The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 103 Ch.102 Secret Meeting and Quiet Night

Homeless camp?
Seeing Roland's confusion, Fernandez was also confused: "How come you don't even know about the homeless camp?"

Roland smiled: "I don't know if you remember that it was you who taught me the knowledge of mysticism."

"You, the captain, are simply a lazy person."

"...Ahem, I'm, uh... too busy, right?" Fernandez scratched his head and said dryly, "...I seem to remember mentioning it to you? A loose alliance spontaneously formed by ritualists who can't find a way forward, have no hope of promotion, have no organization... or are unwilling to join any organization. They also use it to trade knowledge and ritual artifacts."

Roland listened quietly.

"But that's not what I'm talking about."

"What I mean is that there are often transactions between ritualists, apprentices, and even occult enthusiasts. Especially those occult enthusiasts who are not mainstream, who need it more when they don't have a guide."

“There were little secret meetings like this everywhere.”

Roland understood, but...

"It doesn't sound like it can be easily found."

"No need to go out of your way to look for it," Fernandez picked up a small tomato given to him and threw it into his mouth, then turned around and asked for another beer. "I am the organizer of the secret meeting in this city."

Roland: ...?
"Executive officer, can you do such a thing?"

"Why not?" Fernandez sucked his fingers and picked up another fried fish. "How do you think those idiots who abused the ritual were discovered?"

"The big fool directed and performed a masquerade ball himself."
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It's really interesting.
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No wonder he is well-informed.

"Was it your idea?"

"No, it's the Church." Fernandez tore the fried fish into strips. "The senior advisors of the Inspectorate are in charge of one, and I'm in charge of the Inquisition. Maybe the heretics have their own too."

"Through secret meetings, we guide those apprentices who sense and touch the mystery, so that they move closer to the church and stay away from evil. At the same time, we also eliminate those who have gone astray."

"Do you remember Meister?"

Roland had no idea what the name was, until Wrench gave him a hint.

"The ritualist who died next to you."

"When we were being chased by zombies..."
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Oh.
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I remembered.
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The one who died of thirst.

"…You are so vicious."

"Previously, he and a senior consultant were in charge of the secret meeting with the Supervisory Bureau. Unexpectedly..."

Fernandez paused. "Next time, I will take you and Kratov in. I don't want to be there every time to chat with those apprentices. From now on, you and she will be responsible. If there is anything wrong, tell me in time."

“You might be able to buy something of great value from those people,” Fernandez said, “for very little money.”

"I heard that a detective in the Inspectorate once bought a strange object for twenty-three pounds - although it was a very small object."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Roland Collins also exchanged fifty pounds for a rare item worth five hundred pounds."
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wrench.

"But guess what?"

"Burn it!"

Roland: ...
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do not talk.
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My heart hurts so much.

Fernandez stuffed his mouth with fried fish and mumbled: "…But then again, who knows if they are bragging, those vultures who drink human blood are planning all day long--"

The words stopped abruptly.

He rolled his throat and turned his lips.

A paper ball mixed with fried fish meat was spit out.

It rolled half a circle on the table and hit the wine glass.

Stand proudly with your head held high.

Fernandez looked at the paper ball, then at Roland.

Poker face.

Roland used all his strength to tighten the muscles at the corners of his mouth, trying not to show any arc: "... Happy birthday, Fernandez."

…………

……

After having a good meal and a good drink, the picky captain sent Roland back home and then took the carriage to an unknown place.

In the drugstore old Collins was arranging the cabinets by candlelight, and the fireplace was burning brightly.

"If you want to come back drunk every day, you have to make sure you're alone, understand?"

He raised his head and glanced at Roland who came in, then said something and lowered his head to do the work in his hands.

"Alone?" Roland didn't understand.

"Let the lady who takes care of you know that you've been to some shady place. You might even lose your job." Old Collins started to be sarcastic again: "You won't be able to keep up at home. If I find out that you brought back a pregnant woman, get out of here."

Roland: ...

He knows now.

"Isn't it a bit early for you to say this, uncle?"

Old Collins curled his lips and said, "I'm afraid I'm too late. When I was your age, I had already ridden..." He coughed and skipped the rest of the ride. He put down the paper bag in his hand and looked Roland up and down. "You're wearing too little. Didn't I buy you clothes?"

"I don't feel cold."

Old Collins rolled his eyes. "Don't you think it's meaningless? If they see it, they will think that I, Old Collins, am reluctant to buy you clothes."

"That's right." "If the neighbors see it, they will think I can't afford it."

"Put on another one! The same one!"
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You're crazy again.

"Why didn't Su Yue tell you this story?"
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You can tell me.

“I’ll tell you tonight!”
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The Legend of the Eyes: Little Grass Looking for Her Mother, the Sailing Travel Diary: My Background is Very Strong, and now there is one more.
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You already owe me three stories.

"…Just remember this clearly."
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Miss Nina never owed me a story.

"Yes, yes, she just owes money on her credit card."
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credit card?-
what is that?
“It’s a voucher that can be used to borrow money from a bank for consumption.”
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oh…
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Miss Nina's story is really unique. The bank owner is not very smart. Just by using a card, you can lend money to others?

“Hehe…”

"I think you're the one who's not that smart."

Roland responded casually, took off his coat and boots, put away his cane, and pulled a chair to the fireplace to warm his hands and feet.

He would chat with his uncle for a while every night after coming back from work.

It's warm inside.

When old Collins saw him take off his socks, his fingers and brows relaxed, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

"Please wear more clothes. I heard that a child froze to death on the street next door."

"Yeah."

“…He was only four years old. When the street police found him, he was already frozen in the gutter.”

"Terrible."

"I don't want to carry you to the doctor in the cold night."

"Ah."

"What else do you want to eat? I left some soup and half a loaf of bread."

"I have already eaten."

"…When I was your age, I never had enough to eat."

"Really?"

"I am the biggest eater in the Collins family."

"I don't think I can surpass you."

"You definitely can't surpass me. You don't even have a cat to eat."

"how come…"

"Hahaha, William brought Alice here yesterday, and the cat scratched a letter on the kid's hand... By the way, you have to leave some time for me tomorrow so I can measure..."

"what?"

"Knitting a sweater."

"you--"

"There is no woman in the house. What do you want to say?"

“…I respect your hobbies.”

"Get lost."

"uncle."

"What?"

"Thank you."

"…It's rare to hear you say thank you. I have to see what kind of day it is today…How is your, um, your, uh, I mean, your 'friend'…?"

"Who?"

"From that letter."

"She...she's fine. She went to a faraway place for treatment. Maybe it will take one or two years, three or four years for her to come back..." Roland paused: "...maybe even longer."

Old Collins said nothing, but silently moved the chair to the fireplace and sat next to Roland.

He was silent for a while, then suddenly raised his hand and pulled Roland into his arms.

Very hard.

Then, he patted his shoulder hard.

"uncle…?"

"You can say anything, just don't cry. I can't stand a man crying."

"I meant to say that there's a dead body under your armpits."

“…Do you deserve a beating?”

After the joke, both of them fell silent.

The flames crackled.

The way men comfort other men is always silent.

Just like tonight is especially quiet.

(End of this chapter)