In the morning, in the Yi Gewen West Suburbs, Saint Amanda School.
In the campus during the morning, teachers were giving lessons in many classrooms. It was currently class time, and other areas besides the classrooms were empty and quiet.
In the school library, sunlight filtered through the windows into the room lined with bookshelves. A white-haired girl sat at a desk, boredly flipping through the book in front of her, occasionally yawning.
"Hmm~~ Taking leave all the time comes with a price..."
While yawning, Dorothy mumbled to herself. Due to the operation targeting the Holy Communion Society, Dorothy had taken leave for a long time consecutively and had barely attended school in the past few days, falling behind in many lessons. Therefore, she was here studying and catching up.
Although self-study alone is somewhat difficult for ordinary people, it was extremely simple for Dorothy, as a Knower. Catching up on all the lessons was an easy task for her, but looking at these books with negligible Spirituality felt boring.
'Indeed... whether in my past life or now, going to school is a dull and boring matter. It's mainly because the things I read have too little Spirituality, making it hard to feel motivated...'
Dorothy thought boredly, and then she decided to look at something else for a change of pace. So, she grabbed a few copies of today's Igwinte newspaper from the other side of the desk and started preparing to see what news there was, which was also a way for her to understand this unfamiliar world.
Next, Dorothy started reading the newspaper while complaining inwardly.
"Jones Airship Company receives a large number of government orders, a sign of further development in the Kingdom's air transport industry? Or a prelude to the formation of the Kingdom's Air Force?"
'Airships... It's a pity I don't have enough mechanical knowledge for now, otherwise, if I could copy airplane designs one day, being the Wright brothers of another world would be pretty cool...'
"The situation in the New World is becoming increasingly tense, with constant friction between it and the Farano colonial territory. Violent incidents caused by savage natives have reached a new high, and the authorities are considering tougher suppression measures. Furthermore, piracy has not yet been eradicated. Affected by various factors, shipping from the New World will inevitably be impacted, and price increases for many goods are foreseeable..."
'Native riots in the New World? Colonial territory friction? Pirates? How does it feel like technology has reached the nineteenth century... but the situation in this world still has a bit of a seventeenth or eighteenth-century flavor...'
Then, Dorothy quickly turned the page, flipping past the domestic and world news, and looked at the local news.
"Bloody Tragedy! A gentleman from Zishan Town was brutally murdered in his mansion in Igwinte! All servants in the house were killed, and neighbors heard intense gunshots!"
'Yo-ho, it's in the newspaper already.' Seeing the content on this page, Dorothy's eyes lit up, and she continued reading.
"It is reported that Mr. Bo Dun. Wei Er was usually gentle and friendly. The person who committed such a heinous crime is simply unforgivable. Sheriff Jack reminds all citizens that the culprit is still at large, and everyone must pay attention to safety when going out at night. They will do their best to arrest the criminal and bring them to justice."
'Heh heh... He really is the 'gentle and friendly' Mr. Burton, and these police officers sure dare to speak up. This case won't even be handled by them...'
Dorothy sneered lightly, then continued turning the page, focusing her attention on another local news item.
"Viscount Field once again criticizes the Igwinte police for neglecting the vast number of poor people at the bottom of the city."
"Viscount Field claims that many poor people in Igwinte, especially those who are lonely and helpless, are being threatened by an unknown criminal group. Many have already disappeared, and because most of the missing are alone and without support, no one has reported it. Yet the police just sit by and watch evil spread... It is reported that Viscount Field is a social philanthropist who is very concerned about the living conditions of the lower class people. He often goes to the lower district to carry out charity activities and is deeply loved. Since he came to Igwinte six years ago..."
'Missing persons cases? Criminal group? Could it be the Holy Communion Society...? If it really is the Holy Communion Society, the police can't do anything... Also, if those guys really are from the Holy Communion Society, wouldn't it be very dangerous for this Viscount Field to say these things publicly?'
Looking at the newspaper in her hand, Dorothy thought with some contemplation. Just then, she heard a familiar voice.
"Yo, isn't this Miss Mesi Horse? How rare, you actually came to school today."
Hearing this voice, Dorothy turned her head and saw Aldrich, dressed as a school worker, standing between the bookshelves, dusting the shelves with a feather duster.
"I came back as soon as I temporarily finished the matter. I still have to attend school; I don't want my brother's report card to be full of C's and D's at the end of the term, that would surely infuriate him." Closing the newspaper in her hand, Dorothy continued speaking to Aldrich.
"I've troubled Captain these past few days, Mr.",
"Trouble? No, no, no... Entrusted by others, loyal to others' affairs. Besides, I still received your money, so I definitely have to do the job well, don't you think, Miss Mesi Horse?" Aldrich continued with a smile, and Dorothy couldn't help but complain inwardly.
'You have the nerve to say that... My brother paid money to the school for me to study here, and you still charge extra for me to take a leave, saying things like 'the tuition goes to the school board and not to me, so I'm unilaterally helping you and will definitely charge you a small handling fee...'
Fortunately, Aldrich's leave fee wasn't expensive, just a few coins. However, Dorothy was somewhat dissatisfied with Aldrich's habit of turning even small matters into business.
'Turning everything into a business, can doing business increase your Spirituality, you guy?'
After complaining inwardly like this, Dorothy suddenly thought of something and spoke to Aldrich again.
"Oh right, Mr. Aldrich, I can ask Captain, can Captain perform divination?"
Dorothy asked Aldrich, having become interested in divination after the counter-divination incident last time.
"Divination? I only have a slight understanding of it... If you're interested in divination, I can teach you some simple ones. Of course, you know the price..." As he spoke, Aldrich's face showed that familiar smile towards Dorothy.
"In terms of method alone, simple divination techniques aren't worth much. I'll calculate a cheap price for you, just 40 pound..."
Hearing Aldrich's words, Dorothy's face was indifferent, and then she silently took out a few banknotes from her money and handed them to Aldrich, paying more than half of her existing assets in one go.