Mr. Rat of the Steam World

Chapter 3 Partners

The agency now has a complete operating system. For example, when Lu Ran is not around, if there is a new case, the other mice will collect it first, and then the glutton will hold up a pre-written sign to inform the other party that the detective is not here. Later, when Lu Ran returns, he will mail a letter with a specific quote. In this way, Lu Ran can be freed from the agency and have more time to go out and deal with personal matters.

Lu Ran went out and, after a short jog of about ten meters, arrived at Gray Street.

Multi-story brick and stone buildings stand on both sides of the street, with shops and workshops on the ground floor and crowded residences on the upper floor. Clothes hanging on clotheslines sway slightly in the smoke-filled air.

Suddenly, a dull clanging sound came from afar, like the rhythm of a blacksmith's hammer striking an anvil, yet with a continuous regularity. A steam car was slowly approaching, not moving very fast.

Lu Ran looked around, seized the opportunity to jump and grab the other person as they approached, and climbed under the seat where the driver couldn't see him to hitch a ride.

When you've gone far enough, jump down, stick to the corner of the wall to avoid the gaze of the crowd, and make your way to the opposite side of a grain store.

This is a nearby shop that specializes in buying and selling grain. Inside, a middle-aged man is sitting leisurely, wearing an olive green twill wool double-breasted long coat and an ivory linen shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his forearms. He is reclining and reading a newspaper attentively, looking quite content.

Coming here is something Lu Ran does every day, making time for it.

As a gray rat, he can mail letters, accept commissions, and even read newspapers to understand the situation without leaving home, but all of this is on the premise that someone helps him solve the most difficult first step of renting a house and registering a detective agency.

This person is the one standing before me, Anthony Becker.

Although Lu Ran initially gathered a group of rats, he did not establish a system and was self-sufficient in terms of food. It was only after he picked up some coins and jewelry that he began to try to go out and "buy" food.

This purchase refers to secretly moving the food away while leaving the money behind. Therefore, it is quite reasonable for the person involved to notice something amiss and stake out the place to catch them in the act.

The only unexpected thing was the other party's attitude at the time. After a moment of surprise, they actually smiled and comforted the mice as they scattered and fled.

"I have no ill intentions and I respect all those who are willing to trade fairly. If you need food next time, you can come over openly and honestly."

Lu Ran's first reaction to this unusual reaction was disbelief, but when he calmed down and thought about it again, it seemed to be the reaction he most wanted. He couldn't expect the other party to panic and call the police or be hunted down.

Switching to another company might still yield the same result, or even worse, so why not try contacting them early while fewer people know about it?

After secretly monitoring and observing this person for a period of time, Lu Ran initiated their first collaboration.

Second collaboration.

And more and more collaborations.

Lu Ran did not show his face; the one who actually made the deal was Lu Ran's Prime Minister, the Money-Grubber. The two sides maintained a subtle tacit understanding, pulling and testing each other.

Later, this person helped with advertising and renting a small storefront for the First Detective Agency. The most frequent grain transactions became a routine operation with fixed times and locations, and Lu Ran no longer needed to intervene.

But the more they got to know each other, the less they could hide the truth.

Baker City is home to a group of intelligent gray rats, some of which may even be able to write on their heads!

Lu Ran was well aware of the drawbacks of doing this, but it was a risk that had to be faced in order to accelerate the development of the territory. It was bad enough that a person was transmigrated into the body of a rat, but it was even worse to be a rat who spent his whole life picking up garbage in the sewers.

The former was beyond his control, and all Lu Ran could do was change the latter; he didn't want to pick up trash.

Therefore, to prevent the other party from having any ill intentions, Lu Ran would take a short time each day to go out and observe this person. He found that the person lived a Buddhist-like life, going about his daily routine, and was warm and kind to others.

He seems to be a very good partner.

……

After finishing his afternoon observations, Lu Ran leisurely returned to the firm, just in time to hear good news from his subordinate, Shushu.

