Chapter 60: Chapter 60

As luck would have it, the watchmaker's shop the professor had recommended to Jenkins was located on Sophistu Avenue. It was the heart of Nolan City's commercial district, a place where upper-class gentlemen and ladies came to procure their goods.

The city air was as foul as ever, and the sky was overcast.

Papa Oliver asked the coachman to pull over at the street corner and wait. He planned to buy a few copies of Jenkins's book, while the professor accompanied Jenkins to the watchmaker's.

Seeing Papa Oliver walk into a bookstore with a massive sign, Jenkins immediately sidled up to Professor Burns and whispered,

"According to the rules, every encounter in a Mysterious Realm must be reported to the Church."

"I understand. We later discovered that if we asked about trivial things, like the cost of next month's steam pipes, the master of that realm had no answer."

The professor gave Jenkins a nod and a faint smile, then strode into the watchmaker's shop.

Apparently, age really did have an impact on one's intellect and social savvy.

Clocks covered every wall, their incessant ticking and the whirring of gears creating a mechanical symphony. The shop’s aesthetic was steampunk pushed to its very limit. A brown-haired man wearing a monocle looked up and noticed their arrival.

His warm smile, impeccably professional attire, and the delicate gears arranged on his workbench all spoke of a skilled and dependable watchmaker.

"My pocket watch is broken," Jenkins said. "I was hoping you could take a look at it."

Jenkins handed over the watch as the professor craned his neck to admire the wall clocks, a look of keen interest on his face.

At first, the whirring of gears and the chorus of ticking was fascinating, but it quickly began to grate on the nerves. One sound, in particular, stood out—a high-pitched, grating noise, as jarring as a shriek in a library. Jenkins frowned, trying to locate its source, but the watchmaker had already finished his inspection.

"Yes, it looks like the mainspring got tangled from an impact. It just needs a replacement. This is a custom piece, sir," the watchmaker added. "Treasure it. Every timepiece crafted by hand has a soul of its own."

Jenkins left the watch and a one-shilling deposit, then walked out with the professor, receipt in hand. They were just in time to see Papa Oliver climbing into the carriage, holding three books.

"It has illustrations?"

Once settled in his seat, the professor took the copy of the *Stranger's Story Collection* from Papa Oliver, looking slightly surprised.

In this day and age, most books, unless intended for a specific purpose, were filled with dense, wall-to-wall text.

He flipped through the pages, looking quite intrigued, and promised Jenkins he would recommend it to his students.

Though it was a book of fairy tales, Professor Burns seemed to think it could also pass for a collection of love stories—he had happened to open to the page where the prince awakens Sleeping Beauty with a kiss.

The carriage pulled up in front of Pops Antique Shop. A stern-faced, middle-aged man who looked vaguely familiar was standing on the corner, waiting for them.

He gave a slight nod to Papa Oliver and Jenkins, then glanced at the professor, gesturing for him to follow. The two men then climbed into a different carriage.

"I think I've seen him before," Jenkins said hesitantly. "At the hospital, during my treatment... and on the night of the storm."

"Yes, he's here to escort Professor Burns to the Church," Papa Oliver murmured. "Are they really that short-staffed now..."

Papa Oliver muttered to himself as he pulled a bronze key from his dark overcoat pocket, unlocked the large padlock on the door, and casually flipped the sign to "Open".

Papa Oliver tossed one of the books onto the counter. Jenkins picked it up and flipped through a few pages. He had received a proof copy from a Mr. Brolot a few days prior, but he still wanted to give the final version a look.

"Mr. Grant's illustrations are wonderful!"

He exclaimed. The old man had perfectly captured the stylized, whimsical look he'd asked for.

"He teaches painting to the daughters of the nobility, after all. It's to be expected."

Papa Oliver entered through a side door and handed Jenkins a stack of paper:

"Write up a report about the Mysterious Realm. I need it within a week."

"Yes, sir." Check latest chapters at NoveI-Fire.ɴet

Jenkins accepted the paper, then another thought struck him. "The professor and I each received a gold coin in the realm. Do we need to turn them in to..."

"No need. It's yours."

Papa Oliver waved a dismissive hand, then recalled something else:

"I almost forgot. Dress well tomorrow. Someone is coming to buy your 'Earth and Harvest' commemorative badge."

Jenkins had nearly forgotten about that himself. He nodded. "Who is it? A nobleman? Or perhaps a wealthy landowner, a follower of the Earth Mother?"

Briny Mikhail. It wasn't the first time Jenkins had heard the name. She was the youngest daughter of Marquis Mikhail, and still a student.

The young noblewoman was acquainted with Papa Oliver because, aside from owning the antique shop, he also held the title of history consultant at St. Pascatini Academy—a comfortable position arranged by the Church for operational convenience, of course.

Briny Mikhail had two older brothers and a sister, so she was not in line to inherit the family title or estate.

Unlike typical noblewomen, she had an adventurous spirit and a deep fascination with the "supernatural". Being from a marquis's family, she knew more than the average person, but the path to becoming an Enchanter was not one that could be easily found.

In pursuit of her "dream," she dedicated herself to studying ancient texts, collecting antiques, and chasing obscure legends. It was during one such treasure hunt that she crossed paths with her school's honorary history consultant. Naturally, she had no idea about Papa Oliver's true affiliation with the Church, nor that any item she might buy from his shop would be guaranteed to be free of any undiscovered Extraordinary properties.

Jenkins had only heard Papa Oliver mention her in passing. She had even sent a basket of apples when he was in the hospital, but Jenkins had never met her. Papa Oliver had described her as, "A beautiful and kind girl, a traditional noblewoman in every way... but her obsession with the supernatural will be her downfall one day."

"That badge isn't an Extraordinary item, is it? Is she hoping to use it to persuade the Church of Earth and Harvest to grant her a path to becoming an Enchanter?"

"No, I hear it's just a gift for a friend."

Nothing else of note occurred for the rest of the day. Jenkins grew increasingly concerned about his apparent knack for attracting misfortune every time he stepped outside. But then it occurred to him that, aside from his encounter with the Young Flower Seller, A-01-2-0198, Papa Oliver had been present for every single disaster. Perhaps he wasn't the jinx after all?

He rashly voiced this theory aloud and, for his trouble, was assigned two more massive tomes to study that night.