Mystery: Those years when I was a foreign aid for the Aurora Club

Chapter 61 The Action of the Little People
163
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the passenger ship entered the waters of Rorsted Islands.Although early winter has ushered in on land, there is still a little warm wind at sea.The ocean is always synonymous with opportunity and chaos. People of all kinds mix in the city, bringing a lively style that is completely different from the northern and southern continents.

After the ship docked at a small port he was familiar with, Richard Ernst unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, carried his small black suitcase, and slowly got off the ship with the people arriving at their destination.Most of the people working in the port are dark-skinned low-class people from the Southern Continent and natives with distinctive clothing styles. They work under managers who hold canes and wear top hats.

The colonists of the Northern Continent have almost omnipotent privileges here. Even if they kill one or two natives, the worst punishment they get is repatriation, and they can even use a small amount of money to open their joints.The bureaucrats in the civilized world will not refuse the opportunity to make money, and the local people will not become enemies with the superiors because of a life.As for the price of compensation...it's so cheap that the merchants who can come here don't care at all.

Richard is not surprised by all this, but he is not used to it, because once upon a time, he was one of them.

The invader's child, Feysac's half-breed son, a colonist father whom he had never met, unable to support his weakening mother.

The shoeshine tool in the satchel, the mud and vegetable leaves that hit him, the neighbor’s aunt and sister who were taken away by the slave trader and never seen again, the royal family and the Church of the Bound God who are indifferent to the suffering of the people, accuse Their war of resistance is a barbaric act for the nations of the Northern Continent.

Richard Ernst genuinely felt that the temperance philosophy was beginning to warp and needed a radical overhaul.

When the Highland Kingdom was still there and the Rose School of Thought was still the "Church of the Bound God", as a national orthodox church, it certainly had the ability to restrain the people from living a life of poverty and peace.But now that the Highland Kingdom has been subjugated for decades, it is too stupid to still dream of such a clean and self-sufficient dream, which is a bit of escapism and self-deception.

If you pursue the concept of "self-control, restrain your heart", you either have the ability to make others follow you willingly, like the legendary saint, even your enemies are impressed by your character; or you move yourself.Otherwise, when the enemy's butcher's knife falls, when people cry, when anger and hatred are burning, you still choose to restrain yourself, this is evasion.

Otherwise, blindly restraining, when do you want to explode?

Richard took a deep breath.

Hate? ... No, I have let go of the hate.

Forgive? No, it is a sin that can never be forgiven.

Sure enough, there are always some things that cannot be controlled.For example, the desire for freedom, the yearning for dignity, and the love for hometown.

164
Temperance wiped his nose with his hands, and hired an old and elderly local as a guide, asking him to take him to the nearest affiliated institution of the Ernst Foundation.The old man was still a little afraid of his civilized manners and tall stature, but he spoke fluent local dialect, and quickly dispelled the old man's defenses, and chatted with him relaxedly.

So Richard was surprised to learn that the old man had worked in the Ernst Foundation for decades.Because I have no culture, I can only serve as a chef.Later he was old and lost his right hand in a mugging attack (the old man shook his empty sleeve).Without the ability to work, it has been ten years since he cultivated in the poorhouse until he was able to take care of himself, and then left voluntarily to find another way of life.

Hearing that the young man who asked him to lead the way had something to do with the foundation, a very shallow smile appeared on the old man's face full of sorrow, and the wrinkles between his brows that had been painstakingly polished also relaxed a little.

"When I was working there, there was a little girl who... especially liked to eat the dishes I cooked, ahem..." the old man said slowly, his eyes filled with the brilliance of memories of the good past, "She sings very well , and is very lively and active, and has light blue hair. The way she smiles is exactly the same as my missing little daughter..."

Richard thought for a while, then asked with a smile, "Is your name Cosette?"

"It seems... I can't remember clearly." The old man thought for a while, and then sighed deeply, "Ahem, it's been so many years... If she grows up smoothly, her child should be that old..."

The two chatted, walked through the lively port and the city center, and came to a two-story building on the outskirts of the city.

"Here we are, sir."

"Thank you for your help." Richard made some tricks, turning the five-pound note into a one-soul note and handing it to the old man.

The old man thanked and left.Richard probed into the small building and found someone moving in the small courtyard behind, so he tentatively called out: "Mr. Solera? Is that you?"

First a bald head poked out from behind the wall, and then three small heads poked out, and then a middle-aged woman stepped out generously to open the door for Richard, then turned back and put her hand on the bald head Slap it hard, and there is a crisp sound like patting a ripe watermelon.

"...God, Richard! It's really you, you're back!"

Mr. Solera, who was bald, had a happy expression on his face, ran over with a fat belly that made people feel safe, and gave Richard a big hug.Then he realized that he had just reached Richard's chest, so he quickly pushed him away and looked him up and down: "Are you growing taller again?"

Richard smiled and said, "You said the same thing last time."

"It's nice to be young, it's nice to be young, and you can still grow taller when you're young." Mr. Solera, who is not short but not so safe, was very emotional. He patted the young man on the shoulder and laughed loudly. "How long ago was the last time you left? Three years ago? Five years ago? The little girls you sent have all grown up, and only a few children are left to accompany me!"

"By the way, how old are you this year, in your twenties? You're here, why don't you just have a drink with me before leaving!"

"Don't listen to his nonsense." Mrs. Durda complained to her husband, and pointed out to Richard the children behind her and hiding in the small garden. The baby that was snatched back. Well, the girls have all grown up, went out to marry and have their own families, and they will come back to see us every year."

