The ground floor hall was quite spacious.
Its olive-green walls were somewhat faded.
Above the fireplace hung several deerstalker hats and trench coats for outdoor wear.
The entire eastern wall was covered with decorative square wainscoting.
A few books and small trinkets were arranged upon it as embellishments.
The fireplace itself was remarkably clean, devoid of any lingering coal ash.
Unlike the musty scent outdoors, a faint aroma of pine resin permeated the air.
From the several pairs of men’s leather boots and rubber rain boots in the shoe cabinet, it was clear that the occupant lived alone.
“I forgot to introduce you,
Its name is Govet, and it’s a member of the abbey.”
Seated on the sofa, Ghervil took the initiative to introduce the fluffy creature that had leaped onto the table to sample the black tea.
The four cups of tea on the table already conveyed a clear implication.
“Hello,
You may address me by my name if you don’t mind.”
Ramsey inclined his head in its direction.
“Is it not a pet… how should I speak to it?”
Esli inquired, perplexed, of the two.
Ghervil, without a change in expression, raised her black tea and took a small sip.
She offered no explanation, merely observing Ramsey’s reaction.
A seasoned agent, accustomed to years of dealing with mists and plagues, might very well have encountered talking animals.
“It was merely a small jest.
Sister Ghervil’s choice of words almost led me to believe it was one of the abbey’s nuns.”
That remark nearly caused the black tea in Ghervil’s mouth to spray forth.
Govet, however, reacted with remarkable indifference.
After two sips, it seemed to find the tea unpleasant, leaping to a higher spot near the ceiling fan to recline and enjoy the breeze.
“Ahem… let’s set aside discussions about it for now.
I came to you because I need a favor.”
Retrieving a prepared letter from her travel case, she slid it across the table.
“Please help me ascertain the authenticity and origin of this letter.”
“Is this the reason you’ve come to Florence City?” Ramsey picked up the letter, scrutinizing it intently.
“Yes, but we haven’t encountered the person meant to meet us.
It’s possible my reply hasn’t reached them yet.”
He examined the sender’s details and stamp on the envelope, finding no issues.
Then, he opened it, removed the letter, and began to read.
Having swiftly finished reading, he held the paper up to the light, turning it over and examining it closely.
“This letter is indeed from the hand of Penelope-Rose-Cambaton, though it may not necessarily originate from Rose Manor.”
“Cambaton?”
Ghervil noted the surname Ramsey had appended to the name.
“Precisely.”
Ramsey carefully placed the letter back in its envelope before returning it to her, offering a meticulous explanation.
“Rose-Cambaton is a compound surname historically used by Penelope-Rose-Cambaton’s family.”
“Her father, Baron Flaman-Cambaton, also known as the Flower Baron, is a prominent figure in Florence City.”
“Due to various historical reasons, the baronial family abandoned the surname Rose, adopting Cambaton as their sole surname, which remains legally recognized to this day.”
Thus, pronouncing it that way offended neither Penelope-Rose-Cambaton nor the baronial family.
‘What a shrewd individual.’ (TL Note: 人精 (rénjÄ«ng) refers to a person who is very shrewd, clever, or worldly-wise, often with a hint of being cunning or exceptionally perceptive.)
‘His actions were utterly watertight.’
A general understanding began to form in Ghervil’s mind.
It was also perfectly understandable that the letter might not originate from the manor, as the absence of the Cambaton surname in the signature rendered it insufficiently formal.
The current issue was that it wasn’t an official commission, thus failing to meet the conditions for unfreezing her bank account.
‘Had she been deceived…?’
“Do you know where I might find Penelope-Rose-Cambaton?”
Regardless of whether she had been deceived, Ghervil resolved to find Penelope-Rose-Cambaton and clarify the matter, treating it as a private commission.
She planned to discuss the purchase of the Blood Rose, then consider the entire trip a vacation, and return after a few days of leisure.
“You’ve certainly asked the right person about that.”
Ramsey, with an air of nonchalance, produced his pipe and placed it in his mouth.
“I am among the few who know…”
He paused.
“Know where she is?”
“Know that she’s missing.”
“…”
A sudden urge to splash the black tea from her cup onto his face overcame her.
“Why didn’t you say so sooner?”
“You genuinely misunderstand me this time,” Ramsey stated, stroking his chin and furrowing his brow, feigning a look of great difficulty.
“As a competent private investigator, adhering to my agreements with clients and refraining from indiscreet talk is a crucial reason for my longevity in this profession.”
