"Why did you choose me, thinking I could help you." Hermione continued to ask.
"I...I heard last night..."
Before the little girl finished speaking, a middle-aged man with a red nose, unshaven beard and high hairline ran out. Seeing Elisa in the carriage, he grabbed the reins and shouted at Elisa, "How dare you run away?" .”
The middle-aged man took a breath, "You'd better go back with me, otherwise I'm not sure what punishment will be waiting for you later."
Eliza was even more frightened when she heard this, curling up into Hermione's arms and trembling.
The middle-aged man came closer, perhaps noticing that Royce and Hermione had different temperaments. He looked at Royce a little politely, "Sir, this girl's mother asked me to take her home. I hope you and your Daughter, don’t stop me.”
In the eyes of middle-aged men, Hermione is just a compassionate teenage girl, and the calm-tempered Royce next to her is an elder.
Hermione comforted the trembling girl, thinking of her sister and herself in her dream, and couldn't help but sigh, wondering if her 'sister' was still alive.
Royce smiled and told the groom not to worry, he would make up for the expenses during this period. He turned to the man who was chasing him and said, "Sir, could you let them chat for a while?"
"I'm already very polite. You should know these things." The middle-aged man replied fiercely to Royce, very impatiently. Obviously, although there are some things that everyone has a tacit understanding of, if it breaks out, he will definitely be taken first. Judging from their clothing, the two people in front of them were either rich or noble, and they were not someone he could offend, so he could only give them a warning, hoping they would retreat in the face of difficulties.
Royce looked at the impatient middle-aged man, took out an ID from his pocket and handed it over. The middle-aged man looked at it, and he could barely recognize the words "gao" and "inspector" inside. He handed it back with a little panic, and his aggressive demeanor changed instantly.
Royce asked again "Can we have a word with this girl now?"
The middle-aged man replied flatteringly, "No problem, sir. I just want to take this girl home. Her mother told me specifically." The middle-aged man emphasized the last words, and Royce naturally understood the voice-over. .
Seeing this change, Hermione couldn't help but almost punched him. He was really a scoundrel, the same everywhere.
At this time, the little girl Eliza also calmed down when she saw the flattering man.
Hermione continued to ask: "What do you want to see me for?"
Elisa whispered: "My mother wanted to sell me and lied to me that this person would take me to find a good job and have enough to eat, but sister Inis went there before and never came back. ." At this point, Elisa hugged Hermione and cried again.
"I heard the conversation between my mother and this person last night. My mother was going to sell me 5 pounds to someone else. I was so scared that I ran outside. Then there was a big explosion there. I met Stead who suddenly appeared and ran over. Uncle, he was all wet. He hugged me and ran away. Later, Uncle Stead fell on the pile because he was drunk. I nested on the wooden shed next to me and saw Uncle Stead pointing at you and calling you a monster. .”
Hermione thought for a while, it must be the tramp last night. She really wanted to slap him twice. I was just an innocent young man who was lost in a foreign land. How could I be a monster? No wonder this girl looked familiar. It turned out to be the one who took her away last night.
"Later I asked Uncle Stead to help me. He asked me to run outside to the street and asked me to come find you. Maybe I would be lucky enough to meet you."
Hermione wiped the little girl's tears, "Do you know where your Uncle Steed is?"
"He helped me block the people who were chasing me. I don't know where he is hiding now?"
This luck made Hermione a little suspicious of Stead, and wanted to see if there was anything unusual about him.
The middle-aged man next to him also looked very unhappy after hearing this. This is the goods in the store. If he can't take it back, he won't be able to explain it to him when he goes back. The person in front of him was the senior inspector of the National Police Agency, and he couldn't afford to offend him. He kept greeting his superiors and the elders of the person in front of him.
"This gentleman and this lady, it's not good for you to do this! After all, it was her mother who told me to take her back, and there is nothing I can do about it." The middle-aged man could only bite the bullet. After all, these things are everywhere. All, the police can’t break the rules! Some of you are still regular visitors.
Some people had already stopped to watch and started talking.
Hermione looked at Royce, and she probably knew that the little girl's family had "traded" her to someone else for some reason. Good guy, more than a thousand years have passed, is this still the case? In the past, I could still rely on my 'father' and 'sister' to do whatever I wanted, but now I am dependent on others and often encounter dangers. How dare I involve ordinary people.
The only option was to seek help from Royce. Hermione thought for a moment and relied on friends when she went out.
"I probably understand, can you take us to Eliza's house?" Royce knew what Hermione meant from the look in Hermione's eyes, and asked the middle-aged man to lead the way to Eliza's house.
Royce and Hermione got out of the carriage, ended the rental of the carriage, and asked the middle-aged man to lead the way. Hermione held Eliza between herself and Royce.
"What's your name and what kind of job do you do?" Royce asked the middle-aged man.
"My name is Thomas Cady. I mainly help others introduce jobs and earn a small fee. Mr. Sheriff, you don't know how difficult it is for me to do this job..." Thomas, a middle-aged man, suddenly complained. , a runny nose and tears.
