Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Randall Valley City, located at the southwest end of the Old Continent, is even further from Tobesk than Midshire Fort City. Therefore, Shard once again chose to use the Spatial Labyrinth for travel.

Going to a city without specific landmarks required relying on his own luck to sacrifice the White Stone Crystal. Fortunately, during the Year-End Festival, Granny Cassandra had gifted the White Stone Crystal to Shard, and during his half-month of rest, he had successfully commissioned Old Man John to acquire the suitable items. That night, after bidding farewell to the two princesses at the opera house, Shard headed to Old John's pawnshop.

In the mid-Moon of Birth, it was still deep winter in Tobesk City. Due to a heavy snow a few days earlier, only the central streets were cleared for carriages to pass through.

On the deep winter streets, only the gas lamps emitted light and heat. Most citizens went to rest early, and even the drunkards knew not to walk the streets in such weather, for if they fell, they might not get up again.

When Shard got off the carriage in the snow, Old John's pawnshop was still lit. But when he pushed the door open, no one was at the counter. Holding a cat, Shard pressed the bell on the counter with the cat's paw, and only then did the old man hurriedly come in through the back door:

"Oh, it's Shard, did you receive my letter?"

He had some dust on him, probably having been tinkering with his alchemical devices in the backyard warehouse.

"The temporary luck-enhancing relic you requested, with minimal negative effects, is quite troublesome."

The old man said while taking off his sleeves and then wearing his glasses, pulling out his ledger from under the counter:

"Let me confirm, it must be a relic?"

"As long as it can temporarily make me lucky. But a relic is the best choice because my required luck...hmm…must be exceedingly fortunate."

"If it weren't for your exam week being over, I'd have thought you wanted to cheat in exams."

Old John said, taking out a black-and-white photo from the ledger and handing it to Shard:

"The Golden Lucky Rabbit Foot you used before can't be used frequently. So this time, I recommend this."

He tapped on the photo, and Shard saw a conical glass bottle on a damp tabletop in the photo, with a clover pattern painted on it in ink.

"This is..."

"Do you know about the Old God, Oak God, and the White Holy Tree?"

Old Man John asked, and Shard immediately nodded:

"Of course, also known as the Tree of Luck, it is said to bestow fortune to people."

Last winter, Dr. Schneider's patient with paranoia, Mr. Jimms, was a believer of this Old God (note).

"Yes, yes, although the deities have long since departed, some special divine items have survived to the present day. We know a small Circle Sorcerer organization called the Forest Hermit Order. They worship trees and have in their collection a branch said to be a powerful divine item granted by the Old God to mortals in the Fifth Era. The sap seeping from that branch is processed by special methods into the magic potion 'Oak's Luck Potion,' which can increase luck temporarily."

The old man explained, and the little bottle in the photo probably contained the potion.

"So, what's the price for gaining luck?"

Shard asked, knowing that even if it wasn't a relic or its derivative, manipulating fate always came with a price, for fate was always fair.

Of course, he had also decided to buy this magic potion, as it sounded suitable for his needs.

"Drinking the potion will probabilistically put you into the 'Emerald Dream' during your sleep over the following week. Perhaps you haven't heard of it, but Angel-Level Relic, the 'Emerald Dream,' is a real place belonging to nature and earth. By using the 'Oak's Luck Potion,' you can briefly visit there, which is actually the potion's true purpose. The luck granted by the potion lasts only very briefly, but visiting the 'Emerald Dream' allows your soul to be almost directly attuned to nature amid the whisper element interference, and meet the embodied natural spirits—a dream opportunity for many Circle Sorcerers."

Old John spoke of these matters, and Shard carefully noted them down:

"Then I'll buy a small bottle of this potion, just enough to give me a fleeting moment of luck to choose the most suitable option among thousands of possibilities."

"Then I can only wish you luck. This potion can make you lucky but can't make all your wishes come true."

Old John noted a few entries in his ledger:

"The potion will arrive by the weekend. You can come to pick it up then. The Forest Hermit Order is currently cooperating with the Church of Nature to restore the environment deep in the Pantanal Swamp destroyed by evil objects and battles, so they're not short of money. I can offer you a discount, and with my introduction fee..."

