Chapter 996: An Acquaintance on the Second Floor

To prevent other accidents, after learning the location of that Mr. Victor Fanni, the three said goodbye to the spice merchant. To thank the two ladies for their company today, since it was noon, Xia De treated them to lunch together.

There were no good restaurants in the northwestern part of the city, so the three took a carriage back to St. Deran Square first. After picking up Little Mia, they had a meal at a nearby restaurant.

During the meal, Xia De flipped through the investigation report that Princess Miss Jia Lin Na helped record and talked about his story with the Three Cats Hotel.

"Last time, I was with Miss Mary at the Three Cats Hotel to contain a relic together, and earlier, I also went there to investigate a very dangerous Ringed Shushi."

"I also once received an Academy mission to help receive a female sorceress who stayed in Tobesk for a few days before heading north to the Academy."

Dorothy also said:

"The Ringed Shushi of Tobesk have all had contact with the Three Cats Hotel to a greater or lesser extent. The North City is the city's slum area, and the probability of things happening is higher than anywhere else, but it is also suitable for hiding oneself or conducting transactions. Chant Square is the center of the North District, and the Three Cats Hotel is the largest hotel around Chant Square, so there are many, many stories that happen there."

"There are similar places in Willendale."

Princess Miss Jia Lin Na said, turning her head to look at the fine snow drifting outside the restaurant window; this snowflake had been drifting for a whole morning. Just as she wanted to open her mouth to introduce Willendale, she saw the writer miss sitting beside her slightly stand up and tug at the collar of Xia De, who was sitting opposite:

"You never pay attention to this."

Dorothy complained softly, her movements very coherent; one could tell at a glance that she had done this more than once.

"Hmm..."

Since this morning, the princess of the Southern Kingdom had been suspicious of the relationship between the writer and the detective. Now it seemed that this suspicion was definitely not her overthinking.

In fact, two people in the same group, and their real-world professions could complement each other; if there was really any emotional involvement, it would actually be fine. But the problem was, even she, a princess of Kansenrick in Willendale, had heard rumors about "Hamilton of Lei Jiede" and Duchess Miss Jia Lin Na Cavendish. There was no reason for the female writer in Tobesk not to have heard of them.

"The relationship is really complicated."

Miss Jia Lin Na Anjou picked up her teacup to cover her expression:

"Since we still have to investigate in the afternoon, we won't drink alcohol. I am still looking forward to the results. Speaking of which, I once got a batch of quite good red wine in Huntington City, but unfortunately, I have already given it away as a gift. When I return to Huntington, I can go find that gentleman who has a vineyard in the New Continent and ask him if there is any stock left. If there is, I can send it to you."

She used changing the subject to cover up her emotions.

"I know the kind of wine you are talking about. At the banquet at the Lakeside Manor, Miss Miss Jia Lin Na once drank it with me..."

Xia De added another sentence:

"At that time, your mathematics teacher, Miss Sylvia, was also there. Miss Miss Jia Lin Na appreciates this lady very much."

Dorothy glanced at Xia De and said nothing. Princess Miss Jia Lin Na also looked at the blonde girl, seeing Xia De mention his "lover" in front of her, but the writer miss's expression did not change at all; she only felt that this young and powerful Ringed Shushi's life in Tobesk was truly colorful.

After lunch, the three returned home to rest for a while. They set off again at 2:00 PM. At this time, the snow in the sky was denser. People in Tobesk did not use umbrellas when it snowed, so the hats of the people walking on the street were stained with a layer of white.

Although Chant Square in the North District was not as important as St. Deran Square, because there were many merchants selling goods in the square, the merchants spontaneously cleared the snow, so it did not form an environment that was too muddy.

Because of the snow that lasted for a day, the temperature in the city shrouded in gray fog was very low in the afternoon. In the entire Chant Square, there were only more pedestrians near the "Upper Class Blacksmith Shop" on the southwest side, because the light and heat emitted from the blacksmith's furnace made people subconsciously approach in this snowy weather.

The arrival of winter made the pedestrians in Chant Square fewer, but the hawking sounds were still endless. Although it was not the first time Princess Miss Jia Lin Na had come here, she still felt curious about the environment here.

When the three crossed the square and walked toward the Three Cats Hotel, the princess of the Southern Kingdom inquired about the situation of the small vendors in the square with great interest, and even asked about the illegal exchange rate of the two countries' currencies at the "Honest Man Gold Shop" on the southwest side of the square.

When the three entered the hotel in the snow, the princess already had a small wooden hair accessory in her hand that she bought for 10 pence; it was Dorothy who paid for it. Miss Jia Lin Na Anjou was different from Lei Qianya and the little princess Ajielina whom Xia De knew. Lei Qianya was serious, earnest, and had just the right amount of sensibility as Dorothy, while Ajielina loved fantasy and was full of determination. As for the princess of the Anjou royal family, perhaps because there were too few brothers and sisters and she had not experienced the fierce competition among the princes and princesses of the Cavendish family, she still had a girlish romanticism even though she was only a few months younger than Lei Qianya.