"The budget Mr. Garland gave us was enough for us to adopt five children, but we also have jobs, so we funded a few more... Our eldest son went to study in Ruen, graduated two years ago, and now he is back in Central Sonia This is a very decent job, we are already planning a marriage for him, ah, we have a young son..."

Richard listened with a smile, and Mr. Solera, who had always been impatient with his wife's chatter, was already cheering and heading back to the backyard to play with the children.The organization management method in the sea is different from that in the northern continent, because the flow of people in the city is too large and too chaotic.The gathering of too many vulnerable people is an easy target for human traffickers and vicious people.

Therefore, there are almost no orphanages and workhouses in the true sense. Instead, families adopt and sponsor children's lives.There will be a lot of expenses left without providing all accommodation, but the safety of the children will not be guaranteed to a certain extent. There is no way.

"Which is your youngest son?" asked Richard.

Mr. Solera laughed and wrapped all the children in his arms: "They all are!"

"Stop making trouble." Mrs. Durda couldn't help laughing, pointing to one of the children with slightly reddish hair and said, "This is our child."

"He's very cute." Richard looked at the shy little boy seriously, and smiled, "He will definitely become an outstanding person."

"Since you're here, let's have dinner before leaving. I'll entertain you with the wine and cured meat I brewed myself!" Mr. Solera said quickly, "If you want, come and tell the children a story. I am also very curious about where you have been all these years and what you are doing when you come back this time.”

165
Maria knocks on Isengard Stanton's door.An apprentice-like man in a brown vest poked his head out vigilantly. Seeing that it was a lady, his expression and tone softened: "Hello?"

"Hello, I have a commission and I want to see Mr. Stanton."

The apprentice nodded, turned and closed the door.After a while, he opened the door again, as if to invite Maria in: "Mr. Stanton has no schedule right now, ma'am, you can come in and discuss it in detail."

Overjoyed, Maria quickly entered the door, neatly arranged her appearance, and tightly grasped the document bag in her hand.She made a disguise today, covering the most representative scar on her face, dyed her hair and put on a skirt and high heels. She looks like a slim young beauty. No one would compare her now with The principal of the lawyer who is particularly ruthless in group fights in the East District contacted him.Essinger was waiting in the living room. When the guests came, the old gentleman got up to greet him.The two greeted each other briefly, and after looking at each other, Maria took the initiative to explain her purpose:
"Mr. Stanton, I have heard about you for a long time, I would like to ask you to help me investigate something..." The apprentice brought hot tea, she took out a few pieces of paper from the document bag in her hand, and spread them on the coffee table, "I am A businessman who does a simple processing business. There is my processing factory in the East District. But Mr. Capin used some improper means to rob my goods and injured my workers. He demanded a ransom from me, otherwise he threatened me Can no longer do business."

"I planned to report this matter to Severus, but the case could not be accepted because there was no evidence. I will soon reach the deadline requested by Capin, and I would like to entrust you, a famous private detective, to help me with some Investigation... This is the photo of the few workers I disappeared. I suspect that they were detained by Capin. I hope you can help me find the place where they are detained. I want them to return to their families."

Essinger frowned slightly, and read the archives provided by Maria intently, but he did not speak, but slowly exhaled thin white smoke through the pipe.

Maria waited quietly, and finally heard Essinger say: "Sorry, ma'am, I cannot accept this commission."

"I understand your concerns. Capin has a lot of manpower in the East District. I don't mind if you distribute this commission to more detectives. I... I have sufficient funds and can reduce risks for you." Maria touched The accounts and checks in my pocket are very heartbreaking, but I have confidence again.

"That's not true, ma'am... You want to rescue your workers, I'm moved by your kindness, but Capin has been entrenched in the East District for too long, even the police dare not (emphasis) to do it rashly, we private detectives can It's very limited."

Essinger politely refused.

"No, sir, I just hope that you can figure out the structure of his house, no matter what method you use..." Maria's voice was a little dry, "Even if it's just the changing of shifts inside the mansion... it's okay ...I must bring them back."

"Ma'am, I really want to help you, but this is beyond my ability. You should file a police report, not a detective."

Essinger sighed, and emphasized the police, trying to imply that the lady on the opposite side should not try to play tricks with Capin, because the other party has deep background connections and secret support.However, in order not to make the lady feel sad and hopeless, he still comforted her and said, "Emperor Roselle said: Anyone who walks will leave traces. Kapin has done these things and will definitely leave a lot of clues. Maybe you need some patience." I am waiting, as long as evidence is found, he will definitely be brought to justice."

Of course I know... Heh, this incident actually happened in April last year, and the case is still refused because there is no evidence.If I hadn't committed suicide and snatched him back, the grass on the grave would be one meter high by now...!Maria forced a smile, and the two practiced Tai Chi for a while. She knew she couldn't convince Isinger, so she had to leave.

Leaving Essinger's house, Maria looked at the list of optional detectives in her hand, Stuart, Kaslana, Moriarty... suddenly felt that the future was bleak: if even the most likely Isengard Stanton refused because he was worried about the forces behind the other party, and it was even more impossible for other small detectives in personal name to agree, not to mention that it was impossible for Maria herself to conceal news or coerce and lure for her own purpose.

It may not be useful for the heads of other cities to come, everyone is Sequence 6 or even lower.The only person who might be able to help is Mr. Garland De, the "gatekeeper" on the Rorsted Islands, but it will take several days for the other party to arrive, and it is hard to guess what will happen during this time.

What should I do...

TBC
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"My son works for the East India Company. It's a decent job..."

In the transitional chapter, I plan to skip the plot where Klein Sharon and the others fight the Rose School of Thought, but it doesn't seem to work.

Put one up tonight (I will study what the VIP chapter is), and it will be updated as usual at 12:30 tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)