Part 1 THE JOKER CHAPTER 50 Old Neil’s Way of Paying Back the Money
It was 7:30 p.m. at the Moretti family table.
”Klein, why do you need to be early even as a counselor? Wouldn’t it be more dangerous for the security company to be on urgent business?” Benson forked a piece of potato from the beef stew and brought up the early morning incident with implied concern.
Klein carefully spat out the spines of the sautéed broiled fish and replied with a pre-prepared voice:
”A shipment of historical documents that need to be immediately transshipped to Berkland, I had to be there to take inventory and make sure nothing was missing, and you know, those guys who just wield their fists don’t know any Gufthak.”
Hearing his reply, Benson, who had finished chewing the food in his mouth, couldn’t help but sigh with emotion:
”Knowledge is really important.”
Taking this opportunity, Klein took out the rest of the five pound bill and handed it to Benson:
”This is the extra payment I got today, and you’re going to need a decent outfit too.”
”Five pounds?” Benson and Melissa uttered at the same time.
He picked up the bill and looked at it again and again, half surprised and half puzzled:
”This security company is pretty generous ……”
His salary for 1 week was 1 pound 10 Sool, 4 weeks was exactly 6 pounds, just 1 pound more than this extra pay!
And on that kind of salary, he supported his younger siblings, gave them decent accommodation, allowed them to eat meat two or three times a week, and acquired a couple of new clothes a year!
”You do not doubt what I say?” Klein deliberately asked this rhetorically.
Benson chuckled, “I don’t think you have the ability, or the guts, to rob a bank.”
”You’re not a person who would lie.” Melissa stopped her knife and fork and replied seriously.
I, I am now a person who is used to lying …… Klein was instantly a little ashamed.
Although it was forced by reality, his sister’s belief still made him feel a pang of melancholy.
”Today’s business is rather urgent and important, and I played a rather crucial role in it …… That’s what makes it worth five pounds.” Klein explained slightly.
In a sense, what he said was true.
As for the 5 pounds of funding that was about to be issued – the one that he was going to use to join the Divination Club, he planned to hide it, firstly, if he took another 5 pounds home, it would really scare his brother and sister and make them suspect that he was doing some kind of illegitimate business, and secondly, he had to pay for the “Diviner’s” study and mystical knowledge. The second was that he had to save up some money for extra materials for his “Diviner” studies and mystical knowledge.
Benson tore into a bite of oatmeal bread contentedly and thought for a dozen seconds:
”My current job doesn’t require clothes that are too decent, well, to be precise, fabrics that are too good, these at home will suffice.”
Not waiting for Klein to persuade him, he offered to mention it:
”With this extra income we’ll actually have savings, I’m going to buy a few more books on accounting for more in-depth study, Clyne, Melissa, I don’t want another five years to go by and I’ll still be earning less than two pounds a week, heh, you know, my boss and my manager, have their heads so full of poo that when they open their mouths it’s just a foul smell. ”
”Very good idea.” Klein agreed, leading with a passing comment, “Why don’t you take a look at the grammar books in my room? It’s quite a crucial factor in becoming a truly decent human being, and in being paid well enough to do so.”
Perhaps, it won’t be long before civil service exams appear in the Kingdom of Ruen, and preparing in advance can take advantage of that ……
Benson’s eyes lit up as he listened:
”I did forget about this matter, come on, let’s drink to a bright future.”
He did not drink the rye beer, but poured the oyster clear soup into three cups and lightly clinked them with his brother and sister at the same time.
Drinking the clear broth, Klein looked over at his sister, who was battling with the sautéed meat fish, and let out a low chuckle:
”In addition to Benson’s books, I think Melissa needs a new dress.”
Melissa lifted her head and kept shaking it:
”No, I think it’s best ……”
”Save it.” Klein added helpfully.
”Uh-huh.” Melissa nodded heavily.
”Actually, if we don’t go for fabrics and the latest designs, it won’t be too expensive, so we’ll save the rest.” Klein said in a manner that could not be denied.
Benson chimed in:
”Melissa, do you want to wear the old dress for Selena’s sixteenth birthday dinner?”
Selena Wood was a classmate and good friend of Melissa’s from a fairly good family, with her brother being a solicitor and her father being a senior employee at the Tingen branch of the Bank of Beckland.
However, what they called a dinner party was just inviting friends to share a meal, as well as chatting and playing cards.
”Okay.” Melissa lowered her head and muttered a reply before viciously spearing a piece of beef stew.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly remembered something and busied herself with looking up:
”Mrs. Schoder next door had her maid send over a business card and wants to pay us a semi-formal visit on Sunday afternoon, tomorrow at 4:00 p.m., to get to know the new neighbors.”
”Mrs. Shoard?” Klein looked at his brother and sister in complete bewilderment.
Benson tapped his fingers on the edge of the dining room table as if in thought:
”Mrs. Shoard of 4 Daffodil Street? I’ve met her husband, a senior solicitor.”
”A senior solicitor …… Perhaps he knew Selena’s brother.” Melissa said with slightly more than a little glee.
