Chapter 62: Melrose
How am I gonna find this guy, guess I'll start with the crowbar.
I head to some blacksmiths I know and ask. They've never seen anything like it. They tap it against the anvil and it rings out.
"This is pure steel, who made this."
"That's what I came here to find out, Mo"
I call him Mo because his full name is Money Johnson, no kidding.
"Don't call me that. My name is Money, got it!"
I also call him that because he hates it.
"Sorry Money-san."
I put both my hand up and do a pushing motion as I apologize.
"As long as you understand, I'll ask around for you and let you know."
"Thanks."
"Oh and bring your sword by for maintenance."
I start walking off and leave him with the crowbar.
"I'll see ya."
I wave.
This case seems harder to crack than I thought. What would a real detective do.
Walking around asking if anyone saw this necklace would yield zero to poor results at best and this calling card reminds me of a movie I watched once where the thief would place his calling card at the scene of the crime to taunt police.
Police, As far as I can tell this country doesn't have any. People hire their own security or get the guards or adventurers to round up criminals, that is if you can pay.
What to do?
I look at the calling card again. This looks professionally made. She showed me a newspaper before so this world should have somewhere where they print it. Now that I look at the shop signage all of it looks professionally made.
I head into the closest shop with a decent sign.
"Excuse me!?"
"Yes, Sir how may we be of service, perhaps a present for your love life or are you looking for something a little more--"
He leans in real close and whispers
"Spicy."
A chill runs down my spine.
I look around. I see mannequins wearing lingerie, then I see the red curtain at the back exuding a dangerous aura. I sweat bullets as I back away.
I hit the counter.
Some things fall on the floor.
"Excuse me"
I bend down and start helping him pick up the fallen items. That's when I see it.
We finish tidying up and I take a business card and hold it up.
"Who made this for you."
"I opened this shop myself"
He looks a bit puzzled as he answers.
"Not that, I mean who made these business cards of yours?"
"Oh, I beg you pardon, we had those made at the Melrose company."
"Where can I find this place?"
He walks me outside and points up. I look and see nothing. I look at him.
"Just follow that balloon over there."
I strain my eyes. I see it.
"It's right under that"
I turn and bow to him
"Thank you so much. I'll send my wives here if our love lives ever start getting boring"
"Wives? just who are you?"
I put my hand behind my head and smile.
"My name is Kaijuu Ryu, pleased to meet you"
"Lord KAAAIJUUU!? please forgive my ignorance"
"Don't worry about it, well then I'm off."
What a nice guy.
It was really far away, the other side of town to be precise. it took over 2 hours to walk there.
This balloon is big, it's like 200 meters in the air. I read it as I approached. It says 'Melrose Signage and Graphics'.
I guess they do it all.
I enter and head to the reception desk.
There is only 1 receptionist.
"What can we help you with today sir?"
"I'd like to speak to the owner or manager, please."
"Do you have an appointment sir?"
"I don't"
"Then may I schedule one for you? What is this regarding?"
"I'd rather not say."
I see a vein pop on her forehead. She looks exactly like a flight attendant with the white long sleeve shirt, black skirt, blue button-down sleeveless top and the hat, she even has the red cowboy scarf.
She smiles.
"And may I ask who you are sir"
"My name is Kaijuu Ryu"
"Kaijuu-sama, what is you address?"
"What for?"
"So we can contact you with a date and time, if you are approved that is."
She looks like a villainess as she smugly smiles at me.
"I see, here it is."
I slide the note I wrote on she handed me before.
She puts it on a spike along with a lot of others.
"Can you perhaps point me in the direction of the nearest signage shop?"
"Ofcourse sir. There is one located only 16 blocks away from here."
She takes a similar piece of paper out and writes down the address and hands it to me.
I leave.
I get about 3 blocks from the shop when I notice a disturbance behind me.
I turn to look, someone's running this way.
I put my hand above my eyes and focus.
It's her.
That receptionist.
She's running, In those heels!
Damn, is someone chasing her.
"Kaijuu-sama! Kaijuu-sama"
Me, what the hell happened, I didn't take her pen or something did I?
Ah! she fell.
I run over.
"Are you okay?"
I help her up.
She's breathing really heavily.
I look and notice her shoe is broken, the heel got stuck in a crack.
I pull the heel out then take her shoes off.
"Wait what are you?"
I put the shoes in my backpack.
I know I saw that guy a bit further back.
"I'll be right back."
I take off, I turn my gravity down on.
There's the previously mentioned shoe repairman.
I stop.
Everyone's staring.
I take out the shoes.
"Can you repair these?"
He looks like he's a million miles away, his eyes are big and round.
I snap my fingers in front of his face.
"Hey, I'm talking to you."
Her snaps out of it.
"Huh!"
He focuses on the shoes. He puts his hand on his chin as he examines them.
"I can have them done by tomorrow. 4 hours if you pay extra"
I take out some coins, and hold it up. He cups his hand. I hand it to him. He looks it over.
"Four hours it is. May I have the shoes?"
"Yes, here's a bit extra, please deliver them to the blonde lady working reception at Melrose over there when you're done."
I hand him the same amount as before.
"Oh do you rent out replacements?"
He looks at the money then back at me. He smiles.
"For you kind sir, ofcourse. I'll come collect them when I deliver these."
He examines the broken shoes:
"These are a size 7, let's see here."
He gets up and walks over to a chest. he takes the straps off and places them on the floor and pulls out a pair. They look kind of similar I guess.
"These are for another customer, I'll spare you the details, please use them."
I put them in my backpack and fling it over my shoulder and start heading back.
I get back and look around.
Ah there she is.
She's sitting on a bench with her feet on the one side.
She spots me.
She goes to get up.
I stop her.
I take my backpack off and take out the replacement shoes.
"Here."
"Thank you."
She's blushing as she puts them on.
"He'll bring your shoes by when he's done."
She grabs her face as she looks down.
I touch her back.
She jumps.
"What's--"
"Please forgive me! I didn't know who you where. and you even went this far for me after I.."
I let go, she looks up.
"It's fine, really. Why where you looking for me?"
"Ah yes, The owner will see you. I messed up I didn't--"
"Shall we go then?"
She looks at the hand I offer her.
She takes it and gets up.
It doesn't look like she hurt herself.
She's walking fine.
I'm in a huge office.
The door opens behind me.