March 12, 901 of the New Calendar, Elysion Continent, Lyrea Kingdom, East District of Silvermist City. This is the far east of the entire continent, and is the central port leading to the New World.
But the remaining memories told Ed that when it comes to describing this slum area in the East End, known as the "dark zone", even the most rigorous grammarian would have a hard time choosing the more appropriate one between "poverty" and "chaos." word.
The weather was rare and clear in the afternoon, and the remaining gray early spring snow gradually melted away, revealing broken newspapers and sawdust buried in the ice. The rental carriage bound for the detective agency passed through the crowd calmly, its seats bumping slightly.
On the ground, the old masonry pavement is sprinkled with horse manure, gravel, and grass clippings. The fire pits on the roadside are burning with smoke. Newsboys, red-nosed missionaries, handsome messengers, and peddlers — Various merchandise in blankets or baskets, soaps, brooms, copper buttons, clay pipes, and tobacco.
"Where are we going?" Ed listened to the sound of the wheels turning, put his arms behind his head, and closed his eyes.
"Detective agency, you will stay there tonight until the other two detectives come back." Arthur's words were relaxed.
"What about my freedom? Didn't you also say that you would protect my freedom?"
"To be precise, it's 'security and freedom' - you have to be safe before you can be free."
"..." Ed raised his eyebrows and did not continue to argue.
The light in front of him suddenly dimmed, and a dreamlike huge shadow in the sky disturbed his vision. Ed couldn't help but open his eyes, raised his head and looked sideways out of the car window.
A rigid airship with a mixed layout slowly passed through the sky. The air bag is the body, the rising wings are the feathers, and the steam clouds and mist at the tail draw a white trail, like a whale with spread wings and soaring in the sky.
To his surprise, the airbag was painted with a red and blue star icon, which was exactly the same as the trademark on the cookie jar.
"Is that...West Coast Trading Company?"
The coachman was very talkative and continued outside: "Yes, who else could the cargo airship with the red and blue stars painted on it belong to besides the West Coast Company? There are only three types of flying ones in the sky, those carrying cargo, those carrying people, and those carrying people. Killing people."
It turns out that West Coast Trading Company is so powerful, I thought it was a biscuit company. Of course, Ed didn't say this. The coachman started talking now and kept pouring out:
"Sigh... the carriage business is becoming more and more difficult to do nowadays. People from above to below are trying to grab business. Hey, let me tell you something. Please don't spread the word. I heard that something happened to the pneumatic subway."
"Huh? What's the matter?" Arthur suddenly intervened in the conversation.
"The devil knows. I picked up a passenger this morning and told me. I guess it will be in the newspaper by this time tomorrow. I would say it would be best if these snitch gang bastards are dead. They will invent some new machines every day to destroy us. Dividing people’s lives, bah! Don’t you think so?”
Arthur didn't reply, and the polite smile on his lips disappeared. Could it be that he is a member of the so-called "Snitch Party"?
"This 'Snitch Party' you are talking about is...?" Ed asked secretly, suppressing a smile.
The driver in front was very enthusiastic: "Why, your accent doesn't sound like a foreigner? Forget it, I have to start from the beginning..."
The driver spoke very fast and talked a lot of nonsense. It took Ed a while to understand:
Today, the Kingdom's Parliament is dominated by three parties: the Conservative Party, which represents the interests of the traditional aristocracy and clergy; the Liberal Party, which represents the interests of some emerging industrial aristocrats and industrial and commercial tycoons; and the industrial group, which is composed of emerging scientific clans, societies, cooperatives, etc. Progressive Party.
The three parties often quarreled in parliament, accusing and attacking each other. The Conservatives were called "horse-riding bandits," the Liberals were called "greedy pirates," and the Industrial Progressive Party was called "airship-flying thieves."
Over time, this slanderous derision became widely circulated and almost became the official name of the Three Parties, appearing from time to time in some official government documents.
Silvermist City was originally the headquarters of the Horse Bandits and the traditional fiefdom of the 'White Oak' Oakland family. But as it became a transit point for ocean trade, the pirate party and the snitch party also extended their hands here.
"According to what you said, the pneumatic subway is closed, and your business here should be much easier, right?"
Ed was bored and played with the coins in his pocket. He found that this could relax his nerves. Apparently this was an old habit before he lost his memory.
"Oh, look what you said - we only make a small fortune, and Mr. Freud is the one who makes a fortune."
"Oh? What does this Mr. Floyd do?"
"The big boss of the carriage rental company, franchise. There are only 500 carriage rental licenses approved by the government, but Mr. Floyd can always get more. There are not 10,000 rental carriages in the entire Silver Mist City, but 8,000, almost Every car has his cut.”
"Not only two-wheeled ones, but also double-decker four-wheeled public carriages. The license fee of 8 pounds per carriage and the annual road maintenance fee of 1 and a half pounds - this is not a small sum of money, don't you think?"
"uh-huh."
Ed put the hat on his face, closed his eyes to rest, and ended the chat with a nasal snort.
