The next day.
Frank knocked on the door. "Young Master, are you ready?"
The door opened making Frank’s eyes narrow.
Grim stepped out in a long double-breasted coat wearing a hat and carrying a bag that seemed to have been packed with some things.
"Yes, I am ready. Let’s go!" Grim said, adjusting his hat.
They had hardly taken few steps when a shadow sneaked in
"Brother,where are you going?"
Grim paused and stared at the delicate young Lady trailing behind."I have something important to do."
Melissa raised her brows and asked with a sweet smile.
"What important thing?Don’t tell me you are doing something suspicious like last time."
"What did I do last time?"
"Opened a weed business."
"...."
Grim swallows his words for a moment."Rest reassured,I am just going to buy some things."
Melissa wanted to speak but seeing Grim running away,she just waved his hand and shouted.
"Brother, be careful when you are out.Don’t be lured by petty criminals."
"Got it."
********
The duo walked out of the mansion towards the parking lot where many old-fashioned motor cars were parked.
This wasn’t of a medieval age but rather the technology corresponded to the 1950s. Motor engines had been discovered along with all sorts of technology in a rudimentary phase and sadly most of these were only accessible to nobles for the cost was still huge.
Frank took the driver’s seat and turned the keys causing the engine of the car to spring up with a violent roar.
The sound felt quite energetic and soothing and he liked... no, he loved the roar of cars springing to life.
"Young Master, where do you want to go?" Frank asked, glancing at him through the mirror.
"Second Lane Boxton Corner Wellis Blacksmith," Grim replied.
Frank nodded remembering Grim’s words only to pause and his hands over the wheel stopped but only for a moment.
Grim noticed all this and waited for a follow-up question that never came and the car sped swiftly out of the gate.
As the car rolled through the streets Grim quietly looked out of the window.
The city slowly unfolded before his eyes.
Tall brick buildings stood shoulder to shoulder along the wide roads. Most of them had large glass windows on the ground floor with apartments built above them. Decorative stone pillars carved balconies and railings gave the streets an old but elegant appearance.
Most gentlemen wore long waistcoats,polished leather shoes and brimmed hats. Some carried walking canes while others held folded newspapers under their arms.
The ladies walked by in long dresses with fitted coats and elegant hats decorated with ribbons and feathers. Some carried umbrellas while others held small handbags as they chatted with one another.
The streets were lively and old-fashioned motor cars rumbled across the roads with loud engines while horse-drawn carriages still carried passengers through the city.
Electric trams slowly moved along steel tracks ringing their bells to clear the way for pedestrians. Bicycles weaved through the traffic as newspaper boys loudly shouted the day’s headlines.
Street vendors lined both sides of the road selling roasted chestnuts, fresh bread flowers and newspapers. The smell of coal smoke drifted through the air as factory chimneys released dark clouds into the sky.
Grim quietly took in everything without saying a word and nothing had changed much from his memories.
Then his eyes narrowed.
A loud commotion echoed from farther ahead as voices rose from the crowd.
"Justice!"
"Give us justice!"
"Punish the murderer!"
A huge crowd of commoners had gathered in the middle of the street blocking part of the road. Many of them held banners and handmade posters while city guards struggled to keep the crowd under control.
Frank slowed the car.
Grim’s gaze swept across the raised posters and one of them immediately caught his attention.
Justice for the Twelve Victims!
Beneath the words was a rough sketch of the crime scene.
Twelve bodies lay scattered across the ground. Every corpse had a deep cross-shaped slash carved across the torso and each chest had been torn open with the heart completely missing.
He didn’t know which apt painter painted such a perfect replica of a crime scene.
Is this painting realistic or just an artistic vision?
Grim stared at the drawing for several seconds and his expression slowly turned cold.
He lightly tapped the windshield with his finger.
"So..." Grim murmured a faint smile touching his face. ’He has already started the act.’
Noticing Grim’s gaze from the rearview mirror Frank asked "Anything interesting that caught your eye Young Master?"
Grim’s expression returned to stoicism. "Just looking at the protest."
"Ohh! It’s really saddening to see so many people dying yet the authorities aren’t able to catch the person behind this," Frank said, shaking his head.
"God knows how many days it will take and how the common people are living in fear."
"Poor people... may they be blessed by the Lady!"
"Yeah! May they be blessed..." Grim replied.
*******
The car stopped before a lane at the end of which stood an old yet well-kept building with a hanging board that read Wellis Blacksmith.
"Is this the place?" Frank asked.
"Yes," Grim answered, stepping out of the car and he told Frank to wait there. "I will return soon."