I am the heroine's godfather!

Page 95

Loran revealed the information he had gathered: "And she seems to be working for the White Jasmine Trading Company."

"Ah, I know that. The White Jasmine Merchant Guild has a charity event that hires young children to deliver newspapers to earn money for their families."

Elena quickly added, "That's why I never doubted it, because this chamber of commerce has always had a very good reputation..."

"I haven't gathered any useful intelligence."

Estia spoke up, and Elena sighed, "Me too."

"It seems like things aren't going very well."

"Yes...it's almost noon, how about we grab some food first?"

Elena perked up: "I know a really good restaurant nearby! I've never been here before because I've been too busy with work."

"Since I have some free time today, how about I treat Miss Elena to a meal?"

“真的？啊，我是说，太不好意思每^日.发！书，群【6`5,0/5^0”2*3>3.8】了吧。”

"It's alright, Miss Elena has helped us so much, it's only right."

After declining three times, Elena finally accepted Lorraine's invitation to dinner. Sigh, having too many fans isn't always a good thing.

After ordering a bunch of expensive dishes, Elena hesitated for a moment, then crossed out quite a few, leaving only a handful, which came to less than two silver coins.

Two silver coins for just a few dishes? No wonder Elena doesn't have money to eat here.

Loran and Estia naturally realized that Elena was short of money, not short of time as she claimed... But to be fair, the taste was indeed acceptable.

After a satisfying meal, Elena slumped in her chair, saying, "Ugh, I'm so full..."

Loran chuckled softly, took a sip of red tea, and was about to say something when a commotion suddenly erupted outside the window: "My child! My child!"

The three turned to look and saw a middle-aged woman stumbling along. She was dressed in rags, her steps were unsteady, and her pale face showed that she was malnourished.

She seemed to be searching for something, crying out at the top of her lungs, attracting the attention of many people, but in the end no one came forward.

Elena bit her lip, seemingly conflicted.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about it."

A waiter chimed in, "She's insane. Her child has been missing for a year, and she insists it was the White Jasmine Merchant Guild that did it... Who doesn't know the White Jasmine Merchant Guild is a great philanthropist?"

Loran fell into deep thought.

White jasmine?

He exchanged a glance with Estia, then looked at Elena.

Elena sighed deeply: "Alright, let's leave it at that. Let's not investigate any further."

After saying that, she stood up and bowed to Loran and Estia: "Thank you very much for your hospitality today. I will pay you back."

She then left, quite resolutely.

The woman outside was taken away by several patrol officers, and the street returned to its bustling state. Lorraine wiped her mouth clean: "It seems our detective is a little scared."

"That's normal."

Estia showed no emotion: "After all, she's just an ordinary person, and it's understandable that she's trying to protect herself."

"Would you like to make a bet?"

Lorraine suddenly spoke up: "She will continue the investigation."

"why?"

"intuition."

"...I won't gamble with you."

Estia scoffed, "You look exactly like Messiah back then, tricking Christine into betting a month's worth of drinking money—I'm not her."

"Haha... Alright, alright, don't rush, Estia, let's wait until tomorrow to see."

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Elena's home is a two-story wooden building in the slums, bearing the sign "Walds Detective Agency." The building looks quite old; some of the wood is peeling and even dilapidated.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, Elena stepped inside to the weak tinkling of the wind chimes. Silently, she took off her detective coat, tossed it aside, then tossed her detective hat aside, staggered a couple of steps, and collapsed onto the sofa, casually kicking off her shoes to reveal her delicate white feet.

"...so annoying."

After a long while, Elena muttered softly, "How did the White Jasmine Merchant Guild get involved...? That's the prince's business, anyone who touches it will die...I can only feel sorry for Emma's parents."

"No, it's not my fault at all, is it? No matter what, I couldn't have gone to my death, could I? Dad, you're in heaven, you'll understand me, right?"

"Besides, I didn't take any money from them for this case, so it's not worth taking such a big risk for them..."

"That's right, don't blame me! It's only human nature!"

"Okay! I must refuse them tomorrow!"

And so, Elena spent the entire night without sleep.

The next day, Elena didn't jump up from the sofa until there was a knock on the door. A cautious voice came from outside: "Elena, are you... are you there?"

Elena's face froze instantly. After a long silence, she seemed to have made up her mind, got up, opened the door, and said in a deliberately casual tone, "Hahaha, who's here?"

"Elena, it's us..."

A ragged couple appeared before her, their brown hair disheveled like weeds, dry and dull.

Just like their eyes.

Elena avoided their eyes, glancing around quickly as she said, "Oh, it's Mr. and Mrs. Wells. What can I do for you? Oh dear, I have a big case to handle today, so I'll be going now..."

"Um, Elena, how's Emma's situation...?"

Elena ultimately couldn't escape. She sighed deeply and said, "Well, Emma's matter is a bit troublesome... Um, let me put it this way, it might cost a fee."

"Oh, it's only right, it's only right."

Elena's face stiffened for a moment, but she finally hardened her heart and said, "Here... is one gold coin!"

