Chapter 560: Master Eisen's Street

Chapter 560: Master Eisen’s Avenue

The Yorktown Economic Daily once conducted a public survey asking people what topic they usually chose to break the ice when greeting acquaintances on the street.

The topic that garnered the most votes was—the weather.

For the residents of Yorktown spent a fifth of every year thanking God for giving them such wonderful weather, while the remaining four-fifths were filled with blasphemy against Him.

It was raining again today, and heavily at that.

Leon carried the documents into the office, only to find Richard standing by the window, gazing out at the curtain of rain, his silhouette looking somewhat desolate.

This struck Leon as exceedingly strange, for in his past and present knowledge, Richard had always been a cheerful person, perhaps even overly so.

Placing the files on the desk, Leon took the initiative to ask, "What is it, feeling depressed?"

In Leon's eyes, rainy days indeed possessed a tendency to evoke melancholy.

Richard shook his head and replied, "I am worried about the drainage on Red Leaf Street. The road surface there often clogs whenever it rains heavily."

"Red Leaf Street?" Leon searched through his memory, but no impression of this place name came to mind. "What kind of place is Red Leaf Street?"

"A place that can wash away your weariness and purify your soul."

"Sounds rather mysterious." Leon rubbed his neck. "Speaking of which, how long has the captain and the others been on vacation? I haven't even seen the director these past few days."

Richard turned around, walked to the desk, filed the documents away, and then placed them into the office filing cabinet in alphabetical order.

"They should be busy with some other matters."

"Busy with other matters?"

Leon frowned slightly. As a newcomer, he felt a strong sense of insecurity in this regard; after all, what a novice feared most was being marginalized and failing to fit in, even if he was the grandson of the Chief Bishop.

In any other department, he would certainly receive special treatment, but in this squad, he hardly registered, given that the former High Priest's student and the young master of the Benda family were here. Furthermore, their squad had just brought down a bishop—no, they had brought down an entire episcopal family.

Hearing Richard put it that way, Leon asked cautiously, "Then why didn't you go?"

"I suppose I am too weak, and besides, I do not belong to that circle," Richard explained.

"Circle? The circle of our squad?"

"Yes."

"Um, could you be a bit more specific?"

Richard placed the last file into the cabinet, slid the drawer shut, clapped his hands, and said, "How about I tell you tomorrow at lunch? It is time to leave work now."

"It is still early. Why don't I buy you a cup of coffee?"

"I need to make a trip to Red Leaf Street."

"Then I shall go too, to see the place you mentioned."

Hearing this, Richard smiled.

The smile was so enthusiastic that Leon found it somewhat inexplicable.

Although there had been no major cases recently, there were a vast number of minor cases requiring procedural work, so the department was very busy. Otherwise, Richard would have long since brought Leon to experience the true local flavor of Yorktown. Now that Leon had offered to join him on his own accord, it truly could not be better.

"Alright, let us go, take my car."

"Okay."

The two men entered the changing room, shed their divine robes for civilian clothes, and then came to the parking lot.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Leon glanced at the car seat and the interior decorations, then asked:

"Did you drive your mother's car here?"

"It is a car I bought recently."

"Why do I feel it leans a bit towards a feminine style?"

"Yes, correct. This is a car I newly bought to teach Philomena how to drive; consider it a gift for her. I usually take a cab to and from work, but isn't the weather bad today? And I have you with me."

"Oh, so that is how it is. I have noticed that you and Philomena have a rather good relationship."

"Haha, I think so too. Her personality is somewhat introverted. Sometimes, if no one is there to help clear things up for her and draw attention away, she becomes very uncomfortable, so I am responsible for making her comfortable."

"Making her comfortable?"

"She is the second most capable fighter in our squad. The first is Karen, and the second is her, so keeping her comfortable is very important."

"I see. Your work is very important." Leon said this without the slightest hint of banter or teasing; he was entirely serious.

After all, he was also a member of the squad, and his previous work had been entirely clerical. Although his strength and talent were decent, everyone else in this squad had either passed the Yorktown selection or the final selection... while he, who had not even passed the Yorktown selection, was somewhat lacking in comparison.

Therefore, since he would surely accompany the squad on missions frequently in the future, he naturally hoped that the number two powerhouse of his squad would always remain in a beautiful mood.

Richard sighed, "Ah, now that she is not around, I actually feel quite lonely."

"Have you fallen in love with her?"

"Love? Not really, I just enjoy this feeling of being needed. Do you know? In this squad, the greatest pressure is not the work, but rather the feeling that you are utterly useless."

Leon: "..."

"I am not talking about you, do not misunderstand, you are very useful."

"Thank you for your consolation."

"I am serious. Some matters can be easily resolved if you just go home, hug your grandfather's arm, and act spoiled."