He calculated briefly:

"Come by on Friday with £132. Oh, I know the price is high, enough to buy a useful Poet-Level Relic. But you must know what nearly risk-free luck enhancement means, and if you weren't coming to us, I bet you wouldn't have such an opportunity."

"Old man, I know the price is quite fair."

Shard patted the cat lying on the counter, carefully turned his head to look out at the darkness outside the window, then reached into his pocket and took out a sealed small glass vial, about half the size of a little finger, with light pink liquid inside:

"This time, I want to barter. A relic derivative, a peculiar essence. Spray on oneself to temporarily increase charm, drink it and it restores spirit directly, but it makes one... enter heat."

"What? Restore spirit?"

The old man raised his head in surprise, taking the item from Shard's hand.

This was liquid obtained from the [Pink Perfume Bottle of Desire]. The bottle passively extracts the essence of desire, which works as long as Shard keeps it on him. However, the liquid removed from the bottle, after testing, gradually degrades to ordinary liquid within a week.

Shard hadn't initially considered trading it, since it originated directly from [Desire]. But given recent anticipated expenses, he decided to part with a small amount.

In fact, his home already had expired "essence" enough to fill an entire wine bottle.

"This essence weakens over time. Old man, feel free to get it examined by an expert, then give me a quote."

Shard pointed at the small bottle:

"I have one more bottle, and that's all."

"No issue, if it's really as effective as you say, it's valuable merchandise."

The old man nodded, still scrutinizing the liquid inside the bottle under the light, evidently intrigued.

Since the Lucky Potion wouldn't arrive until the weekend, Shard had some time to prepare for the upcoming adventure and clear his affairs in Tobesk City.

On Thursday morning, Shard planned to visit the Prophet's Society to inform Luviya about his upcoming trip. But just as he was about to head out, someone knocked on the downstairs door. Upon opening it, he found the blonde Miss Writer outside against the backdrop of the deep winter Saint Delan Square, with snow piled high beside the central fountain.

"Dorothy, do you have business this early? Come in. What's the matter, why didn't Lecia tell me last night?"

"Oh, great detective, I've come to ask a favor of you."

She smiled, handing Shard a business card:

"A friend of my father's in town asked him, through me, to find you for investigating some matters."

Given Shard's rising reputation in Tobesk, it was normal for people to seek his help. But seeking him through acquaintances rather than directly, ensured Hamilton Detective's full attention.

The card Dorothy handed over belonged to Professor Martin of Saint York Academy in Tobesk. Saint York Academy was renowned locally and throughout the Draleon Kingdom for its literary department, where Professor Luisa also taught.

"You should go over in the morning and talk to Professor Martin... After the investigation, my father would like to meet you too, as he's been curious about you."

She winked at Shard, then bit her lip slightly, half-expectant, half-shy.

Shard slightly opened his mouth, then understood:

"No problem, I'll resolve this matter promptly... But when meeting your father, how should I dress?"

"Just dress normally. He thinks we're good friends. He still remembers that white fox scarf from the Northern County you sent for my mother's birthday last year and wants to thank you." (Note)

Saying this, she blushed, the blonde, blue-eyed girl waving at Shard:

"I have things to attend to later, remember to keep detective records, it might become a great story. Once solved, let me know, and I'll set up a meeting with my father."

She lightly kissed Shard's cheek and left with a smile.

Shard glanced at the business card again:

"A professor of literature... thankfully not of folklore or archaeology... I wonder what this is about?"

Since he had planned to go out, after Dorothy left, Shard merely changed his shoes and headed out. Mia had intended to stay home, but as Shard didn't want it cooped up at home during the day, he brought it along. The cat seemed a bit displeased.

Saint York Academy is located at the northernmost point of the Tobesk University District, so much so that jumping over the northern wall of the literary academy leads straight into the Tobesk Center.

Professor Martin had informed the school guards in advance, allowing Shard direct entry. Upon meeting the professor, he was busy writing in his office brimming with books and journals. As Shard sat by the desk, the professor tidied up the desktop and sighed towards Shard:

"Detective Hamilton, I'm really counting on you this time."