Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Detective's Last Words

"This kind of last words and request, I know it's wrong as soon as I hear it."

There was not much expression on Shade's face, whose hand was grabbed by the bed. But he knew clearly that the detective accurately predicted death and took in a homeless man with a poor brain before his death and even left all his property, just for a request that sounded simple. Then, this simple request would not be simple.

The other party might not only be a detective, but Shade, who occupied a new body, was not the original guy. Even if the original Shade didn't know the truth, the stranger now also understood that he shouldn't easily get involved in such a thing that he knew was wrong as soon as he heard it.

"If you don't agree, I guarantee that after I die, you won't get even a penny from me, and everything here doesn't belong to you. You will become a tramp again, without gas lamps, fireplaces, three meals a day, or even a bed, and you will return to your original life."

But Shade had to agree; he had nothing in this world. Compared to becoming a tramp and working hard from scratch and getting property by participating in a troublesome thing, Shade knew that both options were not good, but he had to choose one.

Besides, he had already stood here and heard these words, even if he had already participated, so he couldn't withdraw. Shade knew how to judge the situation and how to measure his situation.

"But is the death of Mr. Sparrow Hamilton related to the extraordinary? Is it related to the voice in my head?"

He thought to himself, but he could not analyze further conclusions, but he did not expect the voice in his head to appear again at this time:

[It is related to the extraordinary; he died because of a [relic]. This has nothing to do with you.]

The voice is still so elegant and so calm. Even if the amount of information is very short, the murmur is still like reciting a poem.

"[Relic]?"

In the ancient and elegant ancient language used by women, this is a special noun. Different languages have different information content, and in the language used by women, this special word has a lot of information, with meanings such as "sealed object," "contained object," and "cursed object.".

Shade was very glad that he could understand this language. He read the meaning of "special items that can exercise extraordinary power but are extremely dangerous" from the vocabulary.

This made Shade have a rather bad guess about this world.

"So, who are you?"

The voice did not explain this term, so Shade asked in his heart. From the other party's answer to his question, he understood that the other party was also an individual who could think.

[I am you.]

The whispering voice answered softly, and the whisper-like speaking method made Shade's back hairy.

But Shade hummed softly. He was sure that this body was a man, and the voice in his head would not be the original owner.

Looking at the luster of the bedside lamp, illuminating the wrinkled and lifeless, terrible skin of the man on the bed, Shade said to him:

"I know, sir."

"Shade, I still have ten minutes to live. If you have any questions next, ask them together."

The other party said something very remarkable, and his tone was full of fatigue. But Shade knew that if what the other party said was completely correct, then the next question would become the key to his foothold in this world, and he had to be cautious:

"Your death seems abnormal."

Pretending to speak slowly and pretending to be out of control—this way of speaking is quite strenuous. The first question is about his situation after the other party's death. Shade must make sure whether the cause of the detective's death will implicate himself.

"We haven't talked about this in the past, and I know you have been worried about it. Don't worry about it. My death in a while may scare you, but don't worry. My death will not implicate you. I need you to complete the task in three months, so I can guarantee this. The person who killed me will never appear again. After all, ordinary people like us are not worthy of the other party's attention."

The amount of information obtained is very good, and the man on the bed does not intend to hide anything.

"Ordinary People?"

Shade is hesitant this time.

"You don't need to know. In fact, even I don't understand much. Those ring wizards, the mysterious people who use the four elements of [miracle], [enlightenment], [blasphemy], and [whisper] the five major orthodox churches and the three major thaumaturgy schools, this terrible world, forget what I just said, you will live better. Remember, you know nothing."

The man on the bed tried his best to emphasize, and Shade could only remember these terms and nodded:

"Okay, I don't know anything."

He guessed that "ring wizard" was the title of the mysterious people in this world, and [miracle], [enlightenment], [blasphemy], and [whisper] were parts of the power system, and the Orthodox Church and the Thaumaturgy School were the main mysterious forces.

An ordinary detective couldn't know so much, and Detective Hamilton had a lot of secrets.

But Shade did not continue to ask about this topic. He had to make the other party willingly tell more information within a limited time, instead of suspecting each other and trying to find out lies and truths:

"After you die, how should I live? I don't know the work of detectives, and I don't know many words."

