Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic Chapter 1613: 1613: Self-Questioning

Chapter 1613: Chapter 1613: Self-Questioning

Shard planned to visit Green Lake today.

On one hand, because today marks the first day of negotiations, even if he can’t bring Lecia effective information, he should at least check on the Furen brothers’ situation; on the other hand, he’s behind on providing Mr. Edmund with a few fish bones and doesn’t intend to delay any longer. He’ll jump into the lake himself to catch fish today and coincidentally see how the Church views the abnormal clouds over the island.

“Of course, yesterday was truly bizarre, with two assassination attempts in a row. I’d better take refuge in Green Lake today.”

But just as Shard was carrying Mia to the door of Lakeview Room 1 on the second floor, a knock sounded. He thought Luviya had forgotten sothing, but when he opened the door, it was Lecia standing outside.

“Yes, I just saw Luviya. She seed to be in a good mood,”

Her Highness the Princess said as she entered. After confirming the maid outside had closed the door, she touched Shard’s chest with concern:

“I heard about last night. Thank you for protecting Angelina. I knew she couldn’t stay too far from ; she always gets into trouble.”

This slightly wronged Angelina, but it also reminded Shard of the first ti he t the Little Princess. She was playing tortoise shell divination with her friends at the Prophet’s Society, which led to the tortoise shell exploding.

“Galina asked to bring you the docunts from MI6. She wanted to tell you that Chief Dark Anros has already reported your promotion file after successfully resolving the task at the Circle Riding Tournant; just wait for it.”

Last night when Shard t his superior, he inquired about his achievents. As for those MI6 files, they’re about the Green Lake negotiations. Shard obtained them through Miss Galina’s channel rather than directly requesting them from Director Anlos, so as to avoid suspicion. After all, the Duchess is one of the task’s negotiators, so it’s entirely reasonable for her to see the files.

“Before I left yesterday, Angelina said she heard strange sounds. What did Galina say?”

He embraced Lecia, who was listening to his heartbeat, and asked curiously.

“On the verge of awakening. After Galina inspected, she deed the sound to be the ‘other ,’ but more like the dream talk before fully awakening. This is quite common; all gifted ones experience this. But gifted ones who have never been in contact with Circle Sorcerer knowledge assu they’re mistaken before fully awakening. Only upon formal awakening can they consistently hear voices and converse with them. After all, few believe their brains are truly ill.”

The powerful heartbeat made her feel as though she was hearing the Earth’s pulses. That sense of power made her blush slightly; Lecia raised her head, affectionately sniffing Shard’s neck, not catching any scent of perfu, causing Lecia to smile:

“Today marks the first day of negotiations in the Green Lake Region; I hope you can confirm sothing for . Is there this person in the Carsonrick delegation?”

She handed Shard a black-and-white photo of a stern-looking middle-aged man with neatly trimd facial hair:

“Earl of Newcastle from Laketon, a rare pacifist among the Carsonrick Army faction. His na isn’t on the Carsonrick negotiation representative list, but it’s said he’ll attend in another capacity. Confirm if he really went to Green Lake; it’s crucial.”

“No problem.”

Shard morized the face from the photo, then asked:

“What’s to be done about Angelina’s situation? Since she’s on the verge of awakening, I think she’ll beco a Circle Sorcerer before sumr ends, likely within just a couple of months.”

“You really care about her,”

Lecia joked, but she truly cared for her sister:

“This is the first ti in Cavendish Royalty’s history that two Circle Sorcerers appeared in the sa generation. I’ve consulted Galina about whether to let her apprentice as a witch or attend Zaras Literary Academy like .”

“Don’t forget to consult Angelina’s opinion as well.”

“Oh, Knight, you’re treating like the evil sister from a fairy tale?”

Lecia teased, causing Shard to shake his head:

“Of course not. If you were that person, I wouldn’t love you so much.”

“Shard, save such sweet words like Hog Mountain Syrup for our dates,”

She laughed, pressing her lips together:

“Galina will have a detailed discussion with Angelina, then decide afterward. Be careful while acting in Green Lake. Oh, and for this weekend’s date, make sure to free up your schedule.”

She said as she was about to leave, but Shard stopped her for a mont. He turned to the basent, and soon returned with a red bronze bracelet:

“Give this to Angelina, Scribe Level Relic ‘Arrow’s Enemy.’ Rember to remind her not to wear it in sensitive places like churches. I had Old John identify it, and this paper lists the relic properties.”

“You’ll make seem like an ineffective sister.”

