Detective Winnie stepped into the bakery, dressed in a double-breasted tailcoat, tailored black trousers, and a gun holster strapped to her hip.
But the man accompanying her was not Vincent—
Instead, it was a tall, stoic-looking officer, his uniform noticeably more refined than that of a standard constable.
Lorien's gaze swept over his shoulder epaulets.
This wasn't just any officer—this was an Inspector.
A High-Ranking Officer
In the London Metropolitan Police, Inspectors were not street patrol officers—
They commanded their own teams, handling high-profile cases, tracking fugitives, and even providing security for the British monarchy and government officials.
They operated independently from regular officers, answering only to their commanding officers—the Regional Police Chiefs.
And judging by his demeanor, this one seemed like the no-nonsense type.
An Unexpected Meeting
At the same moment Lorien noticed Detective Winnie—
She noticed him.
"Detective?!"
Her eyes lit up, and she called out excitedly, waving from across the bakery.
"What are you doing here?"
She tugged at the Inspector's coat sleeve, practically dragging him toward Lorien.
The tall man's face twitched slightly—as if suppressing the urge to sigh.
Lorien raised an eyebrow.
"I live in an apartment nearby. Isn't it normal for me to be here?"
His tone was matter-of-fact.
Surprise, Surprise
"You live around here?" Winnie blinked in surprise.
Even in East London, there were different levels of 'bad neighborhoods'.
This area?
Even by East End standards, it was filthy, crime-ridden, and notoriously unstable.
She had assumed a detective of his caliber would be living somewhere safer—perhaps Hamburg Street or Cross Street, where conditions were at least slightly better.
"Mind your manners, Winnie."
The Inspector finally spoke, frowning at her lack of decorum.
His tone was firm—not harsh, but clearly a rebuke.
"Oh, right…"
Winnie scratched her head sheepishly.
Then, as if realizing something, she grinned mischievously:
"Got it… big brother."
Siblings?!
Lorien's expression didn't change—
But internally, his brain short-circuited for a moment.
They're siblings?!
Sure, now that he looked closely, their facial features were somewhat similar—
But their personalities were worlds apart.
Winnie was bubbly, impulsive, and outspoken.
This guy?
Looked like he hadn't smiled since birth.
Aaron Hastings' brow twitched.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Use my title in public."
Winnie rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Yes, yes, Inspector Hastings."
A Proper Introduction
Noticing their back-and-forth, Lorien simply waited.
Once Winnie had finished her mockery, she eagerly turned back to him.
"This is the detective I told you about!"
"The one who solved the Jack Arnold case and taught me about 'deductive reasoning'!"
Aaron Hastings turned to Lorien, his cold demeanor softening slightly.
He extended a hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Detective. I'm Inspector Aaron Hastings, in charge of the Whitechapel Enforcement Unit. But you can just call me Aaron."
Despite his stiff expression, his tone was surprisingly polite.
Lorien shook his hand.
"Lorien. Just a detective."
Out of the corner of his eye, Lorien noticed Winnie pouting slightly.
Clearly, she wasn't too pleased that her big brother was being nicer to a stranger than to her.
Why Are You Here?
Lorien glanced between them.
"What brings you to this part of town?"
This area wasn't exactly the kind of place where an Inspector would casually show up.
Winnie straightened up, her expression turning serious.
"A child has gone missing in the area. We received a report this morning and are here to investigate."
Lorien simply nodded.
He handed a few shillings to the bakery owner, who had been standing nearby watching nervously.
The man fumbled the coins, nearly dropping one before hastily picking it up.
"Apologies, sir."
Lorien didn't even look at him, simply tucking his change into his pocket.
He had no intention of getting involved in their investigation.
An Invitation… and a Price
But just as he turned to leave—
"Lorien! You should come with us!" Winnie blurted out.
Lorien paused.
He could see right through her.
She wanted to impress her brother—probably by showcasing the deductive reasoning she had learned from him.
His response?
A flat rejection.
"'Deductive reasoning' wasn't invented by me. I just borrowed it."
"And besides…" He shrugged, tucking his hands into his pockets.
"Solving cases is my job, not my hobby."
"People don't usually turn their hobbies into work."
Translation:
No pay? No thanks.
Winnie deflated slightly.
Aaron Hastings said nothing, simply watching the exchange.
She opened her mouth to argue—
But paused, then her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait! What if someone hires you for it?"
Lorien raised an eyebrow.
"My rates aren't cheap."
"How much?"
Lorien pretended to think for a moment—
Before casually throwing out a number:
"Ten pounds."
Sticker Shock
Winnie's eyes widened.
"Ten pounds?! That's a month's salary!"
Even though East London officers were paid 20% more than officers in other districts, a standard detective's weekly wage was only 18 shillings.
Ten pounds?
That was nearly 100 shillings—more than a month's paycheck.
She patted her pockets, checking her wallet—
Only to realize…
She definitely didn't have that kind of cash on her.
Her face fell.
"I… don't have that much money."
Lorien shrugged, completely unbothered.
"That's a shame. Well then—best of luck with your case."
He turned to leave—
But before he could take a step—
A voice cut in.
"I'll cover it."
Winnie snapped her head around, eyes wide with shock.
"You?! Since when are you this generous?!"
Aaron Hastings glanced at her, unimpressed.
"I said I'd cover it—not pay for it."
"You'll owe me."
Winnie's excitement immediately evaporated.
Her face twisted in frustration.
"You're such a damn cheapskate!"
Aaron ignored her, pulling out a fine leather wallet, embossed with a stag emblem.
He extracted a crisp ten-pound note and handed it to Lorien.
"The missing child is a 12-year-old boy named Walter. Possibly 11."
"His mother died of tuberculosis years ago. His father, a former Cornwall Company laborer, lost his job last year and is currently unemployed."
"This morning, he came to the station in tears, pleading for help finding his son."
"His home is nearby. If you're free, come with us."
Lorien pocketed the money.
Without hesitation—
"Alright."
To be continued…