Embers of Embers

Chapter 12 The Wind in the Crowd
Old Dunling, suburbs, Phoenix Territory.
As a protective family with outstanding achievements during the Glorious War, this territory close to the old Dunling was given to the Phoenix family by the Queen at that time. After several generations of management, it has become a hidden and magnificent castle. .
In order to facilitate travel, there is a railway track that goes straight to the heart of old Dunling. On it runs an armed train modified by the Mechanical Institute. This is an express train that only belongs to the Phoenix family. Although the distance between the two is so far, they can be Arrived within half an hour.
The man stood on the edge of the balcony, looking at the end of the sky and sighing slightly.
He is a standard Invergian, with gray hair, very neatly combed, and a classic but now somewhat outdated police officer beard. When he was young, he must have been a man who attracted thousands of women, but it is a pity that time has not passed. Looking past him, his once handsome face was covered with wrinkles.
In the beginning, the Phoenix family only acquired this land for retirement. The Duke at that time was not only old, but his health was also deteriorating due to the pain of the war. In order not to break away from the center of power of Yin Erweg, he also wanted to find a piece of pure land, so That’s why I chose this place.
It's really nice here. Unlike the old Dunling where the dark clouds cover the sun, here you can enjoy the rare sunshine. There is no exhaust gas released from burning charcoal. The air is fresh. Compared with the old Dunling, this place is simply a pure land in a fairy tale. .
But with the continuous expansion of the old Dunling in recent years, the man can already see the towering steam tower at the end of his sight from the balcony.
This is not a good thing. Maybe in a few decades, that damn dark cloud will cover this land.
Men like the sun. The longer they stay in Old Dunling, the so-called sunbathing becomes extremely precious. Because of his old age, he also wants his descendants to bathe in this sunshine.
After all, in Duke Phoenix's view, the longer one stays in Old Dunling, the more people will become damp and rotten, and eventually blend in with the gray city.
"It's so sad..."
The current owner of the Phoenix family, the current Duke Everra Phoenix, sighed feebly.
"Where's Eve? Is she finally honest?"
"The lady is still in the room. Maybe this incident really hit her hard."
The butler on the side answered the Duke's questions in a timely manner.
"On the contrary, I think the bigger the blow, the better. If she doesn't go to a good university and insists on becoming a police detective, it would be great if she can give up after this incident."
Obviously, the father strongly opposed Eve's dream of being a police detective.
"Maybe, Miss just looks forward to you and wants to follow your path?"
The butler didn't seem to expect the Duke's response to be so strong. His years of love for Eve made him subconsciously say good things for Eve.
"My path? You mean becoming a soldier? The Glorious War is over. Too many people from the Phoenix family died for this war."
Evra's eyes were lowered and his face was serious.
"War, soldiers, police detectives... anything related to weapons is not a good thing. She should just be the princess of Phoenix and find someone who loves her to marry her for the rest of her life. I have even saved up money to buy her one. The island has become a dowry, and she can take her children to sleep peacefully on the beach at sunset. There will be no rumbling steam engines, deadly diseases, or smoky air. It will be as beautiful as a paradise."
Although she strongly opposed her daughter's dream, the doting sentiment in her words was clearly visible.
"This is Eve's life trajectory, not to mix with the various religions of old Dunling."
Evra said viciously.
"Why do you think we, Phoenix, are called the Phoenix Family? It's just that we survived during the Glorious War. Only those who survive will enjoy glory, and those who die are dead and nothing."
The Glorious War took away too many lives. Evra’s brothers, sisters, father, and grandfather used all the remains of the Phoenix family to build up the current Phoenix family. Every time he thinks about all this, Evra will find it difficult to contain himself. anger.
"Go and notify the Su Yalan Office. I'll give them a month to find a way to get rid of the idea of ​​her becoming a police detective."
……
Autumn has now entered Old Dunling, and the cold winter is on the way.
Yellow leaves covered the road, paving it into a golden road under the sunshine.This was a scene that was rarely seen in the old Dunling. Eve's mood rarely improved after seeing this. She was wearing a lace-trimmed light yellow dress and was kicking the leaves like a child, making them dance in the wind.
