Number 7, Rose Street, North Backlund.
A hansom cab pulled to a stop. Lex paid the fare and alighted with Spender.
Before them was a villa-style house, two stories high. The house didn't look very large, probably with no more than ten rooms at most.
There was no stable, but there was a small garden. At this moment, a little boy was playing in the garden, and a lady was painting at an easel nearby.
Spender walked to the door and called out, "William, Elma, I'm home."
Hearing his voice, the boy playing with a ball in the garden looked up, then shouted, "Papa!"
The lady painting quickly put down her brush, personally opened the door, and joyfully exclaimed, "My dear, why are you back early? Didn't you say you wouldn't be back until next year?"
"Oh my goodness, what happened to you?"
At this moment, Spender was disheveled and dirty, still wearing the prison uniform from Yedgar Prison, with some freshly scabbed wounds on his face, looking vastly different from his usual self.
Spender didn't offer much explanation, motioned Lex into the house, then went to his room to change and wash up.
Lex sat in the living room. A servant brought him black tea and cake. Lex ate while looking around.
The furniture and utensils in Spender's house were relatively old but still decent, befitting the status of a middle-class individual.
A moment later, a freshly groomed Spender returned to the living room. His hair was neatly combed, he wore glasses, and dressed in formal attire, he was like a different person from before.
He waved his hand, dismissing the servant, then solemnly handed a box to Lex: "This is the great sea travels you asked for."
Lex opened the box, and indeed, a manuscript lay inside. He briefly glanced at it; it was written in the Ancient Feysac.
"Very good, Mr. Spender, you kept your promise."
Lex stood up, clapped Spender on the shoulder, and smiled, "I hope you haven't played a trick on me, otherwise, no matter where you hide, I'll always find you."
Spender solemnly said, "Please rest assured, sir, I wouldn't joke with my own life."
Lex nodded imperceptibly and bid him farewell. Only after he reached the street did he open his hand, revealing a few strands of hair in his palm.
These were Spender's hairs, which had fallen onto the writer's shoulder and were subtly taken by Lex with the action of patting his shoulder.
If Spender had any ulterior motives, these few strands of hair could be used for many things.
After putting away Spender's hair, Lex first went to a hat and clothing store and purchased a complete set of attire, including a cane. He chose relatively inexpensive clothing, but the entire outfit still cost him nearly 1 pound.
"As expected of Backlund, the cost of living is much higher than other places." Dressed in new clothes and with the other part of the great sea travels manuscript in hand, Lex was in a beautiful mood, just like Backlund's rare sunny day today.
"Indeed, high risk brings high reward. If I had followed Edwina's plan, it would have taken at least three or four days to even approach Spender, and who knows when I would have gotten the great sea travels."
"Now I've only spent 12 pounds, yet I obtained this manuscript in less than a day."
"Next, I have at least six days to myself, free to do as I please."
Standing at a crossroads, Lex smiled, "Let's go visit some old friends."
He thought of Arbiter Cromwell and Lawyer Lynn.
However, before going to see them, Lex first found an inn to stay, then bought candles and other items to set up a simple altar and summon the spirit world treasure chest.
He stored the great sea travels in the chest first, to avoid having to carry the manuscript everywhere.
Then he took out "Midnight Dream" and other magical items and re-equipped them.
Next, he went to a station and bought a train ticket to Tingen for tomorrow. After all this, Lex put on the 'Thousand-Faced Traveler' and, in the guise of a stern-faced 'Duke' with a two-pronged mustache, arrived at Evergreen Street in Hillesden, in front of the Arbiter's house.
He pulled the doorbell and then stepped back.
A moment later, the door opened, and Cromwell, with light blonde hair and grey-green eyes, appeared behind the door.
He was momentarily startled when he saw Lex, then calmly gestured for him to enter: "Come in quickly."
Walking into the Arbiter's home, Lex said with a gentle smile, "How have you been?"
"Not bad." Cromwell closed the door before he smiled, "When did you arrive? Would you like black tea or coffee?"
"Please give me a cup of coffee." Lex sat on the sofa in the living room and replied, "I just arrived in Backlund this morning and will be staying here for a day. I just finished my business, so I came to visit."
Cromwell returned with two cups of coffee: "The matter you asked me to inquire about earlier, regarding Miss Fors, she was away for a while but has recently returned to her original residence."
Lex nodded, looking at the Arbiter and saying, "You seem a bit pale. Have you been working a lot lately?"
Cromwell sat down, picked up a pipe, took a deep puff, then slowly exhaled, "The 'work' has indeed been a bit much lately. Not long ago, a 'serial murder case' occurred here."
"The victims were all streetwalkers, and the killer's methods were cruel and bloody. I received a commission to investigate but made no progress, but the case is finally over."
"But just this Thursday, at the West Balam shipyard, which is about to be redeveloped, a Beyonder battle took place there."
"In the warehouse area of that shipyard, a battle occurred. Judging from the traces left after the battle, the number of participants was probably between three and five people."
"The Beyonder involved included 'Werewolf', 'Zombie', 'Wraith', 'Magician', and it is suspected that a Beyonder from the Sun field or related items participated in the battle."
"I accepted the commission to investigate this matter, but I have no leads yet."
Werewolf, Zombie, Wraith, Magician?
And it's suspected that a Beyonder from the Sun field or related items participated in the battle?
Hmm, I remember during the last Tarot Club, Mr. World was looking for a magical item from the Sun field. Mr. World is Klein, and Klein is currently in Backlund.
Could this matter be related to him?
Ring—ring—ring—
The doorbell at the main entrance rang, its sound echoing through every corner of the house. Cromwell naturally stood up, saying, "So many guests today," and walked towards the door.
Lex heard the door open, then a familiar voice rang out: "You're home, that's great! I need your help with something."
This was Lawyer Lyn's voice.
Lex smiled, rose from his seat, turned around, and saw the lawyer entering the house with two people.