"White Pearl Street? Why are you asking about that?"
Seated on the sofa, Gregor frowned as he chewed on a piece of bread. Before his shift ended, he had heard some rumors about the area.
“Well, Gregor, you know how girls can’t attend evening classes, right? Because of that, our grades are always lagging behind the boys,” Dorothy explained naturally. Gregor nodded in agreement.
“Yeah... I understand. Unequal education for boys and girls is a widespread issue. St. Amanda’s is already one of the better schools, which is why I sent you there. But what does that have to do with White Pearl Street?”
“It’s like this: I’ve been really dissatisfied with those boys always outperforming me, so I’ve been using the school library to self-study, trying to keep up with them.”
“Over the past few days, I’ve been relying heavily on books from the library, but after a while, I realized some of the sets were incomplete. This has been really frustrating and has hindered my studies.”
"During the holidays, I visited several bookstores in the city to find the missing volumes, but unfortunately, the library books are mostly old editions, while the bookstores only sell new ones. I couldn’t find the ones I needed.”
"Afterward, I asked some teachers if they knew where I could find these old books, and one of them suggested White Pearl Street. They said it’s a marketplace for old items."
Dorothy explained earnestly, and as Gregor listened, his expression grew more serious. After finishing his glass of milk, he spoke slowly.
“Dorothy, I’m glad you’re so motivated to improve your grades and catch up with the boys. That’s great. But I have to warn you: it’s better not to go to White Pearl Street.”“Not go? Why? Isn’t it just a marketplace for old goods?”
Hearing Gregor’s words, Dorothy tilted her head in confusion. Gregor responded in a stern tone.
“It’s more than just a marketplace. It’s also a gathering place for people dreaming of getting rich overnight—a street full of predatory loans and dangerous gangs. It’s not a safe place. You, as a young girl, shouldn’t go there alone.”
Gregor’s tone was cautionary, while Dorothy silently noted that she had already spent four days there.
“Is that so... then I won’t go…”
Dorothy responded with a downcast expression and tone, feigning disappointment.
“That’s a shame. Without those books, it’ll be so hard for me to surpass the boys through self-study.”
Seeing his sister’s dejected look, Gregor felt a pang of guilt. After setting his cup down and thinking for a moment, he made up his mind.
“Alright… Here’s the deal: I should have half a day off this weekend. I’ll take you to White Pearl Street myself. With me around, it’ll be fine.”
“Really? Thank you so much, Gregor!”
Dorothy’s face lit up with joy at his words. Gregor smiled warmly.
“No need to thank me. That’s what brothers are for.”
“Alright then, I’m off to school. See you later!”
“Take care.”
Dorothy left the living room, closing the door behind her. A faint smile lingered on her lips.
…
The day broke over Igwynt, and on a weekend morning, Dorothy and Gregor emerged from a restaurant. Dorothy was wiping her mouth with a napkin, while Gregor asked, “How was the food here?”
“Not bad. Now that we’ve eaten, shall we head to our destination?”
“Of course…”
Gregor hailed a carriage at the roadside, and the siblings rode together through the city. After a while, they arrived at White Pearl Street.
Stepping off the carriage, Dorothy glanced around at the familiar scene and commented, “So this is White Pearl Street? It seems less crowded than other streets, and the items in the shops look so odd.”
“Yes, this is the place. Stay close to me at all times and don’t wander off, understood?” Gregor warned, his gaze cautious as he observed the shadowy figures loitering in the chilly street. Dorothy nodded obediently.
“Got it!”
Dressed in a completely different outfit, Dorothy followed Gregor through the familiar streets. She saw the closed door of Cory’s pawnshop and a group of people gathered outside it. Listening carefully to their heated argument, she realized they were members of Corey’s gang, now fighting over how to divide his remaining assets. The scene suggested a brawl could break out at any moment, yet there wasn’t a single police officer in sight.
“Heh... No one seems to care about where that guy disappeared to, huh? They’re only interested in his stuff. I bet they didn’t even bother reporting it to the police. No wonder those people could eliminate him so cleanly…”
Watching the gang members bicker outside Cory’s shop, Dorothy mused silently. Gregor frowned at the sight and urged her to move on.
“Let’s look somewhere else. We shouldn’t stay here.”
“Okay…”
Dorothy quickened her pace alongside Gregor, and soon they reached the other end of White Pearl Street.
“Dorothy, the atmosphere here doesn’t feel right lately. If we can’t find the books quickly, we should leave.”
Sensing the tense mood, Gregor spoke seriously. Dorothy glanced around and suddenly pointed ahead as if she had spotted something.
“Oh, there’s an old bookstore over there! Let’s check it out!”
“An old bookstore?”
Gregor followed her gaze and saw a shop sign that read: Barnard’s Old Book Collection.
“Well, there really is a place specializing in old books. Let’s take a look.”
The siblings approached the shop. Opening the door, they entered a dimly lit space.
Rows of wooden shelves filled with old books stood in orderly lines. The floorboards creaked underfoot, and a counter stood near the entrance. Behind it, a young clerk eyed the siblings warily.
“Excuse me, sir, is this a shop that specializes in old books?”
Looking at the cautious clerk, Dorothy asked politely.