Rendria is a city born in the cracks of time.
The towering Gothic spire pierces the foggy sky, with a huge, ticking gear clock hanging above it. On the top of the clock tower are stone monsters of various shapes, not lightning rods.
On the cobblestone streets, steam carriages spewed thick smoke mixed with coal ash and inferior magic crystal dust, competing with horse-drawn carriages for the narrow space.
Xing and I have ridden this strange means of transportation.
Compared with a horse-drawn carriage, it is not only faster and more stable, but also cheaper.
Of course, it also has its disadvantages. It is bulky and cannot be easily transported around the city like a horse-drawn carriage.
The kerosene lamp flickered with dim light, illuminating the room. It was an old-fashioned lamp.
This type of lamp, I heard is a kind of lamp that uses electricity. Although it also consumes kerosene, the production process seems to be different. Xing and I discussed this. When Xing talked about it, he was very excited, but I didn't understand.
Xing is always full of wisdom, as if everything is in her control.
My story with Xing began in this city.
An era in which the magic of the old times has not yet completely given way to technology, but the roar of steam has already begun to shake the ancient order.
Magicians still talked about stars and magic in salons, while factory owners began to replace traditional handicrafts with roaring machines.
In this city where old and new are alternating, in an inconspicuous corner, there hangs a slightly crooked brass sign: Xingxing Office.
Standing in front of the wooden window was a girl who looked no more than thirteen or fourteen years old.
She had long, jet-black hair, as deep as the night sky, which was casually tied into a slightly messy ponytail, with a few strands of hair hanging playfully in front of her forehead.
Her eyes were also a deep black, and occasionally one could seem to see starlight flashing in her eyes.
She was wearing an ill-fitting, bleached linen shirt and brown corduroy overalls, with water stains on the trouser legs from walking on the road - this was Xing, the owner of Xingxing Office.
When I pushed open the door, the copper bell on the lintel made a crisp jingling sound.
The interior of the office is not big, and the furnishings are strangely mixed with various mysterious decorations. On the wall hangs a huge parchment scroll depicting a complex star map, and next to it is the most complicated steam train timetable; the heavy oak bookshelves are filled with ancient magic books and city yearbooks that smell of ink; a large walnut desk occupies the center, piled with files, scattered tarot cards, a polished brass astrolabe, and so on.
Xing looked out through the wooden window at the street outside. Gentlemen and ladies in corseted long skirts and top hats hurried by, and the corners of their robes occasionally brushed past hawkers squatting on the roadside, hawking cheap goods.
The air smelled of coal smoke, horse manure, cheap perfume, and a faint hint of sulfur, like something from a sewer or some illegal alchemy workshop.
Xing sighed and said, "Wiz, this is so boring. Why doesn't anyone come to work for us?"
I smiled and said, "Today is only the first day of business. You need to go out and promote your office so that others will know about it."
After hearing this, Xing muttered, "In that case, I have to make flyers? And I have to design and print them. It's so troublesome. My good assistant, do you have any ideas?"
I spread my hands helplessly and said, "No."
Because I was just an assistant, I had never done any related work before.
Xing's thoughts always come so suddenly.
Yesterday, she asked me if I wanted to be a detective.
I thought it was an interesting idea, so I agreed.
And today we came to this detective agency located in the corner of the southern city of Lundria.
I asked her why she chose this place.
Because the South City is much more chaotic than the city center, and after the abolition of the noble titles and the Slave Act, there are many more workers in the South City.
I don't think the workers here would be in the mood to play detective games with her.
She said that detective agencies should be established in such areas, and only detectives who live in seclusion in the city are capable detectives.
Including the style of her clothes, it was originally a piece of clothing, but after being ravaged by her magic several times, it became a washed-out piece of clothing.
In the words of 㳎星, this is what it tastes like.
Many times I don’t quite understand Xing’s thoughts, but that doesn’t stop me from mourning for that poor piece of clothing.
A few days later, the office still hadn't opened.
Xing and I went there to promote it, but it had little effect. She even took the initiative to stop passers-by and ask if they needed any help.
There is no such thing as a knot.
Even if there is, they may not ask Xing for help.
Because she looked so young, like the daughter of an old noble family who came here to play games.
Even though the title of nobility has been abolished and there are no nobles in the traditional sense in Rendria, the workers here still dare not get close to Xing.
"Wiz! Wiz! There's work to do!"
Early in the morning, Xing suddenly rushed in and told me excitedly that she almost knocked over the astronomical instrument on the table.
I asked curiously, "What kind of work?"
Xing said: "I have cooperated with the Ministry of Magical Security, so I am working with them on this case."
I nodded in understanding.
If you can't find a job, cooperating with the authorities is also a good idea.
Then Xing and I packed up and went to the crime scene.
The person who reported the case was Mrs. Morris, who was crying and wailing at home at the moment, saying that the family heirloom magic gem "Moon Shadow Stone" disappeared last night, and hinted that it was done by a rival who coveted her beauty and wealth.
Sheriff Blanco was distraught by her hysterics.
When we arrived at the scene, we had no clues except for an ornate jewelry box that had been pried open.
Mrs. Morris looked at us with undisguised contempt and said, "Detective, are you talking about these two yellow-haired girls? What is the Star Agency? I've never heard of it! Can you help me find who the thief is?!"
Sheriff Blanco said, "Ma'am, if you still want to find your family heirloom, you'd better put away your doubts."
Mrs. Morris snorted.
Xing didn't care. After all, she was not famous among the people, so it was normal for her to be questioned.
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