Chapter 956: Reading Salon

After lunch, Xia De took out the vines with spiritual toxins he had obtained when looking for 【Aiken Aola's Arrow of Knowledge】 and gave them to the sister, so that the sister could further search for "Pan Ta Na Er Evil Things." He did not stay in Mi De Xi Er Bao for too long and said goodbye to the reluctant Helen and Grace at two o'clock in the afternoon, preparing to go home.

The carriage was prepared by the witch's apprentice, Miss Si Wei Fu Te. The girl with flaxen hair braved the heavy snow, sent Xia De to the door of the auction house, and waved goodbye to him standing in the snow.

The falling snowflakes fell on the young girl's hat and shoulders. Miss Si Wei Fu Te, who was saying goodbye, stopped talking, bit her lip for a long time, and didn't say a word. Seeing that the snow was falling heavily, Xia De told her to go back quickly. At this time, the young girl suddenly threw something at the carriage window, then turned and walked quickly toward the door of the auction house.

The coachman driving the carriage swung the reins, and the carriage wheels rolling over the snow layer made a dull rustling sound. The carriage drove into the fluttering snow, and Xia De picked up the thing that had been thrown into the carriage.

That was certainly not a steam bomb with the safety pulled, but a pebble rune stone. Relying on the appearance of the branch-like runes faintly glowing on the smooth surface of the pebble, Xia De recognized that this was a camouflage rune stone that Ti Fa had used beside Lake Shi Lu He.

Only needing to chant the spell, the rune stone could be activated for camouflage. Miss Pa Wo, the vice president of the Truth Society who was also a Six-Ring, still firmly believed that the female companion suspected of being the "God Caller" was an ugly woman, and the "God Caller"'s pet was a dog, because of the guidance of this rune stone.

"Oh, Miss Si Wei Fu Te can actually make this level of rune stone? This is truly amazing!"

After the battle at Lake Shi Lu He, when dancing, Xia De heard Ti Fa, who was wearing a blue long dress, say that this kind of rune stone was a unique alchemical item of witches and required at least the Fifth Tier to make. Just now he didn't shake hands with Miss Si Wei Fu Te, so he didn't know the level change of that young girl. But judging from this rune stone, she had been promoted from the Fourth Tier to the Fifth Tier, and her Ringed Shushi level should also have been promoted to the Five-Ring.

"This witch lady who has no self-confidence has finally started to make progress."

Xia De sighed softly, then put the rune stone into his pocket.

【Then why did she throw this to you?】

"She" whispered. Xia De tilted his head to look at the snow scene outside the window, just pretending not to hear.

The poem fragments and Lu Lu Weiya's prophecy pointed to the fact that Phantom Thief Jack would steal an item that the king had once touched in the Yo De Er Palace - Saint De Lan Square area tonight. Lu Lu Weiya and the church both believed that the place being stolen was most likely the Yo De Er Palace. Coincidentally, Xia De also received an invitation to attend the princesses' reading salon, so he would spend the night with Lei Qianya, Princess Ring Ring Mage Li Te, and Lu Lu Weiya at the Divination Association.

After returning home in the afternoon, he first handled the "anti-theft" measures at home. Even if Duo Luo Qian was looking after No. 6 Saint De Lan Square tonight, Xia De had to ensure that nothing went wrong. After the writer lady finished dinner in the kitchen, Xia De repeatedly gave instructions on safety issues.

"Although the possibility of my house being stolen is very small, I still want to emphasize it again. If you really encounter 【Phantom Thief Jack】, your and Mia's safety is the most important."

Xia De solemnly pinched little Mia's waist and handed the cat to Duo Luo Qian. The cat originally stretched its head, looking curiously at the plate of scrambled eggs. Being picked up at this time, it made a dissatisfied whimper.

Duo Luo Qian took off her apron, washed her hands, and then took the restless cat with a smile:

"Yes, yes, Detective, I will not let your cat leave my sight tonight. If a stranger appears in the house, I will immediately take it away from the room."

"That's it. Also, if it's not me knocking on the door, don't open the door at any time; if there are beggars begging, just pretend not to hear. There are no beggars in the nearby block. King La Lu Si III is soft-hearted and can't bear to see beggars; if a black shadow appears outside the window, leave the window immediately; you are carrying weapons, don't be soft-hearted when necessary; also..."

"Xia De, do you really want to tell me these things like an adult leaving home?"

The writer lady asked with a feigned dissatisfied look. Xia De could only shut up, but he actually had many precautions to tell Duo Luo Qian.

Looking sideways at the living room, the roaring flames were jumping in the fireplace. This afternoon, Lei Qianya sent someone to help Xia De light the fireplace. Xia De, who had just returned home, learned it and confirmed that he had learned the technique of using the fireplace.

Duo Luo Qian brought all the dinner to the table. After sitting down, she also informed Xia De of her plans for tonight.

She planned to hold the cat tonight and sit on the carpet in front of the fireplace to read. Although the living room of the apartment on Feather Pen Street she rented also had a fireplace, it was far less imposing than Xia De's here.

"Mia, you follow Duo Luo Qian tonight, don't run around."

