Chapter 30: The Lucky Southern Cross

This was the third time Mr. Franklin had come to commission a job. The objective was the same as before: to forcibly retrieve young Franklin, who was addicted to Rod Cards, from that illegal late-night club.

Mr. Franklin had reached his limit. He intended to sell his property soon, quit his job, and abandon the life he and his wife had built over thirty years in this northern capital. He planned to leave the rich and flourishing city of Tobesk and move his entire family to the western part of the kingdom, to the city of Atack, known as the "City of Art." Mr. Franklin’s older brother had lived there for many years and could help the family find new work.

Of course, more importantly, he needed to get young Franklin away from those rotten friends, away from Rod Cards, and away from the gambling tables.

"Once you bring him back this time, I will lock him in the house. When we finish settling the moving arrangements next month, I will take him straight onto the steam train. So, Detective Hamilton, can you bring my son out of that club?" the client confirmed.

This task only required Shad to head to the club immediately and persuade young Mr. Franklin to leave with him. The accountant’s offer was 13 shillings and 3 pence—just over half a pound. For an accountant with an annual income of about 70 pounds, this was roughly a week's wages.

The commission fee included the club’s entrance ticket and an extra subsidy for working at night. Although, compared to the commission of finding little Mia, this job wasn't even worth "half a cat," Shad considered it and decided to accept.

He had recently seen the Franklin family’s case in the previous detective’s logbooks, which recorded the process of how the detective had persuaded young Franklin to leave.

"A simple task; there won't be any mistakes."

Leaving the ginger cat at home, Shad, worried that little Mia might be frightened, even endured the cost of leaving the gas lamps on before heading out. Mr. Franklin went home to await news, while Shad, due to the distance, chose to take a carriage to his destination.

The pricing standards for taxi carriages in Tobesk varied based on the pickup and drop-off locations. Within the city center, centered around Yodel Palace, a trip under two miles within a four-mile radius cost 1 shilling, with an additional 5 pence for every mile thereafter. Long-distance trips leaving the city center were slightly cheaper per mile.

Shad’s destination was in what was generally considered the Lower District, or the North City. Including the extra tip for the driver for night travel, he paid a total of 3 shillings when he stepped out at a dim alley entrance.

Fortunately, the Franklin family also lived in the North City, so he wouldn't need to take a carriage again after finding young Franklin.

At the same time, the expensive carriage fare made Shad realize the wealth gap in this complex and prosperous Steam Age, as well as how many challenges he, as someone from the lower rungs of society, would have to face.

The city night was quiet, but Shad, now an awakened Ring-bearer, felt a terrifying sensation from the silent night, as if he were staring into an abyss. The secrets and unknowns hidden within Tobesk, the largest city in the north, and the mysteries lurking in the shadows of alleys and corners of apartments were certainly not few, but fortunately, Shad did not encounter any of them tonight.

"This world... is more dangerous than I imagined."

The club, named "The Lucky Southern Cross," had its main entrance on Glass Mountain Avenue. But to enter the club's casino, one had to go through the back door in the alley.

Shad followed the notes left by the previous detective, entering the alley and circling half a lap in the dark before seeing the silver-gray, rusty iron door. A stray cat suddenly darted from atop a wall, giving the detective a fright and leaving him annoyed at his own "timidity."

After carefully knocking on the iron door three times and waiting for a full half-minute, a tall man with a thick beard, wearing a black coat and leather boots, opened the door from the inside with a guarded expression.

"This is no place for a young man."

The detective, who looked like a young man, reached out to push him, but unexpectedly, the man didn't budge. Even though he was only a First-Ring Awakened, his physical fitness had been greatly enhanced.

"Are the rules here this barbaric?"

Shad displayed a Rod Card—the Silver Moon 13 he had picked up on the roof of the pet boarding center that morning—and said:

"I’m here to see Mr. Rod, for some business on the table."

He then offered three one-penny coins as an entry fee.

"I thought you were... here for the first time?"

The bearded man looked at the card, confirming the secret code was correct.

"I was introduced by an acquaintance," Shad replied in a low voice. The bearded man sized him up again before stepping aside, allowing Shad to enter the back corridor of the club, which was illuminated by dim yellow gas lamps.

The detective immediately turned up his trench coat collar to cover half his face, cautiously looking left and right down the alley before walking inside.

"Even though this is an illegal casino, there’s no need for that..." the bearded man muttered behind Shad.

The corridor was quite dim, and the air was filled with a nauseating mixture of sweat, alcohol, and tobacco. After walking less than ten steps, doors appeared on both sides of the hallway. They were all left slightly ajar, allowing the harsh light from inside to spill into the corridor, where the sounds of chaotic shouting and hands slapping tables could be heard.

Shad didn't enter any of the rooms. He cautiously moved forward, silently using "Echo of Blood" to check his surroundings. He found no obvious signs of blood, which meant that at least there were no more serious illegal activities happening here.

"Although it's not a combat-type spell, it's inexplicably useful."

The corridor led to the brighter east hall of the club. Dozens of four-legged wooden tables with tablecloths were set up in the hall. Well-dressed gentlemen, drunks who had just left the tavern, and workers who had finished their shifts were crowded around the tables. They waved bank notes around the still-dim tables, excitedly watching the games.

The Lucky Southern Cross club had three floors; only guests with sufficient status could go to the casino upstairs. Young Franklin was clearly only able to loiter on the first floor. Last time, Detective Sparrow Hamilton had found the young man drunk and lying in a corner of the east hall.

Because there were so many people, and Shad had only heard Mr. Franklin describe the young man's attire and appearance, he didn't find him right away.

Holding a 1-shilling note, he soon blended into the crowded hall. He kept stopping at different tables, observing whether he could find the person he was looking for, but he would never throw his money onto the table. The cost of the carriage ride was painful enough; Mr. Franklin wouldn't reimburse unnecessary expenses during the investigation.

Half an hour passed, and he had looked through almost the entire east hall without finding his target. Instead, while pretending to study the bets at a table, he heard gamblers gossiping about an interesting thing that had happened there an hour ago.

A young man with a gray hat, wearing a sailor's shirt and a freckled face with small eyes, had been taken to the second floor to be forced to "repay his debts" because he owed too much money at the gambling table.

Shad didn't know what "repaying debts" meant, but he assumed it wasn't a good thing. He knew he had found traces of young Franklin, and the young man's situation was quite dire.

Entering the second floor of the club required showing at least 10 pounds in cash and being introduced by an acquaintance. Shad had neither money nor an acquaintance, but he had to go to the second floor. Now was not the time to give up; after all, it was his first official commission.

After waiting for a while, fortunately, a group of dozens of drunks stumbled out of a room on one side of the corridor and headed toward the second floor together.

"A good opportunity!"

Shad dodged to the side along with a few people near the staircase, but as the drunks passed, he immediately grabbed one of the men who was slightly behind. Enduring the smell of alcohol on him, he helped the man along and blended into the crowd. The detective finally reached the second floor.

"Sure enough, there's no easy way to make money."

Compared to the noisy environment of the first floor, the second floor was much quieter, and the decor was more elegant. Even at night, this place remained more of a bar club than a casino.