"What are you looking at? I noticed that you've been looking at it since just now. You've been studying astrology recently? Maybe I can help you."
asked Jenkins, Mr. Hood acting strangely.
"Astrology? No, that's too complicated, I don't think it's for me. It's only when I see the stars above my head that I realize it's already May, halfway through 1866, and I don't seem to be doing anything, So it feels like a waste of life."
Mr. Hood sighed.
"According to the current situation, being able to live successfully and healthily is a great achievement in itself. Speaking of which, what have you been doing recently? I noticed that our gathering was held again after two months. There was no such situation before. "
Jenkins asked a sensitive question, which may involve Mr. Hood's real identity, but Mr. Hood didn't care:
"I'm actually a businessman, the kind of businessman who is relatively successful. You also know that starting from March, the Nolan Harbor has gradually thawed, which is the busiest time of the year. This year's situation is special. During the war, materials were banned. Transportation, the increase in cross-border transaction tax, and the destruction of the dock area are all problems. This year’s business is really not good. Sometimes looking at those books, I can have a headache all afternoon.”
"Actually, gold pounds are enough to spend. There is no need to ask for a lot."
said Rich Jenkins.
"I also know this truth, but it's not only a matter of income, but also a matter of career. Let's not talk about it, I put those things aside for the time being with great difficulty. Mr. Candle, what are you doing recently? I heard that Fermisau's Things, you and Mister Magic are deeply involved."
Mr. Hood asked too.
"You also know that Mister Magic is obsessed with the heart of the ocean, but this matter belongs to her privacy, and it is inconvenient for me to disclose a lot. As for me recently... In fact, I left Nolan after the riot on the beach that day."
"Stay out of the limelight? That's wise."
Mr. Hood commented, Jenkins did not refute, he lowered his head and kicked the small stone aside, and continued:
"After that, I experienced a wonderful adventure abroad. Not only did I experience the customs of a remote town, but I also discovered an unknown past in history and legends."
"Sounds so exciting, maybe you explored the remote unknown cemetery? Or read the obscure diary of a madman in the ruins of an old collapsed house? Living in the city for too long, I sometimes want to go to the country let's go."
Mr Hood exclaimed.
"Well... that's about it."
Although there was a gap between Mr. Hood's imagination and the facts, Jenkins did not refute him.
"Did you come back recently?"
"Yes, I came back in a steam airship."
"Steam floating airship?"
A woman's voice came from the back door. It was Miss Magic and Miss Silver Flute who arrived together. I don't know if the two had made an appointment to come together, or they happened to meet on the way.
"Are you kidding? It's not easy to get on a steam airship. Who did you replace? A cleaner who wipes the deck? Or a clown who entertains people? The one who can split in the air?"
Miss Magic said jokingly.
"No, I'm actually in the cabin most of the time and only come out when people are eating."
"It's hard to imagine how long you have been hiding. It must be very hard, right? I wish you health."
The woman actually prayed.
While everyone was chatting, Mr. White Cat and Hathaway also came. Mr. White Cat was a few minutes late. He said that when he sneaked out of the house, his wife almost found him, so he was delayed for some time.
"You see, that's the problem with married men, and sometimes I have the same problem when I go out for drinks with my friends at night."
Mr. Hood winks at Jenkins, who doesn't cover his face because everyone knows his real face.
"How do you know Mr. Candle is male and unmarried?"
Hathaway asked.
"Look, only ladies would ask this question. Although Mr. Candle has always remained mysterious, after getting along for a long time, it is easy to see that he is an unmarried young man, at least younger than me."
Considering that Mr. Hood is in his forties, the range is still wide.
"It's easy to see that a married man has a very different temperament than an unmarried man."
Mr. White Cat also agreed, and Hathaway looked at Mr. Candle suspiciously. Combined with the last clue about the vanilla being hidden in his chest, her doubts about Mr. Candle's identity became more and more serious.
According to the usual practice, the first step is still to exchange information. Because it has been two months since the last gathering, everyone has a lot of new things to share.
Probably because of the lessons learned from the last time, no one called on everyone to complete some things this time. They commented on everything that happened in Nolan in the past two months, speculated on the next move of the Orthodox Church, and guessed how many evil people would set foot on the land under everyone's feet.
"But the good news is, with the help of Mr. Candle, I finally got that gem."
It was Miss Magic herself who broke the news, and she was congratulated by everyone.
"[Heart of the Ocean] is definitely the most perfect gemstone I have ever seen. I don't think I will need to find new research topics for at least ten years. But this also brings trouble. I know that someone is looking for this gemstone recently. Somehow word got around that the church didn't get the gem."
"Who is looking for?"
Jenkins asked.
"[Gear Craftsman Association], it's them, it's obvious. But they can't find me. For this gem, I have made sufficient preparations."
Speaking of the Gear Craftsman Association, Mr. White Cat also has new news. He told the group that while the council was prospecting for new mines in the mountains north of the city last week, it came across a number of unreported pits. After tracing down, they found traces of the group of cultists. Now the church has stepped into the investigation, but those small mines are intricate, and the mine tunnels are connected to the depths of the ground. At present, no one knows how deep the members of the craftsmen's union are hiding.
"But I heard from the black market that the artisans have found their target from the ground and plan to transport a very large thing to the ground."
Hathaway said.
"Are you serious? According to my understanding, what the gear craftsman will look for underground is a dangerous sealed item, which is more dangerous than most dangerous level 1 tricks. Did they really find it?"
Jenkins wondered.
PS: I set the wrong time, 20 minutes late, sorry.