Walking along Zotlan Street, enjoying the humid and hot breeze, the elated Klein suddenly thought of something:
He only had 3 pence in change left, and it would cost 4 pence to take a public horse carriage back to Iron Cross Street. But giving the other person a 1 gold pound note to get the change, just like buying a bottle of cheap mineral water with 100 pounds before his transformation, there was no other way. It was simply too embarrassing to refuse that face.
"Take 3 pence for 3 kilometers, and walk the rest of the way back?" Klein put his hand in his pocket, slowed down his pace, and thought about other ways.
"No way!" Soon, he rejected the previous idea.
The remaining distance could only be walked, and it would take a long time. With 12 pounds in his pocket, it was too unsafe!
And before he worried that the revolver would be casually confiscated by the "night watchman", he deliberately didn't take it with him today. If he really encountered any danger like the incident that led to Welch's death, he would have no way to resist!
"Find a bank nearby and exchange it for change? No, that's not possible. The 5 percent handling fee is too extravagant!" Klein shook his head silently, just thinking about the possible handling fee made him feel heartbroken!
One idea after another was ruled out. Suddenly, a bright idea came to Klein's mind, and he saw the clothing and hat store!
Right, the most normal thought would be to buy something at a reasonable price and get change for it, right?
All the formal wear, shirts, jackets, trousers, leather boots, and walking sticks were within the budget. Whether to buy them sooner or later, they all had to be bought!
Well, trying the clothes was troublesome, and Benson knew more and could bargain better than me. I could consider it after he came back...
Then buy a walking stick?
Good idea! As an old saying goes, a walking stick is the best self-defense weapon for a gentleman, can be used as a half crowbar, and holding a gun with one hand and a walking stick with the other is the civilized person's fighting style!
While his thoughts were flowing, Klein made up his mind, turned halfway, and entered the "Vilker Hat Store".
The layout of the hat store was similar to the clothing store he visited before. On the left, against the wall, was a row of formal wear, in the center were shirts, trousers, jackets, and ties, and on the right were pairs of leather shoes and boots placed in glass cabinets.
"Sir, what would you like to buy?" A male store clerk in a white shirt and red vest came over and asked politely.
In the Kingdom of Ruan, because there were powerful and wealthy gentlemen with status, they liked to wear white shirts, black vests, and black formal wear, with colors that were very monotonous. Therefore, the servants, clerks, and waiters of the lower classes were required to have colorful or diverse colors on their bodies to distinguish between masters and servants or the noble and the common.
In contrast, the ladies and young ladies had different color schemes for their dresses, with elaborate decorations. The maids could only wear black with white or white with black.
Facing the question from the male clerk, Klein thought for a moment and said:
"Walking stick, heavier and harder."
One that can smash someone's head!
The clerk in the red vest covertly looked at Klein and led him into the store, pointing to the row of walking sticks in the corner and saying:
"The one with gold inlay is made of iron core wood, very heavy and very hard, 11 sullers 7 pence. Would you like to try it?"
11 sullers 7 pence? Why don't you go and snatch it? Having some gold inlay is remarkable! Klein was shocked by the price.
He remained calm on the surface and nodded slightly:
"OK."
The red vest clerk took off the iron core wood walking stick and carefully handed it to Klein, looking as if he was afraid he would break the goods.
As soon as Klein took the walking stick, he felt its weight and tried to move it. He realized that he couldn't swing it smoothly.
"It's too heavy." Klein shook his head and sighed.
This wasn't an excuse!
The red vest clerk put away the iron core wood walking stick and pointed to the other three, saying:
"This is made of walnut wood, by the most famous walking stick maker Hess from Tingen, 10 sullers 3 pence... This is made of rosewood, inlaid with silver, as hard as steel, 7 sullers 6 pence... This is made from the heart of the white billy tree, also inlaid with silver, 7 sullers 10 pence..." Klein took each cane one by one, tested them, and found that the weights were all suitable. Then, he tapped each one with his fingers to roughly determine the hardness of each walking stick. Finally, he chose the cheapest one.
"Let's go with this one made of water-lily wood," Klein pointed to the silver-studded handle in the hand of the red vest clerk and said.
"OK, sir. Please follow me over there to pay. If this walking stick shows any wear or stains in the future, we can handle it for you for free," the red vest clerk led Klein towards the counter.
Taking this opportunity, Klein unfolded the four gold florins in his palm and took out one of the smaller ones.
"Hello, 7 Shul 6 pence," the clerk behind the counter smiled and bowed.
Klein wanted to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor, but when he extended his left hand holding the 1 gold florin note, he couldn't help but speak:
"Can it be cheaper?"
"Sir, these are all handmade. Our costs are high," the red vest clerk replied beside him. "And the owner is not here, so we don't have the authority to reduce the price for him."
The clerk behind the counter agreed:
"Sir, I'm sorry."
"All right," Klein handed the note over and received the black walking stick with a silver-studded handle from the red vest clerk.
While waiting for the change, he stepped back a few steps, widening the distance, and gently tested the swinging effect of the "auxiliary weapon".
Whew! Whew! Whew!
The wind was heavy and had a tactile quality. Klein nodded in satisfaction.
