Operation Red Book

"This is the young master of the Emerson family. It's his first time here and he doesn't know much about what's going on here. Please don't be offended, hahaha..."

Ivy walked forward and pushed Dorian, who had a fake smile on his face, behind her.

She stuffed the shilling in her hand into Henry's still frozen smile, grabbed two croissants with her bare hands and put them in the paper bag at her feet, then pushed Dorian towards the door.

"No need."

The store manager called out from behind, his eyes still as small after his smile disappeared.

He took out the two pennies stuck under the scale and handed them to Henry.

The store manager looked straight at Ivy and the others, his expression serious and his eyes full of guilt:

"I've had enough of this. If I choose to help the children, I should do it openly. Stealing customers' money is nothing. Not only does it lose the integrity of the store, but it also tarnishes the reputation of the children."

"The people on August Street are all good people. They all know what I did, but they never expose it."

The store manager came out from the cash register and stroked Henry's smooth hair with his chubby fingers.

"It's not like I haven't thought about it. What if I plotted against a policeman, a detective, or a noble? Honestly, I'm tired of living in fear and guilt."

The store manager looked at Henry, who looked confused, lovingly and spoke in a low voice.

"Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the famous one, can I ask you for a favor? If you succeed, I will give you free bread for the rest of your life."

The store manager's apple cheeks became more prominent and his mustache grew taller.

"Please tell me. I will do my best to help you." Holmes straightened his body and pretended to listen attentively.

"The Florence Orphanage has never lacked funding, which is obvious to all of us. But look at these children. Each of them is pale and thin. In winter, their ears and hands are full of frostbite... We are very suspicious of the director."

"I understand. This is the purpose of our coming to the Florence Orphanage. We will definitely give an explanation to the children, to you, and to the residents of August Street." Holmes frowned, with a determined light in his eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Holmes." The manager smiled gently, squatted down with difficulty, and looked at Henry.

Henry's eyes seemed to be filled with tears, and he pursed his lips, as if he was about to burst into tears in the next second.

"You unbaked little cookie, I didn't say you can't come to see the store manager uncle in the future... Go, go to the welfare home with Mr. Watson. As long as my bakery is here, it will always be a warm haven for children."

The store manager smiled tenderly, stood up and pushed Henry out.

Ivy's eyes suddenly became wet as she watched all this. She tried to smile, took Henry's rough little hand, put it in her own palm and squeezed it firmly.

Just as the group was about to leave, Dorian, who was carrying two large bags of bread, suddenly turned around and said:

"Then can you give me my ring back? I don't need the coin purse, but the ring was given to me by my mother and it means a lot to me."

"Of course, hahahaha, it really can't escape the eyes of the noble children."

The store manager smiled flatteringly and took out a bag of money from his waist. Henry also took out an exquisite sapphire ring from the lining of his clothes and handed them to Ivy.

Henry wanted to run forward, but was stopped by Holmes's rough voice: "In that case, can you give me back my watch? It's quartz, and it's a bit expensive for me..."

"Henry!" Ivy grabbed Henry's ear angrily, causing Henry to beg for mercy with his teeth grimacing in pain.

Joshua took the quartz watch handed over by Henry with a wry smile and handed it to Holmes, who was smiling falsely.

"The Florence Welfare Home is at the end of August Street. Miss Grace Coleman is a gentle and kind person. I wish you a happy day!"

The store manager stood behind the cash register and waved enthusiastically, seeing off the five people who were leaving.