She is the ruby ​​of the Phoenix family, the brightest red feather on the wings of the Phoenix, the light that illuminates the gloom of the old Dunling.
But now the princess was not very happy. Although the gold accumulated by the fallen leaves was beautiful, this happiness was short-lived. She touched her empty neck, but she still felt unspeakably irritable.
The missing necklace is important, at least to Eve.It originally belonged to her mother and was a gift from Duke Everard when he married her mother. After Eve's mother died of illness, Duke Everard personally wore it for her on the day Eve came of age.
Fortunately, Evra does not agree with Eve becoming a police detective. The two have been keeping a cold war and not seeing each other during this period, so Evra has not seen anything missing from Eve's neck.
Phoenix Manor is indeed very big, so big that two people who live here day and night can't see each other for nearly a month.
Her mind was in a mess. After thinking for a long time, Eve finally concluded that it was lost in the lower city, but it was almost impossible to find it if it was lost there. Maybe the necklace had been dismantled and reassembled into a brand new accessory. Put it on a counter somewhere in the outer city.
My thoughts were extremely sad, but at this moment the bell rang, and a train not far away slowly stopped on the small platform outside the gate of the manor. Guards gathered nearby to guard the train.
This is a special express train for the Phoenix family. It is specially used to transport things related to the Phoenix family. The maids usually take it to buy ingredients. Some guests from afar will also arrive on it, but the carriage will be more gorgeous than this one. .
It is one of the important links between Phoenix Territory and Old Dunling. It can transport daily supplies as well as those with evil intentions, so the guards are nervous every time the train arrives.
Under the steam, daily necessities, ingredients and other items for the next month were transported out of the platform. Under the interception of the guards, the staff could only watch this legendary territory from a distance, envying the beautiful things here. At the same time, I was also in awe.
The crowd was bustling, and the empty manor suddenly became crowded. Everyone was busy. After all, behind the grandeur of Phoenix was the hard work of nearly a hundred ordinary people, and they also needed to eat.
Eve watched from a distance, but at some point a man had come to him, holding a folded ladder, wearing a dark green garden suit, with large scissors tucked around his waist.
He lowered his head, his body was covered with leaves and branches, and his clothes were soaked with sweat.
This was such an ordinary person that Eve didn't even take it to heart until the familiar voice sounded.
"You know, I did an experiment. As long as you hold a ladder, you can enter and exit most places in Old Dunling at will."
The gardener suddenly stood next to Eve, took off his stuffy hat and said to himself.
"I've successfully entered Suararan Hall, City Hall, a cinema, etc. with a ladder, and of course now Phoenix Manor. They all thought I was here to fix things."
Under the short light blond hair was a somewhat pale face. He looked at Eve with a smile.
"This is what I learned when I was at the Royal College of Art. People usually ignore those things that they are accustomed to. For example, if you open the window and the cup falls on the ground, you will subconsciously think that it was blown over by the wind. The subconscious mind will be affected by these 'abnormalities'. ’ and explain.
This is the principle, those people who are used to it in life will become 'wind', I just need to carry a ladder and scissors and you will think that I am a gardener, no need for any explanation, your brain will be for me Show up to explain, and as long as I'm dressed appropriately and in the right setting, there will be no flaws. "
The sweat stains were randomly touched with water, and the leaves and branches on the body were randomly rolled out on the ground.
The girl's expression gradually became frightened, but then she seemed to realize something. She tried to calm down, then lifted up the light yellow dress, and took it off from the ribbon tied tightly to her thighs while the gardener looked confused. pistol.
"Then did you guess this?"
Eve looked serious. She was the princess of the Phoenix family, but this did not mean that she was a well-behaved vase.This is Phoenix Manor, her territory. As long as Eve fires a gunshot, eight thousand axemen will rush out and chop the damn landscaper into a pulp.
"To tell you the truth, in my relatively short detective career, I've seen people hiding stolen money under long skirts, but I've never seen one hiding a pistol... You gave me some new ideas for my career."
Without enough time to review the beauty under her skirt, the gardener raised his hands in a wise manner.
"So you see now, Mr. Lorenzo Holmes."
Looking into those gray-blue eyes, Eve felt that her precarious career as a police detective was about to turn around.
(End of this chapter)