As Sir Prisha finished speaking, he immediately looked at Xia De's expression.
Although Xia De didn't want to show an impolite expression in front of his client, this matter truly challenged his intelligence:
"Hmm... replicating banknotes."
Xia De nodded and raised his teacup to half-cover his face.
Baron Cameron gave an awkward laugh and leaned back slightly on the sofa:
"Every 36 hours, if you open the box lid in a special way, you can get a banknote with the exact same serial number.
Of course, before opening, you need to use the box's button to select the denomination of the coin or banknote, whether it's a coin, paper money, pounds, shillings, or even a Carson Rick crown.
Yes, I know this must be a scam, but Jimmy believes it implicitly.
He..."
The Baron sighed again:
"He has already 'replicated' a one-pound coin once and ten-pound banknotes three times.
I think the money stored in that box in advance must be running out.
Detective, I want to commission you to expose this lie, and then investigate which of his so-called 'friends' sold him that box."
He took out his notebook again, on which were noted the places where Jimmy Cameron might appear today:
"If I expose this lie, it might be a blow to him.
Therefore, please do not reveal that you are hired by me; you can investigate under the guise of a Detective hired by other victims.
If you can accept the commission, we can sign the contract now."
He paused, looking at Xia De, who had put down his teacup, and asked with some embarrassment:
"Besides that, I have one small request."
"What request?"
The Baron stroked his chin, revealing an embarrassed yet somewhat excited expression:
"After this investigation, would it be possible for Dorothy Louisa to write the case into the hamilton detective story collection?
You can directly use the real investigation process as the main body of the story, or even directly write that I commissioned it.
After all, according to Miss Louisa's current serialization speed and the writing progress revealed by my acquaintance at the Steam Bird Daily, even if this story can be published, it won't be until February next year."
"Hmm..."
Xia De blinked, seeming to understand a little:
"You came to me for an investigation commission, not simply because you wanted the story you commissioned to become a Detective story, right?"
"Of course not, I am also very concerned about Jimmy."
Baron Cameron immediately emphasized, then again showed an embarrassed expression:
"Of course, I am also a loyal reader of the hamilton detective story collection.
Don't worry, Hamilton of Thunder Jeed, I will not follow you in the investigation, and I promise that this matter was not something I specifically created and then came to you to commission."
After speaking, as if afraid that Xia De would not accept the commission, he offered the reward:
"30 pounds.
The total commission fee is 30 pounds.
If there are any additional expenses during the process, I can reimburse all reasonable expenses with receipts.
Even if you cannot find out who sold the box to Jimmy, as long as you can expose it, I will not take back the 5 pounds deposit.
If this story is truly published in the end, I can pay an additional 30 pounds!"
This was indeed a very generous reward, and Xia De had already confirmed during their handshake that Baron Cameron was just an ordinary person.
He didn't immediately agree, nor did he expect that there would truly be a reader of Dorothy who would actively come to commission him just to participate in a Detective investigation.
Strictly speaking, this was business that Dorothy had attracted for Xia De:
"I can take on this commission."
Xia De said slowly, wondering if he was truly a competent Detective:
"However, I must first state that although I have a good relationship with Miss Louisa, I cannot interfere with her creative process.
What I am taking on is only a Detective commission.
As for writing this matter into a story, I can suggest it to Miss Louisa, but whether she agrees is her decision, and this will not be written into the contract."
"No problem!"
Joy appeared on the Baron's face:
"It's enough that you can mention it to Miss Louisa.
We can sign the contract now.
I am truly looking forward to seeing it in the newspaper... I mean, being able to catch that despicable fellow who sold the box."
Xia De still believed that the Baron, who excitedly came to commission him, was simply hoping for his commissioned case to become a publishable story.
Saint Delan Square No. 6 had standard contracts.
Xia De only needed to modify the commission fee and time, then add a few clauses specifically for the particular commissioned event, and he could use it directly.
Although Baron Cameron was very excited, he still carefully read the contract terms, and only after modifying some details of the clauses did he sign his name.
The agreed commission period was one week; within that week, Xia De had to at least produce a progress report.
However, given the nature of this commission, Xia De felt it wouldn't even take a week.
If he was lucky, he could solve the matter in two days.
By the time Xia De saw the Baron out and returned upstairs, Dorothy and Princess Margaret had already returned from Room No. 2 to Room No. 1.
The Golden-haired girl was casually flipping through the contract, and although Princess Margaret was also very interested, she maintained the decorum of a royal lady and would not casually look at others' private documents.
"You must have heard just now; do you want to investigate together?"
Xia De, who had just walked in from the doorway, asked Dorothy.
He knew Dorothy would definitely agree; the Writer already enjoyed gathering material from Xia De.
"Of course, didn't you promise the Baron to try and persuade me to write the story?
A story personally experienced is, of course, easier to write.
Then, Detective, today I am your Detective assistant."
The Writer said with a smile.
Xia De nodded, then looked at Princess Margaret:
"Your Royal Highness, I know most of what there is to know about Sir Prisha's matter.
