After bidding farewell to the mechanic, Shade, who felt like he had been running around the city for a whole day, took a carriage from the steam factory in the western part of Tobesk to the northern part. Of course, he did not forget to hide his whereabouts to prevent being spotted.
It was already evening when they returned to No. 7 Chang'er Lane. The sky was a little dark. In order to avoid attracting attention, Miss Brown extinguished the brazier, wrapped herself in clothes, leaned against the wall, and huddled between two boxes.
During Shad's absence, she seemed to have left as well, at least Shad had not seen the two suitcases before he left.
Miss Brown was still being sought and could be found at any time, so Shad did not waste time talking. He informed Miss Brown of the decision made by her fiancé, Mr. Feringa, and the former agent's eyes immediately turned red:
"He... I have deceived countless people in my life, but I never thought I could gain such trust and affection."
"Ma'am, don't waste your time singing praises of love. We are not performing an opera. What is your decision now?"
Shad pointed in the direction of central Tobysk:
"If Mr. Feringa is lucky, he should have entered the sewer by now. And you should immediately decide what to do next. Leave with him? Or reject him?"
"I really want to leave with him, but we can't leave. I know the style of MI6. The Tobesk train station should be full of their people now. The main intersections out of the city should also be blocked. Even tonight, the city may be under semi-martial law. I know the style of MI6 and I also know the character of Director Anros. They hate traitors more than enemies."
Miss Brown wiped her eyes and tried to write another letter:
"Sir, please give him one last letter for me... He won't have to wait."
Xia De's mouth twitched a few times, and he asked in a somewhat strange way:
"Oh, don't write any more letters. I've delivered enough letters today... How do you know I'm a good person?"
"What?"
Miss Brown looked at him in confusion.
Xia De exhaled through his nose, closed his eyes and thought for a moment:
"After you leave here, if you can leave, what are you going to do next?"
"Get away from it all, we're never coming back."
Xia De opened his eyes, his eyes were bright:
"Well, even if I'm in a good mood today, I'll help you. If you want to leave with him, I can think of a way for you, but it may not be possible. I just have to think of a way... Wait here, I'll be back in two hours."
He compared watches with Miss Brown:
"Really, let me encounter this kind of thing."
She stood up with a complaint. Although Miss Brown had difficulty walking, she still stood up hesitantly to say goodbye. When she was at the door of the room, she asked embarrassedly:
"Excuse me... why are you helping me?"
Xia De looked back at her:
"Just think of it as my occasional kindness. You're lucky to meet me when I'm in a good mood today and I don't have anything else on my hands... Don't forget to pay me. I'm taking the risk to help you, not just for my own spiritual satisfaction."
Although Miss Brown could be considered a traitor to Delarion, if we went to look for Miss Carina, the great witch would most likely agree to help, and she had such power in Tobesk City.
But unfortunately, Miss Brown's departure could not be delayed, and if he wanted to go back and forth to the Carina Manor outside the city, it would probably waste a lot of time. Therefore, Shade planned to ask for Leicia's help.
As a loyal patriot and Delarionist, although his Royal Highness the Princess must hate such a traitor to the kingdom and even wants to shoot Miss Brown twice, for his sake and because Miss Brown has not actually caused any harm to the kingdom, Lecia might provide help.
But Miss Brown had really bad luck today. Shad went to Quill Street to find Dorothy first, but learned from the landlady that the blonde writer was going to attend the end-of-year writers' gathering and would not be back until around nine o'clock in the evening.
So Shad went to the flower shop opposite the Yodel Palace again, trying to contact the little princess Ajelina, so as to find Resia. Ajelina was at the Yodel Palace, but unfortunately Resia was not there. She accompanied Queen Diana to relax outside the city and would not be back until after nine o'clock in the evening.
Ajelina was very enthusiastic in replying to the maid and asking Shade if he needed help, but the little princess did not have the influence of Leicia. If Ajelina rashly got involved in this matter, it would probably cause trouble, so Shade politely rejected her and went on to look for someone who might be able to help him.
The trouble he is facing now is that MI6 is searching the whole city for Miss Brown and Mr. Feringa. He doesn't want to ask his friends who are ring wizards for help, but wants to find someone powerful to give him a way to leave the city safely.
But without the help of the ladies, Shad suddenly realized that he had no trusted friends in this city. To escape from a manhunt led by MI6, one needs more power than just a small civil servant.
"This is bad."
As the sun was setting, Shad had no other choice but to go home to feed the cat, and then go to Canary Manor to meet Princess Margaret again.
Her Royal Highness's afternoon trip had just ended. When she met Shad at the manor, she was in a good mood and asked him whether the letter had been given to Miss Brown. Shad told her about the terrible change in Miss Brown:
"In short, Miss Brown is in trouble now."
