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Chapter 11: The Mummy
Chapter 11: The Mummy
"That lady over there, she seemed like Lady Anne, didn't she?" Karl gazed at the departing carriage, deep in thought.
"Yes."
Kerry nodded, "Anne Bolling, after her husband, the Count, passed away, she inherited his entire fortune. She's one of the wealthiest ladies in town."
"But..."
"She's becoming more and more beautiful."
As he spoke, he unconsciously licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes still filled with reluctance as he watched the carriage disappear into the distance.
Karl shook his head.
There's always gossip surrounding a widow, especially one as beautiful and wealthy as this.
He had also heard stories about Lady Anne, born into a wealthy merchant family, she married into a prestigious household and became a widow at a young age.
The substantial inheritance left by her late husband, coupled with her alluring appearance, made her the object of desire for many men.
No one called her Mrs. Bolling; instead, they referred to her as Lady Anne.
Despite her beauty, this widow had never remarried, solely enjoying the title of Countess.
Rumors circulated that she always had men by her side, especially young and handsome youths, which eventually earned her the label of a promiscuous woman among some.
There were those who envied, resented, and scorned her.
It was said that a Marquis was her intimate companion, and with her late husband's status, no one in town dared to provoke her.
For this reason, although Kerry felt indignant, he didn't stop the young man from boarding the carriage.
Experience had taught her never to underestimate a woman's capacity for revenge, especially one as beautiful and influential as Lady Anne.
Of course, none of this concerned Karl; he was more preoccupied with the sudden sense of danger that had just washed over him.
A murderous intent! Or perhaps something else.
Whatever it was, the aura emanating from Miles had put him on high alert.
He had never felt this way before.
'Could it be that practicing the Poison Wolf Breath Technique has enhanced my perception of danger?'
'Or is there something peculiar about this Miles?'
Karl stroked his chin, deep in contemplation.
"Ah!"
"A corpse!"
Just as he was lost in thought, a cry of surprise came from behind.
The two turned to the source of the commotion and saw a crowd in disarray, with some curious onlookers leaning in and others quickly moving away.
"What's going on?"
"It seems someone found a body!"
"Let's go."
Karl put aside his thoughts, "Let's go and take a look."
As a city inspector, even if he wasn't particularly diligent, he couldn't ignore such an incident.
The body was discovered in a foul-smelling ditch, reduced to nothing but skin and bones, shriveled like a mummy that had been dead for decades, or a wooden stick devoid of moisture.
The scene was gruesome, nauseating, and eerie.
"Judging by her clothes, she should be a young woman, but in this condition, it's hard to tell anything," Karl said, bending down to examine the body despite the foul odor.
"There are two red dots on her neck. Could she have been drained of her blood by a vampire?"
"A vampire?" Kerry's eyes lit up, "That young man, Miles, had unusually pale skin. Could he be the culprit?"
In legends, vampires are said to have extremely pale skin.
"Do you really believe in vampires?" Karl glanced at him, "Even if they exist, I thought vampires couldn't come out during the day. If you truly suspect him, you can request to have him arrested, but I fear Lady Anne won't approve."
"Never mind, then."
Kerry quickly abandoned the idea, "Let's investigate first. Speaking of which, this is already the fifth similar case in the city."
"All the victims are young women."
"Oh!" Karl straightened up, "It's already the fifth case?"
A few days ago, when he met Lady Dena at the church, she had mentioned a similar incident.
"Forget it."
Karl clapped his hands and turned towards several figures running towards them, "Let the patrol officers handle it... Wait, there's a night watchman?"
The city had inspectors and patrol officers to maintain order, and the Church also had a similar role known as the night watchman.
(End of Chapter 11)
It was rare for a case to warrant the involvement of the Night Watchman. Only those involving the worship of dark gods, fire thieves, or other peculiar matters would do so.
Kerry, too, wore a puzzled expression, indicating that he had only just learned of the situation.
To those uninitiated in the art of autopsy, a corpse was just a corpse, making it difficult to discern any clues.
After the case was handed over to the professional patrol officers and the Night Watchman, Karl lost his enthusiasm for drinking and headed to Saffire Street alone.
This street was home to Signo City's most renowned tailors and cobblers, as well as the largest dress shops, watch shops, and cane shops.
His old clothes were already worn out, and after practicing the Poison Wolf Breath Technique, his physique seemed to have changed again, necessitating a change of clothing.
"Sir."
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
A clerk with a measuring tape around his neck greeted him enthusiastically:
"What can I help you with?"
Karl stopped in front of the display case, examining the men's suits within.
He added,
"Not too much silk."
Silk was probably too rare here, as the current trend was to pair silk with both men's and women's formal wear.
Baroque or Rococo styles on women could be considered elegant and luxurious, but Karl found it hard to accept the idea of men's collars and sleeves adorned with flamboyant silk and satin.
Lace and white stockings further tested his aesthetic limits.
"No problem."
The clerk didn't mind the customer's pickiness:
"Do you have a sample or can you specify your requirements? We can customize it accordingly."
"I prefer velvet and silk as the main materials, without too many layers of scarves. The simpler, the better." Karl stroked the fabric, saying,
"The coat should reach the knees. Do you have a military uniform sample? I plan to modify it based on that."
"Yes, we do."
The clerk nodded, recalling the customer's request in his mind. He found it a bit odd but refrained from questioning it:
"I'll get it for you."
"Okay."
Karl nodded.
He preferred the modern three-piece suit, which would undoubtedly stand out here.
However, there was a middle ground between Baroque and modern styles, allowing for a balance between the two and meeting his requirements.
In his opinion, the current fashion trend in the Kingdom of Gando was leaning towards femininity and excessive ornamentation.
This was quite normal.
The abundance of materials could be overwhelming, naturally leading to a pursuit of luxury and an urge to incorporate various fabrics.
Only after becoming accustomed to this would one seek simplicity and freshness, no longer overly concerned with external appearances.
"Sew the sides to fit the waist, allowing the skirt to flare out. This makes it convenient for horseback riding and doesn't hinder vigorous activities."
"The waist should fit well, and as for the extravagance..."
Karl thought for a moment, then said,
"Add some gold thread embroidery, but not too complex. Not the Night Watchman style, though."
The clerk had never heard of so many requirements and decided to call the master tailor. The two of them gestured and discussed the matter.
The tailor seemed very interested in Karl's suggestions, especially the details, and listened intently.
At first glance, he even resembled an eager apprentice.
"Wait a moment."
Karl suddenly paused their discussion and looked towards the front hall, where two familiar figures caught his eye.
They were Landlady Mary and her daughter, Jenny.
"Jenny."
Looking at the ladies' suits in front of her, Mary's expression turned difficult:
"Three pounds is too expensive for us, and these clothes can only be worn occasionally, not very practical."
"I'm attending a banquet, and you want me to wear the old dress you made?" Jenny stamped her foot:
"Mom, I finally passed the audition for the Baro Singing Ensemble. Isn't it worth buying a dress to celebrate?"
"But..." Mary lowered her head, her voice barely audible:
"It's too expensive!"
Chapter end
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