Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 1058 Knight Spirit

Chapter 1058: Chapter 1058 Knight Spirit

After bidding farewell to the mechanic and feeling like he’d been running around the city all day, Shard took a carriage from the Steam Factory in the Tobesk Western District to the Northern District. Of course, he didn’t forget to hide his tracks to prevent being followed.

When he returned to No. 7 Long Ear Alley, it was already evening, and the sky was somewhat dim. To avoid attracting attention, Miss Brown extinguished the fire pit, wrapped herself in clothes, leaned against the wall, and nestled between two boxes.

During Shard’s absence, she seemed to have left too, at least those two suitcases weren’t there before he left.

Since Miss Brown was still being hunted and could be found at any time, Shard didn’t waste words on small talk. He informed Miss Brown of her fiancé, Mr. Felinga’s decision, causing the former agent’s eyes to immediately redden:

"He... I have deceived countless people in my life, yet I never expected to gain such trust and affection."

"Madam, don’t waste time singing praises of love, we are not performing an opera here. What decision have you made now?"

Shard pointed in the direction of Tobesk’s central district:

"If Mr. Felinga is lucky, he should already be in the sewers. And you should decide immediately on what to do next. Leave with him? Or refuse him?"

"I want very much to leave with him, but we can’t possibly leave. I know the style of MI6, the Tobesk Train Station should be full of their people now, the main exits out of the city should also be blocked, and tonight, the city might even be in semi-lockdown. I know the behavior of MI6, and I know Director Anlos’s character. Compared to enemies, they hate traitors more."

Miss Brown wiped her eyes, wanting to write one more letter:

"Sir, please deliver one last letter for me to him... he doesn’t need to wait any longer."

Shard’s mouth twitched a bit, and he asked curiously:

"Oh, don’t write another letter, I’ve delivered enough letters today... how do you know I am a good person?"

"What?"

Miss Brown looked at him, puzzled.

Shard exhaled through his nose, closed his eyes, and thought for a moment:

"After leaving here, if you can leave, what do you plan to do in the future?"

"Completely stay away from all this, we will never come back."

Shard opened his eyes, his eyes were very bright:

"Alright, since I’m in a good mood today, let me help you out a bit. If you want to leave with him, I can try to find a way for you both, though I’m not sure there is a way, just trying to find a way... wait here, I’ll be back within two hours."

He checked the time with Miss Brown:

"Seriously, I always encounter such things."

He complained as he stood up. Although Miss Brown had difficulty with her legs, she still hesitated to stand up to see him off. At the door of the room, she asked embarrassedly:

"May I ask... why are you helping me?"

Shard turned to look at her:

"Let’s just say it’s my occasional kind heart. You’re lucky, you met me when I’m in a good mood today, and I don’t have other things on hand... don’t forget to pay me for my troubles, I’m taking a risk to help you, not just for personal satisfaction."

Although Miss Brown could be considered a traitor to Draleon, if you go to Miss Galina, the Grand Witch is likely to agree to help, and she has such influence in Tobesk City.

But unfortunately, Miss Brown’s departure couldn’t be delayed, and if you want to travel back and forth to Galina Manor outside the city, it might waste a lot of time. Therefore, Shard planned to seek Lecia’s help.

As a loyal patriot and Draleonist, although Her Highness the Princess surely despised such kingdom traitors, even wanting to shoot Miss Brown herself, given his presence, and since Miss Brown hadn’t actually harmed the kingdom, Lecia might possibly give some help.

It’s just that Miss Brown’s luck today was really bad; Shard first went to Feather Quill Street to find Dorothy, but learned from the landlady that the Blonde Writer Miss had gone to attend the writers’ year-end gathering and wouldn’t be back until around nine in the evening.

So Shard then went to the flower shop opposite Yordle Palace, intending to contact the Little Princess Angelina to find Lecia. Angelina was indeed at Yordle Palace, but unfortunately, Lecia was out accompanying Queen Diana for a countryside outing, and wouldn’t be back until after nine.

Angelina was enthusiastic in her return message through the maid, asking if Shard needed help, but the Little Princess didn’t have the influence Lecia had. Hastily involving Angelina in this matter would likely cause trouble, so Shard politely declined her and continued searching for someone who might help him.

The problem he faced was that MI6 was hunting for Miss Brown and Mr. Felinga throughout the city. He didn’t want to involve his Circle Sorcerer friends, preferring to find someone powerful to provide a safe way out of the city.

Yet without the ladies’ help, Shard suddenly realized he had no trustworthy influential friends in this city. Escaping the MI6-led hunt required power far greater than that of a minor official.

"This is really bad."

As the sunset gradually faded, with temporarily no other means, Shard could only go home to feed the cats, and then visit Princess Margaret at the Canary Estate.

Her Highness the Princess had just finished her afternoon schedule. When Shard saw her in the manor, she was in a good mood, asking if the letter had been delivered to Miss Brown, to which Shard relayed the unfortunate changes regarding Miss Brown:

"To put it simply, things have fallen apart for Miss Brown now."

