Chapter 6
Leaving the dim and quiet tav—detective agency, the cobblestone street stretched out before him, and the bustling passersby helped dispel the heavy feeling lingering inside.
Though the sky was still veiled in a layer of unshakable fog.
Lu Li adjusted his hat, his calm black eyes, hidden under its shadow, scanning the sides of the street.
There wasn’t a single bright orange-painted carriage in sight.
Abandoning the idea of taking a carriage back, Lu Li identified the direction he had come from, pressed the brim of his hat lower, and stepped forward, blending into the crowd as just another passerby.
Most of the men wore black waistcoats over their shirts, with clothing predominantly in shades of black and gray. Some, seeking to display their status and wealth, wore polished leather shoes and carried walking canes. The suspenders commonly seen on Sailors’ Street were almost nonexistent here—clothing marked social class, and only laborers and manual workers would wear something practical like suspenders, which were easy to clean and less likely to slip off.
The women wore brightly colored lace dresses, their hems nearly brushing the ground. The layered folds made the skirts flare out in volume. To match the men’s shoes and canes, the women draped lace veils over their faces and donned wide-brimmed feathered hats so extravagant they made the streets feel crowded. They also wore expensive perfumes.
Most of the carriages passing by were enclosed, but occasionally, a steam-powered automobile with a peculiar design would rumble down the street, venting steam.
The houses along the street were two to three stories high, painted in vibrant or dark colors, with either pointed or rounded roofs.