Say goodbye to me? Ed was a little confused.
"Well, due to Floyd's death, the members involved in the operation must undergo a two-week suspension investigation. During this period, I need someone to help me watch this place."
Mr. Eaton opened his rough palm, and in his palm was a brass key.
Ed glanced at the key: "Do you really trust me?"
"If Arthur trusts you... yes, I trust you too."
Hearing this, Ed couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and stare into Mr. Eaton's eyes, trying to confirm whether there was any other deep meaning in this sentence.
However, he only saw an old face covered with age wrinkles, and the light of reason reflected in his eyes. Beyond that, he could read no underlying emotion in that face.
"I'm afraid it's not convenient for me here." Ed declined. "The repair shop has been delayed for many days. If I don't go to work, I will be fired by my boss."
"It doesn't matter. You don't have to worry about the repair shop anymore. I made a special trip to the Donald Brothers Home Machinery Repair Shop in the morning. After the store manager learned about your current situation, he decided to fire you..."
Fire me? ! What kind of black-hearted capitalist?
Ed had a look of disbelief on his face. He had the impression that he was not bad at what he did. Although he had to miss a few days of work because he narrowly escaped death in the "Subway Massacre", he wouldn't be fired because of this, right?
"People believe that 'resurrection from the dead' is a bad omen, and it is human nature for shop owners not to want to get into trouble."
Ed sighed, I am afraid that this is not only the idea of the shop owner, but also the will of Mr. Eaton and even the Divine Bureau.
He was eager for revenge that day and showed the same extraordinary ability as Arthur. A man who had been resurrected suddenly awakened as an extraordinary person, and his abilities were surprisingly consistent with those of the detective responsible for monitoring him. It was difficult not to arouse suspicion.
"But doesn't the phoenix also get reborn from nirvana?"
"That is an elf myth after all, not the folk custom of the Elysions. In the eyes of the Elysions, only the black cat that brings bad luck has nine lives."
Mr. Eaton took out the repair shop's termination contract and a wad of bills from his coat. Ed reluctantly took the bills and counted exactly 8 pounds - this was his entire month's salary.
Okay, now I am convinced that this is what Mr. Eaton means. The store owner will not pay the full salary this month. Ed rolled his eyes as he counted the money.
"If you have no other plans for the next step, it happens that the detective agency also needs someone to take care of it. I need an assistant whose main job is to receive clients and record files. The salary is two and a half pounds per week, but room and board are free. "
After saying that, Mr. Eaton held his left wrist with his right hand and calmly waited for Ed's answer.
The salary is pretty good. Detective Assistant...Okay, how hard can it be? Ed thought.
It's nothing more than greeting guests, doing some paperwork, and then acting surprised when the detective makes his deductions - which doesn't sound any more torturous than fixing a differential extension machine.
"Thank you, I won't let you down."
"Okay, I will briefly explain the file book and recording rules to you later - oh, one more thing, your sister Tia Waikolo wants to meet you."
Eaton had already stepped out of the door, but suddenly turned his head and said something casually.
Ed's eyes gradually widened, his mouth slowly opened, and the banknotes in his chest fell to the floor——
What, I have a sister? !
"Why hasn't anyone told me before?"
Ed grabbed his hair a few times with both hands, not knowing where to put it for a moment.
"This is for safety reasons. If I tell you this, you may go to see your family first regardless of the danger. This will only make both of you bear unnecessary risks."
"Well...well, what does my sister...uh...look like?"
He asked while bending down to pick up the money and stuff it into his pocket.
"Silver hair, purple eyes, pointed ears, pure Voluni blood. Tall, similar to Quinn..."
"Wait a moment, please stop for a moment -" Ed quickly made a stop gesture. He knew that the elves were an alien nation from the Voluni in the southern continent, so they were also called Voluni.
The skin of pure-blood Voluni people is as delicate and shiny as wheat, their ears are pointed and long, and their bodies are elegant and muscular. The elves once ruled the northern continent of Elysion for a long period of time, and were known in history as the "Rule of Voluni" or the "Rule of the Elves".
"You see, first of all, I am an authentic Elysion, and then my sister is a pure-blood elf. There is definitely something wrong with this, right?"
"I think there is nothing wrong with you two being the adopted sons of Mr. Ludwik Waikolo and having different blood ties."
Oh, I almost forgot that I picked it up. Ed awkwardly put his hands in his pockets, playing with the coins.
"When can I see her?"
"Any time. Before you meet her, there's one thing I need to remind you: She's currently attending Pinkman School."
