Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Shard met with Baron Lavende in the study of the detective agency, and as he handed over the Roder card to the baron, the middle-aged man with a lovely mustache seemed to tremble as he took it:

"You've finally returned to my hands."

The baron was probably one of those seasoned Roder card enthusiasts.

However, due to the demands of Baron Rwanda, the other party in the Lakeside Manor's card game, and for the sake of saving face, the baron could not yet take possession of the card. After gauging Shard's intentions and confirming that the "upright and kind-hearted" detective had no desire to keep the card for himself, the baron signed a contract of commission with Shard.

The agreement was for six months, during which Detective Shard Hamilton would be responsible for keeping the "Ancient Fairy Tale: Matchstick Girl" safe and could use it freely as long as it was not lent out, rented, damaged, or lost.

During the agreement, if Baron Lavende requested, the detective must temporarily hand over the card for his use and promised to sell the card to Baron Lavende for £5 after half a year.

The fee for this commission was £5, meaning that Shard would earn a generous reward of £10 from this affair.

Although the real price of the card exceeded £50, winning the bet at Lakeside Manor had been Shard's promise, so the rightful owner of the card should indeed be Sir Lavende. As a result, it would be sold at an extremely cheap price after half a year rather than its true value, and Baron Lavende explained this point many times over, fearing that Shard might back out.

In any case, as soon as the baron paid the full commission fee and left the agency in high spirits after shaking hands with Shard on the first floor, Shard stood in front of the open door, gazing at the flock of pigeons on Saint Delan Square, pondering:

"So not only do I get temporary rights to use the Roder card, but I also stand to gain £10... Am I taking advantage of Baron Lavende... But this was his request, and I haven't done anything. Having a few noble friends sure seems beneficial, and Roder cards really are a good means of making connections... I should go back and do the accounts."

Bending down, he picked up the curious orange cat that was poking its head at the doorway, both afraid and interested in the world outside the house. Standing up, Shard saw Captain Lades, a middle-aged military officer, walking down Ring Plaza Street with a drooping head, passing by Baron Lavende's carriage.

He had wrapped himself in a black overcoat, a broad brown leather belt looped around the coat's hem, and the second button from the top was hanging loose, swinging at his chest:

"Hello, detective, were you waiting for me?"

Even though it was morning, he still gave off the impression of not having fully awakened. The captain's circumstances didn't look great, his expression a stark contrast to the jubilant Baron Lavende who had come here.

But, at least his mustache and hair were well-groomed, and his clothes mostly neat. This indicated that the middle-aged officer, whose reputation had suffered because of the Relic "Spear of Kindness," had not yet lost faith in life.

"...Yes, Captain, please come in."

The captain's visit was purely to apologize, and he had no intention of reclaiming that antique gun. He felt extremely remorseful about the incident at Lakeside Manor and insisted on compensating Shard for his black formal attire.

However, this dispirited middle-aged man looked even poorer than Shard and was not in good mental health, so Shard, who had benefited from the Spear of Kindness himself, did not ask for compensation. Instead, he kindly gave the captain a business card for the Schneider Psychological Clinic and introduced him to Priest Augustus of Dawn Chapel:

"Both are friends I've met during commissions; you might find it helpful to talk to them."

Shard said most kindly, and suddenly realized how well the professions of psychologist and priest complemented that of a detective.

At the same time, he was curious about the means through which Captain Lades had acquired the artifact known as the "Spear of Kindness" and wanted to see if there were any secrets behind it.

But the captain, quite embarrassed, told Shard that he had won it a few years earlier while drunk, in a tavern at the frontline of Rising Wind Trail in the south, playing Roder Card with one of the tavern's regulars.

Because he did not want others to know he still gambled, he had told his friends that it was an antique he had bought. But after the indelicate incidents at Lakeside Manor, the captain no longer wanted to keep that pistol:

"Honestly, after it left me, even my sleep tasted sweeter, as if I had suddenly shed a heavy burden. Detective, just keep the gun, and do with it as you please."

The middle-aged man said this, but Shard knew it was the feeling of an ordinary person who had been under the influence of a "Relic" for a long time.

He offered a few words of comfort to the captain and encouraged him to live well. It had probably been a long time since Captain Lades had heard such words, and his fondness for Shard grew immensely. He then remembered something else:

"However, when I won the revolver from that down-and-out guy, there was not just the gun, but also a small accessory I remember."

Shard raised an eyebrow, considering the possibility that the accessory might also be a Relic:

"What kind of accessory? May I take a look? The gun is very impressive, and I think the accessory might be valuable as well. I'm willing to buy it."

The 5 pounds he had just managed to get from Baron Lavende seemed like they had found a use.

The captain thought for a moment, ran his broad palm through his hair with a tone of uncertainty:n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"You know, I've just returned to this city from Carsonrick as a released prisoner, and lost quite a few of my belongings while looking for a rental apartment. I never cared much for that thing, after all, only women... cough cough, I mean, only girls like to wear small accessories. It might still be in my rented apartment, but I need to look for it."

"No problem, do you mind if I come along? I happen to be free this morning."

Shard asked, and the captain gladly agreed.

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Having just returned from Carsonrick as a prisoner, Captain Lades's recent circumstances had been rather poor. Even with help from former friends, his economic situation was not good.

He currently lived in Pig Tail Alley to the north of the city. While not a slum, it could be considered a part of Tobesk's Lower District. It was a considerable distance from the city center's Saint Delan Square, but neither Shard nor the captain mentioned the possibility of taking a carriage.

The two men, neither of whom had any pressing matters, walked together through Tobesk Urban Area. They actually had many common topics to discuss since the captain was not a man of many complexities.

All Shard had to do was mention something about the southern front, and he could get a lot of military information from the captain. Captain Lades was indeed a brave and loyal officer, and if not for the "Spear of Kindness," he might have successfully committed suicide by shooting... So in that regard, the gun could be said to have saved the captain.