After ending contact with the school, the five people talked about their own lives.
Dorothy was very excited and asked everyone to subscribe to the Steambird Daily starting next week, as her detective novels would be serialized. In the past, Dorothy's works were all published directly as books through publishing houses, but this was her first attempt at serializing in newspapers.
If Shad remembered correctly, most of the editors of the Steambird Daily were students of Dorothy's father, Professor Louisa, so no matter what the quality of the detective novel was, the space she would get should be quite good... Even if the serialized novel appeared after the news on the first page, Shad would not be surprised.
"Dorothy, even novels that are serialized in newspapers should have names. What do you want to call your detective novel? Will it still be the original "Mystery of Scarlet"? "
Luvia asked curiously.
"No, I'm going to write it into a long series of stories, now called The Hamilton Detective Stories."
"Um?"
Xia De, who was about to drink his tea, choked.
"What's wrong?"
The blonde girl smiled and looked at Shade:
"Using the name of a real detective makes the story seem more real. If my novel becomes famous, Shade, it will also attract business for you. Besides, Hamilton is not a rare last name, and it won't make people associate it with you."
"So what are your plans for next week? Although the summer exam week is over, I still want to remind you not to slack off on your studies."
The doctor asked again.
"I plan to be promoted to the Central Ring before the end of the year. Now the Word of Ascension is no problem at all."
She glanced at Shad.
"There is also a forged Philosopher's Stone as a substitute material for the ritual core, so now I need to get those ritual materials that don't need to be replaced by relics."
This was Dorothy's plan.
"The Holy Prayer Festival is over, and I don't have any other important things to do in the second half of this year. The work at the church is very leisurely, and I have signed up for a new elective course and am studying the making of potions."
Priest Augustus said that, generally speaking, the life of a priest is actually the most leisurely.
"I've been very busy lately. The Big City Players' Rhodes Card Tournament will begin in more than half a month. The association is sending out invitations now, and players from the Old World and the New World are also gathering here. The association has a lot of work to do, so I probably won't have much free time until September."
Luvia said regretfully.
Finally it was Shad's turn. He thought for a moment:
"I've been helping a nobleman with a commission related to fish recently. After I finish this next week, I'll probably deal with two commissions from my former detective. Oh, a new grade has begun, and there are so many books. It will take a long time even if I read through them all."
At this point, he asked Father Augustus:
"Do the ring sorcerers trained by the church also have so much to learn?"
Shade seemed to have never heard Iluna complain about the fact that she had to study during her busy life. He only heard her talk about her days of training in the Vatican.
"Church ring sorcerers will have a few years to learn knowledge in a safe place, just like in school. After reaching the required years and being promoted to the second ring, they will be sent to various parishes. Although there are also learning tasks, they are much lower than ours."
The priest replied that although he was not a church ring warlock, he was very clear about these things, and Shad thought of Iluna, who was fifteen or sixteen years younger than she is now, walking in the church school in uniform.
"Aren't the church's ring sorcerers as... knowledgeable as we are?"
This was the only description that Xia De could think of.
"The church is more inclined to train practical and professional ring sorcerers, while the three major thaumaturgical schools want to pass on knowledge and train academic ring sorcerers. Of course, they are different."
Dr. Schneider said, and then concluded:
"It's hard to say which one is better, but it's never a bad thing to read more books while you're young."
No one had much to do that week, so the doctor brought a bottle of red wine and everyone celebrated Xia De's promotion to the second grade. Then they left at around four in the afternoon.
Dorothy had to teach Shad in the evening, so she left with him. Although there were a lot of books this time, there was no need to rent a carriage because of the magic toy making. Shad borrowed a large sheet from the doctor, turned the books into lighter toy dolls, and stuffed them into paper bags. These things were lighter than Mia.
After returning home, the new book was temporarily placed in Shad's basement along with more than a hundred other books.
After chatting about Coldwater Harbor at home, around five o'clock, Shade invited the blonde to go out for dinner. Of course, Mia followed the two of them, and she didn't mind going out of the house during dinner.
After dinner, Shad and Dorothy went to the tree-lined avenue in the university district to walk the cat. That is, Shad held the cat and Dorothy walked on the street under the sunset. When they talked about what Resia was doing in Coldwater Harbor in the brilliant afterglow of the sunset, Shad reached out for the key to open his door, and the express letter from Professor Madison was delivered on time by the postman. Shad and Dorothy mentioned that they were busy dealing with the task of the second time key, so there was no need to explain more this time.