‘She was speechless…’
‘Had Helm’s giving her this fellow’s address truly not been pre-planned?’
Ghervil once more suspected she was being manipulated.
“Allow me to interject.”
Esli interjected.
“If the Penelope-Rose-Cambaton you speak of is missing, how did she manage to write and send a letter to Mistfall City?”
“I, too, wish to know the answer to that question.”
Ramsey rose to refill Esli’s cup.
“The case had just stalled without any leads, and then, Sister, you delivered this very letter.”
“Sometimes, luck accounts for a significant portion of one’s abilities, just as in Mistfall City; had it not been for you, we might well be dead.”
“First, tell me who commissioned you.”
Impatience growing at his verbosity, Ghervil urged him on.
Ghervil resolved to involve herself in the case.
If the facts were truly as Ramsey presented them, this letter was very likely a plea for help.
“The client is Rose Manor, as mentioned in the letter, or rather, the Church.”
“Not Baron Cambaton?”
“The Baron… he occupies an awkward position in this disappearance case.”
Ramsey continually scraped his fingernails against the tabletop.
“The situation is rather peculiar: Penelope-Rose-Cambaton disappeared after returning to the family estate on Monday, and her father is now a prime suspect.”
“What about other family members?”
“She has two younger brothers; one has gone to the Royal Capital, and the other intends to inherit the Baron’s estate.
According to the investigation, the siblings shared a good relationship; the only one with whom she had a strained or contentious relationship was the Baron himself.”
Disappearing on Monday and the letter being sent on Wednesday suggested it might have been written shortly after her disappearance.
‘But why would she write to me instead of seeking assistance from The Order or the Epidemic Prevention Bureau…?’
Lost in thought, her hand unconsciously reached back, encountering something soft and furry.
Govet, seizing her inattention, had burrowed into her lap to listen to their conversation.
“Are you still planning to investigate tonight?”
“I was, before your arrival.” Ramsey waved a dismissive hand.
“My vacation is nearing its end, and I’m preparing to return to my official duties.
If I don’t get enough rest these next few days, I won’t have another chance; you know how exhausting the work at the Epidemic Prevention Bureau can be.”
“So you’re abandoning the case?”
‘She vaguely suspected this fellow intended to wash his hands of the matter.’
Habitually, Ghervil began to rub the fluffy creature’s belly.
“In fact, people started disappearing two days prior—a priest and a doctor from the hospital department.
It was only by being commissioned to investigate Penelope-Rose-Cambaton that I had the opportunity to gather this intelligence.”
“Someone more capable will arrive in the next two days to take over the case.
I merely need to ensure a smooth handover.”
‘A doctor from the hospital department missing…’
‘Someone more capable…’
A cold sweat trickled down her back.
‘Surely the mission Dr. Callan mentioned in her letter wasn’t this?’
‘If she encountered her here, it would truly be over.’
After the events in Mistfall City, Ghervil had realized that Dr. Callan’s concern for her surpassed that of a mere friend, bordering on excessive.
This was understandable, for having faced life and death together, a friendship transcending such boundaries was not difficult to comprehend.
Yet, for Ghervil, this was a dilemma; it was difficult to grow while constantly being shielded to such an extent.
‘She had intended to use these two days apart to allow the woman to calm down, but it had only been a few days…’
‘Most importantly, her salary would surely be docked!’
“The capable person you mentioned couldn’t possibly be…”
She still clung to a sliver of hope.
“I thought I had made myself quite clear.”
Ramsey spread his hands, relaxing as he leaned back.
“Given your good relationship with the chief doctor from the hospital department, and your affiliation with The Order, they will undoubtedly show you considerable deference.
Therefore, it is far more appropriate for you to replace me in cooperating with them, which is why I’ve ceased my active investigation of the case.”
“No!”
She abruptly stood, tossing the fluffy creature aside, drawing three bewildered gazes—one of which, belonging to the creature whose backside now faced the ceiling, was particularly displeased.
Her mind raced, heedless of whether she was making a spectacle of herself.
“Help me rent a house nearby, the more secluded the better.
Do not tell anyone my whereabouts!”
She could not simply abandon Penelope-Rose-Cambaton’s case.
Staying in a hotel was unsafe, as identity information had to be registered, making her easily traceable.
Ramsey’s home was out of the question; two ladies residing at a single gentleman’s house was simply inappropriate in every respect.
Considering all factors, renting a house in the old district, with its mixed populace and challenging search conditions, would be the safest option.