"Speaking of which, among the girls I know so far, it seems that only sixteen-year-old Ajielina and seventeen-year-old Yiluna are younger than the age of this body of mine... Miss Sylvia seems to be about the same age as this body."

Xia De thought to himself as he followed the girls into the hotel.

After entering the Three Cats Hotel in the snow, Dorothy and Princess Miss Jia Lin Na found seats on the first floor, and Xia De walked to the counter alone. The afternoon was the time when the hotel had the fewest guests, and the female owner, Madame Sangmei, was standing behind the counter, bored.

When the three entered the door, she noticed that Xia De had come here again. After Xia De approached, she teased with a smile:

"Detective, it's truly remarkable, this time bringing two beautiful girls. I think one day, all the beautiful girls in Tobesk will be brought here by you."

"Then you should thank me for patronizing your business often."

Xia De smiled:

"Three hot drinks, no alcohol. The weather is really cold, I don't know when this snow will stop."

"Every winter is like this. However, you bring girls to me, it won't just be to drink hot fruit juice, right?"

Madame Sangmei asked, and Xia De thought for a moment:

"Then change it to butter beer..."

Then he asked with some worry:

"You don't distinguish between small, medium, large, and extra-large cups here, right?"

"Detective, this isn't your first time here, what kind of strange question is this? If you really feel it's not enough, it's not impossible for me to use a larger cup for you for free."

Madame Sangmei asked strangely, then greeted the waiter on the side to help Xia De prepare the drinks:

"That girl from the Southern Kingdom looks really good."

After ordering the waiter, she whispered to Xia De again. She was referring to Princess Miss Jia Lin Na. Although the princess had disguised her face, she still looked like a Kansenrick person.

"Oh, Madame Sangmei, although I sometimes bring different girls to you, I'm not doing bad things."

"Yes, yes."

The middle-aged woman wearing an apron smiled:

"You only do bad things to the Duchess, everyone in the city knows this."

She smiled very happily. On this snowy winter afternoon, teasing a familiar young man was a very good form of entertainment:

"Tell me, Detective, who are you investigating this time by coming to me? In view of the fact that you have a store discount, I can lower the intelligence fee a little for you."

"This time I'm just here to visit a friend."

Xia De shook his head. Mr. Victor Fanni, who peddled the boxes, lived in the hotel, and he also knew how to contact the other party. Considering that he didn't know what would happen in a moment, there was no need to inquire about intelligence from Madame Sangmei this time. If he really caused trouble, inquiring about intelligence from Madame Sangmei would mean directly telling others why he came.

The waiter soon delivered the butter beer to the trio's table. The wooden table with obvious wood grain used by the Three Cats Hotel had quite an atmosphere for those who liked taverns, but Xia De had no feeling about it.

He picked up the wine glass and took a sip of this drink that was said to be completely alcohol-free, feeling the taste was very strange. Princess Miss Jia Lin Na held the cup to feel the temperature, and Dorothy took out her notebook after taking off her gloves:

"Are you going up alone, or are we following you?"

Xia De thought for a moment:

"I don't know what the situation is yet, I'll go upstairs and walk around to scout it out in a moment."

Actually, he was thinking of confirming what the opponent was through "Her" perception.

"Then decide on the action plan. If the opponent is too strong, I will report this matter to the Church. I have acquaintances in the Church."

Both ladies smiled. That Miss Yiluna Miss Beiyasi from Wednesday night was clearly not an ordinary person in her relationship with Xia De. Although Princess Miss Jia Lin Na Anjou still didn't understand why that Angel-level relic would consider Xia De an ordinary person, the parchment in Yiluna Miss Beiyasi's hand at that time clearly contained more than just ordinary person information.

"If we can solve it ourselves, then let's visit that gentleman together. I think he will be taught a lesson."

Dorothy and Princess Miss Jia Lin Na also agreed with Xia De's plan, but Xia De did not get up immediately and chatted with them for another ten minutes. Taking advantage of Madame Sangmei going to the back kitchen, he stood up and walked toward the stairs, then walked toward the fourth floor of the hotel.

Thinking about what kind of things he would encounter on the fourth floor, Xia De stopped his steps just as he reached the second floor.

Frowning, he looked at the second floor. There were quite a few guests here on Monday afternoon. Ordering a glass of wine and sitting with friends for an afternoon, or gambling on Rhode cards with familiar card players, were all good ways to kill time.

A strange smell of food and alcohol permeated the air. Xia De stopped because he saw an acquaintance. Hesitating for a moment, he retreated to the stairs, and seeing that there was no one up or down, he changed into a coat and then applied the witch's eyeshadow. ===== CHAPTER 997 =====