Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 932 - 932: Old John's Commission

[Thunder] as a derivative element of the "Sun" power, is a fairly common spirit rune, just like light, earth, wind, water, and fire. Additionally, manipulating elements has always been a crucial part of mysticism in the supernatural systems of past eras. Therefore, there are quite a number of arcane techniques for [Thunder]. Shard unexpectedly saw a list of 50 arcane techniques all at once in the Black Raven Library, with a maximum price limit of 200 pounds.

However, in the end, Shard didn't buy anything. He plans to compare them with the arcane techniques from the Academy Library. Even though the [Thunder] spirit rune doesn't particularly fit with his current Circle Sorcerer system, given the powerful attack capabilities of [Thunder] arcane techniques, Shard is keen to associate the spirit rune with several additional arcane techniques. His energy is limited, so he must carefully consider what to choose.

After leaving the Black Raven Library, it was finally lunchtime. When Shard returned home, as expected, he saw Iluna, who had changed into a blue dress, holding her handbag with both hands in front of her, anxiously waiting for him at the bottom of the steps of No. 6, Saint Delan Square.

After having lunch together with Mia and Iluna, the seventeen-year-old girl happily continued her task and went to visit other theft victims in the University District. Shard returned home and sent a letter to the address Miss Sylvia gave him at the Lakeside Manor banquet, to discuss his dissertation with the Grand Witch.

Because he wanted the letter to be sent today, Shard specially went to the post office to send it as express mail. As he walked out of the post office, standing at the post office entrance, he gazed at the street scene, pondering where to head next:

"Should I go home to review Professor Manning's correspondence? Or take a look at nearby Old John's Pawnshop?"

Looking at the two diverging paths, Shard chose to try his luck at the pawnshop.

During the drowsy afternoon, there were no customers at Old John's Pawnshop. The shop owner, who had been reading, raised an eyebrow upon seeing Shard, then signaled that he had something to discuss with Shard.

"I'm not some wealthy person. Those flashy yet essentially useless relics, I won't buy them."

Shard immediately said as he walked through the door, causing the old man to appear unpleased:

"Detective, look at what you're saying. Am I that kind of shady merchant? It's something else. I have a commission here; are you interested?"

"A commission? Has there been a theft here too?"

"What theft? Who dares to steal from me?"

The old man with glasses shook his head, glanced at the shop entrance to ensure no one was coming in, then lowered his voice:

"It's not my private commission; it's a commission from the Hermit Society. Do you want to take it? The pay is quite good."

He tapped the countertop with his finger, causing the brass-framed magnifying glass nearby to tremble slightly.

"What task requires me to do it? Old Man John, you know many local Circle Sorcerers who are superior to me, don't you?"

Shard also grew interested, knowing that Old Man John occasionally sought help from familiar patrons, never expecting it would be him this time.

"Indeed, there are many stronger than you, but for this matter, it's best to find a reliable person to handle it."

The old man slightly lowered his voice:

"Do you know of Apna Library?"

Shard raised an eyebrow:

"Of course, a small Circle Sorcerer organization and has a poor relationship with the Three Major Academies."

Moreover, they're suspected to possess one-third of the Stone Tablet "that records knowledge enhancing Time."

"The Hermit Society bought a batch of... materials from Apna Library, scheduled for delivery on Saturday night. Detective, I want to commission you to help retrieve it."

"Isn't the Hermit Society locally staffed sufficiently?"

Shard asked in surprise, but Old John shook his head:

"Don't assume we're a large organization. I thought you knew that; we're actually regarded as a special academic group. Others in Tobesk are occupied or not mature enough. Besides, we don't trust Apna Library, just as that group doesn't trust us either. For this matter, I want to find a strong, trustworthy, capable person to do it. I think you are well-suited."

Shard chuckled and shook his head:

"Old Man, what's the real reason?"

"Among the Hermit Society, several Inner Ring Sorcerers are busy. Locally, only you know our true identities, and Schneider praised your effective ways of doing things, hence wanted you involved."

"Is that all?"

Shard asked again, and the old man awkwardly cleared his throat:

"Also because you happened to visit when I needed someone. Besides, with my obsession over your house at Saint Delan Square, I don't believe you'd abscond with a box of materials."

As Old John spoke, he didn't wait for Shard to refuse, instantly setting the price:

"25 pounds. You just need to fetch the goods and deliver them here. If unforeseen circumstances arise, I can offer more money."

Saying so, he fished out a handful of change from a cookie tin under the counter, counted, then pushed 3 penny back, handing the rest to Shard:

"Giving you the full payment upfront."

"Being so generous this time?"

Shard swept the handful of change before him, meticulously counted it, and found it precisely amounted to 25 pounds, not even a penny more.

