Chapter 64: The Orb of the Silver Moon

The dinner party at the Lakeside Manor on Sunday was the most important event of the day for Litch. He had asked Dr. Schneider yesterday about the appropriate attire for an open-air banquet. The doctor had simply told him to be clean and well-groomed, explaining that such outdoor gatherings—which permitted strangers to enter—were usually quite large in scale, making overly formal dress unnecessary.

However, if one was attending a banquet for the sake of a pretty girl, then, of course, one should dress more respectably. Litch still remembered Miss Louisa’s teasing tone when she made that remark, and it seemed she was quite familiar with these unwritten rules.

Since Baron Lavender had promised to reimburse his travel expenses for the round trip, Litch did not need to set out too early.

The morning was spent playing with the orange cat and reading books, while naturally also waiting for any potential clients to arrive. Little Mia was the most obedient pet Litch could possibly imagine. Over these past few days, she had basically adapted to life at Number Six, St. Deran Square, and Litch felt completely at ease leaving her at home.

After eating lunch, figuring he didn't have the luck to wait for a client, he went out once more, heading toward Old John’s Pawnshop.

The address provided by Miss Louisa turned out to be that very shop not far from the Silver Parrot Milk Delivery Company. When Litch pushed open the door, the old man dozing in the rocking chair immediately snapped awake:

"Ah, a regular customer. I certainly won't sell that walking stick again—"

He stood up to welcome the detective, while Litch lowered his voice and said:

"Let's leave the walking stick out of this. This time, I'd like... something interesting."

He glanced around the cramped shop. All four walls were covered in brass-colored wallpaper, allowing the faint gaslight to illuminate the interior as much as possible. Gas pipes crawled along the walls, and hanging at intervals between the pipes were items such as a broken carriage lamp and a long sword missing everything except its hilt.

Most of the shop was filled with wooden shelves, upon which miscellaneous items resembling junk were displayed. Litch could not fathom the point of placing ordinary-patterned Tarot cards and empty glass bottles here.

The shopkeeper, Old John, had already returned behind the counter. On the left side of the counter sat a stack of old books, while the right side featured a small steam engine firebox. The left half of it had been wiped clean, but the right side was still covered in a layer of ash; this thing hadn't been here during his last visit.

Old John did not show any surprise at Litch's words:

"Everything here is interesting."

He said, and then quietly watched Litch from behind the counter.

The old man was slightly plump, but his gaze was remarkably sharp. So, Litch cleared his throat and recited the "secret code" Miss Louisa had given him. To purchase occult supplies or even relics from this place, one required an introduction from an acquaintance:

"Because one plus one equals two, the sun will rise in the west. Oh, my Maria, I'm going to kick your... bottom. Don't go barefoot, or the woolly baboon will eat your cavities."

This was the shop's passphrase, signifying that Litch had been referred by a regular customer and was also a Ring-bearer.

Yet Litch deeply suspected whether such a passphrase was just Miss Louisa playing a joke on him; it was highly probable she had plagiarized the rambling nonsense of the patients at Dr. Schneider’s clinic.

However, Old John understood it, and waved a hand at Litch:

"Ah, so you were introduced by Dorothy Louisa. I haven't seen her in a long time. How is her new book, *The Mystery of the Bloody Character*, coming along? Last time she said she'd send me a copy after it was published."

*The Mystery of the Bloody Character* was a detective novel Miss Louisa had recently been writing, which she intended to serialize in the newspapers, and she had already contacted a publishing house. Unfortunately, the examination season had interrupted her writing plans, leaving that book with only a beginning. Litch had heard the young female writer complaining about this just yesterday at the study session.

"If I had claimed to be introduced by Miss Louisa last time, would the price of that walking stick have been higher?"

Litch asked.

"Of course not. That time was already the highest price. Detective, are you doubting my reputation? Old John's Pawnshop never cheats its customers... Yes, never. No need to doubt it, that's just how it is..."

Faced with the young detective’s skeptical gaze, the elderly John coughed and swiftly changed the subject:

"Speaking of which, Detective, I didn't expect you to be a Ring-bearer as well. Very well then, what do you need? Considering the friendship from that walking stick last time, I can give you a discount on your first transaction."

Litch had previously given Old John his business card, so the other party already knew his profession.

Old man John Jones was certainly a Ring-bearer, but regarding his exact background and affiliation, neither Miss Louisa nor Dr. Schneider was entirely clear.

They only knew that this was a channel used by a certain large organization in Tobesk to recover relics and other precious items. As for whether Old John truly belonged to one of the Orthodox Churches, the Thaumaturgy Academy, or some other faction, no one could say for sure.

Even Dr. Schneider's group of four could not confirm whether Old John was affiliated with St. Byrons Comprehensive College. The old man, who always wore a beaming smile for his customers, kept his identity strictly under wraps, but at least his professional ethics were quite decent, and he possessed a rich collection of artifacts.

Without an introduction from an acquaintance, this place would not receive unfamiliar Ring-bearers—which could also be considered one of the conveniences of joining Dr. Schneider's cell.

"I've recently been studying thaumaturgy related to the [Silver Moon], so I'd like to—"

"Understood. Then what kind of budget can you offer?"

The old man asked, rubbing his right index finger and thumb together.

After paying off his debt for the first month, Litch actually didn't have much savings left. Up to now, his largest source of income remained the commission involving Little Mia.

However, the thaumaturgy of the [Silver Moon] concerned whether he possessed the power to protect himself, so even with the funds from selling the walking stick here, he still worried it might not be enough.

After much inward hesitation, he had arbitrarily embezzled ten pounds of Little Mia's "living expenses." Before leaving, he had even deliberately held the cat in his arms to apologize, promising to pay the money back as soon as possible. Naturally, the orange cat hadn't understood a word; half-asleep at the time, she hadn't reacted at all.

"Around fifteen pounds."

Litch said cautiously. Old John nodded:

"At that price..."

He pulled a heavy ledger from beneath the counter and flipped through it. A few minutes later, he looked up:

"I do happen to have a Poet-tier [Relic] in my possession that suits your situation. But at a price around fifteen pounds, as you probably understand, it won't have any dramatic effects; it can only help you perceive the power of the silver moon."

[Relics] were usually very expensive, and Litch nodded to show his understanding.

Thus, Old John left through the back door of the shop, returning a few dozen minutes later cradling a wooden jewelry box.

Placing the jewelry box on the counter and opening it, Litch saw a single round bead resting on red velvet. A tiny golden loop was attached to the top of the bead, with a fine thread tied through it.

The bead was milky white, with a luster resembling a pearl, but it was extremely small. If it weren't for the attached thread, had it fallen to the floor, it probably would never have been found.

[You have touched the 'Whisper'.]

The voice arrived tardily, as if illustrating the weakness of this [Relic].

"This is the Poet-tier relic, [Orb of the Silver Moon]. It was last cataloged by the Celsus College of Higher Medicine—one of the three great thaumaturgy academies—toward the end of the Fifth Epoch. Therefore, even if it is brought out into the open, it won't be treated as stolen goods."

Old John pushed the jewelry case toward Litch. Litch extended a single finger to touch the tiny bead, and an icy sensation instantly surged into his mind, causing him to actually see that wheel of the silver moon before his eyes.