Pushing open the wooden door, the entirety of this shop also appeared before Igris.
The first floor was very simple: a very large table, bookshelves, potted plants, a sofa, and a middle-aged man sitting in a boss’s chair.
“Welcome, miss. Is there anything you need help with?”
“What kind of shop is this?”
Even though she had already come in, Igris still was not very clear about the specific business content of this shop.
At least it did not have goods displayed on shelves.
“This is a detective agency, miss. Our signboard is still being made, so I am afraid it will take some time to finish.”
“Detective. No wonder.”
Igris never lacked opportunities to deal with detectives, or rather, that was the case most of the time, and the other party’s clothing also made her feel quite familiar.
A trench coat, a pipe, and a refined little hat—almost the most classic detective image Igris could see.
But she did not smell smoke, even though he was holding the pipe in his mouth.
“Your pipe seems to have already gone out.”
“Oh, that. Do not mind it. My doctor said I cannot continue smoking, but I cannot quit, so I often hold the pipe in my mouth like this. It is useless, but it provides some psychological comfort.” He smiled and took the pipe in his hand.
“The owner of the flower shop said you were hiring here and recommended I come take a look.” Igris did not plan to continue chatting and directly stated her purpose, and the other party did not seem surprised either, only sizing Igris up slightly.
“I am indeed hiring, hiring an assistant. You know, a good detective needs an outstanding assistant. Weekly salary of six silver dollars, thirty percent share of commission fees, one day off per week, with commissions calculated separately. How about it?”
The pay was quite good.
At least Igris was very satisfied.
Whether it was the commission share or the one day off per week, both were quite good for her.
“But as I said, what I need is an outstanding assistant, so I need to review whether you are capable of this job.”
He straightened his body, extended his hand to gesture for Igris to sit opposite him, and continued.
“Do not be nervous. It is just a few small questions. Can you tell me your name?”
Igris sat down, slightly adjusted the golden hair on her forehead, paused for a moment, and then answered.
“Igris. You can call me that.”
“Igris… is this your name?”
Igris slightly raised her eyes and looked at this detective’s expression.
Very normal, and no special emotion either.
“Of course.”
“Very good… do not mind it. I am a detective. I am always used to raising questions about most matters. Can you tell me your age? This is a proper job. I must make sure you are an adult.”
“Eighteen.”
Igris’s body slightly leaned back, crossed her legs, and relaxed her body as much as possible to avoid being seen through.
“You are… younger than I imagined. Fine, you pass. Right on the line. There is one more question.”
He brought his hands together, interlaced his fingers, and covered half of his face, leaving only his shrewd eyes to scrutinize Igris, who looked completely at ease.
“Have you ever killed anyone?”
“…”
The air seemed to freeze at this moment, and Igris’s gaze also fell upon this detective’s face.
He still had that casual look, as if for him, this was also just an ordinary question.
“No.”
As her voice fell, the other party’s eyes still did not change much.
He only calmly gazed at Igris, as if looking at a lifeless sculpture, indifferent and emotionless.
Igris responded to his gaze.
Her blue and yellow heterochromatic pupils looked into his eyes, and she displayed the confusion a job applicant should have.
“…Congratulations, you pass.”
Finally, he revealed a smile, and even lightly clapped his hands.
“Do not mind that question. I just do not want my assistant to be some dangerous person, or a wanted criminal. This is the contract. After you sign it, you are my assistant.”
Igris lightly glanced at him, opened the contract he placed on the table, and signed her name: Igris.
“It is my honor to get this job.”
“It is my honor as well.”
He put the contract away and took out six silver dollars.
“Besides, you look like you are very short of money. This is your wages paid in advance.”
Igris did not hesitate and accepted it.
“Thank you for your trust.”
She was indeed very short of money.
Even if he did not give it, Igris was prepared to ask for it herself.
After all, she could no longer afford to eat.
“My name is Derrien, the only detective in this agency. The flower shop owner you mentioned is named Chrisuna. She is my first client here, about the same age as you, twenty-one. When you have time, you can visit more. There will always be more topics between people of the same age.”
Derrien reminded her very kindly, and continued.
“At present, the agency does not have much work. You can probably stay idle for quite a while. You do not need to stay here guarding it either. Just show up here once a day. If anything comes up, I will notify you.”
“…In other words, the agency currently has no work, right?”
Derrien smiled without much concern.”Indeed.
So you can enjoy the ease of this period.
Until I start getting busy, you will probably need to stay and watch the shop.”
This indeed made Igris feel surprised.
The other party had paid her a week’s wages in advance, yet there was no work for her to do.
She could even go do what she wanted without staying in the agency.
Compared to work, this was more like charity.
“Aren’t you worried I will take this money and leave here?”
“You will not do that.”
He smiled mysteriously but said no more.
He only once again put that unlit pipe in his mouth, as if wanting to taste flavor through this method.
But indeed, she would not do that.
This job had not come easily, and a boss like this was even more rare.
Incidentally, she planned to take this money to buy something to eat, at least to make this malnourished body a little healthier.
When she walked out of the agency, the cold mechanical voice once again appeared deep in her mind.
[You have obtained your first job, detective assistant. You may not become a household-name Sherlock Holmes, but Watson is also a good choice. Obtained title: Detective Assistant. ——Your intuition will more easily lead you to the truth. Note: The assistant’s job? Presenting clues so the detective can solve the case is your job.]
Once again.
She had obtained another strange title.
Although this title’s effect did not seem so easy to understand, she had probably also discovered this pattern.
Some memorable events might become the opportunity for a title to appear.
But that was not important.
She only wanted to go buy a loaf of bread to eat now, and incidentally take a stroll around the flower shop.
At least Derrien had said that the other party would be a good person for her to make friends with, and Igris was also very curious about what this flower shop owner’s former commission had been, and very curious about exactly what kind of person Derrien was.
Was he just an ordinary detective?
Maybe.
But he was absolutely not ordinary.
For example, probably no ordinary detective would recruit a murderer as his assistant.
Igris knew she had exposed herself, but the other party clearly did not care about these things.
Since that was the case, then she did not need to care either.
After all, she would not kill her current only financial backer because of this.
While letting her thoughts wander, Igris arrived at the dessert shop.
Although she had not planned to come here…
who could refuse desserts placed before their eyes?
She could not either.
After all, anything could fill her stomach.
But after she handed over one silver dollar and only received two copper coins in change, she somewhat regretted it.
The ratio of silver dollars to copper coins was 1:20, so it also showed that the desserts she had just bought were as expensive as eighteen copper coins.
She probably really should consider making a list for her spending.
In order to avoid being starved to death.