The next morning, Catalina sneaked out of the mansion again. Before leaving, she left a note in the room to notify the housekeeper, Lawn.
When she got off the rental carriage and walked on the brick streets of Buckler Street, almost all eyes were on her. From the patrolman to the newsboy, everyone has a humble demeanor, full of flattery and admiration.
Is it because I dress too conspicuously? Catalina is a little skeptical, but this is already the most low-key outfit among all the clothes in her wardrobe——
Long-sleeved shirt and green jacket, equestrian trousers, brown cloak, suspender belt and boots, and a lightweight leather feathered hat.
Catalina did not choose women's clothing. She hated corsets. But her etiquette teacher, the old lady with a wrinkled face, would force her to wear it every time to show "ladylike manners."
well……
Catalina felt her breath suffocated when she thought of those stiff and tight uniforms that compressed her ribs, not to mention the wide-brimmed hat that was wider than her shoulders, blocking her vision and providing no protection.
There's no way to swing a sword in a steel bustle and corset. If you go to explore the Silver Knight's secret treasure, you may encounter dangers - such as the stone statues guarding the treasure, tomb spiders, crystal trolls, mummies...
For this purpose, Katarina even "borrowed" her brother Roderick's long sword "Aomine". This was a gift from Grandpa Herbert when his younger brother was admitted to the Royal Army Officers School. It was said to be forged by the best blacksmith in the capital, Hollienburg.
Her palm pressed against the hilt of the sword, and the sword felt warm and smooth. Before leaving, Roderick personally handed it into his hands for safekeeping.
If that's the case, then there's no problem if you use it yourself a little bit...
Thinking of this, with a sly smile in her eyes, she gently pressed the doorbell of the Eaton Detective Agency with her fingertips. A familiar young figure opened the door for her:
"Miss Catalina? How could you..."
His expression was full of disbelief, as if he had encountered a holy miracle.
"Shh, it's a long story. Let's talk about it when we get inside."
Katarina put her index finger in front of her lips, blinked, and said mysteriously.
"Oh yes, of course - come in."
Ed quickly stepped out of the way, invited Catalina into the room, picked up the teapot and poured out the hot tea:
"I apologize for the poor hospitality." He asked cautiously and tentatively, "I really didn't expect to see you again. Is your illness...?"
"It's healed." She replied with a smile and a decent manner.
"The Holy Spirit is above! I knew that a good person like you would be favored by God."
God favors you. Who knows? Maybe there really is karma somewhere.
Catalina didn't look sideways, holding up the saucer with her left hand, holding the tea cup with three fingers on her right hand, drinking the tea lightly and putting it back down - this was also the etiquette taught to her by her etiquette teacher.
After finishing this set of red tape, she got to the point:
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Waikolo. With all due respect, I came to visit today because I have something to discuss with you in detail."
"Talk to me in detail?" He patted his forehead, looking anxious and guilty, and bowed deeply:
"Oh, yes, your handkerchief... I'm so sorry. I was so anxious that day that I accidentally lost it. I really can't forgive you."
lost? Katarina blinked reluctantly. That was her favorite handkerchief, a gift from her mother before she was alive.
But...after all, everything happens for a reason. She saw the situation that day, and Mr. Waikolo must have made an unintentional mistake. What's more, how can he blame the descendants of his old friends who he swore to be the keeper of secrets at this moment?
"It's okay, it's just a handkerchief." She tried to pretend to be indifferent, "I have something else to ask you."
"Please tell me. I will tell you everything you know."
"Have you had any strange dreams lately?"
"Strange dream?" The black-haired boy lowered his head and muttered to himself, as if he was recalling and thinking.
"The shabby gray robe, the eight-clawed crown..."
Katarina warned in a low voice that only the two of them could hear. Ed's eyes gradually opened wide, his dark pupils full of disbelief:
"How do you know?"
"He...what did he say to you?" Catalina asked in a coaxing way.
"It, it drew a map for me in my dream and said to me, 'A certain future hero will come here to seek my guidance'..."
At this point, he finally realized: "Could it be you, Miss—"
"Yes, it is the venerable man who ordered me to come here to seek your guidance, Mr. Edgar Waikolo. It is the thread of fate that binds us together."
Catalina stood up, and the apricot-yellow light from the window fell on her palms, dazzling and bright:
"Are you willing to work with me to find the lost treasure of the Silver Knight and recover the past glory buried in the ashes of history?"
"Ahem..."
He held up his left fist and coughed twice, as if something invisible was choking his throat. Then he stretched out his right palm and held Catalina's outstretched right hand friendly and pious, just like that rainy night when the miracle began:
"Of course, it's my pleasure, ma'am."
…
Two hours later, at the Loft Restaurant, near the entrance to the Rat Trail.
Standing in front of the restaurant, Ed couldn't help feeling a little emotional that he had returned to his old place after so many days.
"The entrance to the Rat Trail is near here. Why don't we have lunch first before taking action."
He was certain that the ingredients in this store should be fresh enough - after all, the rats had removed all the old ingredients last time.
"I have never been to a restaurant of this style..." Catalina looked at the signboard above with curiosity in her eyes.
"This restaurant is good. I've seen their chef and it's quite impressive."
With that said, Ed walked into the restaurant. Normally, as Catalina, it would be somewhat disgraceful to eat in such a restaurant, but after all, Ed had to consider his wallet.
What's more, with their current attire, if they don't show the signet ring on Catalina's hand, they might not even be able to get in through the door of the high-end restaurant.
Just let the eldest lady of the Auckland family make a special trip to experience the common people's delicious food.
"Miss, sir."
The waiter was still an old acquaintance. When he saw the sword on Catalina's waist, he was stunned for a moment, but he finally controlled his expression. After the two were seated, he presented the menu to Ed.
"Before ordering, I have to make sure you have cleaned the kitchen in the past two days."
Ed put down the menu and looked up at the waiter.
"Of course, it will look brand new." The waiter said with a smile.
After hearing this, Ed felt relieved and started ordering food.
After a while, the meals were brought out one by one. Catalina stared at the food on the plate, as if she had seen some new invention at an expo:
"What's this?"
"French fries and hamburgers. A popular diet in the New World."
Ed took a demonstrative bite, wiped his mouth with a napkin and said.
Catalina looked very cautious, carefully cutting the burger into pieces with a knife and fork, and raised her hand to her lips. Her back was straight and always kept a distance from the back of the seat.
After chewing for a moment, her eyes shone slightly, and she gently opened the burger with a fork to see what was inside.
"Want a soda?" Ed picked up the Clear Sky soda next to him and pressed the marble on it with a pop. In the summer, this kind of sapphire blue soda in a glass bottle will be chilled in a bucket. Drinking a bottle of it is so refreshing.
Catalina, who was sitting across from her, waved her hands quickly, obviously not daring to try this new type of drink that would make people hiccup.
Ed sighed softly, and just when he was about to drink all the soda in the glass bottle, an exclamation suddenly erupted from behind—
The sound of tables and chairs moving, the crowd screaming, the trampling of shoes, chaos spread rapidly through the air.
Could it be that those rats haven’t left yet?
He turned his head, wondering why it was so difficult to finish a meal smoothly...
Suddenly, Ed's pupils trembled slightly. I saw a deformed and ugly reptile running through the crowd in panic.
Sharp claws, scaly skin, and those split blood-red eyes...
