The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 2: The New Unlucky Guy

Chapter 2 Ch.2 The New Unlucky Guy

The housekeeper said in the letter that the travel expenses were attached to another letter.

When Roland went to the director's office to inquire, he did get the...

Half a crown (two and a half shillings).

Although Yam said that people like Thales Collins would not send a jingling letter.

There is a good chance that inside it is a gold sovereign (£1), quietly staying with the letter.

Otherwise it would be disgraceful.

Now, half a crown wouldn't jingle.

The rose and clover on it are almost worn away.

"That's enough for you to ride in a carriage! Holy Father! You are a greedy blind man, and you are blackmailing me?"

'Do you know why poor old Collins didn't put the money in the letter he sent to you? Because there are thieves and robbers among you!'

"If you insist on saying it's more than half a letter, then I'll have to talk to the sheriff. It's passed through a lot of children's hands since I got it."

Roland knew what he meant by his last sentence.

So he picked up the coin thrown on the table, tapped his cane made of a wooden stick and left quietly.

Yam couldn't take any more leave, so she asked another child to accompany Roland and walk as far as possible before taking the carriage.

"Will you come back, Roland?"

The boy with thin limbs but a big head asked naively.

"I do not know either."

Wearing Yam-sewn overalls and a plaid shirt, the handsome young man stood at the intersection, his dead leaf-colored eyes shining brightly and charmingly under the sunlight.

Many girls have obviously slowed down their pace.

They pretended to stroke their hair, look in the window or look for someone, and focused their eyes on Roland's eyes, nose and lips - those greedy gazes left the young boy who came out to see him off confused.

However, this did not last long.

When they shifted their gaze from his face to appreciate the whole look, they noticed Roland's patched clothes and his pair of outdated round-toed work shoes that were much too big for his appearance.

All eyes immediately averted, leaving the handsome boy drowned in the roar of machines and the drifting dust.

"There's a carriage ahead, Roland."

Roland patted the boy's head and walked towards the bustling public carriage station.

…………

……

The further away you are, the closer you are to prosperity from desolation.

The amount of information Roland received gradually increased.

Clothes scraped against each other, canes tapped, and conversations were whispered.

The fresh smell of ink in the wind, the rubbing of metal keys in coat pockets, and the mumbled swear words after leather shoes stepped into puddles.

The misty breath exhaled from the mouth entangled with the biting wind.

The slippery cobblestones caused the car body to shake, and there was a large gap between the axles. When the car jumped up, it almost gave the passengers the illusion that it was going to fall apart.

Of course, all of this was eventually drowned out by the sound of horse hooves and noisy wheels.

Speaking of the Collins family, they are not considered a prominent family in the local area.

Old Collins' life's work began at the port and ended with his fishing boat leasing business at the port. He was too old and sickly, and it was said that his son had died under the horse's hooves.

Recently, I hardly see anyone at banquets.

When Roland arrived at Collins's house, the butler Seth Will was already waiting at the door.

Before the car came to a complete stop, the sturdy middle-aged man quickly stepped forward, and when the wheels stopped, he reached out and firmly supported Roland's arm.

He stared at the crude cane for a while, then whispered softly, "Please follow me. The master is waiting..."

The mansion was behind him.

For Roland, who had rarely traveled far, this place was undoubtedly fresh.

Everywhere.

For example, a soft carpet that feels soft to step on, a flat floor that doesn't creak, a yard that smells of flowers, and the servants' respectful greetings.

Perhaps more importantly: no stench of feces.

It's like another world.

He was led through four or five doors, as if walking into a deep forest, and it became increasingly quiet.

It was not until he "saw" his father, Thales Collins, that Roland suddenly realized:
This man is definitely not as haggard as the rumors outside say.

His steps were steady, his voice was loud, and there was a pungent smell of blood on his body - he was definitely not like the 'old and sick' described, his voice was as loud as a bell hit by a stone.

He only said three sentences to Roland.

