Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 307 Return to Coldwater Port

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"All right, I'll get back to you within a week. Since you're only looking for more well-known research groups, I think it won't even take a week."

The professor accepted the envelope of money without even looking to see how much was inside before putting it aside, then said somewhat embarrassed:

"Detective, actually I was planning to go see Luisa these next few days... I've had that kind of dream again."

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"What? How could this be?"

Shard was startled; it had been nearly a month since the 'Joyful Dream Pen' had gone out of control, and Miss Luisa had clearly confirmed that the professor's health was recovering quickly and that he had not suffered any further psychological impacts.

"How many times did you dream? When?"

"Once, just yesterday."

"Then give me your hand."

Shard grasped Professor Manning's right wrist, and with an expression of worry on the professor's face, he listened intently. After about ten seconds, he relaxed and let go of the professor's hand:

"You can rest assured, it's not that kind of problem, you are safe."

In the close contact, "she" didn't feel any trace of Whisper elements within the professor's body.

"Then why would I have that kind of dream?"

Professor Manning asked, still puzzled, having not fully recovered from a serious illness he had suffered not long ago.

"I'm not a scholar, so I can't explain the cause of dreams. But I suggest you see a friend of mine who is a psychologist."

Since Shard didn't have Dr. Schneider's business card on him, he took paper and pen to write down the address for the professor, saying as he wrote:

"My friend is just an ordinary human, very good at treating these kinds of psychological ailments, and he will be able to help you."

The professor's face flushed and he asked tentatively:

"So, my dream is..."

Shard nodded:

"Yes, at least this time, it was really just a dream of your own making. But rest assured, I don't believe in the unsubstantiated idea that 'whatever you think about during the day becomes a dream at night,' so I won't harbor any suspicions about you. In my opinion, it might be a deep psychological trauma left by the last incident."

After writing down the address and sensing it was time to leave, he politely stood up to take his leave. From Professor Manning's expression as he saw him downstairs, it was likely the professor would indeed go see Dr. Schneider.

After parting with the professor, Shard planned to spend the day at Coldwater Port City. It had been over a week since the Mermaid Statue incident, and there was no need to worry about such dangers affecting him anymore. Moreover, even if he couldn't find another Blood Coin in the seaside city, there was still Mr. Lemer's safety house discovered from the diary, waiting to be explored — Shard was looking forward to his findings.

Like Miss Luisa, who rented the rundown house in a secluded lane, and Priest Augustus, who leased a basement-like space from a friend, the seafarer, who was often at sea, rented an attic in a three-story apartment building in the city. Even to prevent himself from staying in the New World for a long period, he would pay a year's rent at a time, so Shard didn't have to worry about the safe house being discovered by anyone.

The location of the safe house was also in the Dock Area of Coldwater Port City, specifically on New Danton Street, two blocks from Mermaid Lane, where the last incident occurred.

This street was dedicated to fish trade in the Dock Area. Whether it was local restaurant procurement or large transactions by foreign merchants, all were conducted here. The street was slippery, lined with fish shops, and even before turning into the street, one could smell the fishy odor.

The ground was paved with crushed stones, and the street was wide enough for four horse-drawn carriages to travel side by side. The shouts of hawkers, the rolling of wheels over the ground, and the noisy chatter mingled together, bringing the thick scent of life from the port city right into one's face.

Seagulls circled overhead while stray cats prowled the corners of the alleys intersecting with New Danton Street, eying their prey with ferocity or fighting with their kind over the ownership of a pile of trash.

Shard, with his hands in his pockets, lowered his head and walked from the grimy, damp alley into the street. The puddles underfoot had traces of blood, and the scent of fish wafting in the air made him slightly uncomfortable. On the right, fish shops had shallow metal fish tanks placed directly at the entrance, with large black sea fish swimming in the water, occasionally splashing droplets that added more wet traces to the ground.

Looking up to the right, number 41 New Danton Street was his destination. Shard glanced at the sun obscured by the accumulating clouds, then pressed down on his black hat before stepping forward.

Stepping up to the doorway, the rusted door made Shard hesitate briefly before knocking. He waited a full two minutes before someone opened the door.

The door was opened by a scrawny old man wearing a white wig and leaning on a cane. His eyes were deeply set in sockets, and his nose was large. The old man was probably slightly younger than Priest Augustus, with very apparent liver spots on his face:

"Who are you looking for? If you're a robber, go somewhere else, everyone living here is poor."

After glancing at Shard and realizing he was a stranger, the old man spat outside and then tried to close the door.

But Shard's hand held the door open. He said to the rude old man inside with a thick accent:

"Is George Anthony living here?"

This was Lemer's alias.

"Mr. Anthony is dead. His estate went to distant relatives, and I've come to clean up his belongings. Don't ask me for any proof of identity; he died at sea, and they didn't even find the body,"

Shard said.

The old man who opened the door looked at him suspiciously. Shard's face was half-hidden beneath his hat, appearing very suspicious:

"Dead? How do I know you're telling the truth? Even if he's dead, I won't let anyone take anything from here without seeing a will. This building is mine. Even if it was rented out to someone else, the things inside are mine. Oh, damn it, you even said you're not a robber. Quick, leave, or I'll call the police!"

Meaning he wanted to swallow Lemer's belongings.

But Shard, being confident to come here, was well-prepared. He had already known how terrible the landlord was from the diary:

"Take a look at what this is."

Saying so, he slightly opened his coat to reveal a handgun tucked at his waist. Then, he waved a small identification document in front of the old man:

"Can you read?"

"MI6!"