…
The "Detective Agency" in Arthur's mouth is located in a remote alley on Buckler Street. It has no signboard, as if it deliberately does not want to be discovered. Next to the green lacquered wooden door are several pots of cheap green plants such as snow ferns, zinnias, and spotted palms, which act like a layer of protective color.
The only proof of its existence is a line of small words on the metal plate in front of the door - "Eton Detective Agency".
Ed stepped out of the carriage, wearing the coat he borrowed from Fat Inspector Mance like a robe. His clothes were torn and torn by the whale oil lamp, so he had to borrow someone else's clothes to cover him up.
The sky has turned a thin yellow, and pieces of orange sunlight are shining diagonally on the wooden door. The alley leading to the detective office was sparsely populated, and there was no foul smell in the air. He followed Arthur silently, and as the key turned slightly, the door opened.
The first thing that catches the eye is a long curved office table. Folders are arranged in an orderly manner on the table shelf. Next to it is a printing telegraph machine with wires arranged in a regular manner. The sofa, blinds, walnut bookshelf, candlesticks, stove, clock, clothes racks... are no different from the detective in Ed's imagination.
Hey, I thought the real detective agency would be more...unconventional?
The scent of scented candles lingers in the air, the cold and quiet scent of a valley, the scent of lily of the valley. Ed hung the fat officer's coat on a hanger, his cane and hat buckled aside. Arthur also took off his octagonal leather hat with golden eyepieces, raised an exaggerated smile on his lips, stretched out his hand and said:
"Please allow me to reintroduce myself: Arthur Custer, trainee agent of the Census Bureau, Assistant Criminal Investigation, and member of the Royal Society. Until the subway massacre case is solved, for your safety, you must be under my supervision. Down."
"Does that mean you can let me go as long as the case is solved?"
"I'm afraid I can't make the decision, but in theory it is correct. So, let me take you to the room first."
"Okay..." Seeing that Arthur didn't give a clear answer, Ed had no choice but to follow him to the second floor.
The white sheets in the bedroom are as flat as mirrors. There are pens and prepared stationery on the desk. The books on the bookshelf are neatly organized and arranged according to classification and size. The orange setting sun pours in through the clear glass, and even the dust on the window edge has been wiped away.
"Things are urgent. You can stay in my room for the time being and I'll just make do with it on the sofa for a few nights. If you need anything, you can write it on the list and I'll buy it as soon as possible in the next two days."
"No, no, no, why is this so embarrassing? I'd rather sleep on the sofa." Ed said hurriedly and politely.
Of course he did this not because of politeness, but because once Arthur slept in the living room, the front door would be completely under surveillance. Coupled with the sensitive and weird mechanical spider, he would definitely have no chance of acting alone.
Arthur still has that heart-warming smile:
"This is an arrangement from your superiors. You don't have to refuse. Oh, by the way, if you don't mind, I have a few sets of clothes that I don't wear often. Why don't you make do with them first?"
"No... uh... then it's hard work."
Ed wanted to decline politely, but when he lowered his head and looked at the tattered cuffs, he looked like a beggar, which was really unseemly.
"Then I'll put it here. You can try it slowly." Arthur took out a few sets of clothes from the closet and closed the door behind him.
After hearing Arthur's footsteps gradually moving away, Ed reached out and touched the buttons on his collar. Suddenly he frowned and began to look around: bookshelves, wardrobes, corners, under the bed, outside the window...
After repeatedly confirming that there were no mechanical spiders or other suspicious things, he breathed a sigh of relief and unbuttoned his collar...
"Pop", the button made a painful sound and fell on the bed, and the old clothes finally came to an end. And Arthur found three sets of clothes for him——
The first set was a decent formal suit: a milky silk black waistcoat and trousers, a creamy white stand-up collar shirt that was straight and clearly starched, paired with a fine velvet dress and silk scarf. Wearing it to any formal occasion will not look rude.
This set is too formal and must be expensive. Better not to get it dirty, Ed wisely folded it and put it aside.
The second set is the opposite of the first set, even more exaggerated than what Arthur is wearing now - a lot of fashionable elements: a contrasting plaid vest, a polka-dot shirt, a brown leather jacket and leather goggles, decorated with a large number of gears and Parts large leather belt...
Ed shook his head. Wearing this on the street will definitely become the focus of the entire street. It is obviously not his style.
The third outfit seemed much more normal to him: gray wide-leg pants, woolen vest, beige lapel shirt, and a loose and comfortable coat.
Just this one. He took off his old shirt and put on new clothes.
As the sun sets in the west, the gray-blue dusk slowly spills into the window, adding a hint of chill. At this moment, Ed looked at his new self in the mirror, and suddenly felt familiar and strange at the same time.
Edgar Waikolo... My name is Edgar Waikolo.
What is your past like? Where are your family members? Where are they? Is the work at the repair shop hard? Can you ever go back to your old life?
He stretched out his fingers and touched the mirror gently. The young man in the mirror did not answer, but just stared at himself, with the same confusion in his eyes.
Tiny dust particles rise and fall in the air, moving silently along the golden-red sunset light...
[Good evening, my dear good sir. 】
Pale white, burning flame characters are engraved on the mirror one stroke at a time, and the outer flames dance gently like threads.
