In that white mist, the clear-faced middle-aged Detective did not speak.
Xia De tried to open his mouth, hesitated for a long time, and finally said, "I'm sorry."
"Xia De Hamilton, why are you apologizing to me?"
Many people used the name "Xia De Hamilton" to refer to the Outsider, but only when facing the Detective in front of him did the Outsider feel a sense of shame upon hearing that name.
He looked up and said hesitantly, "You entrusted everything to me, only hoping that after your death, nothing about your life would be exposed.
But I still used your... for my own benefit."
He was genuinely sorry about it.
"Then, has your identity been exposed?"
The transparent middle-aged Detective asked, his eyes sharp and his expression serious.
Xia De shook his head, "No."
"Then, have your actions dealt a blow to Gray Gloves?"
"No."
Xia De shook his head again, not minding the Psychologist's confused expression beside him.
"Then, why apologize?"
The middle-aged Detective said calmly.
"Because you showed me kindness, but I went against your last wishes."
Sparrow Hamilton looked at Xia De, "Kindness? You can honestly tell me all this, and I am the one who brought you into danger.
Letting you inherit the Hamilton Detective Agency was inherently dangerous for the original you.
I am not noble either; no, no one is noble."
Xia De nodded, but then suddenly looked up, "Also, I am now a member of MI6, but I have also connected with Gray Gloves."
Sparrow Hamilton shook his head slightly, "Why tell me these things?"
"Because you were alive..."
"That was when I was alive, and I am already dead.
When I was alive, I did not let down my country and organization; after death, my soul is free."
At this moment, his expression was still serious, "Xia De Hamilton, I don't know what you experienced after I left to be able to recall me.
But remember, Sparrow Hamilton is already dead."
Xia De opened his mouth, not expecting the other party to say that.
"Of course, I am not a good person; no, never have been, but I have left, and you have inherited everything.
You are now the master of Saint Delan Square.
Sparrow has become history, eternally asleep.
You, Xia De Hamilton, truly own everything of mine.
Young man, you must choose your own path; why bother me?"
Xia De could not answer this question.
Sparrow Hamilton shook his head, "I led you away from a vagrant life, but I ultimately left.
I did wrong things in my life, and that is the only thing I felt guilty about when I died, which is rare for me.
Therefore, everything in Saint Delan Square belongs to you, and you, do not disturb me."
For some reason, hearing the other party personally say that everything here belonged to him, Xia De suddenly felt a sense of relief.
All the pressures of living in Saint Delan Square seemed to dissipate with Sparrow Hamilton's words.
He certainly knew that Gray Headed Eagle, as an ace agent, was not a good person in the traditional sense, but he also remembered the scene where Detective Sparrow apologized to him for the last time before his death and wished him good luck:
"I still apologize to you; I used your identity and inheritance."
He said formally.
"I forgive you."
Sparrow Hamilton said solemnly, then sighed, "I also apologize to you; I brought you into danger."
"I forgive you too.
I have completed the four commissions you left..."
Thinking of the cat he was holding, he added, "Only the final finishing touches remain."
That serious face finally showed a hint of a smile, "That's very good.
Although being a Detective was just a disguise, I am also very happy that I didn't delay anyone's life.
These years of being a Detective also made me develop an attachment I shouldn't have.
After all, I am just a mortal."
Xia De hesitated for a moment, "Also, I've kept your room, the master bedroom.
But now, I want to move in; the side bedroom is a bit small."
The middle-aged Detective gently reminded him, "Young man, you are the owner of the house; you don't need to ask for my opinion."
Sparrow Hamilton slightly pulled down the brim of his hat and turned to walk into the thick fog from which he came:
"The path ahead belongs to you.
Also, all mortals will eventually die, I just hope, please don't disturb me anymore..."
"Yes, then farewell, Sparrow Hamilton."
The Detective entered the white mist, leaving only Xia De gazing at him as he departed.
"Gray Gloves?"
The Psychologist beside him was still surprised by what he had heard and looked at Xia De, hoping for an answer, but saw Xia De close his eyes and let out a long sigh:
"Psychologist, is it still raining outside? I think I need to go to the cemetery outside the city."
"It's still raining, but we can go together and talk about your story with Sparrow Hamilton."
It is said that every autumn rain brings more coolness.
And the rain in the second half of withered leaf month indeed intensified the atmosphere of late autumn.
The raindrops hitting the carriage roof and the sound of wheels rolling over the flagstones seemed to have more rhythm than usual.
Autumn rain always makes people feel down.
Xia De in the carriage might have been affected by the rain; as the carriage carried the two gentlemen through Northern Pearl, he recounted the complete story of him and Sparrow Hamilton to Psychologist Schneider in a somewhat suppressed tone.
Xia De hadn't even fully mentioned those things to Leia; the Psychologist was the first to know everything.
Even though the middle-aged Psychologist had seen many storms and experienced many adventures that ordinary people, and even ordinary Ring術士, could not imagine, he was still astonished by Xia De's story:
"So, not only are you now an MI6 agent, but if you wanted to, you could perfectly inherit the identity of 'Gray Headed Eagle' and become an ace spy for Gray Gloves?"