Xia De sat in the chair in the study:
"Although I don't really believe in superstitions like the law of conservation of luck, today is undoubtedly the unluckiest day in that lady's life. But it shouldn't be the unluckiest day. After all, in the unluckiest case, MI6 would find her before me."
In fact, the most unlucky day was eight years ago when he was driven away because the princess in front of him "didn't like purple cabbage", but Xia De didn't have the courage to point it out.
"Humph, this is the price she pays for her disloyalty."
Princess Margaret stood in front of the window in her study, humming with her back to the window. At this time, there was only the last ray of sunset outside, and the gas lamp used to illuminate the courtyard of Canary Manor had been lit:
"You have to take responsibility for what you have done, Detective. I think you should stop sympathizing with her."
She saw what Xia De was thinking and knew that Xia De was pitying the woman:
"The only one who can help herself is herself. She is paying the price for her actions."
"If it was just her, I would probably just feel sorry for what happened to her, but today I saw other stories."
Shade then told the love story of Miss Brown and Mr. Feringa, which was not long but very interesting:
"I have never believed in the love in the classic chivalric novels, but this time I believe it a little. Mr. Feringa is really sincere, and Miss Brown has never forgotten Mr. Feringa even though she has fled. For the sake of this rare love, I am determined to help them."
He looked helplessly at the sunset behind the princess. Because Princess Margaret was facing away from the window, her entire face was in shadow.
"Of course, my abilities are limited. I will not expose my identity as a ring wizard to strangers. If there is really no other way, I can only temporarily take Miss Brown to the sewer to find Mr. Feringa, let them hide in there, and then provide them with drinking water and food regularly. I hope that the MI6 search can be ended as soon as possible."
Princess Margaret was silent for a moment:
"You are very kind."
"After all, life is either boring or we have to make choices. Occasionally when we see something beautiful, we are willing to cherish it."
“It’s a very interesting attitude towards life.”
"Yes."
Shade smiled:
"Although I don't think I'm a good person in the traditional sense, at least someone has certified that I belong to the Orderly Good camp."
Then he stood up and said:
"I should leave now. Miss Brown is still waiting for me. Also, can you give me some anti-inflammatory herbs? The lady treated her own gunshot wound. If she wants to live in the sewer, she will need more medicine. You know, special materials like holy water are best not allowed to be touched by ordinary people."
Shad made this request for the medicine, but immediately remembered that the princess in front of him actually hated Miss Brown who had deceived her for eight years, so he shook his head again:
"No, I'd better go into the city and buy it myself. MI6 shouldn't monitor every person who buys gunshot wound medicine. After all, this is just a defected agent, not the rumored Grey Eagle."
"You even know the 'Grey Eagle'..."
Princess Margaret asked, and when Shade wanted to shake his head, he said:
"Tonight, I have a ship that will depart from the Terraril River to deliver goods to the town of Bells downstream, then load the goods from Bells Town and transport them back to Carson Creek via rails and trains."
Although it is winter now, the Terrarium River that runs through the city is used to discharge hot sewage from the steam company. Therefore, it miraculously does not freeze completely until late December, at least in the urban area.
This week is probably the last time cargo ships can pass through the Terrarium River before it freezes over.
"so... ... "
Xia De looked at her, somewhat unbelieving.
Princess Margaret hummed:
"I'm just telling you this. The cargo ship is carrying local specialties from Tobesk back to my country. It's my own business during my visit. The captain is my man, but if you show him this, he will be happy to help you."
As she spoke, she came to the desk and wrote a letter. But after signing her name and putting it in the envelope, she did not hand it to Xia De, but placed it on the table:
"I won't help her. She deceived me. She deserves to be caught by MI6."
There was still hostility in those eyes:
"I will not forgive those who have cheated me. This is my principle."
After that, he said to Xia De in a slightly cold tone:
"Detective, that's all for today's visit. I have other things to do tonight. You've been running around all day for a stranger. In my opinion, you should be thinking more about your own affairs instead of being so willing to help others."
"Today, we are investigating that maid not to help others, but to help you."
Xia De smiled, and the princess seemed to blush a little:
"Go away, Shade. I don't want to see you again today."
“What an interesting character.”
Xia De whispered in his heart, then stood up from the sofa:
"Then your highness, I will take my leave. I hope you have a good night."
He went to the desk, picked up the letter, and left with it.
Margaret Anjou stood in the study, silent for a long time. Suddenly she walked from the desk to the window and looked out at the courtyard.
At this moment, the detective who was walking towards the manor gate for fear of wasting time appeared in her field of vision. The gas lamps on both sides of the walkway illuminated his appearance.
"What a nice guy! This is what is called chivalry."
She said softly, her eyes fixed on Xia De's hurried back:
"Unfortunately, I still want to be... the teacher's apprentice... Yes, I won't change."