Steam Old Days: The Extraordinary Begins with a Corpse Collector

goo goo goo...

Potatoes were boiling in a pot, and Giselle stood by the pot, cutting the cured pork into small pieces, intending to stew it together with the carrots.

But her eyes always unconsciously glanced towards the living room.

She didn't know what her father and Lyndon talked about at Uncle Garrett's house, but she knew that the two of them had their heads down as soon as they came back, especially her father, whose expression was the most gloomy.

"So, what exactly happened?"

Seeing the oppressive atmosphere, Tom sat down in his chair, hunched over, and rested his hands on the table.

He turned his gaze to his boss.

But Alastor seemed oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere in the room.

He continued to read the expired newspaper with great interest.

"Sigh!" Lyndon sighed, leaning back in his chair and looking up at the ceiling.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't expect it to turn out like this."

Wesley's hands, resting on the table, were tightly gripping his trouser leg.

"Life is unpredictable, don't take it to heart."

Lyndon realized that even without Garrett's help, his plan to capture the Dream Moth had to continue.

"Besides the entrance guarded by the watchtowers, are there any other places to enter Dark Oak Forest?"

Lyndon turned to Wesley, hoping to get some good news from him.

But what Wesley said next left Lyndon bewildered once again.

"I don't know, and no one else has heard of it."

Wesley said with difficulty, "When it comes to understanding Dark Oak Forest, I'm afraid no one knows it better than the hunters in the area."

Lyndon nodded.

His thoughts raced.

The cured meat in the pot released an enticing aroma after it was cooked.

Tom smelled the aroma and his eyes darted furtively towards the pot on the fire.

He couldn't help but swallow hard.

Suddenly, Lyndon spoke again.

"There are only three paths we can take now."

"Those three?" Wesley asked.

"First, abandon Garrett and seek help from other hunters to see if they can find another hidden path that no one else knows about, and then sneak in through that path."

Lyndon rubbed his hands together, his voice low.

"I refuse to believe that we can't find someone in such a big place to lead us in."

"By the way, are there any places around here that hunters frequent?"

"Places you frequent? Let me think..." Wesley fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

At that moment, Giselle, who was guarding the pot, suddenly said, "Black truffle cellar."

"Hmm?" Lyndon turned to look at Giselle.

Giselle and Lyndon exchanged a glance. She lowered her head shyly, pretending to clean, and then whispered, "I heard Uncle Garrett mention a place before. He said the hunters in the area go there to drink and find customers, but I don't know the specifics..."

"Where is this place?"

Giselle shook her head: "I don't know. I vaguely remember it being in Ranjianggou District, the area we came from."

"Okay, I'll go over there and ask around later."

"What's the second way?" Tom asked.

"To solve the problem, we should try to start with the person who created it. The second approach is to talk directly to the viscount and see if he can have a change of heart and let us in."

Upon hearing this, Wesley was the first to shake his head: "Impossible, impossible. Who is the Viscount? I doubt they would even let us through the gates of the manor, let alone listen to us. All nobles have these bad habits, all of them arrogant and looking down on people."

With that, Wesley slammed his fist on the table.

"I know that, it's just an idea, but we can consider giving it a try now," Lyndon explained. "For now, our focus should still be on finding the way."

While Lyndon and his friends were discussing how to enter Dark Oak Forest, Alastor, who was sitting to the side reading a newspaper, happened to have changed to another one.

This newspaper looks older; the edges of the paper are yellowed and curled up.

But just as Alastor casually flipped to the third page, his gaze fell on a photograph printed on it.

The photo shows a gentleman standing among a large group of officials and nobles.

Alastor stared at the photo for a few seconds, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

He happened to overhear Lyndon and Wesley's discussion.

He put away the newspaper and then asked Wesley a rather strange question.

"Mr. Wesley, may I ask what the name of your mayor in Wiltling is?"

"mayor?"

Without hesitation, Wesley replied, "Edwin Foster."

"No, no, no, my ex."

Alastor waved his hand and said.

"The previous one?" Wesley thought for a moment. "I think his name was Simon...Crockford?"

"OK!"

Alastor clapped his hands and then looked at Lyndon on the other side.

"Mr. Lyndon, didn't you just mention wanting to meet with some viscount from that Sutcliff family?"

"Yes."

Lyndon suddenly felt that Alastor was plotting something bad again.

"Now give me that five hundred gold pound check in your pocket."

Alastor pointed to Lyndon's pocket.

"What exactly do you want?"

"Stop asking questions and give it to me!" Alastor urged.

Although he didn't know what Alastor was up to, Lyndon still returned the five hundred gold pound check to him.

Alastor was overjoyed to receive the check and kissed it passionately.

"My darling, I have you again. From now on, I will keep you by my side. Don't even think about going anywhere else."

Alastor carefully put the check back into his wallet, then rested his chin on his hands and said to Lyndon in a flippant tone, "Now, beg me."

"Are you fucking having an episode?"

Lyndon frowned, scratched his head, and stared at Alastor with annoyance.

"Come on, beg me, and I can grant your wish!" Alastor continued, still uttering those flippant words. "'Please, Alastor, help me.' That's it, just say it."

Linden let out a long sigh and muttered to himself, "Don't be angry, don't be angry, that's just how he is, just bear with it..."

Then he pointed at Alastor and threatened, "If you can't give me a satisfactory answer, I'll put you on the table today."

But Alastor still raised an eyebrow at Lyndon, who was gradually losing patience.

"Speak," Alastor said, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Linden took a deep breath, mentally prepared himself, and said to Alastor, "Please, Alastor, help me."

"OK!"

After hearing Lyndon ask him for help, Alastor stood up with a satisfied look on his face and walked out of the house.

Where are you going?!

Lyndon called out to Alastor's retreating figure.

"Go and fulfill your wish!"

Wesley then joined in.

"Is he always like this?"

"Yes," Lyndon said decisively.

"Okay..." Wesley felt that this was a matter between friends, and as an outsider, he shouldn't ask too much.

He steered the conversation back to what had just begun.

"So what is your third option?"

Lyndon's eyes darkened, and he remained silent for a moment.

"Charge in."

"???"

Wesley regretted asking the question.

……

That night, Wesley and Giselle stayed in their original room.

Lyndon and Tom slept on the floor in the living room.

As for Alastor, he has not returned since he left.

No one knew where he had gone.

Until the next morning.

Lyndon, who was sleeping on the living room floor, suddenly heard a knock on the door.

He rubbed his eyes and went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, an elderly gentleman in a tailcoat and top hat bowed to Lyndon.

"Mr. Lyndon Copperfield, Viscount William Sutcliffe invites you to Sutcliffe Estate this afternoon."

"????"