Mr. Rat of the Steam World

Chapter 1 The Mouse Detective

Perhaps in an attempt to downplay the shadow cast by the massive accident earlier this year, recent news from Baker City has taken on a more lighthearted and humorous tone.

For example, the Manchester Times' headline, "Earl Biden's lost dog found again."

Or, as reported by Baker Express: “Residents report that there seem to be more rats in the city” and “Why aren’t those damn stray cats catching rats anymore?”

Amidst the grumbling and cursing, some people noticed an advertisement at the bottom of the newspaper, announcing the opening of a new detective agency in Gray Cross Lane in the new town, offering a 20% discount to new customers.

It sounds... pretty good.

……

"here?"

The man in the black coat repeatedly compared the information in front of him with that in the newspaper in his hand, a look of astonishment appearing on his face.

The so-called agency in front of them was nothing more than a line of crookedly hand-painted words on a white wall—"First Detective."

The rare storm that struck Baker City two weeks ago also left a lot of marks on the surface, making the shop look even more shabby and unreliable.

The man in the coat was interested in more than just that; pointing at the shop, he asked incredulously, "The city allows this kind of name?"

My friend shrugged and spread his hands: "But there's also no rule against doing that."

"Besides, in terms of business capabilities alone, this agency hasn't had any failed cases in finding lost items or people. You only tried another agency because other agencies couldn't handle your case, so what are you worrying about?"

The man in the coat was speechless: "Then what should I do next?"

"See the hole in the wall? Write down what you need help with on a piece of paper and throw it in."

"and then?"

"Wait for a gray rat to crawl out with a price quote."

"Waiting for a gray... hmm?"

squeak!
Behind the hole in the wall, the commission was sent down a specially carved ramp inside the red brick wall. With the help of a large number of rats passing it along, there was no problem with getting stuck. The commission traveled all the way until it passed through the sewer and came to a huge underground space, which opened up into a bright and spacious area.

The structure here has been specially modified to separate the original urban sewage and to create a new open space where a large number of simple buildings have been constructed. Swarms of gray squirrels are busy at work, and various motivational slogans are sprayed on the sides of the pipe walls.

Stealing food is shameful, sharing is honorable.

[One paw from you, one paw from me, together we build a beautiful home for our little hamsters]

Two gray squirrels skillfully picked up the commission and placed it on a homemade wooden cart, pushing the wheelbarrow to move it to the lord's hall in the center of the open space. There, a gray squirrel with noticeably finer fur lay on a rocking chair, resting its chin on its hand, lost in thought, its expression shifting between melancholy, helplessness, and nostalgia… It was simply unbelievable for a gray squirrel.

Of course, he is not just a gray rat, but also the lord of this place, a transmigrator from another world, Lu Ran.

"Squeak, squeak!"

"A new commission?"

Lu Ran roused himself and beckoned the two gray squirrels beside him to unfold the rolled-up paper and carefully examine its contents.

A sketch of a coin occupies most of the page. The coin's edge is engraved with fine gear patterns. On the obverse, a balance scale is centered, with a straight beam and symmetrical, identical pans. Its shape is unlike any form of currency Lu Ran remembers. Besides this, the only other word on the commission is—

Find clues or people related to the coin.

"There's not much information." Lu Ran felt that it looked somewhat familiar.

"8 pounds, the note says Edwin Hawkshaw, new customers get a 20% discount so it's 6 pounds 8 shillings. You need to pay a 2-pound deposit first, and remember to leave your mailing address."

After writing down the price, Lu Ran immediately had a plump, adorable gray squirrel beside him quickly bring it over.

This little guy was named "Foodie" by Lu Ran. He is also one of the few mice in the territory with a bit of brains. Lu Ran appointed him as his personal secretary, responsible for running errands and also helping him lose weight.

In addition, several other clever rats served as "Prime Minister" and "Chief of Police" respectively, sharing the affairs of the territory with Lu Ran, which prevented Lu Ran from being driven to his death by anger.

"You seem to have gained weight again."

Watching the gluttonous creature run off into the distance, Lu Ran felt a strange sense of melancholy. Suddenly, she caught sight of two furtive figures out of the corner of her eye and angrily pounced on them. "I told you not to steal food! Not to steal food!"

He grabbed the heads of the two gray squirrels and gave each one a hard flick on the forehead.

Clever mice are a minority; the two currently in the territory are the norm. Lu Ran is really exhausted from worrying about these guys.

——System Panel——

Lord: Lu Ran

Race: Rat
People: 332/500
Happiness level: Good
Territory Talent: Collective Intelligence lv2 (Collective Intelligence +2)

Enlightenment: Not unlocked (can be unlocked at Collective Intelligence lv3)
From scavenging for a living half a year ago when I first arrived here, to gathering the first batch of mice and starting a territory.

Through gradual, hands-on instruction, the mice slowly develop a sense of territory and leadership, as well as the ability to cooperate.

Then, after achieving talent upgrades, they began learning how to use teaching tools, transforming their territory, and finally opening their first detective agency.

Don't underestimate the seemingly simple act of crossing a wall and a hole; it was a significant milestone in connecting with human society and initiating interspecies trade. Only Lu Ran himself knows the hardships involved; it's all tears when you try to talk about it.

After all, how long would it take for a group of rats within his territory to produce resources equivalent to 1 pound? Yet, the few words published in the newspaper allowed him to successfully intervene in human society and gain the right to seize a large amount of wealth from it.

With the financial support of the detective agency, his territory experienced its first period of rapid, rocket-like growth.

The requirement for upgrading to Collective Intelligence lv3 is that the territory's total production value reaches 50 gold pounds. This used to seem like a long way off, but now it seems to be coming soon.

“It’s not easy…”

Lu Ran suddenly burst into tears.

Why is it that even though I time-traveled, I can only rely on cheap labor to continue exploiting others?

Are they comparing whether rats or cows and horses are cheaper?

But I really don't want to eat garbage from the sewers anymore.

……

"6 pounds 8 shillings?"

Edwin looked at the gray rat holding up a card in front of him with a surprised expression.

It's not that I think it's expensive; on the contrary, it's surprisingly cheap.

This case has caused quite a stir. As a detective who frequently deals with information, it's impossible that he doesn't know about it. Many detectives have even refused to investigate it because it's too difficult. Yet this detective agency is doing the opposite and offering a discount.
Edwin, regaining his senses, nodded slightly in thanks, took out a brown leather folded wallet from his coat, and gently pulled out a two-pound banknote from the layered banknote holder, placing it in front of Gray Mouse.

"Then I'll trouble you."

"squeak!"

Although the foodie couldn't understand what the man in front of it meant, that didn't stop it from knowing it was time to collect the money.

First, it rolled up the two banknotes and pushed them into the hole behind it. Then, following the lord's instructions, the glutton stood up, raised its right paw, turned around twice, and bowed forward.

Remember to do things to amuse people; they'll be very happy to see that.

—Lord Lu Ran.

So even though Edwin was mentally prepared, he was still taken aback.

"It...it even knows how to be a gentleman!"

Edwin grabbed his friend in disbelief.

"Did you see that?! A gray mouse that knows how to be a gentleman!"

(End of this chapter)