He turned his gaze back forward, preparing to see the banknotes and coins, but was astonished to find that the red vest clerk had retreated far away, and the person behind the counter had shrunk to the corner, tightly against the wall-mounted double-barreled shotgun.
The Kingdom of Rhune has a semi-regulated policy on firearms. To possess a firearm, one needs to apply for a "General Weapon Use Permit" or a "Hunting Permit". However, neither of these can include automatic rifles, steam high-pressure guns, or six-barreled machine guns, which are under military control.
The "General Weapon Use Permit" can be purchased and kept for any civilian firearm, but the process is extremely troublesome. Even merchants with certain status may fail the review. The "Hunting Permit" is relatively easier. Even farmers in the countryside can obtain it, but such a license is only for using hunting guns and has a quantity limit. Many people with assets will apply for one for self-protection in emergencies, such as now... ... Klein looked at the two wary shop assistants, his lips twitching slightly, and chuckled dryly:
"Good, this walking stick is very suitable for swinging. I'm quite satisfied with it."
Seeing that he had no intention of attacking, the assistant behind the counter relaxed and handed out the found banknotes and coins.
Klein took them and glanced at them. He saw two 5 shilling notes, two 1 shilling notes, and a 5 pence and a 1 pence coin. His heart couldn't help but nod.
After a pause of two seconds, ignoring the assistant's gaze, he unfolded the four banknotes to the bright light one by one to confirm that the anti-counterfeiting patterns and watermarks were correct.
After all this, Klein placed the banknotes and coins separately, held the walking stick, adjusted his top hat, and walked out of "Wilkerson's Hat Shop" like a gentleman. Luxuriously, he took a seat on the unpowered public carriage nearby and after one transfer and a total cost of 6 pence, he successfully returned to his apartment.
Closing the door, he repeatedly counted the 11 pounds and 12 shillings banknotes three times before putting them into the drawer of his desk. Then he found the copper-colored rotating wheel with a wooden grip and pulled out the gun.
Clang!
Five yellowish copper bullets fell onto the table one after another. Klein inserted the silver "Hunter's Bullet" with complex patterns and a dark holy emblem one by one into the rotating wheel.
Similarly, he only inserted five bullets, leaving a spare position for preventing accidental firing. The rest were stored together with the five normal bullets he had just taken out in a small iron box.
Snap!
The wheel closed. Klein suddenly felt much more secure.
He enthusiastically placed the revolver in his underarm holster, firmly pulled the trigger, and practiced the action of disengaging and drawing the gun over and over again. When his arms became tired, he rested for a while before continuing. Until the sky began to darken and the sounds of tenants walking in the corridor appeared.
Huh! Klein let out a deep breath and put the revolver back in his underarm holster.
At this point, he changed out of his formal clothes and vest, put on his daily brown and yellow coat, and started doing relaxation exercises for his arms.
Tap, tap, tap, footsteps approached, the key inserted into the lock, and the turning sound rang out.
With her smooth black hair, Melissa pushed the door open and her nose twitched slightly. Her gaze swept over the unlit stove, and the color in her eyes suddenly dimmed a little.
"Klein, I'll cook the remaining ingredients from last night together, and perhaps Benson will be back tomorrow," Melissa turned to look at her brother.
Klein put his hands in his pockets, his thighs resting against the edge of the desk, and smiled:
"No, let's go out to eat."
"Go out to eat?" Melissa asked in surprise.
"Go to the 'Silver Crown Restaurant' on Narcissus Street? I heard the food is great," Klein suggested.
"But, but... " Melissa still didn't understand the situation.
Klein smiled and said:
"To celebrate that I found a job."
"You found a job?" Melissa's voice grew louder unconsciously, "But, but the interview at the University of Tingen isn't tomorrow?"
"Another job." Klein smiled and took out the stack of banknotes from the drawer, "They also advanced me four weeks' salary."
Melissa looked at the gold pounds and shillings, her eyes wide open:
"God... you, them, you, what job did you find?"
This... Klein's expression froze for a moment, considering his words:
"A security company with the mission of searching for, collecting, and protecting antiquities. They need professional consultants, a five-year contract, 3 pounds per week."
"... "Did you have trouble with this last night?" Melissa said after a moment of silence.
Klein nodded in response:
"Yes, being a professor at Tingen University is more prestigious, but this job is what I prefer." "... "Actually, it's quite good too," Melissa smiled encouragingly, half puzzled and half curious, and asked, "How did they advance you the entire four weeks' salary?"
"Because we need to move, we need more rooms, and we need our own bathroom." Klein smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders.
He felt that he was smiling flawlessly, only missing to ask, "Surprise?"
Melissa was stunned for a moment and suddenly spoke rapidly, somewhat flustered:
"Klein, we actually live quite well. I occasionally complain about not having our own bathroom just because it's a habit. Do you remember Jenny? She used to live next door to us. Since her father got injured and lost his job, he had to move to the street, and the family of five had to live in one room. The bunk beds were for three, and the floor was for two. They even thought of renting out the remaining empty space on the floor to others..."
"Compared to her family, we are much better and luckier. Don't waste your salary on this matter, and by the way, I really like Mrs. Slin's bakery."
Girl, your reaction is different from the script I expected... Klein looked stunned.