The time is tight, but he can't speak faster. Not only because of the disguise but also because Shade can't master this language proficiently. This situation of only being able to walk while running makes him very anxious. But he can't show his anxiety, so he is even more anxious in his heart.

"It doesn't matter; follow what I taught you; it's enough. You only need to stay here for three months. After three months, sell everything and live in the countryside. It's more suitable for you and enough for you to live your life safely. After all, the prices are lower."

Perhaps he has no strength, and the man on the bed didn't say a more complete sentence. But Shade has no memory of the past at all and doesn't know what the other party has taught him. He seeks help from the voice in his head, but the voice does not appear.

"Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

Shade asked for the third time, and this question was also said after careful consideration.

"Remember what I have told you in the past three months; remember the simple commission I left in the memo; you can try to do it to maintain the operation of the detective agency; and the cards in this diary."

The weak man pointed to the head of the bed; he let go of Shade's hand, and Shade bent down to pick up the diary. The brown leather cover is fastened with a magnetic buckle, and this diary is well protected by the user.

Shade handed the diary to Mr. Hamilton on the bed, but the latter shook his head; he could hardly speak.

So Shade opened the diary himself and flipped through it roughly. Each page was a different consecutive date, and both sides were in use. Most of the pages only had the sentence "Nothing to do today, not much savings," and a few recorded the progress of the commissions received by the agency.

When he turned to the middle of the diary, the pages stopped turning, and a hard card was stuck there. Shade controlled not to raise his eyebrows and saw that it was a rectangular card that was less than the size of his palm.

After taking it out, it felt like there was a layer of completely transparent wax on the surface of the card, protecting the card itself from environmental damage. But when he rubbed it carefully, it seemed to be a layer of transparent skin. Shade didn't know why he suddenly thought of human skin.

The card was not thick, and he could see it with the light in the room.

The reverse side of Shade's mind was an abstract pattern of the sun, moon, and stars, a strange combination of superimposed patterns; the front side of Shade's mind was a lady who turned her head and couldn't see all her appearance, sitting sideways on a high stool, holding the moon in her hand.

Silver hair, a smile on the side of her face, and wearing a robe. But the color of the card was not rich enough, only white, black, and cold tones near the two colors.

The number 3 is marked on the upper right corner of the front, and the small sun symbol is on the upper left corner. Between the two, that is, in the center of the upper front of the card, there is a black vertical line in the white circle.

Just below the picture of the woman, that is, below the front, there is a little blank space, where a line of small words is written:

[When using this card, the number can be adjusted within the range of 1 to 5.]

The card does not look very new. Looking from the side against the weak light in the room, you can see the subtle damage, but you can also see that the owner is trying to preserve it carefully.

Shade understood the words on the card completely, just like he could understand the women's voice in his mind.

"It's really strange. I can hear and see after traveling through time, but I can't speak."

He thought to himself and asked in a low voice:

"What is this?"

"It's a very valuable card. It's the same as the 54-card set we usually use. It's a card representing [Sun 3] from the four suits of sun, moon, star, and flower. But this card is specially issued, with rare patterns, and is very collectible. Keep it in a diary, don't get it wet or fold it in half, and don't show it to others easily. But if you have no choice, go to the Birmingham Collection in Tobesk. The people there know its value. Rhodes cards, the most important collection of my life."

Shade nodded and wrote down the term "Rhodes cards." He understood that this was a common card game in this world and that [Sun 3] was of the same nature as commemorative coins and commemorative stamps. So he put the card back into the diary. Although this card is a little more delicate, judging from the productivity of the era judged by the decoration of the bedroom, this world can make such things, so there is no need to be too suspicious.

"Sir, do you have anything else to say?"

Shade asked again. It is better to let the other party speak actively now than to ask questions by himself.

"Shade."

Mr. Hamilton held Shade's hand again, looking at the young man beside the bed with a softer look.

"I know I have never been a good person, but I am sorry for involving you. Leave Tobesk in three months. This capital city is not suitable for you.

But I think if you can understand, you will also think that it is the right choice for me to take you away from the life of a homeless person. Your brain is not working well. Remember, don't easily believe what others say in the future, especially the words of the guy who tries to make you pay. I have already communicated with the Tobesk Public. I have contacted the cemetery and selected a grave. The corpse carrier will come soon; you don't have to go with them. Live in this house for three months according to the living skills I taught you.

Shade, I'm sorry. I wish you good luck."

(End of this chapter)