The second floor of the Magic Society Library.

When Colin looked up again, he saw that it was dark outside the window.

Look back at the magic timer in the heights.

It was already past 8 p.m., more than an hour beyond the closing time.

It's not once or twice that you lose track of time because you're so focused, and Colin is deliberately changing this habit, because no one wants to be immersed in books when danger comes—if so, maybe the epitaph would be like this—and this person will drown in a sea of knowledge.

While diverging his thoughts, he closed the book in his hand, which was only a few pages, "A Few Tips on the Application of Water Magic in a Dry Environment", got up and walked to the book return area on this floor, and said to a dark-skinned and thin young man:

"Sorry, Larry, I'm losing track of time again."

"It is my pleasure to serve you, Mr. Vane."

The young man named Larry is a full-time administrator, just an ordinary person, and because of Colin Vane, he left work more than an hour late today.

Colin handed the book to Larry and placed a silver shield on the cover.

"Apologize to your wife for your late return, perhaps a red rose will make her happy all night."

"Thank you, Mr. Wayne."

Larry took the tip, bowed deeply, his eyes narrowed into a line with a smile, and joked, "But my wife should prefer pork for the same price, it will make her happy all week." ”

Even though the Magical Society's librarian was already considered a high salary among the commoners, a silver shield was still worth two days' salary.

……

As the weather turned colder, Colin added a black coat to his magic robe before walking out of the library.

He stood at the top of the doorway steps and looked out at the Magic Guild as night fell.

Empty, quiet, deep.

It makes you feel like you want to be part of it.

Colin suddenly realized that he had hardly been so relaxed since the crossing.

Although his life is getting better and his status is getting higher, he is also getting busier and busier, so busy that he doesn't even have time to stop and think about it, and he hasn't even seen Roy and Anne and the others for a long time.

A colourful magpie stopped on his shoulder and rubbed his cheek with the soft feathers on its head.

Colin smiled and pulled a note from its foot.

This kind of note, which is far more advanced than the gray sparrow paper, is ridiculously expensive, but the senior sister seems to like to use this letter mode to communicate very much, sometimes just saying hello, but also letting the magpie run, wasting an expensive note.

This magpie with colorful colors on its back belongs to a type of rare magical beast.

In fact, any flying monster is very rare, even if it's just a small magpie.

Most magicians use messengers such as owls or crows, which are actually ordinary animals, but have been professionally trained.

Colin glanced at the note, and sure enough, there was only one sentence: "Look for me when you get home".

Normally, even if Colin doesn't return home at night, the teacher and sister won't ask, since the magpie is deliberately allowed to run this trip, there must be something to discuss.

He put away the note, then held the magpie in his palm, whistled at it, and raised his hand to let it go.

That whistle means "I'm happy".

The language of animals is also language.

So, in principle, Colin can communicate with all animals.

However, the truth is not so rosy.

Language is an extremely broad concept, and it can be as complex as communicative philosophy and quantum physics, or as simple as expressing only emotions.

Obviously, the language of most animals is just the latter.

Take the senior sister's magpie as an example, its IQ is not low, and after training, it can even distinguish different smells from different people and use it to search or guide the way.

However, from a linguistic point of view, like most ordinary animals, it can only express certain emotions or moods through sound and form.

For example, a slight and long chirp represents "I'm happy"; A short, high-frequency cry that means "I'm angry". It can't even articulate whether its anger is due to hunger or exertion.

Warcraft generally have a higher IQ, but it still doesn't go beyond the scope of animals in terms of language.

As a result, Colin can only say "I'm happy" to his sending behavior, because there is no concept of "thank you" in animal language.

……

Seeing off the magpies, Colin cocked the collar of his coat and strode down the steps outside the library.

However, after walking a few steps, he saw a petite figure running in the darkness in the distance.

Rebecca stopped in front of him panting, and said with a smile: "Mr. Vane, you really haven't gone back yet, Your Excellency the President asked me to ask you if you have time to meet him." ”

……

A beautifully furnished living room.

Colin met the tall Berkeley Payne again, and the president of the association greeted him into the house with great enthusiasm, and introduced him to three strange faces he had never seen before.

"The captain of the fourth squad of the City Hall Sheriff's Department, the senior sheriff of Thunder City - Mr. Hank, and the other two are his subordinates."

"Mr. Hank, this is Master Roman's disciple, Colin Vane, and the magical advisor I recommended to you."

Colin immediately remembered that he had tried to persuade His Excellency Payne not to treat him favorably, and that it was better to accept the regular commissions of the Association like everyone else.

At that time, Lord Payne seemed to have mentioned the name "Sheriff's Office", and vaguely proposed that the official commission remuneration was stable and risk-free.

This may be the commission that Berkeley Payne most wanted Colin to accept.

Comfort and risk-free.

After all, if Colin Vane was in danger in this matter, it would be difficult for him to explain it to Roman Sagan.

The "town hall" is new in the Tulum kingdom, and it originates from the western continent. After the king reclaimed the fiefdom of the nobility, it was used to administer the people of the land who had lost their lords.

As a propaganda and example, Alan IV first established the town hall in Thunder City, and gave it great power, and now the supreme head of the town hall is none other than Duke Violet's former subordinate vassals and the most powerful subordinate - Grand Knight Guderian.

Even Colin Vane, who is deaf to what is going on outside the window, can often hear about the great knight's various upright deeds from various sources, such as insisting on arresting the younger brother of his mistress despite the face of the eldest prince Charlie Hawthorn, and ordering his subordinates to seize the illegal property of the second prince Daniel Hawthorn, etc.

In short, in Colin's concept, this is probably a figure like Bao Zheng Hairui.

It has to be said that the fact that such a person can hold an important position in the capital of the kingdom at least proves that His Majesty the King has the determination to reform.

Duke Violet also said that he would introduce him to Guderian, but because both parties were busy, they never had the opportunity.

From this point of view, he and the captain Hank in front of him do not seem to be unconnected.