"Because this time the Hermit Society is paying, it can be reimbursed."

The old man said with a smile, knowing that Shard had already agreed.

"Then why give me change? Is this also out of caution?"

Shard looked up and asked.

"No, it's just that I have too much change, and I'm too lazy to exchange it for whole notes."

The smile on his face made the wrinkles a bit more pronounced, among all the elderly gentlemen Shard had met in this era, Old Man John had the youngest spirit.

With the arrival of Princess Margaret, the early winter Tobesk City once again became treacherous and unpredictable. The events of Tuesday night at Lakeside Manor were clearly known to Old Man John as well, but he didn't want to discuss them much with Shard. However, he was clearly aware of the Truth Society and the cultists they hired arriving in the city, but probably didn't want to say the term "The Chosen One," so the old man was unwilling to discuss that topic much with Shard either.

As for the box of materials he had entrusted Shard to pick up on Saturday night, Shard inquired indirectly about its contents, but Old Man John shook his head solemnly, signaling Shard not to ask. His attitude made Shard suspect that the Apna Library, after sharing the Fragment of Poem Chapter with the Truth Society, sold those materials to the Guiding Light Hermitage.

But this time he didn't think about reporting it, at least he wanted to see the materials before making a decision.

"I think I have reason to suspect whether the funding the Hermit Society provided for this task is really 25 pounds."

Shard pocketed the change into his wallet. He usually didn't use a wallet, keeping change in his pockets, and using the wallet for the firearm license and large bills, but there was too much change from Old Man John.

"Do you think so little of me? How could I embezzle such funds?"

The old man snorted, then suspiciously asked:

"I heard you recently got close to a foreign princess. Why do you still care about a few pounds of small money?"

"Who did you hear such rumors from?"

"The newspapers said it, and the down-on-their-luck nobles who often pawn family antiques here with me say it too."

"No, no, that's not the real situation. I have nothing to do with Princess Margaret."

Old John smiled without continuing the conversation, and Shard didn't know if he was teasing him or if he really believed such rumors.

While they were talking, Dr. Schneider actually came into the pawnshop as well, coming to pick up the lighter-style alchemical item he had ordered from Old John.

The doctor was somewhat surprised to see Shard here, greeted him, and while Old Man John went to the second floor to fetch the item, the doctor asked the young detective:

"Shard, do you want to come with me to see a patient later? A very interesting patient, maybe you can help."

"What kind of mental illness this time... is it Gluttony again?"

Shard was startled.

"Oh, detective, don't scare me. Of course not. This time it's persecution delusion, with all the other atypical symptoms, of course."

The doctor shrugged, worrying that Shard might not understand the symptoms, so he explained:

"Persecution delusion is the constant worry that someone wants to harm you. This patient is from out of town, and I've been treating them for three weeks. So far... there have been results, but not much. Continuing the treatment might not have much further effect, so I'd like you to take a look from a detective's perspective, maybe you'll find something else."

Shard thought for a moment:

"Will it take long?"

He planned to go back and read Professor Manning's letters.

"Just an hour or two will do."

The doctor took out his pocket watch and glanced at it:

"But it's not at my clinic; the examination is at the Three Cats Inn in North City. That patient believes only the place where he resides is the safest. Not long ago, I tried to persuade him to chat in the tavern opposite Riddlevitch Field, but he didn't agree."

"No problem, but are you sure this is really just an ordinary patient?"

Shard asked suspiciously, and the doctor nodded immediately:

"Of course, I've been treating him for three weeks, and nothing has happened."

Shard then didn't ask further, although Dr. Schneider had bad luck, not every patient he encountered was involved in mysticism or relics. If he could help the doctor in just one or two hours, Shard certainly wouldn't refuse.

Since he had nothing to do in the afternoon, he decided to go with the doctor.

After saying goodbye to Old John, Shard and Dr. Schneider took a carriage to the Three Cats Inn together. When they got off the carriage at Hymn Square, the doctor took the initiative to pay the fare. The patient with "persecution delusion" paid extremely well for the diagnosis and treatment, plus the doctor had invited Shard to help.

Hymn Square, as the largest citizens' square in the North City slum, was bustling even on a Friday afternoon. In the short fifty meters toward the Three Cats Inn, Shard and the doctor were repeatedly approached by people asking "whether they needed gold pounds exchanged for Carsonrick crowns, at favorable rates," "whether they were interested in Roder Card games at night," or "if they had time to learn about the newly opened Pink Club," but all were shooed away by Dr. Schneider.

Dr. Schneider's patient, Mr. Jimms, resided on the third floor of the Three Cats Inn. He was initially unwilling to leave his room, but perhaps due to some effect from recent treatments, he agreed to meet on the second floor of the Three Cats Inn this time.