Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Although Miss Belindel said I could come to her whenever I encounter trouble, Shard thought that since she "employed" him, even if just to win her favor, he couldn’t constantly trouble the Duchess for help.

[What if she still decides to report you?]

"She" smiled gently. Shard didn’t answer, but "she," understanding Shard’s thoughts, knew he wasn’t one to sit idly by.

After softly expressing his gratitude, Shard accepted the file envelope from the silent Miss Maid:

"I actually have another small favor to ask of you, which concerns the Hawthorn Family and the Edington Family. My assault on Freeman Hawthorne was initially related to this."

He didn’t want to involve Lecia, so he merely mentioned that his friend’s business was being hindered by these two families and pointed out the reasons as "business snatching" and "being mentioned by a big figure."

Miss Belindel wasn’t particularly concerned about such trivial matters:

"You don’t have to worry about the Black Hand Gang and the Hawthorns. Freeman Hawthorne has been reprimanded, and the entire Hawthorn Family is lying low for a while, as no one knows where the Circle Sorcerer came from. So the matter of the dock office targeting your friend’s business will soon be resolved. As for Edington...

She got up to fetch some stationery from the table, carefully wrote a letter, then took out her personal seal to stamp it. The blonde maid known as "Matilda" enclosed it in an envelope, dripped molten wax onto the seal, and before it could cool and solidify, pressed the emblem of the Belindel Family into it.

The envelope was handed to Shard, and the witch sat back down across from him:

"Deliver this to the Harbor Authority, and the Edington Family won’t trouble your friend. The Belindel Family still has some influence. I’ve helped you, and now you need to help me. I hope you enjoy your adventures and activities in Moon Bay City."

She looked somewhat lazily at the young man sitting across from her, scrutinizing that increasingly pleasing face:

"Vanessa and Emma both hold you in high esteem, hoping your execution is as remarkable as your charm. Speaking of which, before we conclude this mutually satisfying meeting, would you be willing to tell me what sort of power you excel at? I may not be your employer, but I’m still curious."

This request seemed reasonable, so Shard replied:

"I’m skilled in melee combat with cold weapons. I’m not just boasting; though I might not look overly muscular, my strength and stamina are quite astonishing."

The witch remembered "Miss Charlotte’s" special ability known as the "Power of the Earth," so she wasn’t surprised.

"Moreover, I’m adept in time and space abilities. Spatial Movement, Time Interference, coupled with my proficiency in lock picking, stealth, assassination, transformation, reconnaissance, and ancient rune deciphering, Madam, I’d even dare break into Yordle Palace."

Telling the truth, Shard brought a smile to Miss Belindel, who had a clearer impression of the man before her:

"No wonder Vanessa sent you to Moon Bay to find the ’Hope Diamond.’ This combination of skills is perfect for investigations and detective work. Of course, if you were to become an assassin, I’m sure you’d be top-notch as well."

At this moment, she thought of Shard’s double agent status but never considered connecting him with the "God Summoner":

"However, the ’Time Pause’ you showcased yesterday was truly astonishing. I initially thought you weren’t the Seven Ring you claim to be."

"I’ve just got a slightly better Time Talent, check this out."

He took out the "Ring of Immortality" and placed it on his finger, gently turning the ring while taking a deep breath. As the grayish mist flowed in through his nostrils from the wine glass on the table, the surface of the red wine at the bottom of the glass began to rise slowly.

This caused not only the Great Witch of Destiny to blink but also the maid behind her:

"Time Reversal?"

Miss Belindel asked in wonder, but she wasn’t expecting Shard to answer:

"You possess the power of Time Stasis, yet I thought it was with the aid of a relic. Now it seems, being able to reverse time and stop time at the Seventh Ring truly showcases your outstanding talent. Were Her Excellency the Speaker, the lady holding the seat of Time, to see you... that wouldn’t do. She might imprison you forever. It seems I should value you more highly; the usual payment won’t suffice to enlist the help of a Circle Sorcerer who commands time."

Mr. Watson, I await your performance. I hope you can be like a meteor falling into Moon Bay from the Star Ocean, bringing more interesting stories to this seemingly peaceful city.

Although Miss Belindel wanted to chat more with Shard, she didn’t forget her status, so she didn’t insist he stay for lunch. Naturally, Shard wouldn’t try to linger and be annoying. But before the meeting concluded, he reminded the Great Witch of Destiny to investigate the "Light Spell" used in the most crucial battle round by the Light Worshipper Training Association yesterday, as well as the "Light Spell" used by the woman in the black dress before she died:

"That light was quite unusual."

"I’ll investigate it. You focus on that corpse matter."