Hermione couldn't help but admire this. When she first chased someone, she was still very domineering; now she suddenly turned into a poor and weak face, and her identity quickly changed.
"Mr. Sheriff, do you know? The last time I introduced the guy from Everton to Robert Stephenson Steam Company, he failed the interview and came back and beat me up. That is the best steam engine production company in Loon. , it was very difficult for me to get an interview opportunity, and Everton also said that I squandered his money, which is unfair..." Thomas was still chatting with Royce, more like fawning.
Passing through the corridor, Hermione walked into the slum area. On both sides of the low wooden sheds, lines were pulled to dry yellow and black clothes. People continued to walk towards the factory area. Royce and Hermione looked very different on this road. Out of place. Most of the people passing by took a glance and then continued walking forward, with dull expressions and dim eyes.
Royce suddenly thought of something and said to Hermione, "Hermione, this is the other side of the city, as Emperor Russell said: the price of progress."
"Perhaps you haven't thought about what Eliza's job is, but I have lived here for so long and I know very well that Eliza was sold by her mother to be a child prostitute. When I saw Eliza, I felt like my own daughter! I used to be burdened with a family curse, and when I saw my little daughter, I felt that my family was unlucky. Later, many big things happened and I suffered heavy losses, but I was very lucky to get rid of the curse! Looking back, I enjoy everything about my family. , who have the right to criticize my own family? The only thing I can do is let Glor make his own choice."
"I don't know what to say. I can only tell you how I feel. Don't mind my nagging."
Hermione thanked Royce and understood what Royce meant. Looking at Elisa, if she hadn't been lucky enough to meet him, maybe she would have been locked up in a certain room at this time, waiting for the guests to be selected. She was obviously still so young.
Such things keep happening in the corners of this city. Is this the price of the tide of the times? Hermione felt helpless and helpless.
The further inside, the road becomes more and more difficult to walk, and various things are thrown randomly on the road, especially the puddles. From time to time, rats can be seen walking through them, bringing with them a stench.
After passing here, Hermione and her group came to an old wooden house. In a sundries store not far away, several people working the night shift were eating. Next to them, a little girl who was packing up sundries ran quickly. came back, "Sister Eliza, are you back? I'll tell mom."
Hermione saw a lot of people sitting around the mud wall next to the sundry store over there. They were unkempt and unkempt. The harsh destruction of the factory made it difficult for her to judge their age.
After watching the four weeks, Hermione turned back to Eliza's house. The little girl named Eliza ran up to her. She looked like she was five or six years old, with thin cheeks, green eyes, and dark blond hair. Withered and spread out, wearing a tattered black skirt, bare feet, and looking malnourished.
"Yvonne, it's me." Eliza hugged Yvonne, who was thinner than her, with a little sob in her voice. At this time, a woman stood up at the door and said, "Eliza, you are back just in time. You can go with him."
The woman's face looks very tired, her hair is withered and yellow, her eyes are dull, her face is wrinkled and there are some red marks, and a rotten smell comes out. Her hair is casually tied back, and she is wearing an old woolen sweater. He looks like he is in his forties.
Thomas Cady, who was standing in front, quickly stepped aside and said, "Kent, Mr. Sheriff wants to come and understand some situations."
Then turning to Hermione Royce "She is Eliza's mother."
Hermione and Royce greeted the woman. Hermione and Royce asked vaguely about the rotten smell.
Hermione said, "Mrs. Kent, can we talk about Eliza?"
Kent didn't say anything and let a few people into the house. Hermione walked into the house. The room was low and dark, and the small window next to it didn't let in much light. The simple fireplace was already covered with cobwebs, and there were some rotten things on the old black table. vegetable.
Kent pulled out an old stool and sat up. Thomas took out a few stools from somewhere and wiped them for Royce and Hermione to sit down.
"Thank you for sending my daughter back. If you have any questions, please tell me quickly. You won't be able to stay in this place." Kent said in a very bad tone.
"Mrs. Kent, why did you sell your daughter Eliza? She is still so young." Hermione said directly.
"Miss, you have seen the situation here. I can no longer raise them. Rather than starving to death like those squatting by the wall outside, it is better to survive." Mrs. Kent pointed around. "I don't know how Eliza found you, but you are still suitable to live in the life your family has spun for you."
Mrs. Kent looked at Royce again, "Sir, if nothing happens, please leave and don't disturb our lives."
Just as Hermione was about to speak, Mrs. Kent continued, "It's very good to let Elisa find a job with Thomas. At least she doesn't have to sit there and wait to die like those people outside."
"Then you can't bear to let your daughter experience such cruel things at such a young age." Hermione couldn't understand.
"Don't you know? What else can you do besides this? Go to a factory where you will die at any time without seeing the light of day, or die as a wanderer on the street?" Mrs. Kent was no longer in the mood to care about this anymore. Who is the daughter of a noble and wealthy businessman? Just a moment of pity.
At this time, Royce, who was next to him, noticed something and said, "Mrs. Kent, forgive my bluntness, have you contracted a sexually transmitted disease? It seems that your condition is already very bad." Hermione also instantly switched to her spiritual vision and discovered Indeed, as Royce said, Mrs. Kent's whole body is much darker.
