chances of success for Thursday's action.

As the date of the plan drew nearer, Shard woke up on Wednesday planning to stay indoors all day, reviewing the plan for Thursday night and then waiting for Miss Annette and Miss Beyas to visit.

However, to his surprise, while enjoying breakfast with his well-behaved cat at seven in the morning, the bell downstairs actually rang.

At the time, Mia Cat was dutifully licking up the sheep's milk soaked in cat food, while Shard was eating bread and reading the newspaper. The "Steam Bird Daily" published many good articles, and since last week's academic report, Shard had been thinking about making a fortune by investing in Steam Machinery, so he paid extra attention to the "Steam Bird Daily."

Mia drank sheep's milk in the morning, while Shard drank water. Indeed, a few weeks ago he could have had two bottles of milk every morning, but ever since he felt the milk tasted strange and coincidentally needed to pay the monthly fee, Shard had cut out that morning expense.

After all, this body was past the age of growing, and there was no need to fuss about calcium intake.

When the bell rang, both the cat and Shard looked towards the downstairs in surprise. And as Shard got up to check the situation downstairs, Mia quickly licked up the last of the sheep's milk and then followed closely behind Shard down the stairs.

He asked the person outside whom they were looking for, and after confirming they were seeking Detective Shard Hamilton, Shard opened the front door.

Two people stood at the door, an elderly woman with a stooped figure and leaning on a cane in the forefront, Shard noticed the gold ring on the hand clutching her cane.

The man behind her seemed younger, with a presence somewhat similar to that of Captain Lades.

"The man is a guard?"

Shard guessed, then greeted the visitors:

"Good day, I am Detective Shard Hamilton. May I ask who you are..."

"Lavende sent me."

The old woman said in a somewhat hoarse voice, with a strong Tobesk accent which made it hard for Shard to catch Baron Lavende's name right away.

But seeing her hand over one of his business cards along with Baron Lavende's business card, he knew it to be a referral from an acquaintance, and so he let them in. As they passed by, he confirmed that both were ordinary people.

Upon reaching the second floor, only Shard and the elderly woman entered the living room, while the serious-looking middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back in front of room number one, facing the staircase.

The elderly woman sat down slowly, and Shard went to prepare tea.

Only after setting down the teapot, filling the cups did he finally sit down to talk. But before the client could speak, Shard made a declaration:

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"I'm sorry, I've been busy with another commission lately, and won't be able to start a new investigation until at least Sunday. So, if you want to entrust me with detective work, please think it over carefully before discussing it."

I'll be occupied with the Silver-Eyed one's matter until Thursday, and on Friday, I need to accompany Mrs. Lemer to receive an inheritance. Saturday afternoon is for meetings, and in the evening, I have Miss Luisa's lesson, so indeed it will be Sunday before I have any free time.

"That's alright, that's alright, my commission is very simple."

The elderly woman cradled the teacup with her tremulous hands, spotted with obvious age marks, making Shard wonder if the cup might fall to the ground halfway through.

She drank a slow mouthful of tea, as if in slow motion, and then shakily placed the cup back on the coffee table before pulling out her business card to give to Shard.

While the old woman was doing this, both Shard and the cat perched on the back of the sofa behind his head were intently watching the elderly lady's actions. The former was concerned about the safety of his tea service for guests, and the latter was curious as to what the stranger entering the house was doing.

The old lady was named Greta Wosent, a widow living in the southern district of Tobesk who owned a large factory. She had been a good friend of Baron Lavende for many years, and how exactly they came to know each other, Mrs. Worsent didn't elaborate, but it likely had to do with Baron Lavende's side business of trafficking antiques and perfumes.

Anyway, the aged and infirm Mrs. Worsent recently needed someone to do some things, so, when she saw him by chance, she brought it up with her friend Mr. Lavende. After he understood the whole situation, he introduced her to the detective from Saint Delan Square.

"Specifically, about half a month ago, a servant was tidying up the basement when he accidentally knocked a hole in the wall, revealing a large space hidden behind it."

Shard's expression remained unchanged:

"Treasure? A cave? Or bones?"

The old woman looked at him surprisingly:

"You detectives do have some abilities; it's a skeleton."

Her face was expressionless, and she spoke very slowly, as if speaking faster might endanger her health.

"So, did you call the police? Even if the person died hundreds of years ago, Riddlevitch Field should take a look, right?"

Shard suggested, though he had never actually taken on a case related to a murder before.

"No need to call the police."

Mrs. Worsent said.

"Why not?"

"The police have already been here; both they and I know who the bones belong to and why that person died."

The old woman's mouth was wrinkled with age, barely moving as she spoke.

"Then may I ask, who is it?"

Shard was slightly on guard, glancing at the middle-aged man standing by the door.

"From the clothes, and some other items found with it, it should be my husband, who disappeared thirty-two years ago."

Her face was still without grief or joy; Shard thought he had gotten involved in something troublesome, but Baron Lavende had no reason to involve him in such matters.

"I see..."

"As for the murderer, it's most likely my good-for-nothing brother. When he was younger, he always had conflicts with my husband, and both of them liked to drink, and after drinking, both of them would... After my husband disappeared, my brother was the first person I suspected. He even admitted to it and turned himself in to Riddlevitch Field. After spending a few years in prison and then getting out, he became much quieter, but he refused to say where he hid the body, and for that reason, we haven't seen each other for almost a lifetime... Thinking about it, he has also been dead for nearly ten years."

She sighed slowly, her eyelids drooping as she looked towards the teacup on the table before adding:

"All of this can be checked at Riddlevitch Field, so you don't have to worry about me deceiving you."

"Someone like you surely wouldn't deceive me."

Shard spoke words he himself didn't believe and asked:

"So what you want me to do is...?"

"When I was younger, I thought maybe one day I would find him and give him a proper burial, so I could be buried beside him when I die. So, I bought the grave decades ago, and it has been reserved all these years. Now that the body has been found, and I have notified Riddlevitch Field about the case closure, I informed my husband's family, wanting to hold a funeral. Although he had no title in his lifetime, he was born into the Earl Family. I want to bury him, but the Worsent Family insists on having a noble present to read a eulogy, otherwise, they won't attend."

"Why would the Worsent Family make such a request?"

"His death displeased the people of the Worsent Family; they believed we siblings conspired to kill him for a share of the factory."

Judging by the outcome thirty years after the incident, this viewpoint wasn't wrong. As could be inferred from the information on the business card, the controller of the factory indeed turned out to be the old woman sitting before him. After Mr. Worsent's death, everything was left to this 'poor' widow.