Chapter 150: Invitation from Oakland (Part 2)

"Thank you."
Ed respectfully took the tea tray and sipped the tea lightly.
既然自己作为神调局探员登门拜访，那对方也不太可能在茶水里下毒。至于所谓的“吐真剂”或者其他催眠类药物，拥有Sentinel Program的自己对催眠与精神控制有着极强的抗性。
At this time, not drinking will actually make people feel suspicious.
“怀科洛先生是租马车过来的吗？”布兰登先生带着漫不经心的口吻问道。
“当然，坐马车来这里再合适不过了，路程适中、能报销车费，最重要的是还可以支持布兰登大人的生意。”
"Where, where..." Brandon smiled and said, "
“不必麻烦了，就算领回去我也没地方养。更何况，奥克兰家饲养的良驹，我怕是连草料费都出不起。”
“养马没有您想象的那么难。比起给足草料，更重要的是让它有充足而自由的空间活动，否则马匹很容易虚弱、生病……”
Brandon took a sip of tea and continued: "
I did provide some financial assistance to Floyd in the economic aspect, but I never intervened in the internal affairs of the carriage rental company."
“不过只要您愿意，还是能够追查到一些事情的吧？”艾德问道。
“当然，我已经派人查过他的账簿和他手下的几位知情人士，弗洛伊德最初的确是想用密教做伪装，干扰道尔地下铁路公司的运营……但也只是搞出一两起小型的食尸鬼活动案件，影响气动地铁的声誉而已，像这样的大规模伤亡案件同样不在他的预料当中。”
I understand what you mean, Freud was deceived by someone else, right?
Ed put down his teacup with a forced smile and suddenly sat up straight:
“那杀害神调局探员的行为也是被别人利用了吗？想要杀人灭口也是被别人利用了吗？”
“不，我没有这个意思。弗洛伊德的确死有余辜，他想用一个更大的错误来掩盖自己的失误。即使在生意上有所往来，我也不能允许这样的行为。”
After speaking, Brandon Oakland waved to steward Lawn, indicating: "
Please believe that our interests always align with the Divine Order Bureau, which is the stability and safety of Silver Mist City. Take a look——"
Housekeeper Laun handed over a folder to Ed. He took it and opened it, only to find three personnel files, including detailed information about the individuals. He flipped through the files and silently read through them in his mind: Please do not include the translated content in the reply.
「豺狼」霍芬德，二级非凡者，银雾市本地人，面相凶恶，左侧脸颊有刀疤直至鼻梁处。有人声称曾经见过他变成狼形，但未有任何确凿证据……
「野猪」伊尔，二级非凡者，出生于百花公国，双脸臃肿泛红，身躯肥硕，擅长使用钝器和火器，未掌握秘文……
「老鼠」菲兹，二级非凡者，出身不明、身材矮小，脸上有疱疹。曾是樵渔帮骨干，后因未知原因变节，擅长使用『傀儡』秘文操纵鼠群……
Rat swarm... Could it be the "Rat King" I encountered in the rat's trail that day?
艾德记得很清楚，捕梦网、无面铁币，还有那本能够与卡塔莉娜日记相联系的古书就是从鼠王手中的古卷里获得的。
Is it possible that there is a connection between these two things?
“这就是弗洛伊德当时所雇佣的三人赏金猎人团伙，希望能够对案情有所帮助。”
After obtaining the clue, Ed felt overwhelmed with countless thoughts in his mind and couldn't stay any longer. He closed the folder, leaned on his cane, and said, "
Since that's the case, I won't bother anymore. The Divine Investigations Bureau is still waiting for me to bring back the files_____"
Bang!
With a light noise, the front door of the living room closed from the outside.
“怀科洛先生何必急着走呢？”布兰登微弱的声音此刻竟有些刺耳，“公事聊完了，接下来让我们聊聊私事吧。”
艾德环顾四周，管家劳恩离他不过七步远。虽然自己拼死一搏可以够得到双腿残疾的布兰登先生，但眼下还未到鱼死网破的时候。
"Then, please go ahead," he had to sit back down and said.
"I have heard that Mr. Huaikelo has a legendary experience of resurrection, which is somewhat similar to Katalina: Katalina has been suffering from crystal metamorphosis since childhood, but recently she has miraculously recovered. It's only a difference of a few weeks from Mr. Huaikelo's experience..."
“……”艾德不由得攥紧了手杖，不知布兰登接下去要说些什么。
“痊愈之后，卡塔莉娜喜欢四处走动，有人在阁楼餐厅见过她。对面还坐着一位个头中等，手里拿着银色手杖的年轻人。此事确否？”
“是的。”对方说得这么详细，他也没有否认的余地。
“在她的生日宴会上，又有人穿着理查陛下早年的盔甲出现，您本来参加了宴会，当时的现场却没有您的踪迹。”
“……”
This issue is indeed related to him, but he is not the one in the armor...
"Shortly after that, my butler found the armor in the treehouse in the courtyard."
Tree house? His head buzzed. Although the most dangerous place is often the safest place, this is too risky...
Couldn't Katalina find a better place to hide the armor?
“……我看我们还是坦诚一点、实话实说吧，艾德加·怀科洛先生。”
听到这话，艾德不禁用手悄悄摸了一下马甲腰部的口袋。那里放着荷黎安家族的玺戒，也是他用来保命的最后手段。
“你喜欢卡塔莉娜，对吗？”
Ah?!
艾德瞪大了双眼，一时间竟不知道说些什么好。
这都是哪跟哪啊……
他和卡塔莉娜关系不错不假，但两个人显然不是那种关系。
Mr. Brandon doesn't seem surprised by Ed's reaction:
“这没什么，我也曾经经历过和你一样年纪。如果卡塔莉娜的结晶恶变症没有痊愈，如果荷黎安家族没有抛来橄榄枝，我或许真的会顺从卡塔莉娜的意愿。”
“但眼下，她肩负着整个家族的利益。我知道这听上去并不公平，希望你能够理解。卡塔莉娜必须与爱德华王子成婚。”
"I..."