"My husband died in a factory accident, and I was pregnant with my little boy at that time. Later, in order to support my three daughters, I had to work at night, you know, that kind of work." Kent was afraid of Hermitage "Min can't understand." Later, when my child was born, I found out that he was infected with the same disease as me. He died soon after. I can't hold it anymore. If you want to know, I have already told you. Now you You can go now."
Hermione was also sighing in her heart. She looked at the sisters Elisa and Yvonne standing outside the door, and thought of the people squatting outside. She made a decision in her heart, "Please wait a moment." Then go with Royce. Discuss outside
"Mr. Royce, I'm sorry. It's the first time this kind of thing has happened and I have caused you trouble."
"Hermione, no matter which choice you make, I will support you, although we don't know your true identity (Hermione's identity is kept confidential. Only senior deacons of Night Storm or above or core members of the Church of Fools can access the information about the discovery of Hermione). Min’s report on the Southern Continent, otherwise someone would kill someone and steal the goods), but after getting along with each other these days, I believe you."
Hermione looked at Elisa next to her and Yvonne behind her, and thought of herself and her sister. The image of the dream appeared in front of her eyes. She hid behind her sister and made faces at her angry father. , and for a moment he couldn't distinguish his own heart.
"Mr. Royce, I want to adopt Eliza and Yvonne. Do you have any good suggestions? I will find a job. For example, if you are short of thugs or something, I am very good." Hermione felt a little guilty now. , food and accommodation are all at Royce's house, and now I have to take two people with me.
"It's okay, Hermione, I understand, go in and talk! It's a good thing to have fighting spirit and concern."
The two walked back into the house, Mrs. Kent still sitting there, and Thomas kept following in and out.
"Mrs. Kent, in that case, how about I adopt your two daughters?" Hermione said directly.
Thomas's voice rang out, "Ah! Then my five pounds..."
Upon seeing this, Royce directly gave 10 pounds to Mrs. Kent and 1 pound to Thomas. Thomas kept nodding and bowing.
"Mrs. Kent, you should understand."
Mrs. Kent only took 5 pounds, "I'll treat it as a gift to you. You should go as soon as possible."
Then he waved his hand to let Elisa and Yvonne come in, "You will follow them from now on and don't come back."
Eliza and Yvonne burst into tears immediately, and some ragged people gathered around outside to watch the excitement.
"What happened to Widow Kent? The two people inside look like aristocratic and wealthy businessmen."
"I don't know. Didn't you say that Kent wants to sell his second daughter as well? I guess so."
"You're so lucky. If you come to me, I'll just give it away for free. It's better than starving to death."
"It's a pity that no one likes my old bones, cough cough cough..."
…
Kent directly asked Hermione and Royce to take them away with a very firm attitude. Elisa seemed to understand something and was led out by Royce. Hermione picked up the young Yvonne and left directly. , Yvonne cried out "Mom".
Kent looked at Late Night walking outside and turned his head, "Let's go, don't come back here again." Tears shed from the corners of his eyes.
Seeing that the matter was resolved and he had no losses, Thomas happily walked ahead to lead the way. Yvonne struggled a little to run back, but was held tightly by Hermione.
Seeing more people standing next to her, Hermione could only pretend that nothing happened and continue walking forward. Several big men who had been observing wanted to take advantage of the narrow road to steal something.
As soon as she arrived at Hermione's place, Hermione punched the people who were approaching and said, "Go away." Her invisible pressure and anger directly caused several big men to roll and crawl away. Yvonne was frightened by this. calm down.
'Really, I dare to come and touch porcelain. If I hadn't taken into account that there was a large public here, I would have kicked him twice. '
Next to him, Thomas saw the figures directly attacking several big men, "No one dares to steal anything that doesn't have eyes."
The people behind, the people in front, and the people in the next house all stood there feeling the pressure, and Hermione and others quickly walked out.
Thomas also felt the pressure. He had been in the market all year round and knew that there were some very special people. Fortunately, he didn't commit suicide just now. These two must be those people. It seems that they should build a good relationship with them.
Reaching the main street, Thomas prepared to say goodbye. Eliza tugged on Hermione's clothes: "Sister Hermione, and sister Ines, can you help me find sister Ines?"
Yvonne looked at Hermione with tearful eyes as well. Hermione looked at Royce. After getting confirmation from Royce's eyes, Hermione looked at Thomas, "Mr. Thomas, do you know her sister Inis?"
Thomas was already prepared, "Mr. Royce, Miss Hermione, Inis didn't find a job through me, but I still remember her appearance. I will look for her in the next few days. I will tell you if I have any news." Thomas thought to himself that it was worth it to build a relationship with these special people.
"If you have any news, you can go directly to the Pulitzer Harbor Ship Consulting Company to find me. I work there." Royce told him the detailed address. He was not afraid of anyone coming to cause trouble. The underground prisons happened to be empty.
Thomas hurriedly left after receiving the information, while Royce and Hermione took Eliza and Yvonne sisters to hire a carriage and headed home together.
Looking at 36 Wood Street and Sister Elisa approaching, Hermione felt so tired for the first time.
