Shea and Baron Lavender met in the study of the detective agency. As Shea handed the card to the Baron, the middle-aged man with the beautiful little mustache practically trembled as he took it
"You have finally returned to my hands."
The Baron was likely one of those veteran Rhode card fanatics.
However, due to the requirements of the other party in the Lakeview Manor gamble—namely, Baron Rwanda—and for the sake of appearances, the card could not be held by Baron Lavender just yet. Thus, after testing Shea's intentions and confirming that the "honest and kind" detective had absolutely no intention of keeping the card for himself, he signed a detective commission agreement with Shea.
The term of the agreement was six months. During these six months, Detective Shea Hamilton would be responsible for the safekeeping of [Ancient Fairy Tale: The Little Match Girl], with the right to use it at will provided it was not lent out, rented, damaged, or lost. During the agreement period, should Baron Lavender have a request, the detective must temporarily hand the card over for his use, and he promised that after the six months, he would sell the card to Baron Lavender for the price of 5 pounds.
The commission fee for this agreement was 5 pounds, which meant Shea would obtain a generous total remuneration of 10 pounds from this matter.
Although the true value of the card exceeded 50 pounds, winning the gamble at Lakeview Manor was Shea's original promise, so the ownership of the card should have belonged to Sir Lavender from the start. Therefore, the transaction would take place after six months at an extremely cheap price rather than its true value; Baron Lavender had explained this many times, fearing that Shea might go back on his word.
In short, after the Baron paid the commission fee in full and joyfully accompanied Shea to the first floor to shake hands before leaving, Shea stood before the open door, watching the flock of pigeons perched in St. Theran Square and musing
"So, not only did I obtain temporary usage rights of a Rhode card, but I also earned a profit of 10 pounds. Does this count as me scamming Baron Lavender? But this was his own request; I didn't do anything. It seems having a few more noble friends is indeed quite good; Rhode cards really are a great way to make friends. Better go back and record the accounts."
Bending down, he picked up the orange cat that was peeking through the doorway, appearing both fearful and curious of the world outside the house. As he stood up, he just happened to see the middle-aged officer, Captain Rhodes, walking along Circle Plaza Avenue with his head lowered, brushing past Baron Lavender's carriage.
He wrapped himself in a large black overcoat, with a wide brown leather belt cinching the hem, and the second button from the top of the coat swung back and forth against his chest
"Hello, detective. Were you specifically waiting for me?"
Even though it was currently morning, he still had the feeling of someone who hadn't quite woken up. The Captain did not look like he was in a good state; his expression was the complete opposite of the jubilant Baron Lavender who had just been here.
But at least his mustache and hair were well-groomed, and his clothes were relatively neat, which indicated that this middle-aged officer—who had suffered a loss of reputation due to the Relic [Spear of Kindness]—had not yet lost faith in life.
"...Yes, Captain. Please, come in."
The Captain had come here simply to apologize; he had no intention of demanding that antique pistol back. He felt immensely embarrassed about what had happened at Lakeview Manor and insisted on compensating Shea for that black formal suit.
But this dejected middle-aged man looked even poorer than Shea and was in poor mental health, so Shea, who had actually benefited from the Spear of Kindness, did not demand compensation. Instead, he kindly gave him the business card for Schneider Psychological Clinic and introduced him to Priest Augus of the Dawn Church
"Both of them are friends I met through commissions; perhaps you could have a talk with them."
Shea spoke very kindly, and suddenly realized how well the professions of psychologist and priest paired with those of a detective.
At the same time, he was also curious about the method by which Captain Rhodes had acquired that Relic, the [Spear of Kindness], wanting to see if there was any secret behind it.
But the Captain very embarrassedly told Shea that he had won it from a tavern drunkard during a game of Rhode cards several years ago, while he was at the front lines of the Wind-Rising Path in the south during a bout of drunkenness.
Because he didn't want others to know he gambled, he had told his friends it was an antique he had purchased. But after the undignified incident at Lakeview Manor, the Captain no longer wished to possess that pistol
"To be honest, since it left me, I've even been sleeping sweetly, as if a heavy burden was suddenly lifted. Detective, just leave the gun with you; handle it however you wish."
The middle-aged man spoke this way, but Shea knew that this was the sensation ordinary people felt after being influenced by the power of a [Relic] for a long time.
He offered a few words of comfort to the Captain and encouraged him to live well. Captain Rhodes likely hadn't heard such words in a long time; his favorability toward Shea doubled, and he thought of something else
"However, that wasn't the only thing I won from that wretched fellow back then. I remember there was also a small ornament."
Shea raised an eyebrow, speculating on the possibility that the ornament was also a Relic
"What kind of ornament? May I see it? That gun is very good; I think that ornament might also be something valuable. I would be willing to buy it."
The 5 pounds he had just obtained from Baron Lavender seemed to have found a use.
The Captain thought for a moment, ran a thick palm through his hair, and spoke with an uncertain tone
"As you know, I have only just returned to this city as a released prisoner from Carsonric. While looking for a rental apartment, many of my former belongings were lost. I didn't care much for that thing before—after all, only women... ahem, only girls like wearing small ornaments. It might still be in my rental apartment, but I'll have to look for it."
"It's no problem. Do you mind if I go with you? I happen to have nothing to do this morning."
Shea asked, and the Captain readily agreed.
Captain Rhodes had just returned from Carsonric as a prisoner and had been in a difficult situation lately. Even with help from old friends, his current economic status was not great.
He was currently renting in Pig-Tail Alley in the north of the city. Although it wasn't part of the slums, it could be considered the lower district of Tobeske. It was far from St. Theran Square in the city center, but neither Shea nor the Captain mentioned taking a carriage.
The two men, both having nothing pressing to attend to, walked together through the Tobeske district. They actually had many common topics to discuss, as the Captain was not a man with many complicated thoughts.
As long as Shea mentioned something about the southern front, he could get a wealth of military information from the Captain. Captain Rhodes was truly a brave and loyal officer; if it hadn't been for that Spear of Kindness, he might have successfully shot himself... so from that perspective, the gun had actually saved the Captain.