Shard sat on the chair in the study:

"Although I don’t greatly believe in the law of conservation of luck, today is undoubtedly the unluckiest day in that lady’s life. But perhaps not the unluckiest, since the unluckiest case would be if MI6 had found her before me."

Actually, being thrown out eight years ago because the princess "didn’t like eating purple cabbage" was the unluckiest day, but Shard didn’t feel good pointing that out.

"Hmph, that’s the price of her disloyalty."

Princess Margaret in her study, hummed as she stood by the window, back facing the dusk. Outside, only the last glimmer of the sunset remained, and the gas lights in the Canary Estate garden were lit:

"One must take responsibility for their actions. Detective, I think you should not sympathize with her."

She saw through Shard’s thoughts, knowing that Shard was feeling compassion for that woman:

"The only one who can help herself is herself. She is paying the price for her actions."

"If it were just her, I might only feel sorry for her plight, but today I saw other stories."

Shard continued to speak of the love story between Miss Brown and Mr. Felinga. The story was not long but interesting:

"I have always been skeptical of the love depicted in classic knight novels, but this time I somewhat believe it. Mr. Felinga is truly sincere, and even if Miss Brown is on the run, she doesn’t forget Mr. Felinga. On account of this rare love, I’ve decided to help them."

He looked helplessly at the sunset behind the Princess, as Princess Margaret, with her back to the window, had her entire face shrouded in shadows.

"Of course, my ability is also limited. I wouldn’t expose my identity as a Circle Sorcerer for strangers. If there’s really no other choice, I can only temporarily take Miss Brown to the sewers to find Mr. Felinga, let them hide there, and then provide them with water and food periodically, hoping MI6’s pursuit ends soon."

Princess Margaret was silent for a moment:

"You do have a kind heart."

"After all, life is either boring or full of unavoidable choices. When I occasionally see something beautiful, I’m willing to protect it a little."

"A very interesting outlook on life."

"Yes."

Shard smiled:

"Although I don’t consider myself a traditionally good person, at least someone has certified that I belong to the Orderly Good Alignment."

Saying this, he stood up:

"I should get going. Miss Brown is still waiting for me. Also, could you provide me with some anti-inflammatory herbal medicine? That lady handled her gunshot wound herself, and if she’s to live in the sewers, she’ll need more medicine. You know, special materials like Holy Water are best kept away from ordinary people."

Shard made the request for medicine, but immediately realized that the Princess in front of him harbored animosity towards Miss Brown, who had deceived her for eight years, so he shook his head:

"No, I’ll go into town and buy it myself. MI6 shouldn’t be monitoring everyone who buys gunshot medicine. After all, this is just a defector, not the rumored grey-headed eagle."

"You actually know about the ’grey-headed eagle’..."

Princess Margaret asked, and as Shard was about to shake his head, she continued:

"Tonight, I have a ship setting off from the Terael River, transporting goods downstream to Bells Town, and from Bells Town, they will be loaded onto trains and transported back to Carsonrick."

Although it is now winter, the Terael River running through the city remains unfrozen until late December because its waterways are used to discharge high-temperature wastewater from the Steam Company, quite miraculously. At least, this is true for the river passages within the city.

This week is likely the last opportunity for cargo ships to sail on the Terael River before it freezes.

"So..."

Shard looked at her, somewhat incredulous.

Princess Margaret let out a soft hum:

"I’m just informing you. That cargo ship is transporting local specialties from Tobesk back to the homeland, just a side business I conduct while visiting. The Captain is my person, but if you show him this, he would be very willing to assist you."

Saying this, she moved to her desk to write a letter. After signing it and sealing it in an envelope, she placed it on the table instead of handing it to Shard:

"I won’t help her; she deceived me, and she deserves to be caught by MI6."

Those eyes still bore hostility:

"I won’t forgive anyone who deceives me; that’s my principle."

After speaking, she rather coldly said to Shard:

"Detective, that’s the end of today’s visit. I have other matters tonight. You’ve been running around all day for a stranger. In my opinion, you’d be better off thinking more about your own affairs instead of being so willing to help others."

"Investigating that maid today wasn’t to help someone else but to help you."

Shard smiled, and the Princess seemed to blush slightly:

"Leave quickly, Shard. I don’t want to see you anymore today."

"What an interesting personality."

Shard said softly in his heart and then stood up from the couch:

"Then, Your Highness, I’ll take my leave. I wish you a pleasant evening."

He walked to the desk, picked up the letter, and then left with it.

Margaret Anjou stood in the study for a long time without speaking. She suddenly walked from the desk to the window, looking out at the courtyard.

At this moment, the Detective, who was striding towards the manor gate for fear of wasting time, happened to enter her field of vision, illuminated by the gas lamps on either side of the path:

"What a fine person; this must be the so-called Knight Spirit."

She said softly, her eyes fixed on Shard’s hurried figure:

"It’s a pity; I still want to become... the teacher’s apprentice... yes, I won’t change."