The witch readily agreed, and as she bade farewell to Shard, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Shard to keep an eye out in the city for any new Dragonborn Circle Warlocks who may have recently arrived:

"I recently did an unexpected divination related to myself... It’s nothing, just keep an eye out for me."

She assessed Shard, then lowered her eyes, confirming that he wasn’t a Dragonborn and likely had nothing to do with the person from her prophecy.

After spending the entire morning at the Belindel Estate, Shard went home for lunch with Mia at noon. During lunch, he took out the silver anchor ornament given by the blue-eyed girl he met at the museum to play with. The cat, originally crouching on the high stool waiting to be fed by Shard, sniffed it suspiciously, and meowed at the silver ornament.

"This is not for you to eat."

Shard told the cat, who showed a displeased expression, and the cat meowed softly again but continued to sniff with its small nose, still very interested in the anchor.

This made Shard mistakenly believe the cat was interested in Moon Bay City, so after lunch, he wanted to take it with him to Moon Bay. However, the cat was accustomed to sunbathing and napping, and ignored Shard, so in the end, only Shard went to the dreary Moon Bay Region.

He first went to the Dock Area’s "Princess Trading Partners" and handed the letter from Miss Belindel to the three at the trade company, explaining that the matter had been basically resolved:

"Customs will soon send someone to inspect the batch of grain, and once inspected, they’ll let you pass; the Hawthorn Family has recently encountered some issues, so the dock office won’t deliberately make things difficult for you for now. In a few days, Mr. William Kidd and Mr. George Robert, go to the dock office to inquire again. As for the Harbor Authority, rely on this."

The letter’s wax seal with the bright emblem of the Belindel Family clearly indicated the origins of this letter.

Mr. George Robert said with great reverence:

"Sir, your relationship with the Belindel Family is...?"

"Do not ask things you shouldn’t know. This connection can’t be overused. This time Belindel helped me, and I definitely owe them a favor. But for Miss Princess, it’s all worth it."

"That lady sent you, she really found the right person."

Shard didn’t plan to linger here:

"Alright, alright, arrange those three ships to leave port as soon as possible. That lady is still waiting. Also, don’t forget the investigation I need near Herring Street in the Lower District."

Although Miss Belindel agreed to help, Shard couldn’t rely entirely on the Witch:

"These one or two months, act low-key. The city might not be very stable. I’ll be in Moon Bay next, coming here probably once every two or three days. Please keep any letters sent to me, and if you encounter troubles you can’t handle, be sure to inform me."

"Yes, Sir."

The three stood up together and escorted Shard to the downstairs entrance.

There was still plenty of time in the afternoon that day, and after leaving the Dock Area, Shard went to the morgue at the end of Spider Alley, to find the coroner Mr. Ptolemy Albert. On one hand, it was to thank him for his help at the police station yesterday, and on the other, to inquire about the investigation progress on that nameless female corpse.

The busy coroner didn’t have much time to entertain Shard; the number of bodies found daily in the Lower District was not small. He didn’t ask Shard what he’d been doing yesterday afternoon, and as for the investigation progress on the corpse, Mr. Benhart on the other side had made a breakthrough:

"The identity of the corpse is roughly identified. Armand found the artisan who tattooed her while she was alive. Although the artisan doesn’t know who she was, Armand used this to define the scope of her activities while alive. After investigating the vicinity, it was discovered she was indeed a courtesan, but of a more upscale kind. The day before she disappeared, she was taken away by a carriage and never returned."

He handed Shard a note left by Mr. Benhart:

"The carriage went to this place, Armand said this morning if you’re interested, you can go check it out. He’s likely there now, hoping you guys can make some progress."

"Okay, I’ll go right now. My own affairs are mostly taken care of, I have time to investigate with Mr. Benhart."

Shard glanced at the note:

"18 Glover Street, North City, Crowley Steam Bathhouse... Steam Bathhouse?"

The arrival of the Steam Age has significantly changed people’s lifestyle as well. The steam engine not only altered industrial production methods, its influence is comprehensive. Among them, public bathhouses represent aspects of social reform and hygiene improvement, and in Carson Rick in the Southern Nation, big cities favor these public facilities more than in the Northern Country.

This is definitely not the kind of place the outlander imagines to be dirty and rundown. On the contrary, "Steam Bathhouses" offer a kind of high-end hygienic experience, attracting social elites and wealthy individuals from the big city.

Wearing special bathrobes while bathing in marble-made hot water pools, stepping on polished floors to sweat, cleanse skin, relax muscles; then having professional masseurs massage to help relax muscles and relieve stress.

This is not just a sanitation facility but also a social venue. Enjoying relaxation while chatting with friends, discussing politics, culture, and social affairs is seen as high-class behavior by today’s people.