"There are things I am well aware of in my heart, but could you please not put it so bluntly?"

"Family background is inherently one of your abilities, what is there to be embarrassed about? Just be candid about it. Karen also frequently utilizes the backgrounds of Wick and Muri to put pressure on others outside."

"Alright, alright, you should introduce me to the matter of the circle."

"Oh, the earliest circle was actually very simple. That was when Karen had just established this squad, and it was divided into three factions: the Yorktown local gang and the outsider gang from other major districts; Memphis and I belonged to those who came in through the back door, considered the acquaintance gang, and Alfred actually counted as the acquaintance gang too.

This circle is still applicable even now.

You see, after Wick came in, didn't Blanchmas and the others stay closer to him, because they are all part of the outsider gang.

After you came in, didn't you stay closer to us few, because we are the local gang, which can also be called the acquaintance gang.

However, later on, I discovered that new factions had appeared."

"New factions?"

"Yes. The previous factions were all divided by the team members under Karen themselves, and the boundaries were actually not very clear, mainly manifesting as a habit of gathering together during meals and walks; but the new factions are centered around Karen as the origin, expanding outward to cover everything."

"Captain Karen expanded it himself? He divides factions within his own squad?"

"Yes, you can understand it as his direct line."

"Why would he do that?" Leon, who had also served as a leader in a small office, was very puzzled by Karen's behavior, which was detrimental to unity.

"I am not clear about that, but it is indeed the case. Alfred belongs to the earliest direct line, and then come Ventura and Muri."

"Ventura and Muri? There are both local gang and outsider gang members in there."

"Exactly, I clearly felt that after a certain point in time, the attitudes of Ventura and Muri toward Karen changed completely.

This time, I feel like Philomena has also become part of the direct line. I say 'feel like,' because after all, look at who went on vacation with Karen this time; besides Muri and Ventura, it was Philomena."

"Then how does one become part of the direct line?"

"Well, it is hard to say, but I suppose it must be tied to loyalty and capability."

Richard spoke as he drove, navigating the rain-slicked roads that were somewhat congested; thus, despite leaving work early today, dusk had already fallen by the time they reached Autumn Leaf Street, and the previously heavy downpour had finally ceased.

Entering this avenue lined with pastry shops, Leon finally understood exactly what Richard meant by a place to "purify the soul."

It was not that he was inexperienced in such matters; despite his strict upbringing, his status and position ensured he never lacked for such opportunities, though by that same token, he would never normally patronize a mere pastry shop.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Leon tried his best to keep his expression from appearing too rigid.

"I quite love coming here at this time of day. Look at the pastry shops along the road—their signs, their lights, the people behind their glass doors. Everything, absolutely everything, offers an immensely comforting and intriguing sort of haze.

You see it, don't you?"

"Yes, yes, of course."

"Walking through here is like strolling through a scenic resort; the view here is honestly not a single bit inferior to any tourist attraction, mmm..." Richard took a deep breath, "The people are the most beautiful scenery of all."

"Let me treat you to tea instead; there are better views to be found there."

"Tea? No, I happen to like it right here. I am utterly captivated by the charm of this place."

"Your tastes truly are peculiar."

"Oh, I suddenly remember, today seems to be my father's birthday."

Leon, desperate for an excuse to leave, quickly interjected, "Then shouldn't you hurry home to celebrate your father's birthday with him?"

Richard shook his head and said, "Friends must come first!"

Leon replied, "I believe your father is far more important. Of course, I am touched that you would say so, considering we belong to the same circle of acquaintances, after all."

"Ever since my father visited the Tribunal during that live-streamed trial, he vanished into thin air again. He certainly isn't at home right now, so I wouldn't be able to celebrate his birthday even if I went back.

Better to take you out for some pastries, heh."

Richard pulled the car over to the curb and signaled for Leon to step out with him.

Frowning, Leon hesitated for a brief moment before ultimately following Richard out; he did not particularly mind spending money at certain establishments with Richard, but he harbored a strong aversion to patronizing such low-end venues.

Autumn Leaf Street was flanked on both sides by pastry shops, with a noticeable drop in height between the storefronts and the street level, requiring one to descend a flight of steps.

Consequently, anyone walking past or driving by outside could look down upon the interior scenes from a vantage point.

Inside, there was invariably a small pastry counter displaying a few pieces of moldering cake, followed by several long sofas where the ladies would sit;

The more provocative ones wore short skirts and sat with their legs crossed, revealing generous expanses of snowy skin while leaving only a teasing sliver to provoke a curious gaze;

The more dignified ones dressed rather formally, donning the cheap uniforms of female bank clerks and sitting there with a pair of spectacles on, a book held in their hands;

The gentler souls opted for a domestic look, their attire modest, as they held needles and thread, quietly knitting sweaters.