We are 2 Daffodil Street …… Klein nodded slightly:
”Getting to know your neighbors is a necessary thing, but as you know, I still have to go to the security company on Sunday, and only have Monday off, so say sorry to Mrs. Schrader for me.”
As he said that, he remembered his neighbors from his last life when he was a child, and sighed softly in amusement as he remembered his neighbors from when he lived in the Iron Cross Street Apartments:
”Shouldn’t semi-formal visits to …… neighbors be a natural acquaintance, a natural contact?”
”Haha, Crane, you don’t understand, you’ve been reading a lot of newspapers lately without coming into contact with the magazines that are offered to families, to women, who call families earning between £100 and £1,000 a year the middle class, proclaiming it to be the bracket of the entire kingdom, and extolling the fact that the middle class doesn’t have the arrogance of the aristocracy and the rich, and isn’t as rude as the lower income brackets. ”
Benson explained easily and cheerfully, “These magazines simplified quite a few of the rituals between aristocratic interactions as a sign of the middle class, where the difference between intimate, semi-formal, and formal visits comes from.”
As he said this, he shook his head and lost his smile:
”Generally speaking, the gentlemen, ladies, and young ladies who regard themselves as of this class are particularly attentive to similar details, and their visits to neighbors and friends, from two to six in the afternoon, are known as morning visits.”
”Morning visits?” Klein and Melissa both asked rhetorically in surprise.
What kind of morning visit is a visit from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.?
Benson put down his knife and fork, spread his hands and laughed:
”I don’t know why, I merely read a few magazines brought by my female coworkers, well, maybe it’s because I have to wear a morning gown to visit ……”
Originally, a morning gown was a dress for Mass and assemblies, but later stood in for daytime formal wear, as distinguished from evening dress.
”Well, you guys remember to pick up some good coffee grounds and tea tomorrow morning, and some small muffins and lemon cake from Mrs. Slim’s, can’t afford to be rude in front of the neighbors.” Klein let out a laugh, dipping the rest of the bread into the gravy, chucking in the potatoes, and popping it into his mouth.
……
The next day, early Sunday morning.
Crane finished the last sip of his poor tea, put down his newspaper, put on his half-height silk bowler hat, grabbed his silver-encrusted black cane, and slowly made his way out of the front door, arriving at Zotland Street in a public carriage.
He exchanged greetings with Roxane, who had just finished her night’s watch and was planning to go to bed in the common room, and made his way down to the underground.
Around the corner, he meets a member of the Night Watch, Loyal Ledin, the Sleepless One.
It was a cold-looking lady with long, thin eyebrows, large eyes, and dark, silky hair.
”Good morning, Ms. Leiting.” Klein curtsied with a smile.
Loyal glanced at him with dark blue eyes and gave a slight, unseen nod of greeting.
The two were almost brushing past each other when Loyo suddenly stopped and said with his eyes looking ahead:
”Ritual magic is a dangerous thing.”
Ah …… Klein froze for a moment, and when he turned his body again, he could only see the other party’s distant back.
”Thanks.” He frowned and shouted softly at Loyal-Leitin’s back.
Turning to the left, he was soon met with old Neil inside the weapons vault watch room, as well as Brett, who wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place.
”Let’s go, go to my house, I’ve already picked up the corresponding materials, and Brett has agreed to watch over them for me.” Old Neil said smilingly.
Klein was instantly surprised:
”Not here?”
Old Neil tsked as he carried the small silver case:
”There is no space to practice ritual magic here.”
Klein no longer asked more questions and followed Old Neil back to the ground, then the two took a public carriage and traveled all the way to the outskirts of the Northern District.
Old Neil’s home was a single-family house, with roses, gold mint and other “materials” planted in the garden in front.
Upon entering, there was a carpeted porch with two high-backed chairs and an umbrella stand.
Through the porch is a spacious living room with light-colored wallpaper, dark brown flooring, a small carpet with a printed pattern in the center, and a round table with a heavy texture.
Surrounding the round table were comfortable benches, chairs, and a piano.
”My deceased wife was very fond of music.” Neil Sr. pointed to the piano and casually mentioned, “The couch and coffee table are in the living room …… Let’s have our ceremony magic today in the living room.”
”Okay.” Klein replied with some formality.
Old Neil put down the small silver box and smiled:
”I’ll show you a ritual magic first, so pay attention and memorize it.”
As he spoke, he took out a piece of imitation parchment from within the small silver case and drew strange patterns on it with specially formulated, serenely scented black ink.
Klein looked and looked and realized that Old Neil appeared to be, probably, possibly drawing a bill!
When Neil had filled in the number “30” and the corresponding “pound” symbol in the corresponding place, Klein could not contain himself any longer, and asked in a puzzled and bewildered manner:
”Mr. Neil, what kind of ritual magic are you going to perform?”
Old Neil coughed twice and answered very seriously:
”I’m going to use magic to settle that thirty pound debt today.”
Is that even possible? Klein’s eyes went wide and his mouth half-open.