Aside from the suspicions mentioned above, if one followed this line of reasoning, the fact that he happened to purchase No. 6 St. Therese Square might just be the result of an intelligence organization's operations; and being "skilled in investigating mistresses and extramarital affairs" might also be a preference deliberately chosen by the detective to approach the nobility and eavesdrop on their secrets. Furthermore, the ultimate cause of his death—exhausting all his strength to fulfill a noble's commission—could also corroborate Shard's hypothesis.
However, if this idea were correct, then what exactly was Detective Spyro's mission? Was it to lie in wait to be awakened, or simply to infiltrate the upper echelons of Tobesk, or perhaps to wait for the right moment to join a certain event? All of these had vanished into thin air with the detective's unexpected death.
As for 【Origin · Silver Moon】, it was currently unclear whether it was the detective's personal hobby or the stepping stone he used to pry open the doors of high society during his three years of infiltrating Tobesk.
"But these are all just conjectures."
Shard walked through the door, preparing to take a broom to clean the first floor
"Regardless, Spyro Hamilton is dead. The only secret belonging to him left is that letter that will be sent in September. Current guesses are just guesses; if he could find the original owner months in advance, he could certainly have destroyed items related to his identity months in advance as well."
Thinking of this, the reason why Detective Spyro specifically sought out the original owner, Shard, who had mental issues, also seemed to be explained
"Was he perhaps in single-line contact with the Carsonric side, acting as a long-term undercover agent who wouldn't be assigned tasks until a critical moment? Therefore, after something went wrong, he couldn't immediately notify his superior of his impending death, so he could only find a vagrant with mental issues, using whether or not a seemingly ordinary letter arrived in September as a confirmation of his safety."
Shard was almost certain that there was more than a fifty percent chance his idea was correct.
But there was currently no evidence to prove these views, unless he were crazy enough to report Detective Spyro and allow his own life to be affected
"However, perhaps Miss Annette's divination could be useful."
He thought to himself
"There's no need to have her perform that kind of high-cost divination; a simple, ordinary divination might provide clues related to Detective Spyro."
Thinking that he wouldn't have to wait until September to uncover this secret, his mood at this moment was even better than when he had found the wallet earlier.
Among the four free mystical arts provided to Shard by the Academy, 【Perception of Time】 could not be learned due to a lack of materials, while 【Cynthia's Silver Moon Grace】 required extremely strict lunar phase conditions to learn.
While preparing late-night snacks for Miya, Shard noticed the cat was actually licking the bleeding wound on the back of his hand. While worrying about his own health, he wanted to try learning this healing ability; tonight happened to be suitable.
He took the bottle of silver liquid out from the study drawer. This liquid was called "Silver Moon Moonlight" by the Academy. If purchased normally, this small 0.5 fluid ounce (approximately 14.2ml) bottle would cost 14 pounds and 3 shillings at the Academy's retail price.
He opened the living room curtains, bathing himself in the three-colored moonlight. He extended his right arm, then picked up the cat that had suddenly jumped onto his arm, placing the back of his right hand under the moonlight.
The requirement for learning this ability was to have a wound; in his current situation, he didn't need to intentionally harm himself.
Carefully pouring the moonlight liquid onto the wound, the liquid did not flow down the back of his hand but instead gathered entirely at the site of the wound. Shard took a deep breath, picked up the prepared match from the windowsill, struck it lightly against the wall to light it, and then very carefully pressed the back of his right hand downward, letting the burning match head touch the wound where the silver liquid had gathered.
"Tsk~"
The match went out due to the pressure, and the moonlight liquid under the moonlight all surged into the wound; the ability had been successfully learned.
Feeling the new power, Shard saw that the wound on the back of his hand was still there, so he softly recited the awkward incantation that he understood as "Praise the Moon." A faint silver light appeared in his left hand, and he immediately covered the back of his right hand with his left.
It was only after a few minutes that he separated his hands, shaking his right hand and seeing that the wound only had a shallow trace left, which would likely heal quickly. The mystical art 【Cynthia's Silver Moon Grace】 actually leaned more towards using the properties of the Silver Moon to perform healing on the mind and soul; physical healing was considered a side effect, so the effect was not particularly good.
After all, among the three moons, only the Red Moon represented the meaning of "flesh and blood," and Red Moon mystical arts were better at physical healing.
"Meow~"
Miya quickly scratched at Shard's trouser leg with her paws. Having learned a brand-new mystical art, Shard picked her up, intending to wash up and go to rest.
The 【Mercury Blood】 incident had temporarily come to an end. He had found Mr. Spyro's legacy, his studies as a Circle Warlock were on the right track, and he even had a goal for a long time to come. Shard had no dissatisfaction with such a life; just like his thoughts when he first left St. Therese Square and saw this era and this world, everything would get better.
The next day was Tuesday. The matter at Lakeview Manor had temporarily concluded, and Shard's life returned to tranquility once more.
The most important thing today was to visit the heavily injured Dr. Schneider, but although he had some free time, the other two commissions left by Detective Spyro could not be completed for the time being.
The detective's intention was for Shard to gradually complete the four commissions over the two months before September to maintain the outward operation of the agency; therefore, the remaining two commissions were not things that could be easily completed right now.
He planned to act at the end of this month or the beginning of next month.
Shard fed the cat early, first went to the post office to send a letter to the Lucky Southern Cross Club stating that he had awakened, and only then met with Priest Augustus in front of the Dawn Church, which was a twenty-minute walk from St. Therese Square.
The Dawn Church was located in the center of Dawn Square and served as a landmark building of Tobesk. Even if they were not believers, people would be awestruck by the church's magnificent architecture when passing by. Of course, according to Priest Augustus, the building itself possessed power, and evil spirits and wicked things had nowhere to hide within the church. Thus, the reason people were awestruck by the magnificent architecture was likely also due to the influence of supernatural power.
Although it was still early morning, the area in front of the Dawn Church was already teeming with people. Gentlemen of the respectable upper class were mixed with ordinary citizens, entering and exiting the church entrance engraved with a massive holy emblem.
Yesterday, he had heard the priest mention that the Dawn Church's most important religious festival—the Day of Holy Prayer—would be held in late July. Believers wishing to participate in church activities would be frequenting this place recently.
Shard did not know if one needed to bring gifts when visiting a patient in this world. Since he had found the money left by Detective Spyro, he had once thought on his way to the church about whether he should buy some fruit or eggs, but he still arrived empty-handed upon reaching his destination.
So, he then thought that after meeting Priest Augustus, he would ask him to pick a few beautiful flowers from the church garden. But after seeing the old priest, he felt too embarrassed to say it.
Priest Augustus also had no intention of buying gifts. After meeting up with Shard, he took a carriage directly to Dr. Schneider's clinic.
(End of Chapter)