It's 7:30 in the evening, at the Moretti family's dining table.

"Klein, why do you, as a consultant, also need to arrive early? Wouldn't the security company's emergency matters be more dangerous?" Benson forked a piece of potato from the beef stew and mentioned the morning's events with implicit concern.

Klein carefully spat out the bones of the fried fish and answered with preparation:

"A batch of historical documents needs to be transported to Backlund immediately. I must be there to check and confirm that nothing is missing. You know, those guys who can only wave their fists don't know ancient Feysac language at all."

After hearing his answer, Benson couldn't help but sigh after chewing the food in his mouth:

“Knowledge is really important.”

Taking this opportunity, Klein took out the remaining 5-pound note and handed it to Benson:

"This is the extra compensation I got today. You also need some decent clothes."

“Five pounds?” Benson and Melissa asked at the same time.

He picked up the banknote, looked at it again and again, and said in a half-surprised and half-confused tone:

"This security company is really generous..."

His weekly salary was 1 pound 10 soli, which was exactly 6 pounds for 4 weeks, only 1 pound more than the extra pay!

And with that salary, he supported his younger brothers and sisters, gave them a decent place to live, let them eat meat two or three times a week, and get a few new clothes every year!

"Don't you doubt what I said?" Klein asked deliberately.

Benson laughed and said, "I don't think you have the ability or the courage to rob a bank."

"You are not a person who would lie." Melissa put down her knife and fork and answered seriously.

I, I am now a person who is used to lying... Klein suddenly felt a little ashamed.

Although this was forced by reality, his sister's belief still made him feel melancholy.

"Today's affairs are urgent and important. I played a crucial role in it... That's why it's worth 5 pounds." Klein explained briefly.

In a sense, what he said was true.

As for the 5 pounds of funds that were about to be issued - the money that was previously intended to be used to join the divination club, he planned to conceal it. Firstly, taking another 5 pounds home would really scare his brother and sister and make them suspect that they were doing some illegal business. Secondly, he had to save some money to buy additional materials for his studies as a "fortune teller" and his mastery of mysterious knowledge.

Benson took a bite of oatmeal bread with satisfaction, thought for more than ten seconds and said:

"My current job doesn't require very decent clothes. Well, to be more precise, clothes made of very good fabrics. These at home are enough."

Without waiting for Klein to persuade him, he took the initiative to say:

"With this extra income, we will have some savings. I plan to buy a few more books on accounting and study them more deeply. Klein, Melissa, I don't want my weekly salary to be less than 2 pounds in the next five years. Ha, you know, my boss and my manager have heads full of shit, and they stink as soon as they open their mouths."

"That's a great idea," Klein agreed, and then he said, "Why don't you take a look at the grammar books in my room? This is a crucial factor in becoming a truly respectable person and getting a sufficiently generous salary."

Perhaps, it won't be long before the civil service exam will appear in the Kingdom of Loen. Preparing in advance will give you a lot of advantages...

Benson's eyes lit up when he heard this:

"I indeed forgot about this. Come, let's toast to a bright future."

Instead of drinking rye beer, he poured oyster broth into three cups and clinked glasses with his brother and sister at the same time.

After drinking the clear soup, Klein looked at his sister who was fighting with the fried meat and fish, and said with a low laugh:

"In addition to Benson's books, I think Melissa also needs a new dress."

Melissa raised her head and shook it continuously.

"No, I think it's best..."

“Save it,” Klein added for her.

"Yes." Melissa nodded heavily.

“Actually, if you don’t pursue fabrics and the latest designs, it’s not too expensive. We can save the remaining money.” Klein said in an attitude that would not brook refusal.

Benson also echoed:

"Melissa, do you want to wear your old dress to Selina's sixteenth birthday party?"

Selina Wood was Melissa's classmate and good friend. She came from a fairly well-off family. Her brother was a lawyer and her father was a senior employee of the Tingen branch of the Backlund Bank.

However, what they call a dinner party is just inviting friends to share dinner, chat and play cards.

"Okay," Melissa mumbled in reply, lowering her head, and fiercely forked a piece of beef stew.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly remembered something and looked up and said:

"Mrs. Shaw next door asked her maid to deliver a business card. She hopes to visit us semi-formally on Sunday afternoon, which is tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock, to meet our new neighbors."

“Mrs. Shawde?” Klein looked at his brother and sister in complete confusion.

Benson tapped the edge of the table with his fingers and said as if thinking:

"Mrs. Shaw of 4 Daffodil Street? I've met her husband, a senior solicitor."

"A senior lawyer... maybe he knows Selina's brother." Melissa said with a little joy.