The entire street was composed of pastry shops, so whenever one shop came up with a novel idea, the others would immediately follow suit, effectively fostering a spirit of keen competition.

Richard pushed open a shop door, beneath a sign that read "Ava's Pastry Shop."

Karen had been here once before; Miss Annie, who had investigated the Ziche case alongside Mr. Pavarotti, had once worked here.

"Oh, look who it is, Master Eisen. When it was raining earlier, I was just wondering if you would come by to help us clear the drains."

"And who might this be?"

Two older women approached and greeted Richard with great enthusiasm.

"He is my friend."

"Very well, leave him to me then."

A plump woman of about forty voluntarily slipped her arm through Leon's; she wore a long floral dress and wore a cheap perfume that was somewhat overpowering, yet when mingled with her natural scent, it created a rather peculiar ambiance.

This was a sensation Leon had never experienced before, akin to someone accustomed to fine dining being suddenly captivated by the savory aroma of barbecue from a night-market stall.

"Come along, sir, please follow me. You may call me Deanna."

"Go on," Richard said, giving Leon a gentle nudge.

Though a lingering resistance remained in Leon's heart, his feet proved cooperative enough as they followed Deanna into a small private cubicle in the back.

The cubicle was only large enough to accommodate a single bed; the nightstand could not even fit along the side and had to be nailed to the foot of the bed instead.

Deanna gently motioned for Leon to sit on the edge of the bed, placing both hands upon his shoulders as she inquired:

"Will you be choosing the same service as Master Eisen?"

"Master Eisen?"

"The gentleman who brought you in, of course."

"Oh, right. The same service will do."

"Very well."

Deanna gently lowered Leon onto the bed, allowing him to lie down comfortably.

Leon let out a long breath. The cramped environment, the dim lighting, the slightly damp air, and the pillow that was not entirely pristine...

Ordinarily, he would never set foot in such a place; he was, after all, the grandson of the Chief Bishop, the future hope of his family!

Yet now, he suddenly found that the surroundings were just right to set his heart racing and leave his lips feeling somewhat dry; staring up at Deanna, he actually felt a stirring of anticipation for what might happen next.

To Leon's surprise, however, Deanna did not remove her clothes; instead, she climbed gently onto the bed, lay down beside him, and extended her arms to cradle his head softly.

Leon felt an immediate sense of softness and acceptance, but after that, there was no further movement.

Does she expect me to take the initiative?

At that moment, Deanna spoke, "I can feel that you are under an immense amount of pressure. It seems you carry a heavy burden upon your shoulders."

Leon caught his breath, remaining silent.

"There is no need to speak. Just lie here quietly; I will keep you company, and we can take a nice little nap to forget all those worries and anxieties."

Leon suddenly understood what Richard's exclusive service entailed; the fellow truly came here merely to relieve stress and purify his soul.

The woman's hands gently massaged the back of his head and neck; at this precise moment, Leon sensed a gentle, maternal aura radiating from her.

It was devoid of lust and free of impurity, and it served to soothe his very heart.

Leon realized that this was a manifestation of a mystical art; this woman was a believer, using her own abilities to massage and comfort him.

Yet Leon felt no tension, for the woman was weak—exceedingly, profoundly weak.

Furthermore, compared to the mystical art she employed, her actual presence was what mattered most to him.

"Let us change positions," Leon said.

"Of course, what sort of position would you prefer?"

Leon rolled onto his back and extended his left arm; understanding his intent, the woman immediately pillowed her head against his arm, using one hand to stroke his cheek gently.

"From the time I was very young, my grandfather always told me that he placed great expectations on me..."

...

Ronice and Lisa both pressed their ears against the partition, listening intently to the noises coming from two doors down, their postures presenting two ripe, round peaches to Richard, who sat on the bed behind them.

Richard, however, did not look up to admire the view; instead, he familiarly retrieved a deck of playing cards from the bedside shelf and began to focus on shuffling them.

Ronice stood up and smiled, saying, "It appears Master Eisen's friend shares the exact same habits as you do, Master Eisen."

Lisa chuckled and said, "I suspect Deanna would much prefer a truly fierce confrontation."

"Cards," Richard urged.

"Alright, I'll go slice some fruit."

Lisa stepped out first, then instructed the women outside, "Today is Young Master Eisen's birthday. Go spread the word."

"Do we need to notify the other shops as well?"

"Of course. After all, he is the Young Master Eisen of our entire street."

"Understood."

With the orders given, Lisa walked back into the alcove, where Ruanis had already climbed onto the bed and was dealing cards with Richard.