The Wells didn't say anything. A gold coin might be the price of an ornament for some people, but for them, a gold coin was enough to live on for a year.

Chapter 161 However, no one can be rational forever.

Ah, yes, that's it. You should give up now... I've made myself perfectly clear, but there's no way to investigate any further.

"So, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

Turn around, then close the door, and just like that, the case is over! Yes, that's all! This matter was originally none of my business; who would provoke such a big shot for the sake of a mere neighbor?

Yes, that's right, don't blame me.

Elena turned to leave, but her hand was grabbed.

"Wait a minute, Detective Elena!"

It was Mrs. Wells' voice. She hurriedly pulled a bag from her bosom and shoved it into Elena's hands: "That! This is... this is the payment from before... I can't let you work for nothing..."

“I already said it was free... and I haven’t found any news about Emma.”

"I know, I know... It's okay, we'll keep looking..."

But despite saying that, Mrs. Wells' eyes were lifeless.

"Yes, we still need to look for her. Emma must be waiting for us somewhere..."

Mr. Wells helped his wife up, and the two of them walked away unsteadily.

Opening the somewhat dirty bag, one finds copper coins mixed with a few silver coins; some are still clean, while others are so dirty that their original appearance is unrecognizable.

If nothing unexpected happens, this might be two months' worth of living expenses for them.

Elena was speechless for a moment; her throat seemed to be blocked, and she couldn't utter a sound. She looked up at the two people's departing figures, so hunched over.

Honestly, Elena, what are you hesitating about? She already said it's okay, why are you still bothered by this? Do you really think you're some kind of saint? Give me a break. Her Highness the Saintess can care about every injustice she sees because she has the power and the background to actually solve problems. What do you have?

You're an orphan! An orphan whose parents died long ago! Wasn't the lesson your bastard father taught you enough? Getting involved in things beyond your capabilities will only get you killed!

Okay, now turn around, go inside, put the money away, get a good night's sleep, then go have a big meal, and then wait patiently for the next customer to come!

Move! Why are you still standing there?!

Elena gritted her teeth, trying to convince herself, but her body seemed to have a mind of its own and remained motionless.

Ugh, this is so annoying!

"Wait a moment!"

It's all that damned old man's fault! He died as a hero, and now he's trying to ruin me!

"Now that I've taken the money, I'll definitely take full responsibility!"

Elena gritted her teeth and held up the money bag in her hand: "This is the deposit! After we find Emma, ​​you'll have to give me another sum!!!"

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"I knew you were up to no good."

At the entrance to the slums, Estia snorted coldly, while Loran smiled and said, "Let's go find Miss Detective."

"Hmm. Speaking of which, do you really think she can handle this without us intervening?"

"I do not know."

Loran chuckled softly, "But since she ran into us, it means she's still very lucky."

"That's true, not every saint is as nosy as you."

"You didn't object either, did you?"

"Humph."

And so, at the exit of the slums, the red-haired girl met the black-haired man and the green-haired elf.

"You are..."

"Weren't we supposed to continue the investigation? Let's go, Miss Detective."

Elena paused for a moment, then a bright smile spread across her face: "Yes!"

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"So, where should we begin?"

It was the familiar coffee shop again. Loran and the other two sat facing each other and began to discuss. Elena looked at the building across the street from the coffee shop, pondered for a while, and then suddenly slammed her hand on the table: "Let's go in and take a look!"

"Want to go in?"

“Yes! All the clues point to the White Jasmine Chamber of Commerce, so we have to go in and take a look.”

“However, Miss Elena, I must remind you that the White Jasmine Merchant Guild’s defenses have been even tighter than you think recently.”

Loran recalled the carriage he had seen that day and said, "The person behind the White Jasmine Merchant Guild, the fourth prince of Avia, has come here and should be staying at the guild now."

"No wonder I felt something was off about the atmosphere in the city these past few days..."

So, do we still want to go in?

"of course."

Elena nodded vigorously: "On the contrary, it's perfect that the prince is here! He might be able to get more information!"

After saying that, she glanced at Loran and Estia again: "You two shouldn't go in this time. After all, this matter has nothing to do with you, and it would be very dangerous."

"This is not okay."

Lorraine smiled and said, "We're the detective's assistants—I paid them."

"You guys... alright, but let me tell you this first, you must stick close to me, it might be dangerous inside."

Despite her young appearance, Elena exuded reliability: "Don't let my appearance fool you, I actually have some skills!"

Loran and Estia exchanged a glance, momentarily at a loss for words. Finally, Loran said, "Then we'll leave it to you, Miss Detective."

"Okay, that's settled then. I'll go gather intelligence first, and we'll meet here tomorrow morning."

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The next day, in the courtyard of the shops next to the Chamber of Commerce, Loran, Estia, and Elena looked at the second-floor balcony, preparing to begin their infiltration plan.

"First, we can climb from the roof of this house to that balcony, which will allow us to enter the White Jasmine Chamber of Commerce."

Elena pulled out a map: "This is a map I got from an information broker. Tsk, five silver coins for a map, what a rip-off... This room is the servant's room, and it's usually empty at this time."