Whispering Poems

Chapter 2606 with the ladies
"Has he always been so efficient?"

Miss Winslet asked Miss Danister, then motioned to Shad not to be so anxious:
"We discussed this before you came. James Cumming is just an ordinary person. It's easy to take the book from him. But since we finally found an ordinary person who used the tree hole, we must make the most of it.

My followers have begun investigating the entire Cumming family, including their assets in Willendal and other family members. Do not act rashly until the investigation is completed. There is also the [Tree Hole Association]. Maybe we can use James Cumming as bait to fish. Of course, this will only be done after the entire investigation is completed. "

Then Shade sat down again with the cat in his arms:
"That's fine, but we have to find something to do today. How about investigating the Golden Music Hall? I happen to know that it was once the temple of the Tree Father. Or, how about continuing to contact the Bennetts? Their family's affairs are not over yet. Or, how about going to the local black market to get more information?
Oh, come to think of it, I actually forgot about the [Hermitage of the Forest], and I forgot to ask my friends about them."

He was so busy these days that he forgot to look for Old John.

"Shad, no one is behind you. Since Flora's followers are still investigating, you can actually relax a little."

The red-haired girl continued, looking at Xia De with some worry in her rose-red eyes:

"Is this how you usually do things? You never leave yourself time to breathe?"

"Well my schedule is usually pretty full."

"Then at least don't be so busy today. You just defeated an enemy like the Paradox Bug yesterday. You should at least take a few days off, right?"

The eighteen-year-old girl showed her teacher's authority:
"Don't be so busy today. Look through the materials with us in the hotel in the morning, and then go back after lunch. Don't you have anything to deal with at home?"

Miss Winslet actually wanted to suggest that Shad could stay for the afternoon, but it was obviously not the right time to express her thoughts:
"Now we both have our own ways to suppress our curses, so there's no need for you to worry so much about us."

Xia De nodded hesitantly and asked in his heart:
"Am I anxious?"

You are always in a hurry.

Pages of books and papers were flipping rustling. The coffee table, the armrests of the sofa and even the carpet next to the ladies' high heels were piled with documents and books. Teacups and teapots were placed on the table by the window. Miss Bell walked back and forth, replenishing tea and snacks for the three people and the cat on this leisurely morning.

The witch tilted her head and leaned her arms on the armrest of the sofa, occasionally chatting and laughing with the other two; the red-haired girl held a teacup and elegantly flipped through the book on her knees. "Literary girl" probably refers to girls like her; Shad put the books and documents on the cat on his lap, so that Mia escaped halfway and lay on the back of the sofa behind Shad.

“Don’t bully your cat.”

Miss Winslet still spoke up for Little Mia, but listened to Shad's answer;
"It's not my cat, I mean, that's how he likes it."

For Shad, the investigation in Vista City had just begun, so it was not very busy yet. But in a strange city, it was really nice to spend such a leisurely and pleasant morning in the company of the girls.

The three of them drank tea and talked about the past and legends of the small town, occasionally exchanging books and documents in their hands, or someone would make a small joke, which made everyone laugh easily.

Although there were only more than two hours before lunch, the time spent in the warm autumn breeze was enough to become Xia De's most profound impression of the early autumn of 1854.

"Don't forget about Sunday."

The witch also reminded during the tea break:

"I've booked tickets for the Golden Music Hall on Sunday night. Let's go to the concert together. Oh, there are tickets for you, too, Charlotte. Although Riverwood is not as big as Tobesk, the quality of the concerts here is definitely not worse than what you heard in the Steam City."

"I don't really know much about music. I usually watch more operas."

"So Shad, what type of opera do you like?"

The red-haired girl asked curiously, wanting to pry into her student's daily life.

Xia De was about to answer, but then he realized that most of his memories of the opera house had nothing to do with opera:

"It should probably be something that starts at night, lasts longer, and is louder. It would be best if it is very exciting so that the audience can focus all their attention on the stage."

They had no idea what Shad was talking about.

Anyway, after lunch that day, Shade really took Mia away. The cat was quite satisfied to be able to go home for a nap, especially today's breakfast and lunch were very rich. There was no one at home at noon, so Shade packed up and went out alone, pushing open the door of Old John's Pawn Shop at about 1:30 in the afternoon.

There were actually customers in the pawn shop today, so Xia De waited until the man who pawned the so-called "heirloom" left before approaching the counter.