I will give you a result as soon as possible regarding the Sorceress you commissioned me to investigate."
This was actually a hint for her to leave, as Xia De planned to go out with Dorothy, and Princess Margaret certainly wouldn't stay here alone.
But the princess from the southern kingdom thought for a moment and, instead of bidding farewell, softly asked:
"May I join you in the investigation?"
"Sorry, what?"
"One of my teachers is also very interested in the hamilton detective story collection.
I think she would be very happy if I could tell her a story that hasn't been published yet.
Moreover, I don't have many opportunities to wander alone in this City.
Since I'm already out today, why not find something to pass the time?"
She also knew this request was a bit sudden, so she added:
"I can disguise my face and act as Miss Louisa's assistant, helping her record notes.
If you encounter trouble, I can also help, yes, any kind of trouble.
Don't worry, I won't reveal any secrets I see."
Xia De didn't agree immediately but looked at Dorothy.
The Golden-haired girl thought for a moment and nodded slightly:
"It would certainly be nice to have someone help me take notes, but Your Royal Highness, perhaps Detective investigations are not as interesting as you imagine."
"It's fine."
The girl with long light-gold hair smiled:
"I just want to see this City from a different perspective.
The past few days I've been busy with my promotion ceremony, and even when moving around the City, I didn't have time to look closely at it.
The Pearl of the North, the Steam City, the Jewel of Delarion—walking through this fog with you, witnessing the lives of the common people, that is enough."
(Mia running...)
Although Mr. Boris Cameron held the title of Baron, Tobesk was not a remote countryside; this City had no shortage of nobles.
Of course, Baron Cameron belonged to the class of nobles with a better standard of living; he not only inherited the family's hereditary title but also a large inheritance left by his ancestors.
As for the Baron's brother, Mr. Jimmy Cameron, thirty-five years old this year, although he did not inherit the title or the ancestral home, he also received a large sum of property and a wool spinning factory with fixed annual output, which was at least much more comfortable than the Outsider who inherited an unclean house.
Jimmy Cameron in the black and white photo looked a bit bloated, but his mental state seemed good.
According to the information provided by his brother, Baron Cameron, on Monday morning, the idle factory owner was most likely sleeping in his own house due to a hangover from the previous night, or inspecting his property at the factory—he was only likely to do this on Mondays.
Jimmy Cameron's house was located in the factory district in the west of the City; it was a three-story detached house with a garden.
Although the location was a bit remote, the land and housing prices were not cheap at all.
Unfortunately, when the Detective, Writer, and Writer's assistant, who arrived by carriage, tried to visit, the owner of the house had already gone out.
So the three walked through two blocks to an area further west of the City, which was the true industrial zone of all Tobesk.
Last week's heavy snow still showed no signs of melting.
Even though the main roads in the City had been cleared for carriages, walking on the side streets still meant stepping on the half-melted snow.
Not long after the three started walking, snowflakes began to fall again.
Princess Margaret, walking side by side with Dorothy, reached out to try and catch the falling snow, but the snowflakes melted immediately upon landing on her glove.
"Does Tobesk have a lot of snowfall in winter?"
She asked the Golden-haired girl next to her, who was wearing a winter coat and scarf.
Xia De walked in front of them, so the girls only needed to follow Xia De.
While asking, the foreign princess surveyed the misty winter streetscape of the City.
The street where the three were currently located was called "Blacksmith Street" on the map.
Before the Steam Age, nearly a third of the City's blacksmiths gathered here, and it is said that the eventual unified construction of steam factories in the west of the City was also related to this street.
The exotic streetscape kept the princess somewhat dazzled.
She spoke while gazing at the City.
The low stone walls by the street, the gray stone shops at the street corners, the Boy shoe-shiners huddled against the walls waiting for customers, and the carriages passing by with their ringing bells.
Unidentified birds flew overhead, their movements casting shifting shadows on the gray brick ground from the sunlight.
Those shadows were quickly stepped over by the boots of a woman passing by, holding a child and a bread bag, while a Boy selling newspapers, huddled on the street corner in a patched old cotton coat, watched enviously the child wearing shiny small leather shoes.
A passing gentleman called out to the Boy and bought a newspaper.
As he walked forward, unfolding the newspaper, a close-up photo of Princess Margaret taken during her visit to the steam factory appeared on the outside of the newspaper.
A police officer passing by stared at the princess's photo on the newspaper and complained to his patrolling partner about the significant increase in work lately.
And the true princess was watching them at this very moment.
Light and shadow left strange traces on the snow-covered rooftops.
Slightly melted snow water dripped from the ice along the edges of the rooftops to the ground, leaving shallow circular marks.
Xia De's shoes stepped over the water stains and continued forward.
The ladies' brown short cloth boots and black lace-up leather boots also immediately stepped on the withered yellow grass in the cracks of the stone bricks.
Being in the same era, somewhat similar to Carson Rick but completely different, winter Tobesk looked quite leisurely and quiet.
She had originally chosen to sneak out on a Monday to relax for a day from her busy life.
Looking at this streetscape, the princess believed she could enjoy a brief and perfect holiday.
