433 Master Sleuth Sherlock (2/2)
Every letter had one, and they were only understood by Brainiac and Professor Bacon.
For example, ”Heavy Tangerine” and ”Cat in the box” didn't make any sense, but they were useful messages.
”They originated from the Winterfell Post Office. I've checked this in Winterfell. Besides this, there's no other useful information,” Brainiac said.
”According to Professor Cabbage and the time difference in the letters, Professor Bacon went missing around a month ago. We'll investigate the entry and exit records of Professor Bacon at Winterfell.” Sherlock walked forward as he said, ”Let's go to the Winterfell Business Office.”
…
At the Winterfell Business Office.
A long queue of Underworld residents was queued impatiently in front of a row of counters.
This was the place for the Winterfell residents to deal with their daily affairs.
Like most of the Merchant Alliance's Dungeons, the low efficiency was a cause of concern.
If they knew the insiders, then things would be different.
”Please help me, Pretty!”
Evelynn bent her back and made a begging gesture with her hands as she implored another Succubus.
”Don't be so formal, Evelynn. We're close friends, so I'll definitely help you. Could you tell me how you're progressing with Lord Sherlock?” the Succubus looked intently at Evelynn and asked.
”Ah! Why did you ask so suddenly…” Evelynn blushed.
”Ya, ya, ya. You're blushing. Evelynn is dating. Sherlock is a good catch. If you don't like…”
”I'll kill you.”
”Sorry…”
…
Sherlock and Brainiac were standing outside the door. They overheard the two Succubi chatting. Sherlock, Brainiac, Eggface, and Polio were emotionless, while the parrot looked hopeless.
”What's with this generation? Love? Is that what youngsters are playing nowadays? What's with the Succubus's Lord Overseer? A superior Devil? In love with the Succubus? Was I sealed for too long? Or do the superior Devils nowadays have lower standards and think of reproducing all the time? It stinks, tsk, tsk.”
The parrot continued blabbering. He didn't notice the faces of Eggface and Polio turning green.
Sherlock was indifferent.
The parrot shifted his legs since he was excited, then smiled and said to Sherlock, ”Lord Sherlock, do you think I'm right? This superior Devil is trash…”
”Zzzz ya.”
The door creaked open, and Evelynn walked out, followed by a few Succubi who were chatting. The Succubi noticed Sherlock and his servants.
”Ah!”
”Lord Sherlock!”
”It's the real Lord Sherlock!”
”Is he the Lord Overseer of Evelynn?”
”That's awesome! Can I have your autograph? I'm your fangirl, Lord Sherlock!”
”Ya Ah-ah—!”
After some chaotic autographing, those Succubi left. Meanwhile, the parrot quivered his feathers uneasily, looking like he wanted to fly away but couldn't.
”Ah, the scent of youth and the wonders of love. It reminds me of the youthful vigor at dusk…” the parrot said after hesitating for a long time.
Sherlock lifted his hand and caressed the parrot's beak before tying the beak with a vine.
”How's the situation?”
Sherlock looked at the blushing Evelynn.
”I've checked. There's a record of Professor Bacon entering Winterfell, but there's no exit record,” Evelynn said.
”Sorry to trouble you,” Sherlock said to Evelynn.
”It's nothing. That's what I should do. Is there anything else I can do, Lord Sherlock? If not, I'll return to work. I'll return to the Adventurer's Guild to help out.”
Evelynn left warily. She wore a specially chosen dress so that she could present a lovely back view to Sherlock.
But Sherlock was hugging his arms and in deep thought.
”Lord Sherlock, what do you think?” Brainiac asked with concern.
”No, even without an exit record, it doesn't mean Professor Bacon didn't leave Winterfell. We have to find more leads.”
Sherlock took out the letters and examined them again, then waved his hand and said, ”Hand it over to the gamers with a lot more vigor.”
…
”Heavy Tangerine?” Peasant looked in a daze at NotWearingPants and said, ”Are you sure those are the hints for the latest Strange Encounter Mission and not from the cat-loving game official who may be playing a prank?”
”Cat-loving game official?” Arthur frowned. He couldn't relate Heavy Tangerine to a cat-loving game official.
”Cat lovers know that orange cats are easily fed to be overweight, so they're called Heavy Tangerine,” Sylvanas explained.
”I didn't expect Sister Vanas to like kittens too!”
Peasant was surprised. Sylvanas said as a matter-of-fact, ”Girls usually like small animals. Of course, I know about them.”
”Shall we go and find orange cats in Winterfell?” BurningChestHair asked.
”We have to find orange cats, especially those overweight ones,” NotWearingPants concluded.
”Let's go. We'll start with the main streets.” Arthur stood up and said, ”If it's a Strange Encounter, it's possible to find it in Winterfell, Eternal Kingdom, Marsh Inkspewer Town, the outpost at the crossroad intersection, the Sighing Wilderness, Distant Small Town, and the Black Volcano!”
…
At the Victoria Forest or the boundary of the Moonlight Forest.
George felt exhausted. He had never encountered such strange warfare.
The enemy had many more troops but didn't send them in all at once or execute a siege. Instead, the enemy deployed the troops bit by bit, like adding fuel to a fire.
George felt like he was on the verge of victory, but the incessant reinforcements prolonged the battle until his Knights were gradually attrited.
He was suddenly enlightened. This…
Was this part of the enemy's plan?