"Of course it's not an heirloom, can you believe it? He brought the masterpiece of the famous painter Heinz Konsa from the Kingdom of Deringor that disappeared more than 100 years ago and wanted to pawn it to me for gold pounds.

Oh, I don’t know whether he looks down on me or Master Kongsa.”

"The First Breakfast?"

Xia De then asked, and Old John looked at the young man with some surprise:

"You also know this famous painting? I thought you didn't know much about art."

Shad has no knowledge of art, but the problem is that he just saw this painting at the Bennett's old house this week:
"I came here again to ask for your help. I have been doing some commissioned work in Vista Forest recently."

Old John gave me an "I understand" look.

“I came across some interesting things, tree holes and time travel.”

Shade trusted Old John very much, and also trusted the Guiding Light Hermitage, so he briefly talked about the "twisted tree hole", but did not go into too much detail, only emphasizing the horror of the time curse:
"Isn't the Hermits of the Forest camped deep in the Vestal Forest? I suspect they already knew about the tree hole."

The old man behind the counter took off his reading glasses. Xia De actually felt that there was no need for him to wear them:
"Some time ago, when I was helping you collect information about abnormalities in various parts of the Old Continent in recent years, I also asked them about it, but their answer at the time was that there was nothing abnormal. Well, after all these years of friendship, they still lied to me."

He did not defend the other person just because he was his friend, but said seriously:

"I have a deep friendship with the [Forest Hermits], if they only knew some information about the tree hole, they would not hide it from me. Now that they are unwilling to say anything, it proves that they are deeply involved in this matter."

"So, Father John, are there any of your people in Riverwood?"

Xia De asked again, and this time the old man shook his head:

"That kind of small place doesn't have it, but there is one in Willendel. It's not convenient for me to leave Tobesk recently. How about this, since you have already established contact with them, I will write you a letter, and you should be able to get more convenience after you give it to them.

Although it is impossible to get them to tell you all their secrets, it should be no problem to open up the trading of rare items and the sharing of potion recipes and alchemy notebooks.

As for the tree hole, I will report it to the Hermitage first, and then let the Hermitage put pressure on them. The [Guiding Light Hermitage] and the [Forest Hermitage] have been friends for thousands of years. I really can't imagine how involved they are in something that they want to keep this matter secret."

He quickly wrote a letter to Shad, the general meaning of which was that "John Watson" was a friend of the Guiding Light Hermitage and old John himself. Because he had been active in Vestal Glade recently, he hoped that the Hermitage in the Woods could give him some care.

Now with this letter, plus the reputation Shade had accumulated from returning the holy emblem, he felt that he had enough to learn most of the secrets and knowledge of the hermits.

Of course, regarding the tree hole, we still need Old John's help.

Since there was nothing to do in the afternoon, Xia De did not leave immediately, but chatted with the old man behind the counter for a few more words. When he returned home, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon.

"What are you going to do next? Read a book at home?"

He then thought of borrowing the [Saint's Curse-Removing Stone], but Shade didn't know where Lecia was now:

"Today is Thursday. Go ask."

The cat was still taking a nap on the windowsill, basking in the sun. When Xia De went out again, it just stood up lazily and watched him walk into the square from the living room window.

As for turning into a cat and breaking into the Yodel Palace, Shade was already familiar with it. However, Leicia didn't seem to be in the Yodel Palace that afternoon, and Shade didn't see her after walking around.

However, he soon found Ajelina in the studio of the red building behind the Yodel Palace. The young maid was sitting on a stool in a stiff posture, while the seventeen-year-old princess was practicing oil painting with a paintbrush.

It can be seen that her painting skills are still excellent, but the brown-haired maid who was forced to sit on a high stool with an apple on her head looked a little pitiful.

Because the weather was good today, the studio window was not closed, and the silver cat slipped directly in. Ajelina was concentrating on painting her own picture at this time and did not notice the cat approaching behind her.

It wasn't until the cat's paw patted her leg that the little princess, who lowered her head, was surprised for a moment, then pretended to paint a few strokes before putting down the brush and palette in her hand:
"It's a nice day. Oh, it's already past three in the afternoon. Let's stop here for today. Go prepare afternoon tea for me and bring it here."

The maids in the studio then left the room to prepare, and the few who did not leave also went to the corridor temporarily after receiving the princess's signal.