"If you want to see it, I have the complete set."
Nora Scott’s tone was calm and composed, as if she were casually ntioning having a certain household item at ho.
Jack Carter was startled, dumbfounded, "A- A complete set of books?"
"Yes."
"..."
Jack Carter was too shocked to speak.
Nora Scott, who intended to take a seat, sensed the awkward atmosphere. Seeing Jack Carter’s astonished expression, she realized and added, "My grandfather loved her comics and collected every single one."
"Your, your grandfather?"
Jack Carter, who was hoping to et a die-hard fan of God Z, was unable to process this, stamring over his words.
"Yes, I’ll be going to his house this afternoon; I can bring over a set." Nora Scott said casually, then paused to ask them, "Aren’t you eating?"
Butler Loxley, unaware of how valuable the complete set of Zero’s books was, clearly didn’t understand Jack Carter’s reaction. Upon Nora Scott’s inquiry, he smiled and nodded, "Yes, I’ll bring the soup up."
"Miss Scott, I..." Jack Carter couldn’t hide the excitent in his eyes, nervously asking, "Could I take a look at them then?"
"Sure."
Nora Scott confird affirmatively.
Jack Carter was overjoyed.
Though all of Zero’s comics are available online, the printed versions are universally recognized as providing the best reading experience.
Zero was known as a "Framing Genius," famous for his masterful paneling, with narrative visuals delivering an impact that ordinary comic creators couldn’t achieve. Many of his framing ideas were widely emulated by up-and-coming comic artists.
His paneling was best showcased in the traditional print format; phone screens are too small. While the plot isn’t compromised when flipping through them, the impact can’t compare to reading them on paper.
That’s why so many people wanted to collect his single-issue comics.
Seeing him grin broadly, Nora Scott slightly smirked, "All her books will be reissued next year."
"Really?" Jack Carter was ecstatic, then noticed sothing amiss, "There’s no news online. How do you know?"
"Grandfather said so; he’s very attentive."
Nora Scott smoothly pushed the responsibility to Sir Easton.
Jack Carter scratched his head.
So the question was, where did Miss Scott’s grandfather get this "inside information" from?
As Butler Loxley brought out the soup, Jack Carter, despite his curiosity, didn’t dare to ask more. He gave a toothy smile at Nora Scott before seating himself elsewhere to eat.
...
Nora Scott and Butler Loxley were already acquainted, and Jack Carter’s lively and cheerful nature made interacting with them comfortable. Nora Scott was at ease, staying at Pedro Langley’s house felt just like ho.
After the al, Nora Scott stayed for so fruit, not rushing to leave.
"Studying?"
Carrying a fruit plate to the coffee table, Nora Scott asked Jack Carter, who was poring over an English book.
She pushed the fruit plate next to Jack Carter.
"Freshly cut, the blood oranges are good."
"Thank you... I..."
Jack Carter was flattered. Seeing Nora Scott smile at him, he felt relieved and nodded, explaining, "Yes, Master Pedro thinks I shouldn’t live life idly, so he wants to learn so English and get familiar with assistant work, so I can work with him when I’m skilled enough."
"Oh?"
Nora Scott raised an eyebrow and sat down on a single sofa.
Seeing her so amiable and approachable, Jack Carter beca cautious. After a slight pause, he said very assuredly, "Master Pedro is truly a good person."
"I know."
Nora Scott didn’t deny it.
Pedro Langley was the epito of a sharp tongue with a soft heart.
His sharp tongue could bring the dead back to life with anger, but that was its extent. Pragmatic yet principled in his actions.
His family background and upbringing shaped his knowledge and insight, while his personal refinent and self-discipline ensured he treated everyone equally.
Taking a bite of winter dates, Nora Scott slightly tilted her head, asking, "How did you beco Butler Loxley’s assistant?"
Jack Carter smiled brightly and answered honestly, "I learned so martial arts as a child, and my master knows Butler Loxley. Sothing happened during my college entrance exam year, and I didn’t want to take it again. So, Butler Loxley let stay by his side. When Butler Loxley ca to take care of Master Pedro, he brought along."
Nora Scott paused, "Madam Langley..."
Looking slightly somber, Jack Carter said softly, "It’s been a century."
"Oh."
Nora Scott nodded and didn’t ask further.
*
The old alleyway, with its aging infrastructure, bore the wear and tear of the long flow of ti. Its walls were mottled, clutter piled up, starkly contrasting the towering, shiny buildings in the city.
Nora Scott drove slowly, deftly navigating through the alley. A bald old man out for a walk recognized the license plate and ca out specifically, tapping on the car door with his knuckle.
Lowering the window, Nora Scott propped her elbow on the edge, leaning out to greet him, "Grandpa Ward."
"Back for a visit?" The old man bent down to ask, "How’s old Easton doing?"
The old man, over seventy, had shaved his head after Antonio Easton was hospitalized, making his round face appear more spirited.
"Still the sa."
"No deterioration is good news. How long are you staying? Want to eat at my place?"
"No need, just ca to pick up sothing."
"Visit more often when you have ti. Those old guys often talk about you. Without you stirring things up, everyone’s bored."
Nora Scott raised an eyebrow, "How’s their health?"
"Good, healthier than ever, just life’s a bit dull."
Nora Scott smiled, chatted with him briefly, and then bid farewell, driving further in.
She had lived here since childhood; the residents had watched her grow up, especially those quirky old n who let her do as she pleased.
But she hadn’t visited much in recent years and hadn’t seen them often.
Skillfully parking the car, Nora Scott walked through the gate, greeting familiar faces along the way until reaching a closed door. After rummaging through the pile of junk beside it and finding no key, she simply pulled out a silver wire and swiftly picked the lock.
The two-bedroom layout wasn’t large, but thanks to regular cleaning, it remained clean despite being unoccupied.
Crossing through the dimly lit living room, Nora Scott directly entered the side bedroom.
"Click."
The bedroom light ca on.
A room full of books ca into view, causing Nora Scott to squint at the harsh light.
The not-so-spacious bedroom, aside from an empty bed and aisle, had every surface from the bookshelves, desk, to the bedside table, piled high with comics signed "Zero."
What she told Jack Carter wasn’t entirely a lie.
Two years ago, after learning that Antonio Easton was ill, she returned ho and discovered that her bedroom had been turned into a "study." All the books were by Zero. Each was purchased in quantities ranging from a few dozen to a hundred, with the minimum being over thirty copies per book.
Only then did she find out that Antonio Easton, who never had much faith in her "half-baked" endeavours, feared her book sales would suffer, so he always bought heaps whenever she released a new book.
In Antonio Easton’s mind, perhaps he was the only one willing to spend money on these frivolous things.
Thanks to his deep-seated impression, she could generously give away sets of thirty books all at once.
However, her main purpose in coming was to get sothing for Antonio Easton rather than the books.
The phone rang in ti.
"Are you ho?" Antonio Easton’s voice sounded energetic, unlike his usual weakness.
"Yes. Just arrived."
"The blueprints are hidden in the secret compartnt in the first drawer on the right of the cabinet by the window in my bedroom. Do you know how to open it?"
’Half-baked’ Nora Scott: "..."
No, she didn’t.
Before she was ten, she never opened Easton’s chanisms.
After she turned ten, she never touched Easton’s chanisms again.
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