"Public school?" It took Ed a moment to understand the intention of Eton's words——
Although it is called a "public school," the public school is actually an upper-class institution. The annual tuition fee of three hundred pounds and the additional room and board expenses are enough to make any middle-class family prohibitive, let alone a lower-class resident like him.
Ed didn't feel any burden. As the elder brother, he should bear this responsibility, and the decision to let her continue studying was probably his own.
It's just that his monthly salary of 10 pounds, even if he doesn't eat or drink, can only cover one-third of the annual tuition.
It's really hard for a hero to be stumped by a penny...
"If you have financial difficulties, I still have a personal savings in hand that you can use for emergency use." Mr. Eaton suggested.
Before truly understanding the detective's personality and purpose, Ed didn't want to owe any favors:
"No, thank you very much. I'd better meet with her first, and I have to ask you to contact me before you leave, Mr. Eaton..."
…
Early the next morning.
There is a sizable street cafe on Klein Street in the Central District. The elegant and unique tiled paths are lined with shrubs sprouting red buds that look full of life.
Ed ordered a cup of black coffee, and saw caramel-colored coffee floating in the small white porcelain cup, with tiny aromatic oil foam floating on it.
He took a sip, and a faint floral fragrance flowed into his throat, followed by a sour berry taste on his tongue, and then the unique bitter taste of coffee, with distinct layers.
The taste is unique, but it’s also expensive. As far as he knew, in East End cafes you could get a large drink for 3p, and for an additional 1p you could get a roll with butter.
Putting down the white porcelain cup, Ed leaned his back on the iron square chair and looked at the crowd on the street from time to time, looking for his sister.
After a moment, Ed saw a familiar figure walking towards him——
The sterling silver shoulder-length short hair swayed slightly in the wind, like white roses blooming in the wind.
The healthy-colored skin unique to pure-blood elves shines with a very vibrant and delicate texture under a few rays of early spring sunshine. It is as plump and shiny as freshly winnowed wheat, and is wrapped in a light classical fragrance.
Seeing Ed, Tia quickened her steps and walked over, her amethyst-colored eyes like a bright, shining flame. Many words of concern could be read from her eyes, but in the end there were only two words that came out of her mouth:
"Ed?"
Ed tugged on the brim of his hat, stretched out his hand and said hello politely and naturally, as smoothly and naturally as if he had rehearsed it many times.
However, when he put it down, he accidentally touched the tea spoon, which made a "bang" noise and wet his cuffs.
"So it's true, you have lost your memory?"
"Well, maybe it's just temporary, and it will slowly recover after a while. You know, there was some... unpleasant little friction between the bullet and my brain, but it's fine."
"Where is the wound? Are there any scars?"
Tia stretched out her hand out of curiosity and concern, and the moment her warm and slender fingers were about to touch his cheek, Ed leaned back embarrassedly.
Her palms stopped in mid-air and curled back onto the table. Tia carefully sat down facing each other, lowered her head and said:
"I bought you some supplements, I hope they can help."
Dr. Mystri's panacea and polyamine brain-boosting supplements are all high-end supplements sold in pharmacies. Ed looked at the bottle with the most unique packaging and color: Alger Scarlet Medicinal Wine.
This product is formulated with more than 70 kinds of rare plants, flowers, animal products and spices from all over the world. It can effectively treat forgetfulness, auditory hallucinations, confusion, insomnia, depression, tuberculosis, hair loss, and has strong...
Where is this going? The corner of Ed's mouth twitched. Although this was Tia's good intention, where did she get so much money?
No matter how bad his memory was, he could tell at a glance that these supplements cost at least 15 pounds.
"I... found a part-time job translating documents for others."
Ed has been practicing common sense in the past few days: since the archaeological craze has swept the entire continent, explorers or archaeological teams have often unearthed ancient documents. However, the Explorers Association has specialized archaeologists, and only some private libraries or collectors will hire translators, and the price will not be high.
"Oh, which library is it specifically? Or is it a collector's private collection?"
He stared at Tia, and saw that Tia's eyes were evasive, and she answered hesitantly like a lying child:
"Anyway, it's just...I can't say..."
"Tia, don't do anything stupid. I can take care of the money problem."
"I can handle my own business, Ed."
Tia whispered. After saying that, she stood up, hurriedly fled into the crowd of people passing through the street, and disappeared...
Ed wanted to tell her to stop, but he didn't know what to say, so he sighed and gave up.
An income from an unknown source. It seems like I, as an older brother, need to investigate this matter carefully...
"I seem to smell the fragrance of a story. Tell me, how about I give you a free bill?"
The shop owner on the side was holding a coffee pot and leaned towards his face. His fancy mustache was full of gossip:
"Oh, come on, you..."
Ed threw two sixpences into his hand and said angrily.
…
