They all call me master

When the knock on the door rang late at night, Arthur was holding Pendragon and writing the mysterious knowledge he had exchanged with Albers in the previous three days - a warm cat, purring low, is much better than a hot water bottle. , making Arthur feel an inexplicable sense of comfort

As for writing?

No matter how good your memory is, it cannot compare to writing.

Unless you have constant [memory] or similar secret skills.

if there is not?

That writing will be a good medicine.

Moreover, Arthur knew better that he himself had a "weak foundation". Such writing would not only provide a better record, but also help him effectively sort out his mysterious knowledge structure.

However, a knock on the door interrupted

But Arthur showed no irritation.

Because this is the secret code for Wiggins.

‘So fast! ’

‘As expected of the ‘Parliament of Rats’! ’

As for why Wiggins came, Arthur had some guesses - given the influence of Rat Tail Alley on Mouse Street, it is too simple to know the relationship between Wiggins and him. He only needs to investigate carefully. Get all the information easily.

As for the ‘Parliament of Rats’?

I was surprised to hear this from Albers.

The young detective came to South Los, and the other party's uncle told him not to provoke the 'Rat Council'.

The young detective dismissed this.

Arthur kept this in mind

For this reason, Arthur made some preparations in advance.

But when he opened the door, Heywood looked at Wiggins and was secretly stunned.

The appearance of Heywood was something Arthur never expected!

‘There was an accident! ’

Arthur thought to himself, but his expression remained calm, as if he had known better.

This is not difficult for Arthur who has Level 3 [Bluff].

However, the two people outside the door, looking at Arthur holding an orange cat, wearing loose pajamas, and with slap marks on his face, were all stunned in place.

As a subordinate who swore allegiance, Wiggins was quite self-aware and immediately looked down at the uppers of his shoes.

Heywood was a little unable to react.

It's not that Heywood is not smart enough, it's just that the contrast between Arthur's front and back is too great - if it weren't for the same face and the leadership of Wiggins, it would be difficult for the black-hearted landlord of Mule Street to compare the Arthur with the palm prints on his face to the previous one. Arthur is connected with the scary doll in his arms, the psychic box in one hand, and the umbrella in the other.

However, the sinister landlord on Mule Street returned to normal the next moment.

"I'm very sorry to disturb you late at night, Sir Kratos!"

Heywood's face was filled with guilt as he bowed.

Ordinary people would only feel true feelings, but in Arthur's eyes it was full of loopholes. Without any need for technical support, Arthur could confirm that the other party was pretending.

However, Arthur didn't pay much attention to it.

Anyone can understand hypocritical politeness.

After Arthur nodded slightly, he stepped aside to get out of the way of the corridor leading to the 'Psychic Medium Hall' - he believed that Wiggins was not an ignorant person.

Since Heywood was brought here, there must be a reason.

In fact, this is also true——

"Are you willing to spend 30 gold tickets to hire me to investigate a case?"

Arthur looked at Heywood quite unexpectedly.

It’s not that there’s less money.

But more money.

30 gold tickets is not a small amount of money. Even now, Arthur's total assets are only 762 gold tickets, 12 souos and 3 zeros.

30 gold tickets are enough to hire 3-5 detectives.

Become a mercenary instead?

There will only be more.

Even if you have more connections, you can hire some desperadoes.

"Yes, it's a slightly complicated case."

Walking through that scary corridor, Heywood was obviously frightened. Especially since he had seen so many corpses before, Heywood would always have too many associations, plus when facing Arthur , the unconscious pressure caused this sharp-tongued and black-hearted landlord to stutter a little.

And listening to Heywood's story, Arthur frowned slightly.

"Pine Street explosion, fire, ten bodies?"

"When did the explosion happen?"

Arthur asked.

"At 1:10 in the morning, I woke up and looked at my pocket watch!"

Heywood took out a slightly old second-hand pocket watch - he found it in a thrift store after moving to the Shire.

To celebrate him completing his life goals.

Likewise, to be more decent.

'It takes about half an hour to walk to Pine Street from here. When the visitor who should represent Rat Tail Alley left me, it was 12:35 in the morning. I checked the time on the clock in the lobby, and it was that is……

Was it Malinda who took action?