"You've seen this coin before?" Lu Ran looked at the mouse in front of him in surprise.

"Squeak...squeak...squeak!"

The little gray mouse tried to communicate by talking and gesturing, but its language system prevented it from clearly expressing the location. However, Lu Ran, upon hearing the news, didn't care and hurriedly grabbed the mouse and rushed out the door. 135 Gray Street, Black Forest Tavern.

The oil lamp flickered in the smoky lampshade, a wine bowl slammed heavily onto the greasy oak table, and the owner of the bowl looked at the commotion not far away, his tone tinged with sourness.

"This guy who couldn't even afford food a while ago is now acting like a tycoon."

The drinking companion beside me stroked the rim of the ceramic cup with an envious look: "Who can blame him for being so lucky? He won hundreds of gold pounds in one go at the casino. We can't compare."

The person they were talking about in the distance was laughing loudly as he put his arm around a passing waitress and playfully stuffed banknotes into her bra, one by one.

"Come on, have a drink..."

Lu Ran cautiously emerged from a secluded corner of the tavern and immediately spotted his target.

"Are you sure it's him?"

"Squeak, squeak!"

Looks like he's made a windfall.

Lu Ran pondered for a moment, while telling the little mouse beside him to go back first.

It's easier to track and observe him alone, but it's not so easy with a baby. This kind of task that requires comprehensive information and judgment is difficult to get help from other mice besides him, as they can't even understand a few human words.

After forcefully driving the little guy away, Lu Ran wandered around alone and quickly found out the guy's name—Landon Hansen.

Surprisingly, just a week ago this guy was an ordinary dockworker earning about one pound a month. Even though his daily wage was only about one shilling, he still spent most of it at the casino, and sometimes he would borrow money when he lost too much.

Last week, when the repayment period was approaching and this guy was about to have his legs broken for not being able to pay back the money, he actually turned his luck around with a penny he found on the ground. His luck that day was ridiculously good, and he dominated everyone.

Lu Ran hid under the bar and continued to eavesdrop on the conversation above. As a lucky player who had recently become the talk of the town, there were many people talking about him behind his back.

"A ritual to change one's fortune?"

"Yeah, the day he made money, I saw him go to the medium's place in a strange way. Who would go there for no reason? Then I remembered the fortune-changing ritual that the Mystic Journal mentioned in previous issues. That brat Langdon must have gone to the medium."

"Nonsense, a transfer ceremony costs five gold pounds, does Langdon have the money to pay that much?"

The man choked and retorted, "That's hard to say. Who says transactions can only be made with money? What if he trades his soul?"

Upon hearing this, the people at the bar suddenly burst into laughter. When someone suddenly achieves success, there are always people who are keen to find unique angles to slander them and prove that the other person is not actually doing well.

Lu Ran seemed to be deep in thought, secretly memorizing this information.

A spiritual medium shop?
I think there's only one place on Gray Street that makes this kind of thing.

Just as he was about to listen a little longer, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Langdon carrying the blonde receptionist and staggering out of the bar. Seeing this, Lu Ran stopped gossiping and followed them.

He hasn't seen the balance coin yet, and he's worried that the mouse might be mistaken. He won't feel at ease until he sees it with his own eyes.

Amidst the cheers at the pub entrance, Langdon tightened his grip on the barmaid's arm, letting out a muffled laugh, "Come on! I'll take you to... have some fun."

While walking, he couldn't help but grope people everywhere. Before he knew it, he had led the female receptionist to a nearby hotel and slipped inside. The light was dim at the time. Lu Ran slipped in first as the door was blocked, intending to search the pockets of the guy's clothes after he took off his clothes and fell asleep.

The next moment, a struggling, whimpering sound suddenly rang out from the darkness.

Lu Ran was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized what was happening.

Grass!
How could this woman kill someone?

(End of this chapter)