Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength
Chapter 80: Encounter After Work

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Encounter After Work

After discussing these matters with Nicole,

Ronald was ready to leave the Investigation Bureau and head home to rest, just like yesterday.

Tomorrow morning, he was to go perform the so-called "fieldwork" with the young female investigator.

However, just as he opened the door, Ronald was suddenly stunned in his tracks.

Standing right in front of him, at the entrance of the Investigation Bureau, was a girl with beautiful white-gold hair.

— It was Patricia.

His gaze slowly moved from top to bottom, and during their mutual examination, Ronald noticed the envelope in her hand, identical to his own.

It was the envelope once used for his investigation assignments and transfer notifications, a unique type belonging to the Bureau.

In the silent air, the two locked eyes for a few seconds.

This time, without waiting for Ronald to speak first, Patricia took the initiative and asked,

"Ronald, have you also been summoned by the Investigation Bureau?"

"Similar to you, but I arrived a bit earlier," Ronald explained somewhat helplessly, pointing at the envelope in the girl’s hand.

"The morning after I returned from the train station, I received a transfer notice."

"As someone without much influence, naturally, I could only come and work."

"Oh..."

After pondering for a few seconds, Patricia turned to Ronald and whispered by his side,

"You don’t need to worry too much; the Investigation Bureau is a formal organization, and they generally don’t engage in overly outrageous actions."

"Besides, we might become colleagues soon."

Given that they were at the doorstep of a special unit like the Investigation Bureau, their conversation couldn’t delve too deep.

After just a few simple exchanges, the two ended their conversation.

Bidding farewell to Patricia, Ronald turned away and left the headquarters of the Bureau, his mind beginning to ponder the meaning of all this.

Why was Patricia also invited here?

Ever since Ronald entered Blenheim Investigation Bureau’s sight, his various behaviors had subtly proved him to be a controllable person from the lower echelons of mystery, which is why the Bureau summoned him at this time.

— In contrast to Patricia.

She definitely did not fit this criterion.

Considering their previous experience escaping from the train station together, this girl was not someone easily controlled by others.

What exactly was the purpose of Blenheim Investigation Bureau sending the invitation to this young lady?

Ronald did not have enough information at hand.

After making several conjectures, he was still unable to ascertain what secrets this matter might hold.

Unknowingly.

Walking along streets where the snow-melt water had disappeared but the air remained moist,

Ronald strolled back to the entrance of his lodging apartment.

The sun had set fifteen minutes ago, and the streets in the residential area were gradually emptying.

Not far from the street corner, Ronald saw a familiar scene he had witnessed on his way home from work these past few days.

On both sides of the road stood gas street lamps, currently being lit by municipal workers in an orderly sequence. They held long poles, first opening the lamp covers, then lighting the gas lamps with a flame triggered from the poles.

Their movements were skilled, and progress was swift.

Once lit, the tops of the poles instantly became sources of light illuminating the night.

The nighttime lighting workers of Blenheim, clearly all veteran employees,

This was a scene Ronald rarely saw even in movie theaters.

Honestly, he found it quite interesting.

Standing there, watching these workers for a few seconds, Ronald suddenly thought of Long Beach Street’s construction workers, who were replacing the electrical streetlights.

Before long, his own street was likely to undergo the same change.

At least in Blenheim, such scenes would soon be a thing of the past.

And these workers responsible for lighting the lamps every day would naturally...

With that thought, Ronald felt somewhat conflicted.

Contemplating for a few seconds, he then pulled out his keys, opened the door to the apartment, and walked inside.

"..."

"Ah, is that Ronald?"

As he walked through the front door, the landlady sitting on a chaise on the first floor knitting spotted him.

Watching Ronald return to the apartment, the lady did not get up.

She simply nodded at her visitor, her expression as friendly as ever.

"I put your lunch on the table in your living room."

"I’ve prepared some smoked meat for tonight, it tastes quite good."

"I’ll have to try it!"

"Thank you very much, madam."

Just as he was about to go upstairs, Ronald suddenly remembered something.

He stopped, turned back to the landlady, and a look of apology appeared on his face:

"Um, Mrs. Hudson."

The landlady blinked kindly:

"What’s the matter?"

"I’m really sorry, I accidentally broke the umbrella you left in the porch today; it was too damaged for me to bring back."

"I could... pay for a replacement?"

"Ah..."

A surprised tone dragged on.

A puzzled look appeared on the landlady’s face.

In her mind, Ronald was a tenant with a good temper and personality.

It didn’t make sense that such a gentle young man would intentionally damage her umbrella.

Her knitting hands did not stop.

The landlady paused to think and then continued:

"Mr. Ronald, I understand it wasn’t intentional."

"However, since it’s a communal item of the apartment, it does need to be replaced promptly."

"How about this..."

"One day while you’re commuting, you could buy an umbrella and leave it in the porch’s umbrella cabinet."

"I understand."

Ronald promptly accepted this solution and nodded again in apology:

"I’m really very sorry about this."

"That’s fine, that’s fine. Who doesn’t have little accidents in life?"

This time, the landlady stopped knitting and gave Ronald a comforting smile:

"When I was young, I used to be quite forgetful, too."

"No worries."

After expressing his thanks once more, Ronald headed upstairs.

Back on the second floor, he took out his keys and opened his own apartment door.

Just as the landlady had said, tonight’s dinner was laid out on the living room table.

A portion of roasted bread, a bowl of vegetable soup.

And a plate of nicely colored smoked meat.

Ronald sat down and picked up the food; he found the roasted bread was still warm.

Mrs. Hudson had remembered his time off work from last night.

Using that as a reference, she had timed today’s dinner perfectly, preparing a warm meal in front of Ronald.

She really had put her heart into it...

Silently, he forked a piece of smoked meat into his mouth and began to enjoy his dinner.

Just like he expected.

It tasted fantastic.

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