Because it was raining outside, Xia De left Mia at home, hoping it wouldn't disturb the two young ladies who had fallen back asleep after breakfast.
He lowered his head and nodded slightly.
The Psychologist covered his mouth, momentarily unsure of what to say:
"Originally, I thought that inheriting Saint Delan Square Six was already... I didn't expect that house was truly just an extra..."
"I actually had no intention of being an agent.
When I inherited Uncle Sparrow's legacy, I was truly grateful to him and never thought of using his past identity to do anything.
It's just that every time I encounter something related to it, I seem to make different choices.
So much so that, very inexplicably, I might actually be able to replace Sparrow Hamilton as Gray Headed Eagle."
The rain outside the carriage window was heavy, and Xia De was in a terrible mood:
"Although the former Detective had selfish reasons for leading the blindly foolish Xia De away from a vagrant life, it was indeed his actions that created who I am today.
I actually feel a bit guilty, especially since he didn't blame me."
The Outsider knew whose kindness he had received; he was not someone who didn't know how to be grateful.
"Actually, you don't need to blame yourself.
After all, you only used that identity to earn some money and help your friends, but you didn't bring any blemish to the reputation or honor of the Gray Headed Eagle identity."
The Psychologist advised, "Since Sparrow Hamilton said he doesn't mind you using his identity, why not use the Gray Headed Eagle's identity to do some things for Gray Gloves, without violating your moral compass, as a repayment to Sparrow Hamilton."
This was a good idea, but it also seemed possible that it could lead Xia De to delve deeper into the "Gray Headed Eagle" identity.
The carriage quickly arrived at the public cemetery outside the city, and Xia De, instead of spending Sunday at home with Leia and Dorothy, wanted to visit Sparrow Hamilton's grave again.
He had already decided to formally move from the side bedroom into the master bedroom.
Everything from the past would be settled, and he would inherit everything at Saint Delan Square Six.
And today's visit was to say a final farewell, acknowledging that Sparrow Hamilton had truly departed, and everything Xia De did afterward would no longer have any connection to him.
The autumn rain drizzled, and two men, holding black umbrellas and wearing black coats and black rain boots, walked side by side on the cemetery path.
Detective Sparrow was buried in cemetery Area No. 2 of the Tobesk East District Public cemetery.
Sunday morning should have seen many people here, but because of the autumn rain, there were only two or three people standing among the tombstones in the misty rain.
Xia De and Psychologist Schneider walked and talked.
Xia De didn't want to talk more about Sparrow, so he brought up what he encountered in Middlesburg:
"I went there almost every day throughout the autumn, helping some people and killing some people.
And when I encountered danger, when I was in the most perilous situations, the souls I had helped actually came to help me."
He didn't say he was looking for Red Butterfly at the time, only that he was also on Sicar Mountain on Wednesday night:
"The corporal who asked me to deliver the relic pistol, Professor Higgins who mistook me for Gray Headed Eagle, the innocent ladies murdered by the serial killer, and also, the Count who died and resurrected but ultimately left after completing the rhode cards game... This way."
The two turned left on the cemetery's path, and the Psychologist listened quietly to Xia De's narration:
"This world still has kindness, especially when you show your kindness.
Although you don't have to expect a return, sometimes there are unexpected gains.
Detective, all mortals will eventually die, but kindness that is passed on never dies."
The Psychologist with a demon in his heart said with a smile.
Xia De nodded and also smiled, "Yes, all mortals will eventually die... So, I wanted to visit Detective Sparrow again today, as a complete farewell."
"That's very good.
You have gotten rid of all the influences left by Sparrow Hamilton.
From now on, you are the true Hamilton Detective."
The Psychologist encouraged him.
His expertise in psychology helped him analyze Xia De's thoughts at that moment very well.
Looking at the tombstones standing in the rain, the Psychologist kindly removed the wet leaves stuck to a tombstone and continued walking forward with Xia De:
"Everyone will die, but Sparrow Hamilton was lucky; at least he was remembered by you.
You inherited everything from him, but you also knew everything about him.
As long as you are alive, he will not disappear; what a lucky fellow..."
The Psychologist's words were somewhat similar to what Marilyn Hendel, who was about to completely depart in death, had said.
"Being remembered?"
Xia De murmured, "Psychologist, what do you think of the act of resurrecting the dead?"
"That's certainly not right, but people with such thoughts must have many stories, right?"
The Psychologist and Xia De turned into a small path in the cemetery in the rain:
"As I just said, all mortals will eventually die.
Even if they are resurrected, it won't change the fact that they will still die one day.
But the return of the dead, after all, extends the meaning of life.
We all have a fated death; what we can decide is only our respective processes.
It's time for the Psychologist's old adage again—instead of worrying about the death that will eventually come, it's better to consider your current life."
Xia De nodded, and the Psychologist said with emotion, "Of course, the act of resurrecting the dead itself is wrong; after all, those who have left should not return."
Boots stepping on the relatively flat gravel path in the cemetery made a strange sound.
The splashing sound of rain indicated that this rain would probably last for a long time, and Xia De hoped that the temperature wouldn't drop too much recently.
