"I knew something was wrong with these last words and requests."
Shade's face, whose hand was held by the bed, did not show much expression. But he knew clearly that the detective had accurately predicted his death and taken in a homeless man with a weak brain before his death, and even left all his property behind for a request that sounded simple. Well, this simple request was definitely not simple.
The other party may not only be a detective, but the Shade who occupies a new body is not the original guy. Even if the original Shade does not know the truth, the stranger now understands that he should not easily get involved in such a thing that is obviously wrong as soon as he hears it, otherwise... ...
"If you don't agree, I guarantee that after I die, you won't get even a penny from me, and nothing here will belong to you. You will become a homeless person again, without gas lamps, fireplaces, three meals a day, or even a bed. You will return to your original life..."
But Shad had to accept that he had nothing in this world. Comparing becoming a homeless person and working hard from scratch, or getting involved in a troublesome thing and gaining property, Shad knew that both options were bad, but he had to choose one.
Besides, since he was already standing here and hearing these words, he was already involved, so it was impossible for him to withdraw. Xia De knew how to judge the situation and his own situation.
"It's just that, 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 could not come to any further conclusion. Unexpectedly, the voice in his head appeared again at this time:
It's about the extraordinary, he died because of a relic. It has nothing to do with you.
The voice was still so elegant and calm. Even though the message was short, the whispering sound still sounded like reciting a poem.
"Relic?"
In the ancient and elegant ancient language used by women, this is a proper noun. Different languages have different information contents, but in the language used by women, this proper word has a lot of information, with meanings such as "sealed object", "contained object" and "cursed object".
Xia De was glad that he could understand this language. He read from the vocabulary the meaning of "special item that can exercise extraordinary power, but is extremely dangerous."
This made Xia De have some rather bad suspicions about this world.
"So, who are you?"
The voice did not explain the term, so Xia De 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 whispering method made Shade's back shiver.
But Shade snorted softly. He was sure that this body belonged to a man, and the voice in his head would not belong to its original owner.
Looking at the light of the bedside lamp, which illuminated the man's wrinkled and lifeless skin, Shade said to him:
"I understand, sir."
"Shad, I still have ten minutes to live. If you have any questions, ask them together."
The other party said something very remarkable, and his tone was full of fatigue. But Xia De 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 must be cautious:
"Your death... does not seem normal."
Pretending to speak slowly and pretending to be in a bad mood, this way of speaking is quite strenuous. The first question concerns his own situation after the other party's death. Shade must make sure whether the cause of the detective's death will implicate himself.
"We really haven't talked about this in the past. I also know that you have been worried... ... 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 was quite good, and the man in the bed did not intend to hide anything.
"Ordinary... people?"
Xia De was really hesitant this time.
"You don't need to know. In fact, even I don't understand much. Those ring sorcerers, the mystics who perform miracles to enlighten the four elements of blasphemous whispers, the five great orthodox churches and the three great schools of thaumaturgy, this terrible world... ... You will live better if you forget what I just said. Remember, you know nothing."
The man on the bed tried his best to emphasize. Xia De could only remember these terms and nodded:
"Okay, I don't understand anything."
He guessed that "Ringmaster" was the title of the mystics in this world, and that the Profane Whisper of Miracle Enlightenment was a part of the power system, while the Orthodox Church and the Thaumaturgy Academy were the main mystical forces.
It’s impossible for an ordinary detective to know so much. Detective Hamilton really has a lot of secrets.
But Xia De 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 truth:
"After you die, how am I going to live? I don't know how to detective. I can't read very well."
Although time was running out, he couldn't speak faster. Not only because of the disguise, but also because Xia De couldn't master the language proficiently. This situation of having to walk while running made him very anxious. But he couldn't show his anxiety, so he was even more anxious.
"It doesn't matter. Just follow what I taught you. 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 there and you can live a peaceful life there... After all, the prices are lower there."
Perhaps he really had no strength left, the man on the bed did not say a complete sentence. But Shade had no memory of the past, and did not know what the other party had taught him. He sought help from the voice in his head, but the voice did not appear.
"Is there anything else you need to tell me?"
Xia De asked the question for the third time, and this question was also asked 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 keep the detective agency running; and also, the cards in this diary..."
The frail man pointed to the bedside, and he let go of Shade's hand, and Shade bent down and picked up the diary. The brown leather cover was fastened with a magnetic buckle, and the diary was well protected by the user.
Shad handed the diary to Mr. Hamilton on the bed, but the latter shook his head and was almost speechless.
So Xia De opened the diary himself and flipped through it roughly. Each page had different consecutive dates, and both the front and back were in use. Most of the pages only had a sentence "Nothing to do today, and the savings are running low", and a few recorded the progress of the commissions received by the firm.
When he turned to the middle of the diary, the pages stopped turning and a hard paper card was stuck there. Xia De controlled himself not to raise his eyebrows and saw that it was a rectangular paper 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 from environmental damage. But when he rubbed it carefully, it felt like a layer of transparent skin, and for some reason, Xia De suddenly thought of human skin.
The cards were not thick and could be seen with the light in the room.
What Xia De believed to be the reverse side was an abstract pattern of the sun, moon, and stars, superimposed together to form a strange shape; what Xia De believed to be the front side was a painting of a lady who turned her head away so that her face could not be seen clearly, sitting sideways on a high stool, holding the moon in her hand.
Silver hair, a smile on the side of his face, and a long robe. But the colors of the cards are not rich enough, only white, black, and cool colors close to the two colors.
The number 3 is marked in the upper right corner of the front, and there is a small sun symbol in the upper left corner. Between the two, that is, in the center of the upper edge of the front of the card, there is a black vertical line drawn in a white circle.
Right below the picture of the woman, that is, below the front, there is a little blank space with a line of small words written there:
When using this card, the number can be adjusted within the range of 1 to 5.
The cards don't look very new. Looking at them from the side in the dim light of the room, you can see some subtle damage, but you can also tell that the owner has tried hard to preserve them carefully.
Xia De actually understood the words on the cards completely, just like he could understand men and women talking.
"It's really strange. After traveling through time, I can hear and see, but I can't speak."
He thought in his heart and asked in a low voice:
"What's this?"
"It is a very valuable card, which is compatible with the 54-card set of ordinary cards we usually use. It is a card representing the Sun 3 in the four suits of the Sun, Moon, Stars and Flowers. But this card is specially issued, with a rare pattern, and is very collectible. Keep it in a diary, don't let it get wet or fold it in half, and don't show it to others easily. But if you really have no other choice, go to the Birmingham Collection in Tobesk, where people know its value... Rhodes cards, the most important collection of my life..."
Xia De nodded and wrote down the name "Lord Cards". He understood that this was a common card game in this world, and that the Three of the Suns card was of the same nature as commemorative coins and stamps. So he put the card back into the diary. Although this card was a little more delicate, judging from the productivity of the era judged by the bedroom decoration, this world could produce such things, so there was no need to be too suspicious.
"Sir, do you have anything else to say?"
Xia De asked again. It would be better to let the other party speak first than to ask the question himself.
"Shad."
Mr. Hamilton held Shade's hand again and looked at the young man beside the bed with a softer look:
"I know I've never been a good person, but I'm really sorry for involving you. Leave Tobysk after three months. This capital city is not suitable for you...
But I think if you can understand, you will also think that I made the right choice 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 don't easily believe the words of those who try to make you pay... ... I have contacted the Tobesk Public Cemetery and selected a grave. The corpse carrier will come soon, and you don't have to go with them. Live in this house for three months according to the living skills I taught you.
Shad, I'm so sorry... Good luck to you."