Kalvin leaves Mr. Hamilton's mansion and walks down the road toward his home. A sudden thought strikes him: could this symbol be a sign of the followers of 'the true creator'? A god who came into existence based on human belief, whom everyone else knows as the evil god. Kalvin remembers Alistair's words, "The light is dazzling his eyes, but the real world is much darker..."
These are no ordinary sentences. Plus, there is the piece of blue glass found by his window. "Ugh!" These things are driving me crazy.
It was almost 9 PM. Kalvin thinks, I must tell James Smith about these suspicions. Let's see what he says about it. Anyway, I need to head home now. It's getting very late. Stella is probably waiting for me.
While I'm walking home, let me explain the currency system of this world to my viewers.
"The currency system in this world is similar to a very old system in my world, where gold, silver, or bronze coins are used instead of paper currency. Here, 30 bronze coins make one silver coin, and 15 silver coins make one gold coin. The poor and common folk here can earn only 30 or 25 bronze coins a month with great difficulty. However, in the famous districts, common people can earn up to 1 or 2 silver coins. Essentially, wages increase or decrease depending on the location and the type of work. 'Hoo-hah!' I'm lucky that I got a detective job here with James Smith."
After walking for about half an hour, Kalvin reaches the alley of their broken-down house. It take him long to get to Mr. Hamilton's mansion, but the return journey took less time. Kalvin knocks on the door three times, and Stella opens it. Seeing Kalvin, Stella asks, "Why are you so late coming back?" Kalvin replies, "Actually, I was out doing my detective work." Stella says, "You could have done this work in the morning! Don't you know how dangerous it is outside at night?" She says this with a touch of anger.
Kalvin responds, "Life is just a story of two days. One day is the time when we are born, and the other day is the time when we are forced to leave this world involuntarily. The time between these two days is the real life. So, this life should be thoroughly enjoyed. And I get paid for a job where there is danger at every step." Hearing this, Stella remains silent. A cruel silence flows between them. Kalvin asks Stella, "Did you save some food for me, or did you eat it all?" Stella pouts and walks away, saying, "Your food is on the table." She goes to her room. Kalvin freshens up and begins to eat the food.
Kalvin finishes his dinner and lies down on the bed. The day's exhaustion and the thought of new mysteries bring sleep to his eyes.
The Morning Light and a New Beginning
The next morning.
As the fresh sunlight hits Kalvin's eyes through the windowpane, he sits up abruptly. Stella, sleeping in the next room, is still in a deep sleep. Kalvin gets up and freshens up. Today is a special day for them – the opening day of their new café, 'The Empty Mug'. Going to Stella's room,
"Stella, wake up," he calls her gently. "Don't we have a new café to open?"
Stella stretches and sits up. "Ugh, just a little longer!" she expresses annoyance.
"Not a little longer, Miss. Today is our first day! And I remember you pouting yesterday, too. Please don't pout today," Kalvin says with a slight smile.
Stella sits up and says softly, "Alright. But the job you've started... the detective work... that worries me."
"Oh, don't worry. I'll be careful. But for now, let's focus on our café," Kalvin encourages her.
They both quickly get ready, take some inventory for the café, and their small savings (which consists of a few silver coins and some bronze coins) and leave their broken-down house.
On the Way to 'The Empty Mug'
The café is located a little further from their house, on the corner of a comparatively busy street.
On the way, Kalvin observes the local people's way of life. Ordinary people live month after month on very few bronze coins. He thinks to himself, "Thirty bronze coins for one silver coin. Life outside the city's famous districts is truly tough. If our café runs well, maybe we can earn one or two silver coins a month."
Stella asks, "Why did you name the café 'The Empty Mug'? An empty mug is bad luck!"
Kalvin smiles. "Not bad luck, Stella. It's a philosophy! An empty mug means there's room for something new to be poured in. New hope, new dreams. And... our lives as a detective are also like an empty mug. We constantly have to fill it with new mysteries."
After about twenty minutes of walking, they reach the front of the café. It's a small, old house. Kalvin and Stella had cleaned and decorated the house as much as possible themselves over the past few days. Although the signboard is a bit rickety, 'The Empty Mug' written on it by hand is clearly visible.
The Grand Opening
They unlock the café and step inside. It's a small space, but one side features a wooden counter, some old chairs and tables, and the back is set up for making coffee and has a kitchen area.
Kalvin swings the café door wide open. "It starts today, Stella!"
Stella also enters with a smile. "Yes! I pray that our sales are good today."
Kalvin stands at the front counter and says, "Anyway, today is our first day. And I will give the first customer a free cup of coffee! If anyone even comes, that is!"
Stella jokes, "Oh dear, Mr. Detective! If you show so much generosity, even the money you earn from detective work will go into the café."
They laugh and begin their preparations. Stella is overseeing the coffee making, and Kalvin is setting up a small signboard outside the café. A new start to life, along with the lure of a new mystery.
Next, Kalvin begins to plan his trip to James Smith. "While we wait for the first customer, I'll go meet with James Smith once. The answers to all those questions spinning in my head might be with him."
Stella agrees. "Alright. But be back before noon. And be careful! Oh, and yes, you will do the cooking today. I want to see how good of a cook you are."
Kalvin puts on his detective coat. "The habit of being careful is now ingrained in my blood, and don't worry, I will cook for you today," he says with a smile and walks out the door of 'The Empty Mug', heading for James Smith's office. In his pocket, he feels the touch of the blue glass shard, reminding him of the mystery of 'the true creator'....