Chapter 2581: Dear Detective Mr. 33

Alrek did not dare to waste too much time; after grasping these evidences, he had the soldier messenger sent by Prince Peg deliver these griffin gang account-book evidences to London Main City.

Once these evidences are safely delivered into Prince Peg's hands, they are sufficient to topple Duke Willick, dealing a heavy blow or even dismantling the griffin gang.

After finishing these, he and Jin Chen returned to the cylindrical room.

Only then did Alrek feel as if he had walked back from chaos and absurdity into reality.

And the sense of rationality returning to 'Inspector Alrek' brought back that faint feeling of disconnection once again.

He turned around and saw Jin Chen standing at the doorway, leaning against the door frame, quietly watching him.

The slanted sunset streamed through the glass window behind Jin Chen, dyeing his soft golden hair with a honey-like hue.

He appeared as gentle as ever, as if everything that had just happened in the textile mill were merely Alrek's illusion.

Alrek's heart gave a heavy thump.

He instinctively avoided Jin Chen's outstretched hand that reached to grasp his.

Before the warmth of his fingertips could touch, he slightly turned his body and walked toward the nearby wine cabinet.

Jin Chen froze for a moment, 'Alrek?'

The little girl Doxi, clutching a stack of heavy books, passed through the hallway, sensed the strange atmosphere between the two, couldn't help but stop and tilt her head.

"What are you two doing? You look really strange."

Alrek stood in the shadow of the wine cabinet, at the edge of the light pillar cast from the window, half-lit, half-dark.

He did not answer Doxi's words, nor look at Jin Chen, and downed the amber liquor in his cup in one gulp.

"I'm going to rest; don't follow me."

Doxi: "?"

She held her books, looked bewilderedly at Jin Chen left alone at the doorway, and muttered softly, "You and Alrek had a fight? How strange! This is the first time I've seen him act like this toward you!"

Jin Chen watched Alrek's silhouette disappear at the stair turn, his fingertips unconsciously twisting.

Hearing Doxi's words, he lowered his head, the corners of his lips slightly curved, revealing a light smile.

"Not strange."

Jin Chen stepped forward, patted Doxi's head, "Not sending you to the Lady Etiquette Class, yet you're busier than before."

Doxi immediately clutched her books tightly, as if guarding some treasure, "This is my secret! Just as you surely have many secrets too……but I won't ask!"

She said that, glanced curiously at Jin Chen once more, then ran off skipping and jumping.

Jin Chen walked upstairs slowly and returned to his room.

After washing up, he changed into comfortable sleepwear, leaned against the headboard, took out the private ledger brought back from the textile mill that recorded the internal special poison purchase flow of the griffin gang, and, under the soft light, flipped through it again.

Ling Gun Gun lay on his shoulder, letting out a lazy yawn.

【Host, aren't you going to sleep yet? You've been busy all day.】

Jin Chen's gaze fell on the date and dosage record on a certain page of the ledger, his eyes calm.

【It's almost time for Alrek's death in the original story.】

If the true culprit is not Joshua, then time is pressing; he must quickly find solid evidence to prove that Julian was the one who increased the dosage at the end, killing Vincent.

Jin Chen pondered for a moment, then suddenly threw off the covers, got out of bed, walked to the desk, spread out the stationery, and wrote a brief letter.

After writing, he sealed the letter, opened the window, and softly whistled.

The carriage driver employed by the Shadow Speech Detective Agency appeared at the lower alley entrance.

Jin Chen precisely tossed the letter into his hand, and in a low voice instructed, "Hurry and deliver it to Olga Zhuang Yuan, personally handing it to Young Master John Olga."

——

Next morning.

Alrek woke up slightly later than usual.

When he went downstairs, only Doxi was sitting at the long table, a thick book spread before her, nibbling at toast with jam while she read attentively, occasionally picking up a pen to note down something in a small notebook.

Alrek unconsciously scanned the dining hall, but saw no familiar figure.

He frowned, pulled out a chair and sat down, his Adam's apple moving unnaturally. "Chen… Cyril? Still not up?"

Doxi didn't lift her head, completely absorbed in the book's content, and answered vaguely, "Oh, Cyril… he left early this morning to go to Olga Zhuang Yuan to see Young Master John for some business."

Alrek's hand holding the knife froze, his brows knitting tighter.

"He's going to see John Olga again? The culprit's already been found—Joshua's been thrown in jail—so why is he still going to see John?"

Only then did Doxi lift her head from the book, pick up her cup and take a big gulp of milk, milk staining her lips, she held her face in puzzlement and shook her head.

"I don't know either… maybe he just wants to make friends?"

She said that, looking at Alrek, her eyes tinged with teasing, "You think everyone's like you, the cold-hearted Inspector who has no friends!"

She said, looking at Alric, eyes teasing, "You think everyone's like you, you heartless detective with no friends!"

【51> He set down his knife, voice hard, threatening, "If you say another word, I'll immediately write to the Dean of the Ladies' Academy, suggesting she reconsider your admission, and send you back to learn how to speak properly."

He put down his knife, his tone hard as he threatened, "If you say another word, I'll immediately write to the Dean of the Lady Academy, advising her to reconsider your admission and have you go back to learn how to speak elegantly."

He put down his knife, his tone harsh as he threatened, "If you say another word, I'll immediately write a letter to the Dean of the Ladies' Academy, suggesting she reconsider your admission, and have you go back to learn how to speak elegantly."

Doxi immediately jumped up, clutching her brick-thick book, and dashed out of the dining hall.

Only Alrek remained in the dining hall.

He sat alone at the long table, cutting up the fried eggs and bacon on his plate, yet the usually tasteless breakfast now felt utterly flavorless.

An inexplicable irritability and the surging possessiveness tightened further inside him.

He merely needed time to digest, and space to readjust their relationship.

But he had never allowed Cyril to run off to someone else at times like this!

Let alone John Olga!

What's so good about John Olga?

What's so good about John Olga?

A'erruike couldn't help but critically compare in his mind; he had long been smoking opium, his body was frail, his complexion pallid beyond belief, his personality was also so gloomy and odd, and he was so thin that a gust of wind could knock him over—how could Xilier possibly like him!

A'erruike's train of thought suddenly stalled, and his fingers unconsciously grabbed at his shirt collar.

To conceal the tooth marks and slight swelling on his chest, he deliberately wore a gentleman's shirt with a higher collar and more elaborate tie, but he could still feel a faint itch and a sense of its presence.

This made him feel ill at ease, and the base of his ears grew slightly warm.

A'erruike set down his knife and fork, and could no longer sit here in peace.

Anxiety, jealousy, and unease made him rise, pick up the suit jacket draped over the chair back, and decide to make another trip to Ao'erjia Zhuang Yuan.

He wanted to see what Xilier was up to, running off early in the morning to find Yuehan Ao'erjia—what legitimate business could he possibly have!