Professor Madison gave good news. The local ringmaster of the Guiding Light Hermitage agreed to meet with Shade and make a deal. The other party decided to meet at the White Swan Restaurant on Silver Cross Avenue, just one street away from Saint Teresa's Square.
It was an upscale restaurant, and Shade knew where it was because the White Swan was just across the street from the Prophet's Association and half a street away from the Yodel Palace.
"Isn't the other party too cautious?"
Dorothy was also surprised when she heard the location:
"It's as if they're afraid you'll do something bad. Shade, do you really understand this organization?"
“I don’t really understand.”
As Shad spoke, he walked into the study, took out the map left by Detective Sparrow, and studied the nearby terrain:
"Dorothy, you will come with me for a moment. But you will not go into the restaurant, but outside. I will choose a seat by the window, and if you see me suddenly grabbing my hair vigorously, come and help me."
In fact, Shad didn't think that the other party would do anything. Within the city of Tobesk, except for the entrance of the Orthodox Church, the Silver Cross Avenue where the Yodel Palace was located was definitely the safest location.
As for why they didn't choose to meet in front of the church, no normal ring warlock would have such an idea.
After discussing the plan, Shad went out first, and Dorothy went to Silver Cross Avenue ten minutes later than Shad.
In the evening of early August, the air was very warm, and the dim sunset glow penetrated the hazy mist and shone on the ground. After leaving Saint Teresa's Square, Chad crossed the straight Queen Catherine Pedestrian Street outside the square and then entered the Silver Cross Avenue.
In the evening, pedestrians and carriages flowed continuously on Silver Cross Avenue, royal guards patrolled the streets in uniform, and there was a constant stream of people in front of the Prophet's Association. Although most people in this world would not finish work at six in the evening, for people who worked in relatively decent jobs in the city center of the Northern Pearl, six o'clock meant the successful end of a day's work.
Xia De was wearing a white shirt, a black suit, and a black hat, and he walked hurriedly along the street. He calculated the time and arrived at the door of the White Swan Restaurant at 6:19.
Two young waiters in uniform opened the door for Xiadra, one on the left and one on the right. Then, a slightly fat middle-aged man in a white shirt, black uniform and bow tie came over:
"Mr. Hamilton, how can I help you?"
"Do you know me?"
Shade asked in surprise.
"I know all the local nobles."
The middle-aged man said with a smile.
"I'm meeting a friend for dinner here. Please find me a table by the window. Also, give me the menu after my friend arrives."
"Yes, Mr. Hamilton, come this way please."
This is probably the benefit of having a catchy title.
He led Shade to sit down at the table by the window, which was a large round table with a white tablecloth and golden candlesticks on it. Shade put his hat on the right side of the window, then took out a box of Candle brand matches from his pocket and put it on his hat as a token of their meeting.
Sure enough, within five minutes, a middle-aged gentleman with beautiful black hair walked in.
Although he was middle-aged, he was actually over 40 years old, but he looked very energetic. He held his cane, spoke to the waiter at the door of the restaurant, and then looked at Xia De under the guidance of the waiter.
Ring Warlock.
The whisper in my ear reminded me.
Xia De stood up and greeted the other party with a smile. The middle-aged man who looked very bookish also walked over with a smile.
Xia De took the initiative to reach out:
"Good evening, sir. I'm Shad Hamilton, detective at St. Teresa's Place."
The middle-aged man did not hesitate and shook hands with Xia De enthusiastically:
"Good evening, Mr. Hamilton, my name is Sever Rendall, and I work in the University District."
Four rings.
The voice in his ear continued to whisper, and the smile on Xia De's face became even more intense:
"Are you a professor too?"
"No, no, I work as a secretary in the University Union, which is considered an administrative position."
Mr. Randall said, and then sat down with Shad. So far, they seemed like normal friends meeting, and there was no sign of any secret deal.
The waiter quickly brought two menus. Xia De opened them and looked at the prices first, then he was glad that he had eaten earlier.
He had the excuse that he had the habit of eating less at night, and reluctantly ordered only a small portion of fruit salad. And Mr. Randall also knew that he was not here for dinner, so like Shad, he tacitly did not order too much.
"We don't need to be too polite, Mr. Hamilton. Why are you looking for us? Or rather, it's not you who is looking for us, but someone behind you is looking for us?"