Keeper Program

As Ed limped down the stairs early in the morning, the crow's cane finally did what it was meant to do, the result of last night's hand-to-hand combat training - a few bruises, scrapes, and deadly soreness .

Thankfully, Ms. Quinn is basically ordering to the end and being merciful. At least she can sit up from the bed and change clothes independently.

And, it was a blessing in disguise, at least I don't need to train today.

He sighed happily.

Mr. Eaton had already been sitting in front of the curved desk, flipping through the current and past mission files, writing down some clues he thought worth noting on cards, and sorting them into drawers in order.

He always works late and wakes up early, as if in a race against time.Presumably that's why Dylan looks like he's in his 40s, but he looks like he's in his 60s.

"Good morning, Ed." Mr. Eaton didn't look up.

"Good morning. Where's Quinn?"

"The coffee shop, the East End stronghold, or just strolling around. Do you have anything to do with her?"

"It's okay, just ask casually."

After more than a month, he has a general understanding of Quinn's habits: she can't stay in the house, and once she is free, she will keep wandering around - even if there is lightning, thunder, and wind and rain outside, she will stay under the eaves Take a stroll.

"Can I trouble you to run an errand for me? I need to hand over the medical expenses that Dylan paid in advance to him."

As he spoke, Eaton placed a bulging envelope on the table, which was obviously full of cash.

"No problem, but why not use a check?"

Ed pressed his hand on the envelope, and asked a question along the way with some doubts.

Hearing this question, Eaton, with his hands on the table, suddenly raised his head and gave Ed a meaningful look.

"Oh, I get it……"

Hualiu Lane on Mansha Street does not accept checks, and Father Dylan obviously needs to prepare more cash.He rolled his eyes and put the envelope into his pocket.

Looking up at the mouse-gray sky, the rain is dripping from the roof, watering the green potted plants at the door.Deposited rainwater oozed from the bottom of the basin soil, forming a dirty stream.

It's raining again.

The air was a bit cold, so he put on his coat, put on rain boots, held up an umbrella and walked out of the detective office.Footsteps clattered in the rain.

This is not uncommon in Silvermist, no one will delay anything because of the rain: travel, parties, weddings, even crimes.

Just like now-

The old man fell to the ground with a piece of bread stained with mud in his arms.With the rain running down his beard, he ignored the whipping of his baton and desperately stuffed the bread into his mouth. His appearance was truly miserable.

Surprisingly, Ed recognized the man - he had given the old beggar a sixpence before going to Mr Floyd.

As for the policeman who whipped the old tramp, he had never seen it, and he could only tell it was a sergeant from the epaulettes.There was a hygienic mustache on his lips, and the rain was dripping off his bell helmet and raincoat.

"What did he do?"

Ed walked over and stood between the patrolman and the old man.Although the other party was never his opponent, Ed still didn't want to fight in broad daylight if possible-not even when it was raining.

"I do not advise you to meddle in the internal affairs of the police, sir. There is clear evidence that the tramp has committed the theft."

"It seems to me that he stole only a loaf of bread."

"Bread is also sacrosanct private property."

Sanitation Officer Hu raised his head, the brim of the hood of his raincoat blocked his view, he had to turn his nostrils up to see Ed.

"Well, suppose I'd pay for his bread?"

"I'm afraid that won't work. He also constitutes vagrancy."

"Is it even a crime to be homeless?"

In Lyria, vagrancy was the crime of arrest by the police and transfer to a workhouse for persons without a proper means of livelihood and penniless means.

"I'm just the executor of the law, not the maker. You should ask the old men in Congress about this kind of thing."

The policeman shook the baton in his hand, apparently unmoved.

"I have an Imperial Silver Sunflower."

Trembling, the old man took out the silver medal from the tattered blouse. The silk ribbon had been unthreaded, and the coat of arms was weathered and blackened by the traces of time, as if he was holding a piece of black iron.

His hands were shaking because of the cold, the medal also trembled slightly with him, and the sunflower that represented Lyria also trembled and cried in the rain.

"You'll have to have cash. This piece of scrap metal proves nothing, and it might have been stolen. Even if you've done something great, it won't offset your present crime."

Although he lost part of his memory, just thinking of the word "workhouse" was enough to make Ed feel uncomfortable.

He took out a sixpence from his coat and stuffed it into the old man's hand, and "accidentally" revealed the coat of arms of the Shendou Bureau inside:

"Now he has money. I will pay the shopkeeper for the bread. Can you make a difference?"

"Oh, oh, you really...why go to such trouble for a scum of society?"

The other party obviously knew that it was not easy to mess with the tricks, so he bowed slightly to show weakness, but turned his head and said to the homeless man in a strange way:

"Well... in that case, let's forget about today. I guess we'll meet again someday, Mr. Tramp."

After finishing speaking, Sanitation Officer Hu hurried away in the silver rain.

"Thank you, good sir, for saving my poor old wretch's life."

Despite the painful expression on his face, the old beggar thanked him while swallowing the bread.

It seems that the other party does not remember himself.It makes sense, a beggar like him may meet thousands of people every day.

Ed squatted down holding the umbrella, the old man's face was sickly flushed, like a rotten carrot.He may be sick.

"Can you stand up?"

"I don't know, my arm seems to be broken."

He muttered in despair.For such an elderly homeless man, even the smallest injury could be fatal.

"I'll help you up first, while I go to the bakery to pay. I know a very good surgeon, and you'll be all right."

"yes……"

I don't know which sentence touched him, but the other party's bewildered face suddenly recovered a sliver of sanity, and murmured:

"We'll survive, always have."

……