### Chapter 59: Safe and Sound in Hessetings!

When someone has a gun pointed at them, most people tend to make the right choice.

The man in front of Goethe was no exception.

"Wait, don’t shoot! I mean no harm!"

He shouted, trying his best to raise both hands.

Goethe, still holding the gun, didn’t lower his aim. Instead, he looked towards the alley from where the man had emerged.

Three figures dashed out from there.

Two of them quickly pinned the man to the ground, beating him as they handcuffed him. The black uniforms and handcuffs clearly indicated their identity.

The remaining officer then turned his attention to Goethe.

Or more precisely, after glancing at the revolver in Goethe's hand, the officer spoke up.

"Good day, sir."

"While Hessetings doesn’t ban shotguns, revolvers must be registered at the police station."

Though he was reminding Goethe, the officer's tone carried a sense of superiority, and he scrutinized Goethe with a judgmental gaze.

This made Goethe frown slightly.

At that moment, a chubby face blocked the officer's gaze.

"Mr. Marple has only just arrived in Hessetings today and is not familiar with the local regulations, but as a gentleman of his standing, he will surely abide by them. I’ll accompany him to register the firearm."

"And besides..."

"You don't suspect him of being the ‘Saint El’s’ hospital murderer, do you?"

The sarcastic tone made the officer glare at Hunter with anger.

But Hunter didn’t stop his sarcastic remarks.

"If you have time to catch such petty thieves, why don’t you investigate why someone broke into 21 Chalk Street and why my tenant has disappeared."

Chalk Street? Could it be that coincidental?

Goethe glanced at Hunter with surprise.

The officer outside the carriage shot one last glare at Hunter before turning away, quickly taking the captured man with him.

As the officer departed, Hunter couldn’t resist shouting after him.

"Remember, we pay taxes to be protected, not to be questioned!"

His voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear.

Immediately, the officer’s pace quickened.

Watching the officer hurry away, Goethe sighed inwardly.

Recreating the scene from Luster would be even more difficult now!

The officer’s parting glance had been anything but friendly.

And that superior attitude...

Goethe began to consider whether he should adjust his plans.

"Hmph, clueless fools."

Hunter snorted coldly, then turned to Goethe with a smile. "Mr. Marple, you don’t need to pay any mind to those people. They’re only good at intimidating ordinary folks, always the last to show up when something actually happens."

"Yes, I’ve felt that quite strongly when I had to cross a deserted area alone after encountering robbers."

Goethe agreed, then subtly asked, "You mentioned Chalk Street earlier?"

"21 Chalk Street is one of the properties I manage. I had rented it out short-term to a gentleman. Today was supposed to be the day he paid his second installment, but when I went there this morning, I found the place completely deserted."

"Not only was the tenant gone, but so were all the belongings."

"And the most troubling part..."

"I found bloodstains!"

"This is definitely not good news. I immediately reported it to the police, and they sealed off 21 Chalk Street, telling me to wait for further notice!"

"Damn it!"

"I shouldn’t have reported it at all!"

"Every day they keep Chalk Street 21 sealed off, I lose money!"

As he spoke, Hunter began cursing under his breath again.

"So that’s what happened."

Unlike the previous bodies, Goethe had handled Zolta’s body and the crime scene with extra care to ensure the safety of his Poirot Marple identity—the body was no longer in Hessetings.

Almost everything else had been burned, except for his clothes and revolver, leaving behind only 140 paper bills and 60 gold crowns.

It was this money that had made Goethe's plan easier to execute.

"Hessetings has always been a safe place, but for some reason, since yesterday, a series of unsettling events have been happening, as if..."

"It’s as if calamity has suddenly set its sights on Hessetings."

Hunter thought for a moment, offering this description.

"Calamity?"

"That’s impossible!"

"It must all be coincidences!"

Goethe smiled as he spoke.

Naturally, Hunter had no objections.

The customer is always right! Even when the customer is wrong, it’s not the customer’s fault! It’s his fault!

It was this mindset that earned Hunter the approval of every client he served.

Of course, Hunter had the skills to back up his philosophy. At least, Goethe was quite satisfied with the house before him.

It was a three-story detached building with a small garden. The flower beds were full of colorful, neatly trimmed flowers.

“This is Kimmel Street, which is very close to the heart of Hessatins. It’s safe here, and the environment is beautiful.”

“There’s a dining room, living room, kitchen, servant’s quarters, and a washroom on the first floor. The second floor has the master’s study and reception room, while the third floor is where the master’s bedroom is located. I wouldn’t recommend choosing a room with a terrace, not only because it’s expensive, but also because Hessatins' weather is often rainy, and the constant drizzle will make you regret having a terrace.”

“There’s also a basement here, which can store plenty of food and wine.”

After stepping out of the carriage, Hunter led Goethe on a tour of the house.

Overall, it met Goethe’s expectations.

“How much is the rent?” Goethe asked.

“400 coins per month. If you’re willing to pay quarterly, I can give you a discount of 20 coins per month,” Hunter replied with a smile.

“That’s acceptable.”

Goethe didn’t haggle over the price; it wouldn’t have suited his current identity. Moreover, based on the simple memories in his mind, Kimmel Street was worth the price.

“Your straightforwardness is impressive,” Hunter said. “I assure you, you won’t feel shortchanged—when it comes to choosing a butler and maid, I guarantee you’ll get the best value for your money.”

Hunter made his promise, and he followed through on it.

At the agency, Goethe signed contracts with a butler named Kai and a maid named Maria, offering them weekly wages of 5 and 4 coins, respectively.

Butler Kai was twenty-five years old, unmarried, and literate. Maid Maria was nineteen, unmarried, and skilled in cooking.

It wasn’t until this point that Goethe realized Hunter was actually the manager of the agency.

“A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Mapple!” Hunter said, shaking Goethe’s hand. Then, as if on cue, he produced a firearm permit.

Seeing Goethe’s surprise, Hunter chuckled.

“I have quite a few friends in the police department. It wasn’t too difficult to arrange.”

“If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

“Of course, I will,” Goethe promised.

After a cordial farewell from Hunter, Goethe boarded the carriage with his new butler and maid.

The maid, Maria, sat inside the carriage with Goethe, while the butler sat outside with the coachman.

Maria, dressed in a standard maid uniform, kept her head down, her hands resting on her lap, her fingers fidgeting nervously.

“What dishes are you good at making?” Goethe asked directly.

“Stews… stews,” Maria stammered, then quickly added, “I can also make scrambled egg sauce.”

“Scrambled egg sauce?” Goethe paused, the name reminding him of a dish from his “hometown.”

“It’s made by cracking two eggs and putting them in heated butter, then adding sugar, ginger, and salt, and finally stirring in milk until it thickens without boiling,” Maria explained.

But Goethe’s attention shifted to the view outside the window.

It wasn’t that he had lost interest in Hessatins’ “scrambled egg sauce”; rather, he noticed that someone was following him.

And they were full of malice!

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*(End of Chapter)*