Lisa said to Ruanis, "Ruanis, you might want to cross your legs, otherwise you're fully exposing yourself right in front of Young Master Eisen."

"Yes, Sister Ruanis, you're going to distract me from my game like this," Richard joked.

Ruanis crossed her legs.

Richard had initially descended upon this street in the guise of a "golden pig."

Gradually, however, everyone discovered Richard's uniqueness and became more willing to mingle with him as friends; and because the ladies of the pastry shops were generally older, they all shared a collective sense of treating Richard as a younger brother, or even a son.

Lisa joined them on the bed as well; with three people sitting on the small single bed, it felt rather cramped.

Richard began to play his cards, remarking, "A female colleague of mine went on a business trip recently, and I've been feeling a bit lost."

Lisa immediately inquired, "Young Master Eisen, does that female colleague of yours know you like to visit us here?"

"She probably does. Why do you ask?"

Lisa sighed with emotion, "Then that is terrible."

Ruanis interjected at once, "What's the issue if she knows? Our Young Master Eisen only ever comes to chat with us and has never done anything else. This whole street can bear witness for him."

Lisa pressed a hand to her forehead and said, "No, absolutely not. That would make it even worse."

...

Mr. Eisen watched as Richard and Leon got into the car and drove out of the headquarters building.

"Heh, so he remembers today is my birthday and is bringing a friend home to celebrate with me."

Mr. Eisen exhaled a long breath, tidied up the prison formation blueprint at hand, stood up, and walked out of his office; his workday was over as well.

On his drive back, a faint smile would grace the corners of his mouth from time to time.

In the past, he had always been most resistant to this sort of celebration centered around him, but this time, he wanted to spend a proper birthday with his family.

Yet, when he drove the car up to the front of his house, he did not see Richard's car.

He touched his ring, reverting from Memphis back to his own form, and stepped into the house, only to see his wife arranging candles in the living room.

"Dear, you're back. Today is your birthday."

"Where is Richard?"

"He hasn't come home. Our son must be working overtime today, I suppose."

"No, I called to check, and he left early. I will go look for him."

"I'll go with you," Mrs. Kathy offered, uttering a polite formality she was certain would be rejected.

Mr. Eisen hesitated for a brief moment before nodding and saying,

"Alright."

This caught Mrs. Kathy by surprise, and she said with immediate excitement, "Great, I'll go change my clothes."

"No need," Mr. Eisen stopped her rather stiffly, adding, "You look good."

Madame Kathy smiled and nodded, "Then let us depart and bring our son home."

She did not dare insist on changing or doing her makeup, for fear that her husband might alter his mind.

Sitting inside her husband's car and watching him drive, Mrs. Kathy remarked,

"Eisen, how long has it been since you last drove me anywhere?"

Mr. Eisen was still somewhat unaccustomed to being alone with his wife, particularly within such a confined space; of course, it was no longer repulsion, but rather the retrieval of a certain bashfulness from when they had first dated.

Mrs. Kathy actually felt the very same way; their marital relationship had, in truth, been suspended for many years.

"From now on, I will try to do so more often."

"Wonderful, dear," Mrs. Kathy reached out, placing her hand on Mr. Eisen's thigh and giving it a gentle pat.

Mr. Eisen blushed.

"Hehehe," Mrs. Kathy could not help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"Fold a black crow."

"Alright."

Mrs. Kathy immediately produced a sheet of black spell paper, folded it into a black crow, and released it through the car window to let it guide the way.

Following the black crow's guidance, Mr. Eisen drove for some time before turning into Red Leaf Street; once inside the street, the crow began to circle, indicating that Richard was nearby and that it was confirming a specific location.

"A place like this?" Mrs. Kathy frowned. "How scandalous. On his own father's birthday, he actually skips coming home to visit a place like this."

Evidently, as a mother, she was angry.

"He needs a lesson," Mr. Eisen stated.

Though he had always been well aware of this particular penchant of his son's, today, he too was exceptionally furious.

"Once we catch him and bring him back, dear, you must give him a proper lesson," Mrs. Kathy added. "Do not be courteous, and do not hold back. A stray lamb requires a true lashing, that is your responsibility as a father!"

Mr. Eisen nodded, replying habitually, "You as well."

Mrs. Kathy misunderstood her husband's meaning, registering a slight shock, but she immediately chimed in, "Very well, I will educate him together with you this time. He is truly being too scandalous this time."

The car came to a halt.

Just as Mr. Eisen and Mrs. Kathy were preparing to step out of the car, the women working in the pastry shops on both sides streamed out of their doorways, walked up the steps to the sides of the road, and shouted in enthusiastic unison:

"Wishing our most beloved Young Master Eisen a very happy birthday!"

Mrs. Kathy: "..."

Mr. Eisen: "..."