Maltz was full of sighs in his heart, but he was not slow in his actions, and he shouted at the patrol officer on the street—

"You two, come over and block the scene, and the remaining one will go back and call someone."

The 'Patrick Bookstore' is located in the alley of the West Merk Avenue, although it is not as busy as the main street of West Merk Avenue, but it is still the patrol area of the patrol police.

And Maltz's identity is enough for him to command these patrols.

"Yes, Sheriff!"

The two patrolmen replied.

Maltz's gaze returned to the corpse in the bookstore.

'Strike from behind, cut throat with one blow!'

Crisp and neat, without hesitation......

A veteran! ’

Maltz frowned as he looked at the neat cuts in the corpse's neck and the uninterrupted spurting of blood on the ground and walls.

Compared with novice crimes, veterans are undoubtedly more troublesome.

It's not the first time they've killed someone, they're no longer scared, they're more meticulous, they rarely leave clues, and some of them have no clues, so much so that it takes a lot of luck to solve the case in the Shire district and even the whole of South Los for a long time - often you think you've caught a thief, but in fact you're a murderer, and if you inadvertently interrogate a liar, he will tell you a clue about a murderer.

With Arthur's appearance, though, everything changed.

Although Arthur is always 'favored by death', any case that encounters Arthur will not become an open case.

Almost subconsciously, Maltz wanted to go to Arthur.

But when he thought that Arthur had just returned to South Los and that he would have to rest after a tiring journey, he immediately shook his head - I can't rely on Arthur for everything, and I can!

The old sheriff told himself.

A minute later......

'Why don't you ask Arthur?' ’

It's not that he doesn't have a sense of accomplishment in solving the case by himself, but that Arthur solves the case faster.

Having enjoyed the feeling of Arthur flying, it was difficult for the old sheriff to go back.

However, the old sheriff still collected as much information as he could-

The bookstore's cash box has not been moved.

The things in the store are not turned in any way, and they are neat and tidy.

Immediately, robbery and homicide were ruled out.

Then all that's left is love or vendetta.

As for accidental indiscriminate killings?

It is also possible, but it is very unlikely.

After all, Nanlos is not a terrible place, how can they all be that kind of madness.

Of course, if this were the case, Maltz would have given up the struggle altogether and turned to Arthur for help - he didn't have many merits, but he could see that he was definitely one of them.

"Rooney, take a team around and ask if there's anyone suspicious.

Andy, you take two people to find out about the shopkeeper's relationships. ”

Maltz commanded as usual.

"Yes, Sheriff."

The two newly recruited probationary police officers sprang into action.

Looking at his subordinates who meticulously carried out his orders, Maltz's face finally eased a lot - effective subordinates will always give the case a little more hope to solve the case.

And if it's still the same as before?

Maltz would have simply chosen to give up.

While Rooney and Andy were in action, Maltz continued to check around the bookstore.

Compared to the previous one, this time the inspection was more thorough.

Then, under the shelves, Maltz made a discovery—

A large gold coin.

Unlike the 2 grams of ordinary gold coins, the large gold coin was 3 grams, and before the beginning of the pioneer era, when the ordinary gold coin was circulating in the market, the large gold coin was circulated within the army.

Or to be precise, it was often used among the nobility.

In order to distinguish themselves from ordinary people, the nobles minted larger gold coins they used.

During the Seven Years' War, Maltz was rewarded with such gold coins more than once as a heavy musketeer, so he was very familiar with it.

Just like the big gold coin in his hand, it belongs to the Earl of Beit in Nanshire.

The 'stars, moons, and ships' on it are really easy to recognize.

The ships represent the sailing and shipbuilding skills that the Count Bate family has been proud of.

The stars and the moon are also related to navigation in the eyes of the world, but rumors seem to be inclined to the mysterious side.

If Maltz had been torn between the two, now he is directly inclined to the latter.

'This case can't be related to Earl Bate, right?' ’

The old sheriff's brow furrowed.

If the murder case caused by the veteran is just trouble, once the nobles are involved, it is a big trouble.

Because, the privileges possessed by the aristocracy will always lead things to an irrepressible abyss.

The old sheriff quietly put the big gold coin in place.

It's not greed.

I just don't want to make a noise.

Then, just as the old sheriff got up—

Syllable!

A book falls off a shelf.

It happened to fall in front of the old sheriff.

"The Affordable Civilian Cookbook After the War", looking at the title of the book, the old sheriff knew that this was a recipe from at least thirty years ago, when at the end of the Seven Years' War, even the wealthy nobles had to carefully distribute supplies, let alone civilians.

Therefore, in order to survive, everyone has to eat some things that are not usually eye-catching, including but not limited to elm leaves and the like.

In order to avoid poisoning, the nobles of the time had such books printed and read by literate people.

Of course, it didn't work out well.

Most people who are hungry and anxious will choose to eat before talking.

I heard that in the hinterland, some people even choose to eat dirt.

At that time, it was also the time when piracy was most rampant, and people who had no food would always take risks.

Maltz's memories of that period are not good.

Because, he has experienced more and seen more miserable conditions.

Picking up the cookbook, Maltz was about to put it back, because of the painful memory, he didn't want to read the recipe in it that he could memorize.

But it seems that because he was too anxious, the old sheriff who inserted the book back directly rubbed the cover of the book, and the title page was wrinkled.

So much so that the old sheriff had to put it back in again, but when the old sheriff took the book out and was about to close it and smooth out the wrinkles, he found that the words were written on the title page.

And when the old sheriff read what was written clearly, his whole body trembled, and his eyes were full of disbelief.

Almost subconsciously, the old sheriff raised his hand and stroked the words on it-

Cotton:

I received the book, but I bet you didn't read the book, it's the recipe!

Not a book!

Moreover, there are a lot of mistakes on it, remember that the fungus that has been soaked for a long time cannot be eaten! And fresh daylily can't be eaten! And the rotten ginger must be thrown away!

Why am I writing these down, because......

I'm afraid of you (smiley)

You must be safe and come back quickly.

Love you: Nicole

……

There is no exact date, but the name of the person who signed the letter, Maltz will never forget.

Cotton was the comrade who sat by the campfire and said that he had made an appointment with his fiancée and would go home to get married after the war, but was shot dead by the captain.

Cotton's fiancée's name was Nicole, and Maltz had heard her say it more than once.

Also, Maltz had heard Cotton say that he had mailed a book to his fiancée as a gift, which meant that this cookbook was given to his fiancée Nicole by his comrade-in-arms Cotton!

Coupled with the big gold coin just now, the old sheriff's face immediately became solemn when he looked at the corpse-

Because, the last place where he and Cotton served was the domain of the Earl of Bate.

Moreover, both he and Cotton received large gold coins as rewards.

Subconsciously, the old sheriff whispered -

"Cotton is back?"

(End of chapter)