Lecia said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss Shard’s cheek before bidding farewell. Shard touched the nearly symtrical kiss marks on his face, feeling his mood lifted imdiately:

“The definition of loyalty in love may be different for greedy compared to others. But at the very least, I am willing to give my all to help them, until the very end… Desire, did you really not misjudge ?”

He held the cat dozing in his arms, ready to pack up and head to Green Lake, as “she” whispered with a light laugh in his ear:

[You don’t think Lecia Cavendish is using you, do you?]

“Of course not, at least in this matter, I am quite clear.”

(Mia running…)

Although the weather has been warming up quickly lately, the temperature in the basent of the Green Lake Hotel remained largely unchanged. However, Shard noticed that the warehouse was stacked with purple cabbages today, so he decided he wouldn’t dine at the hotel — he didn’t like purple cabbage.

Leaving through the back door of the hotel’s kitchen as usual, he didn’t see Little John curled up by the trash can today. But the boy hadn’t left, for his tattered quilted coat and a dog toy from who-knows-where were still in the trash. Shard left a few coins and two sugar cubes in his bucket, then looped around to enter the hotel through the main entrance.

Today, the hotel owners, the twin Mr. Soren Green and Ms. Helena Green, were both present. The forr was reconciling accounts with a worried expression, while the latter was instructing the hotel waitstaff that with the arrival of spring, they could dry the guests’ laundered clothes on the small balcony on the second floor of the hotel.

“Good morning, Mr. Watson.”

Mr. Soren Green put down his pen and greeted Shard:

“Didn’t see you yesterday, were you staying at Mikaela Ironworks City again?”

“Yes, the environnt over there is indeed better… but don’t worry about checking out. Compared to that industrial city, this ancient city is the focus of my material collection this ti. I’m planning to take a walk by the lake today.”

Shard said, then asked:

“Has anyone left a ssage for ?”

Ms. Green, who had just dismissed the young waitstaff, joined the conversation:

“If you’re talking about the lady you t with on Wednesday, she sent a ssage via soone this morning, asking you to wait a little longer, things aren’t going smoothly.”

“It’s rare to see her being so polite to strangers, Mr. Watson, your social skills are impressive,”

Mr. Soren Green said with a smile, and Shard nodded:

“Are you very familiar with her?”

“She used to co here often, so she’s sowhat of a regular.”

Mr. Green replied, seemingly unwilling to disclose much about the guest, so Shard didn’t probe further.

Shard’s “hotel service” included a daily newspaper delivery, allowing him to catch up on the news from the past few days. Today marked the first day of the negotiations, and the Green Lake Gazette had given a large space to report this, as the etings for today and tomorrow were both being held in town.

When Shard left the hotel with the newspaper, it was ten in the morning. The eting at Green Lake City Hall should have been underway, though he didn’t aim to mingle in directly. Instead, he walked to the street where City Hall was located to survey the situation, only to find the police had blocked half the street, making it impossible for him to get closer.

Fortunately, although Lecia hadn’t managed to place anyone in the first batch of negotiation teams, she did obtain the full itinerary of the representatives. After the midday eting concluded, the negotiation representatives would dine at the nearby “Ivy Club.” This is the most upscale private club in town, reserved solely for the local nobility.

Shard planned to wait for the representatives to arrive at the club. As for how he intended to enter the club —

“Sir, this is a private club.”

As Shard stepped on the red carpet into the understated club, the doorman in a white shirt imdiately stopped him.

“I’m here to see Mr. Hugman in room number six, the lady asked to co.”

The young doorman was montarily stunned, then quickly stepped aside:

“Please co in.”

This was a channel reserved for MI6 agents, and ntioning “the lady” indicated that Shard was temporarily handling the secret agents under Ms. Galina. This ant he didn’t even need to report to Chief Anlos.

The club’s grounds were extensive, with four stories including the basent. However, Shard didn’t wander but went straight to the dining hall, sitting beneath a peculiar painting of a black raven’s head atop a suit-clad human body. This unusual painting seed to be an expression of unique taste, and the background was clearly Green Lake, and a green Green Lake at that.

After sitting down by the table, Shard unfolded the newspaper he had tucked away and continued reading. By eleven, as people began filing into the dining hall, he called for a waiter to place an order. Notably, since he ca using the identity of an MI6 agent, he didn’t even have to pay, as MI6 would cover the bill later on.

Shard didn’t generally like taking advantage of others, but since it involved public funds from his unit, he didn’t hold back.