The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 696 Charles Babbage
This weirdo is another 'Charles'.

In addition to 'Charles Chloe' who will resolve the hatred between him and Roland sooner or later, and 'Charles Darwin' who has become famous recently, this is another Charles.

He introduced himself and asked Roland to write his name on the paper.

"I need to know what to call you, kid."

So said this eccentric man named Charles Babbage.

He took a sip of water and handed Roland a pen and a used note.

Roland tried his best to avoid the hole on it and wrote his name.

"…Nico Robin, nice name."

Babbage frowned and looked seriously at the crooked words on the paper. In the light of the fire, he held it high as if he was examining some important proposal. He looked at the paper and then at the girl with the veil on her face.

"Ok."

He said.

"Well, why aren't you in bed? You thought I was going to ask that? I'm not one of those nuns whose husbands have died. I don't think it's normal for you to be told to do this and that all the time, and have classes to do the laundry."

"If I had known that this was to train a tutor, I would never have accepted their invitation..." His voice became smaller and smaller, and he felt more and more guilty. "...They didn't give much, and the food wasn't good."

He seemed to be used to talking to himself and didn't care about the students in front of him at all.

Maybe a mute would be more suitable to get along with.

"Okay, it's time to go to bed after listening to the story, good girl." Babbage tore off another piece of paper, wrote a few words on it, and rudely stuffed it into Roland's hand. "Take it. If those 'saints' who have no men wanting them in this life bother you, show them this."

"I said you worked for me until this time."

He waved his hand and asked her to leave.

Roland pointed to the iron cage in the corner.

The one who was sleeping soundly had woken up early at some point, and was now using his sharp claws to scratch at the cage wires, sucking with his mouth to melt them, and gradually completing his feat of escaping from prison.

Babbage turned his head and took a look, then immediately shouted "Cross-buttocks", ran over and wrapped himself in a blanket.

"…I found it in my room half a week ago. It's a rare little hedgehog that doesn't often fall into our hands."

Obviously not.

Although Roland didn't know how this weird and crazy scholar caught it, it was obviously not a hedgehog.

It looks like a mole, with spiky fur, sharp claws, and a long, thin tongue.

This is an echidna.

It's a different species.

This gentleman was very lucky, because the alien species that was "full of treasures" was also full of toxins. If he had really been stabbed, he would not be able to stand and speak now.

…………

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Name: Echidna
Type: Alien
「Description」: Cute little animals that are extremely popular.

The tongue is long and thin.

The fur is prickly and highly poisonous.

It has poor eyesight, moves by smell and hearing, and likes to eat metal.

The skin can be used to make ritual blankets, allowing mortals to more easily enter the sleep world - provided that a complete blanket can be pieced together to cover the body, rather than a glove.

Echidnas will not actively attack anything, and you can usually find them between metal and metal.

These cute little creatures are the best thieves, and their broad, soft feet make no sound when they crawl - if you are particularly lucky and find their gift (mystical organs) after killing an echidna, it means that you will completely get rid of poverty.

As a mystical organ, their noses are able to record a wide variety of smells and memorize them for months.

The fur causes the ritualist's skin to grow spikes.

The soles of the feet can bring people the power of "permanent peace".

of course.

Many people don't have that luck. You probably don't either.

Note: They love metals madly, but if it is not metal, nothing else can resist their sharp claws. Do not try to raise or imprison an echidna, otherwise, you will pay a heavy price for your stupidity and their "harmlessness".

……

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"…I was planning to go to the market in a few days and ask around, maybe I could sell it for some money - but now there's no need. When Darwin comes back, maybe he'll be interested."

Roland looked around the room.

This gentleman was indeed very short of money, and the shirts on the hangers had been washed so many times that they had turned slightly yellow.

"…What? You want it? Kid, I put a lot of effort into catching it."

Babbage saw Roland walking forward, pointing at the iron cage and then at himself.

"I don't want to sell a lot..."

He examined Roland's outfit, her simple long skirt and the expensive wide-brimmed hat that did not match the skirt, and could tell that this was a girl with plenty of money.

"From curious algae to curious animals?" Babbage muttered, and uttered an inarticulate number.

He was a little embarrassed to talk about money with his students, but he really lacked it.

"Sixty pounds... kid, you have to know that it might have research value. If I give it to those people, they might pay more -"

He observed the girl's body (his face couldn't be seen) and said something nonsensical, saying it wasn't that he wanted it to be high, but that it was just rare.

Roland shook his head, nodded again, returned to the table, and wrote a sentence on the paper.

"Deal, sir."

Babbage was delighted.

He had been having a hard time recently. If it weren't for someone's help, he would have had to stop his great cause.

"For your generosity, son."

He raised his glass of water and toasted Roland, but had no intention of pouring another glass for him. He drank a sip himself and kicked the iron cage roughly with his foot.

"The blanket is for you."

He said.

"If you run away, don't blame me."

After Babbage finished speaking, he turned around and went back to studying the pile of manuscripts, as if according to his rules, the matter was over.

Roland didn't respond, and the room soon fell silent.

Until about ten minutes passed.

The man realized later that there was a girl in the room who had not left when he turned around to get another drawing.

"…Anything else?"

Roland raised the note in his hand.

It says: But I don’t have any money with me now.

Babbage scratched his head, looking impatient. “Then tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or some other day. Child, have your servant bring it here. Now, take the paper I gave you and the hedgehog and go back to where you should be.”

He turned back after he finished speaking, mumbling something like 'Should I ask for more?', 'God bless you, it ate two of my gears.'

Roland was helpless.

He picked up the iron cage wrapped in a velvet blanket and took a last look at the metal machine in the corner before leaving.

There were also manuscripts, awls, grinding rulers and various tools scattered on the table.

He had a feeling of déjà vu.

This weirdo is very similar to Victor Sala in some ways.

(End of this chapter)