This is the third time Mr. Franklin has come to deliver a commission. The content of the commission is also to forcibly take little Franklin, who is addicted to Rhodes cards, out of that illegal night club.
Mr. Franklin has had enough. He plans to sell his property and quit his job in the near future. He and his wife will abandon the thirty years of hard work in this northern capital city. He will leave the rich and prosperous Tobesk and move his family to the Kingdom. In the west, the city of Artek is known as the "City of Art". Mr. Franklin's brother has lived in that city for many years and can introduce new jobs to the family.
Of course, the more important thing is to keep little Franklin away from bad friends, Rhodes cards and gambling tables.
"After bringing him back this time, I will lock him directly at home. After the moving is completed next month, I will directly take him on the steam train. So, Detective Hamilton, can you take my son out? That club?"
Confirmed by the client.
This matter only requires Shade to enter the club immediately, and then persuade Mr. Franklin to leave with him, so the accountant's bid is 13 shillings and 3 pence, which is more than half a pound. For an accountant with an annual income of about 70 pounds, this is About a week's salary.
This commission fee includes tickets to the club and additional subsidies for night outings. Although compared to the commission found by Xiao Mia, this business is not even worth "half a cat", but Shade thought about it and was willing to accept this commission.
He had just seen the affairs of the Franklin family in the commission record of the former detective not long ago, which recorded the process of the detective persuading little Franklin to leave with him.
"It's a very simple task, there will be no mistakes."
The orange cat stayed at home, worried that little Mia would be scared, so Shade reluctantly went out without turning off the gas light. Mr. Franklin went home to wait for news, while Shade chose to take a carriage to his destination because of the long distance.
Taxi fares in Tobesk City have different rules depending on the location and destination of passengers. Pick up within the city center with Yodel Palace as the center, within 4 miles, and within 2 miles. The charge is 1 shilling at the destination and 5 pence per mile thereafter. If you are traveling longer distances away from the city center, the cost per mile will be cheaper.
Shade's destination this time was in the lower city in the usual sense, that is, North City. Including the extra tip he had to pay to the driver when driving at night, he paid a total of 3 shillings when he got off the bus at the dark alley.
Fortunately, Franklin's family is also in Beicheng District, so there is no need to take a carriage after finding little Franklin.
At the same time, the expensive price of using a taxi also made Shade realize the gap between the rich and the poor in this complex and prosperous steam era. And how many challenges he had to face as a lower-class person.
The night in the city was quiet, but Shade, who had become a ring warlock, felt a terrifying feeling from the long silent night, like staring into the abyss. Tobesk, the largest city in the north, the secrets and unknowns hidden in it, the alleys There are definitely many secrets in the shadows and corners of the apartment, but fortunately, at least Shade didn't encounter these tonight.
"The world... is more dangerous than I thought."
The main entrance of the club called "Lucky Southern Cross" is located on Glass Mountain Avenue. But if you want to enter the club's casino, you must enter from the back door in the alley.
According to the records left by the previous detective, Shade entered the alley and walked around half a circle in the dark before he saw the silver-grey rusty iron door. During this period, a wild cat suddenly jumped out from the wall, startling the detective.
, and therefore regretted his "cowardice".
After carefully knocking on the iron door three times in succession and waiting for half a minute, a tall man with a beard, wearing a black coat and leather boots cautiously opened the door from the inside.
"This is not a place for young people to come."
The detective glanced at the young man and reached out to push him, but surprisingly he didn't push. Even though he was only a first-level warlock, his physical fitness had been greatly enhanced.
"Are the rules here so barbaric?"
Shade showed a Rhodes card with the color Silver Moon 13, which was one of the cards he picked up on the roof of the pet boarding center in the morning, and then said:
"I came to see Mr. Rhodes for some matters on the table."
Then three one-penny coins were given as admission fee.
"I thought you were here for the first time?"
The bearded man took a look at the cards and confirmed that the code was correct.
"I was introduced by an acquaintance."
Shade replied in a low voice. The bearded man looked at him again, and then gave way to the door, allowing Shade to enter the back entrance corridor of the club illuminated by dim yellow gas lights.
The detective immediately raised the collar of his windbreaker to cover half of his face, and looked around the alley warily before walking in.
"Although this is an illegal casino, it doesn't have to be like this..."
The bearded man muttered behind Shade.
The corridor is quite dark, and the air is filled with a disgusting smell of sweat, alcohol and tobacco. Within ten steps, doors appear on the left and right sides of the corridor, all of which are ajar.
, letting the dazzling light in the room shine into the corridor, where chaotic shouts and the sound of hands slapping the table can be heard.
Shade did not enter any door. He walked forward cautiously and quietly used [Echo of Blood] to check the surroundings. No obvious blood stains were found, which meant that at least there was no more serious illegal activity here.
"Although it's not a combat spell, it's inexplicably useful."
The corridor leads to the brighter hall on the east side of the club. Dozens of four-legged wide wooden tables covered with tablecloths are placed in the hall. There are all kinds of well-dressed gentlemen, drunkards who have just left the pub, and workers who have got off work at night.
Such people gathered around the table, waving the bills in their hands around the still dim tabletop, looking excitedly at the gambling games on the table.
The Lucky Southern Cross Club is divided into three floors, and only guests with sufficient status can go to the casino upstairs. Apparently, little Franklin can only hang out on the first floor. The last time Detective Sparrow Hamilton was found in the east hall
A drunk young man lying in the corner.
Because there were so many people, Shade only heard Mr. Franklin introduce little Franklin's dress and appearance, so he did not find the young man immediately.
He held a 1 shilling note in his hand and quickly blended into the crowded hall. He kept stopping at different tables to see if there was anyone he was looking for, but he would never throw away the note.
He told the gambling table that the cost of the carriage ride already made him feel distressed. Mr. Franklin would not reimburse unnecessary expenses during the detective process.
In half an hour, I almost looked through the entire east hall, but I didn't find my mission target. Instead, I was pretending to study the bets at the table when I heard the gamblers chatting about what happened here an hour ago.
Interesting things.
A young man with small eyes wearing a gray hat, a sailor's shirt, and a face full of freckles was taken to the second floor and forced to "pay off the debt" because he owed too much money at the gambling table.
Shade didn't know the meaning of "paying off debt", but it was not a good thing to think about it. He knew that traces of little Franklin had been discovered, and that the young man was in a very bad situation.
To enter the second floor of the club, you need to show at least 10 pounds in cash, and you also need to be introduced by an acquaintance. Shade has no money and no acquaintances, but he must go to the second floor. Now is not the time to give up. After all, it is his first official visit.
Delegate.
After waiting for a while, fortunately, a group of dozens of drunkards stumbled out of the room on one side of the corridor and walked together towards the second floor.
"good chance!"
Shade dodged to the side with a few people near the stairs, but when the drunkards passed by, he immediately supported one of them who was slightly behind, endured the smell of alcohol on his body, and helped him blend in with the crowd. The detective finally
Came to the second floor.
"Sure enough, making money is never easy."
Compared with the noisy environment on the first floor, the second floor is obviously much quieter and the decoration is more elegant. Even at night, this is still a wine club rather than a casino.