Or rather, three requirements were put forward:
First: take good care of your sister and be responsible for her treatment every night.

Second: Don't leave the Collins house and don't get into trouble.

Third: From today on, you will change your name to William, William Collins, and stop using that vulgar name that someone gave you, and don’t bring poverty into the Collins family.

These three sentences blocked all the questions Roland had thought of on the way.

It’s… pretty good.

The servant arranged his room next to her sister, Nina Collins's room, on the second floor, just at the end of the soft carpet.

"Treatment starts tonight."

The butler gently helped him to a chair, took away Roland's cane, and poured him some tea: "I will prepare a more refined one for you that is more suitable for your status."

"Mr. Seth."

"Yes, your order."

Roland shook his head, his eyes fixed. "I want to ask, Collins... the 'treatment' that the master mentioned, and what you said 'starting tonight'——"

Seth smiled. "It's for Miss Nina's treatment. She's sick. A rare disease is hidden in her body. She has to release some unclean blood every night. The master has inquired about the details at the church. Only someone with the same blood can do it. You see, a father who just lost his son is obviously not suitable for this job."

"When Miss Nina's condition improves, we will talk about your problem again."

"OK?"

So this is why I am here. Roland nodded obediently and did not ask about himself: "I will do what I should do."

"You don't have to be so reserved." Seth stood up, carefully dusted off his shoulders, and stepped back. "Lunch will be ready soon - by the way, I don't recommend that you go see Miss Collins now."

"Any questions?"

"Of course not, just a suggestion."

After the butler finished speaking, he stepped out and closed the door from the outside.

Roland sat quietly for a while, until he could no longer hear any other sounds.

Both eyebrows frowned.

Without eyes, the nose becomes more sensitive. Everything seems to always abide by a certain sense of balance - Roland's nose is very sensitive, so he smells it.

Housekeeper, servant...

He smelled it.

They smelled of the same blood as old Collins.

In other words.

Have all of these people participated in the 'treatment' today?
Doesn’t it mean that non-blood relatives are not allowed?
Or did the blood come from somewhere else?

That's not the smell of pig blood or fish blood that can be seen everywhere in the market.

Roland tapped his knees lightly with his fingers, feeling a little strange.

Yes…

The more I think about it, the weirder it gets.

Especially the servants—

The servants' greetings and responses were too consistent.

as if…

As if...

Just like a person.

The thought made Roland's hair stand on end. It seemed as if countless pairs of eyes were staring at him, crawling towards him slowly from the darkness...

Roland shuddered.

Ugh.

Yam.

You tell me too many forbidden stories.

Roland coughed a few times to dispel the cold, then stood up with the help of a chair.

先…

Meet your sister.

Nina Collins.

Her room is right next door.

Roland turned the door open and walked a little further along the wall until he came across the strange door handle.

The door of the room is locked from the outside?

Roland bumps metal bolts…

"Miss Collins."

Roland stood outside the door.

"Miss Collins, I am——"

Bang!
There was a loud noise in the room.

"Miss Collins? Are you in there?"

Bang.

"Miss Collins?"

Bang.

Like responding to his voice.

Roland hesitated for a few seconds, fumbled, unfastened the lock, and pushed it carefully.

The door hinges were badly rusted and made a harsh squeaking sound.

As soon as the door was opened a crack, a disgusting stench hit me in the face.

He almost vomited.

It was a foul smell mixed with feces and rotting flesh and blood, and there were even a few flies that slipped out from the crack in the door while he was backing away.

Roland thought he had seen the world, but this time he was really confused.

It stinks.

It stinks worse than where he lives.

Roland covered his nose, trying to hold back the discomfort, and called out again:
"Miss Collins?"

Bang.

This time I heard it clearly.

There was indeed someone inside.

After hesitating for a while outside the door, Roland took a deep breath and stepped in.

This room has no carpet.

Except for the buzzing of flies, the darkness was dead silent.

"Miss Collins?"

Roland called softly.