Lex listened attentively, still hoping Mr. Hardy would tell him his 'mystery story', but the old man closed his mouth, seemingly with no intention of continuing.
He looked at Lex, blinking, "Another pie?"
Lex felt the muscles in his face twitch slightly. This old man, did he want him to buy a pie to answer a question?
"Mr. Hardy, I'll buy all your desi pie later, but right now, I really can't eat any more."
"Can I get them to go?"
Lex said with a smile.
Hardy thought for a moment and said, "I can only sell you 10 at most."
So, I can only ask ten questions?
Lex cleared his throat, nodded, and said, "Alright, then, could you tell me about Ms. Jane Britney?"
Hardy leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant, staring at a window above the small shop.
It was as if, through that window, he saw various scenes from a long time ago.
"My grandmother, in my memory, was a very good-tempered and well-educated lady. I never saw her lose her temper, even when she argued with my grandfather—well, it was probably my grandfather who was unilaterally losing his temper."
"In short, my grandmother never lost her temper, at least not that I ever saw."
After speaking, Hardy said nothing more, rubbing his tin tobacco case.
That's it?
That's all?
My one soli was spent just like that?
Lex began to feel a little regretful. If he had known the old man's 'consultation fee' was so expensive, he shouldn't have thrown out 1 soli just now; he should have thrown 1 penny!
After two seconds of silence, Lex saw that the old man had no intention of speaking, so he had to take the initiative and say, "So, your grandmother must have been an educated lady. I found out that she seems to be an Intis native?"
Hardy chuckled softly, "That's right, she was an Intis native. She often told me about the plane trees of Intis and about Trier. She said it was a big city full of sunshine, located at the junction of the Rhine River and the Serene River."
"The scenery there is beautiful, and there are especially many varieties of roses, unlike Loen, which only has red and white roses."
"She said art was well-developed there, a Holy Land for painters, musicians, and Novelists. She often saw that city in her dreams and shed tears for it."
"However, my grandmother never received formal Systemic schooling; she never went to any university. Her knowledge and her etiquette were thanks to a Miss of nobility she once followed."
Hardy paused here, and Lex waited for him to continue, but the old man stood up and poured himself another cup of coffee.
Alright, that's the second question.
Lex asked a few more questions about Jane Britney, and seeing that he had laid enough groundwork, he asked in a casual tone, "Did your father have any siblings?"
"No." Hardy took a sip of coffee, then looked at the clock on the wall. "I'm closing up."
So fast?
It's not even evening yet.
And I haven't even asked ten questions!
Lex tried to force a smile onto his face, "One last question, did your… did your father have any Beyonder qualities?"
Hardy was visibly stunned for a moment, then said, "Why do you ask that?"
Lex coughed dryly and said, "After all, your grandmother was such an outstanding lady, so I thought your father might have been influenced by her, leading to Beyonder achievements in a certain field."
He deliberately raised his voice on the words 'Beyonder'.
Hardy frowned and said, "No, my father was very ordinary. The only Beyonder thing about him was his romance when he pursued my mother."
"Alright, I'm going to pack up and go home. If you're not going to help, then I think you need to leave."
This was a clear dismissal.
"Okay, I'll be staying in Tingen for a few days. I wonder, can I still visit you?" Lex tried asking.
Hardy chuckled, "Of course you can, as long as you like desi pie, we are friends."
"Alright, alright." Lex stood up, took ten desi pie from the food rack himself, then pulled out some loose change and dropped it into the cash register.
He put the still-warm desi pie in a paper bag and walked out of the small shop.
Originally, the last question Lex wanted to ask was: Was your father Jane Britney's biological son?
In the end, he was afraid of being beaten and even more worried about angering the old man, who might then refuse to be 'interviewed' by him again, so he temporarily changed the question.
This question was also very clever.
If Mr. Hardy's father was adopted, a child of Mania, then he should have inherited Mania's beyonder characteristics, just like his younger sister Harribel inherited their mother's characteristics, being a born Beyonder.
What a pity.
Mr. Hardy's father seemed very ordinary, but it didn't rule out that Hardy was simply unaware, as Beyonder are good at concealing themselves.
"Anyway, I'll be staying in Tingen for a few more days, so I can continue to 'interview' and find an opportunity to get some of the old man's hair or something, then ask Kaven to help with divination."
Lex looked at the bag of desi pie, suddenly getting a headache: "Am I going to eat these for dinner?"
A moment later, Lex got out of the carriage.
Before him was the house he had rented in Tingen City as a safe house, but now, this house had been lent to Nafi.
Because he was coming to the safe house, Lex cautiously did not appear in the guise of 'Duke'. He hadn't forgotten that Osweld had said that someone was investigating 'Duke' in Tingen.
So Lex put on the 'Thousand-Faced Traveler' mask, using Doctor Aaron as a prototype, making slight changes to transform into a tall, thin middle-aged man with a steady temperament but a slightly cold appearance.
He walked forward, holding the paper bag containing the desi pie, and pulled the doorbell.
Not long after the bell rang, a loud voice from inside the door said, "Coming."
The door suddenly opened with such force and amplitude that Lex couldn't help but worry for the wooden door, fearing it would be casually ripped off by someone.
It was Nafi who opened the door.
She seemed to have grown a little taller again, making Lex have to 'look up' to see her beautiful face and deep blue eyes.
Nafi obviously didn't recognize Lex, and she eyed the stranger suspiciously: "Sir, who are you looking for?"
"I am a friend of 'Duke'. He told me that if I encountered trouble, I could seek help in this place." Lex said.
Nafi said "Oh," and moved aside: "Come in."
Lex strode into the house, and after entering the living room, he switched to 'Duke's' voice and said, "It's me, Nafi. Don't make a sound, pull the curtains first."
Nafi froze when she heard Lex's voice, then half-heartedly pulled the curtains, but she didn't completely trust Lex because of it. She kept a safe distance, remaining vigilant in a stance ready for battle at any moment.
Lex smiled, reached up and wiped his face, transforming back into 'Duke'.
But Nafi still didn't let down her guard, still watching Lex intently. Lex spread his hands and said, "It's me, Nafi. I was worried about being tracked, so I disguised myself."
Nafi said, unmoved, "If you're the Boss, then say something only you and I know!"