We are No. 2 Narcissus Street... Klein nodded slightly and said:

"It is necessary to get to know the neighbors, but you know, I still have to go to the security company on Sunday and can only rest on Monday. Say sorry to Mrs. Xiaode for me."

At this point, he thought of his childhood neighbors in his previous life, and his neighbors when he lived in the Iron Cross Street apartment, and he sighed with a smile:

"A semi-formal visit... shouldn't neighbors get to know each other naturally and have contact naturally?"

"Haha, Klein, you don't understand. You've read a lot of newspapers recently, but you haven't read magazines that cater to families and women. They call families with an annual income between 100 pounds and 1,000 pounds the middle class, claiming that they are the backbone of the entire kingdom. They also praise the middle class for not being as arrogant as the nobles and the rich, and not being as rude as the low-income class."

Benson explained in a relaxed and cheerful tone, “These magazines simplified many of the rituals of aristocratic interactions as a sign of middle-class identity. The differences between intimate visits, semi-formal visits, and formal visits come from this.”

As he spoke, he shook his head and laughed:

"Generally speaking, gentlemen, ladies, and young ladies who consider themselves of this class are particularly attentive to similar details, and their visits to neighbors and friends from 2 to 6 p.m. are called morning visits."

“Morning visit?” Klein and Melissa asked in surprise.

How can a visit from 2 to 6 pm be considered a morning visit?

Benson put down his knife and fork, spread his hands and smiled:

"I don't know why. I just read a few magazines brought by my female colleagues. Well, maybe it's because I have to wear a morning coat to visit..."

The original morning dress was a dress for masses and gatherings, and later it came to refer to formal daytime wear, as distinguished from evening wear.

“Okay, remember to buy some good coffee powder and tea tomorrow morning, and some muffins and lemon cakes from Mrs. Slin. Don’t be disrespectful in front of your neighbors.” Klein laughed, dipped the remaining bread in gravy, put potatoes in it, and put it in his mouth.

…………

The next day, early Sunday morning.

Klein finished the last sip of bad tea, put down the newspaper, put on his half-high silk hat, picked up his black cane inlaid with silver, walked out of the door slowly, and took a public carriage to Zouteland Street.

He said hello to Luo Shan, who had just finished her night shift and was about to go to the lounge to sleep, and went down all the way to the underground.

At the corner, he met a member of the Nighthawks, the "Sleepless" Luo Yao Leiting.

This was a cold-looking lady with thin eyebrows, large eyes, and black hair that was as smooth as silk.

"Good morning, Ms. Laiding." Klein saluted with a smile.

Luo Yao looked at him with his deep blue eyes and nodded barely perceptibly.

When the two were about to pass each other, Luo Yao suddenly stopped, looked ahead and said:

"Ritual magic is a dangerous thing."

Ah... Klein was stunned for a moment. When he turned around, he could only see the other person's receding back.

"Thank you." He frowned and called softly to Luo Yao Laiting's back.

Turning left, he soon saw Old Neil in the armory guard room, and Brett, who was not supposed to be here.

"Let's go to my house. I have already collected the corresponding materials, and Brett has agreed to help me keep watch over it." Old Neil said with a smile.

Klein was immediately surprised:

"Not here?"

Old Neil held up the small silver box and said with a click of the tongue:

"There is no room here to practice ritual magic."

Klein didn't ask any more questions and followed Old Neil back to the ground. Then, the two of them took a public carriage and went all the way to the outskirts of the North District.

Old Neil’s home is a single-family house with a garden in front planted with roses, golden mint and other “materials”.

As you enter, there is a carpeted porch with two high-backed chairs and an umbrella stand.

Through the porch is a spacious living room with light-colored wallpaper on the walls and a dark brown floor. There is a small printed rug in the middle and a heavy round table.

The round table is surrounded by comfortable benches, chairs, and a piano.

"My late wife loved music." Old Neil pointed at the piano and casually said, "The sofa and coffee table are in the living room... Let's perform the ritual magic in the living room today."

“Okay.” Klein replied somewhat stiffly.

Old Neil put down the small silver box and said with a smile:

"I will demonstrate a ritual magic to you first. Please pay attention and remember it."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of imitation parchment from a small silver box and drew strange patterns on it with specially prepared black ink that had a tranquil scent.

Klein looked again and again and found that Old Neil seemed, probably, to be drawing a bill!

After Old Neil filled in the number "30" and the corresponding "pound" symbol in the corresponding position, Klein could no longer control himself and asked in confusion:

"Mr. Neil, what kind of ritual magic are you going to perform?"

Old Neil coughed twice and answered very seriously:

"I will use magic to settle that 30-pound debt today."

Is this okay? Klein's eyes widened and his mouth half opened.

PS: The third update asks for recommendation votes~