And then, Rat Tail Alley strikes back? ’

Arthur thought subconsciously, and then adjusted the whole matter to the way of thinking of a normal case——

"Did you see the owner and the agent of that house standing face to face?"

"right!"

"Five in a row, they stand facing each other!"

Heywood nodded repeatedly, fear appearing on his face again.

The scene just now was so terrifying that Heywood probably would never forget it in his lifetime.

"Except for the owner of the house who just bought it on Pine Street like you, and the real estate agent you know, do you recognize the remaining eight corpses?"

Arthur asked again.

"I don't know, those eight corpses are all rotting."

Heywood shook his head.

"All rotten?"

Arthur continued to ask.

"no!"

"Four are rotting and two are almost skeletons."

After Heywood carefully recalled it again, he said with certainty.

"The nearly skeletal corpses are also facing each other?"

Arthur asked.

"right!"

Heywood nodded immediately and even performed the skeleton's stance in front of Arthur and Wiggins.

"Go and ask your little brother to help me find Sheriff Maltz - let him bring the information of the previous owners and agents of that house."

Arthur said to Wiggins - in addition to Heywood, the careful Wiggins also took the three and a half young men and waited outside No. 2 Kirk Street.

As for the murderer?

With so many references and knowing what kind of place Pine Street is, Arthur already roughly knows what's going on.

"Yes, sir."

Wiggins turned and walked out.

Heywood on the side immediately expressed his plea - he came to look for Arthur just so that the police would not know about it. If he called the police, there would be no need to go to such trouble.

"Do not worry."

"Chief Maltz is involved in this case as a friend of mine."

“Thank you for everything you do for Pine Street.”

Heywood immediately bowed his thanks.

Then, the extremely quick-responsive black-hearted landlord of Mule Street asked cautiously.

“You mean, the eight dead bodies hidden in the pit were also the former owners and agents of that house?

Of course, I'm just curious and don't mean anything else.

If you don’t want to say it, you don’t have to say it! "

Heywood looked cautious.

Arthur showed a kind smile.

"should be!"

"Who is the murderer?"

Heywood asked again.

Arthur did not give the answer directly this time, but asked rhetorically.

"Can't you guess?"

Not stupid, on the contrary, Heywood, who was extremely smart, instantly guessed who the murderer was.

The owner of that house—the previous owner of the skeleton.

The other party moved to the Shire District with great difficulty, but had to leave due to bankruptcy, illness, etc. However, even though he left, he often came back to look at his house, and then looked at its new owner, the original The owner finally lost his balance, and not only killed the new owner, but also the intermediary who introduced the house to the other party. In the eyes of the original owner, these two people had taken away his house, and both of them deserved death.

Then came the second pair, the third pair, the fourth pair, and the fifth pair.

Heywood's scalp went numb when he thought of this.

Why would he miss that house?

Because it was that house that he set his sights on in the first place.

If he didn't have enough money, he would have chosen that house.

fortunately! fortunately!

Heywood breathed a sigh of relief.

Arthur, who silently watched the other party's expression, finally confirmed at this moment that the other party should have nothing to do with Rat Tail Alley - the other party should have happened to be involved in this incident, and it was not an arrangement by the 'Rat Council'.

But the ten corpses in this incident did not just happen to appear there.

It should have been carefully selected. Someone knew there were ten corpses there before choosing it. Arthur began to adjust his thinking again and added Malinda and the 'Rat Parliament' to the normal events.

Suddenly, the whole incident became not simple.

Assume that the Rat Tail Alley visitor he expelled was killed by Malinda on Pine Street, and ten corpses were unexpectedly exposed in the aftermath of the battle. What would happen?

Pine Street was shunned.

Home prices on Pine Street plummeted.

Pine Street was excluded from the Shire by default.

Pine Street residents lost their money.

Then?

As long as someone fanned the flames a little bit, some Pine Street residents who were unable to accept the reality and had fragile hearts would choose to commit suicide. It is not so easy to accept that the efforts of several generations have been wiped out.

There might even be mass suicides!

And such an incident will definitely cause an uproar in South Los Angeles - this is what Arthur has not figured out: Is the counterattack test in Rat Tail Alley a little too loud?

If you do this carelessly, you will arouse the wrath of the Earl of Nanlos——

‘Hey, wait! ’

'Could it be...'