Dr. Cray was a middle-aged man, slightly overweight but just shy of reaching the limit of obesity. His head was completely bald, so he wore an obvious brown wig that often drew people's gaze upward during conversation.
"Dr. Schneider absolutely won't be back today?" Shade asked, holding the orange tabby cat, Mia, who seemed to have never been in such a setting before. The cat was wide-eyed and curious, glancing around the unfamiliar environment.
"Yes," the doctor replied. "When the count's butler came to invite Dr. Schneider, they were quite clear about the timing."
Shade sighed. "Do you know Miss Dorothy Louisa, a friend of Dr. Schneider? Do you know where she lives?"
Dr. Cray hesitated. "Yes, I know her. She's a frequent visitor to the clinic, often coming in for issues with anorexia and insomnia... but I can't disclose any patient information."
Shade nodded, understanding he had asked too much. Left with no other options, he left a message for Dr. Schneider.
The statue of the old god he encountered earlier might not be classified as an artifact, but it was still extremely valuable. Though the academy did not encourage warlocks to gain power by interacting with such strange objects, Shade knew that professors in the higher circles might write down the stories of these gods using the proper incantations, making them safer to handle.
It was urgent for Dr. Schneider to be informed. Yet with no other choice, Shade resolved to wait patiently. Reporting the statue directly to the church was also not an option. It wasn't that he feared the statue would be confiscated, but rather, he had no idea how to make an anonymous report.
"Still, I suppose one more day won't change anything," Shade thought as he left the clinic with Mia. Despite his reassurances, unease gnawed at him. This sense of anxiety caused him to nearly get hit by a carriage on his walk back to Saint Derland Square.
Though he had set out early in the morning, his task of retrieving the cat had gone so smoothly that he was back home by two in the afternoon. Since both he and Mia had already eaten, he had no pressing matters to attend to.
He set the cat down at home, where she adjusted surprisingly well to the new environment, rolling around on the sofa or exploring every corner of the room. Meanwhile, Shade meticulously documented the details of the cat retrieval case, following the format left by the previous detective. He then leafed through the records of past cases, planning to resolve the remaining two simple tasks in the next few days: finding a runaway girl and locating a missing doctor.
With those tasks completed, he'd have time to investigate the secrets left behind by Sparrow Hamilton, the previous detective, once the academy sent over his materials on Wednesday.
Satisfied with his day's work, Shade spent the afternoon sorting through the items left behind by the former detective, assessing the value of what now belonged to him. In the evening, he ventured out with Mia for dinner and stopped by a bakery near the square to buy some breadsticks for breakfast, along with a bottle of milk.
He didn't forget to pick up some high-quality cat food, having accepted the responsibility of caring for the orange tabby.
In just two days, Shade had settled into his new life: a young detective living in the heart of the capital, with a job and a cat. "All in all, I've been lucky… aside from being broke," he mused.
The rest of his evening was spent studying the elements of "Time" and "Silver Moon." After his encounter with the remnants of an ancient god, the accumulation of "miracle" elements had transformed into more spiritual energy, making the silver glow at his fingertips even more brilliant. Yet, it still had no offensive power—just enough to illuminate the room.
He tested out his ability to ignite paper. This power, too, had grown stronger, though the young orange tabby was so startled by the warming paper that she hid in Shade's arms and refused to leave. Despite this, Shade felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
His quiet study session was interrupted around nine in the evening when the doorbell rang. The timid cat, who had been resting on the desk, immediately darted under it in fear.
After soothing Mia, Shade descended the stairs, heading toward the front door with curiosity. "Could Dr. Schneider have returned early and seen my note?" he wondered.
But no, the visitor was a nervous, short, middle-aged man in a black coat with blond hair. He had come seeking Sparrow Hamilton, the former detective, for a job.
Shade's first official case had arrived.
The man introduced himself as Rugget Franklin, an accountant living in the western part of the city and employed by the "Hunter and Laura Textile Factory." He had been to the detective's office before and was familiar with Sparrow Hamilton, so Shade invited him in and offered him tea. Upon learning of the detective's death, Franklin was deeply shocked.
"A sudden illness, unfortunately. He didn't receive treatment in time," Shade explained, sharing the cover story the previous detective had crafted for himself.
"I'm Sparrow's nephew from his hometown. I've inherited the detective agency after his passing," Shade continued. "He entrusted it to me before he died."
Franklin accepted the explanation, though still visibly shaken, and Shade proceeded to ask about the reason for his late-night visit. "Even though my uncle is no longer with us, I can take on the case… for a more affordable rate," Shade added, trying to ease the man's concerns.
Franklin hesitated for a moment before finally explaining his situation.
Though he lived in the capital, Franklin's family was relatively ordinary. He supported his wife and only child, Little Franklin, with his accountant job, while his wife worked as a scribe at a private library nearby.
Their son, however, was their biggest worry. Little Franklin had once been a well-behaved child, but after falling in with a bad crowd, he became entangled in the world of gambling. He spent his nights at clubs and underground casinos, stealing money from the family to fund his habit.
Franklin had sought the help of Sparrow Hamilton twice before. The first time was to find his son, who had gone missing for three days, eventually locating him in an underground casino in the northern slums. The second time was to drag his son out of the "Lucky Southern Cross Club," where he had been gambling for three days straight.
This club primarily sold alcohol, but at night, it transformed into a notorious underground casino.