Since Duo Luo Qian already thought Xia De was a bit wordy, Xia De "taught" Mia while eating. The orange-white young cat tilted its head to look at him, then stretched its neck, squinted its eyes, slightly raised its butt, pushed forward with two furry front paws, and kicked backward with its hind paws, making a stretching action.

"It doesn't want to listen to your wordiness either."

Duo Luo Qian said with a smile, feeding the cat a small piece of egg. Mia smelled it vigilantly, and only bit it after Xia De nodded. Because of this piece of egg, when Duo Luo Qian picked up the cat with four little paws exposing its snow-white belly in the evening after dinner, it actually didn't resist.

The reading salon of the Divination Association was convened by Lei Qianya, scheduled to start at seven o'clock tonight and end around nine to nine-thirty. After dinner, Xia De began to pack his clothes. After Duo Luo Qian finished organizing his bow tie, he confirmed that he could set off.

The blonde girl at home held the lazy cat and sent Xia De downstairs. When Xia De was changing his shoes, he emphasized again:

"Because 【Phantom Thief Jack】 becomes stronger when encountering the strong, I didn't take 【Nightwatcher】 to the Divination Association. Duo Luo Qian, I put that sword in..."

"By the fireplace, with the poker, right where I can reach it."

Duo Luo Qian repeated. Xia De opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, so the blonde girl stretched out her arms and hugged Xia De:

"Give my regards to Lei Qianya, and wish you a pleasant evening."

Duo Luo Qian helped him open the door, stuffed the "Han Mi Er Dun Detective Story Collection" that Xia De was preparing to bring to the salon to him—Xia De couldn't bring "The Queen and Her Lovers" from home—and then pushed Xia De into the howling night wind outside the door. The winter night wind stimulated the skin like a knife. The time was the 27th day of the Frost Month, and the cold winter had arrived.

The time came to six-thirty. The sun had completely set. Saint De Lan Square was brightly lit. Xia De, standing in the halo of the dim lights, turned to look at his own porch.

Duo Luo Qian held the cat in one hand and waved goodbye to Xia De at the bright place. The wind blowing toward the porch made the hair hanging by her ear sway. Xia De also waved goodbye slowly, but his intuition was reminding him that something would probably happen again tonight.

Saint De Lan Square and Silver Cross Avenue were only separated by one street, so Xia De could walk there. When turning into Silver Cross Avenue, he saw that the gas lamps on Silver Cross Avenue tonight were exceptionally bright. In the fog, the evenly distributed halos of light completely illuminated the whole street. This was a scene that hadn't happened before.

This appearance was not because of Lei Qianya's reading salon, but because the church obviously also believed that the target of Phantom Thief Jack tonight was the Yo De Er Palace. When Xia De walked onto Silver Cross Avenue, he saw denser patrol police patrolling the street. The patrol police who were usually in groups of two had now become small teams of four.

Even occasionally, one or two Ringed Shushi could be seen mixed among ordinary police officers. 【Phantom Thief Jack】 becomes stronger when encountering the strong. Before it truly appeared, the church was very cautious about the security arrangements.

"The light of civilization!"

He looked at the street lamp while walking, and then thought of the arrow that failed to be shot yesterday afternoon. Although that was already 24 hours ago, Xia De had a premonition that as long as he hadn't completely shot that arrow, the uncomfortable feeling of being scratched by hundreds of thousands of little Mias in his heart would continue to plague him.

Thinking of this, Xia De waited for a while, but "she" did not correct that Xia De thought of "tens of thousands" last time, which made Xia De very disappointed. But he immediately heard "her" gentle smile again, so his mood immediately became much better, and even the moon covered by thin fog seemed to become rounder.

The activity tonight was called a "reading salon," but it was actually an activity initiated by King La Lu Si III, aimed at strengthening the relationship between the Ka Sen Li Ke and De La Rui Ang royal families. When Lei Qianya visited Wei Lun Dai Er City this summer, she also participated in a similar salon.

Therefore, among the invited guests, the entourage of Princess Margaret's visiting delegation and the Kassen-Rik writers and cultural critics residing in Tobesk combined to account for one-third of the total number. Of course, Sir Pulin, who possesses the core spirit rune of the "Moon of Guidance" and whom Xia De has been thinking about, will also be present; after all, he is a very prestigious poet in Kassen-Rik.

As for the De La Rui Ang side, besides Lei Qianya, the sixteen-year-old little princess A Jie Li Na and the nineteen-year-old Prince Na Sai Er would also participate.

According to the habits of nobles in the To Bei Si Ke area, reading salons usually don't invite too many people. The invited people will use affected yet elegant and beautiful language to talk about books, literature, academics, fashion, and sometimes even gossip and Luo De cards. Lei Qianya's reading salon invited a total of 34 guests this time, which can be considered a large-scale salon.

When Xia De arrived at the door of the Divination Association, guests had arrived one after another. The first-floor lobby of the Divination Association, which was not open at night, had dim lights that made people trance-like.

As the hostess of the salon, Lei Qianya arrived at the Divination Association earlier than anyone else. She followed Xia De's advice and chose a room on the second floor that could see the Yo De Er Palace. When Xia De came to the room at the end of the corridor covered with red carpets, Lei Qianya had already brought her younger brother and sister to welcome the guests at the door of the room. ===== CHAPTER 957 =====