The animosity of four newspapers is more daunting than a thousand sharp swords.
–Napoleon Bonaparte1
At 221b Baker Street.
While Watson, who had been drinking with until dawn, was sound asleep, I sat leisurely in a chair with my eyes closed.
It wasn’t as though I was resting.
Mrs. Hudson and the new maid, who started working yesterday in place of my predecessor who left for martial arts training in Spain, can attest to how busy I’ve been these past few days.
In fact, anyone who frequents Baker Street could easily tell you the sa.
‘I heard you solved a murder case at the Debutante Ball. I can’t offer any reward, but please help find my missing cat—’
‘Please find my husband’s mistress.’
‘That bastard definitely plagiarized my idea! Evidence? Well, it’s my diary! Why isn’t it a script?! How can a detective be this stupid! Of course, I’m going to finish it now!!’
I recalled the nonsense spouted by the nuisances I had kicked out today.
Due to the newspaper ntioning my na without consent, dozens of clients sward in daily, and 90% of them weren’t legitimate custors.
From fools who made question their humanity to those who demanded free services as if it were a given.
Most disappointing was the fact that the cases they brought were all of a type that insulted my intellect.
“Sigh…”
At tis like this, I feel like injecting a 7% solution of Hundred Year Snow Ginseng directly into my veins.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible since I’ve exhausted all the elixirs I earned from providing high-quality investigative consultation in Chelsea while maintaining strict confidentiality.
“Damn criminals can’t even manage a proper incident. They’re like worthless vermin.”
I cursed without realizing it and was surprised.
When I turned my head, my reflection in the mirror wore a ferocious expression I had never seen before.
The rising murderous intent was on the verge of escaping my control.
“…The King’s Specter, is it? This is a first.”
The withdrawal symptoms from the elixir addiction had caused Papiyas to rear its head.
If I don’t administer the elixir on ti, I will fall victim to the ‘real’ side effects of the Lionheart thod.
The side effects of the original internal energy thod created by the Lionheart King, Master called it the King’s Specter, and instructed to confine it using the modified thod.
If such a thing were to happen, I wouldn’t be able to stay in this cozy lodging any longer.
“There are no more…elixirs.”
This is bad. I should have bought so elixirs with the cash reward I received for solving the case, but I forgot because I was too lazy.
At this rate, the only option is to spray the illicit slling salts mixed with addictive substances I retrieved from Drake’s corpse into my mouth.
“No, there’s still one left.”
Upon reflection, I rembered there was an ergency elixir hidden downstairs.
“Phew.”
I quickly got up and went down to the first floor.
Mrs. Hudson was, as usual, engrossed in her hobbies with the gramophone playing, and the new maid had gone out shopping.
It was the perfect ti to rummage through the cupboard.
“It should be around here.”
Mrs. Hudson had complained last ti about so mushrooms the maid had bought, saying so had mold on them.
After hearing the story, I took the opportunity to sneak it into the cupboard while she went to check the mail.
-Creak.
As I opened the cupboard in the far corner, a subtle fragrance wafted out. I reached in, took out the mushroom, and rubbed it with my sleeve.
Mold? That’s nonsense.
“It’s well dried.”
A mushroom with a gentle jade-like green surface.
This is an elixir commonly known as the Jade Mushroom, sotis sold by mushroom gatherers who mistake it for an ordinary mushroom.
“Hmm?”
However, in the darkness of the cupboard corner, I noticed a few unfamiliar dicine bottles hidden away.
“…It’s the maid’s doing.”
I recalled the White Larva that Yan had left behind.
It seems I won’t need to spend my money on expensive poisons anymore.
I don’t know who sent it, but if we handle this well, it might actually benefit the three living in this house.
I picked up a piece of cloth nearby, poured a little of the dicine bottle’s contents onto it, and put it in my pocket.
“Mrs. Hudson, may I trouble you for so tea?”
I hid the well-dried Jade Mushroom in my pocket and spoke to Mrs. Hudson, who was engrossed in knitting.
At the sa ti, I whispered briefly about the maid through a silent transmission.
“Oh! Is it that ti already?”
Nodding, Mrs. Hudson only then noticed the clock pointing to 3 PM and quickly began to brew the tea.
I went back upstairs, fed the White Larva hidden in the bedroom, and placed the thinly sliced Jade Mushroom on the snacks and tea that Mrs. Hudson brought.
“Ah. Good.”
The minute yet potent energy from the elixir pieces, floating instead of dried lemon slices, seeped into the tea.
As I took a sip, I felt the restless energy within my ridians begin to flow calmly.
The Lionheart thod, while its initial side effects are tricky, has a clear solution, which is reassuring.
After emptying the plate and teacup and biting the pipe, my mind finally began to function at its original capacity.
‘…He might show interest sooner than expected.’
Until now, I had repeatedly urged Watson not to publicly announce my involvent in solving cases.
However, a murder had occurred at the Debutante Ball, an event that attracted the attention of the entire London Murim, and I was reported as the detective who had solved it.
“……”
In truth, I had trouble sleeping because I was bothered by the inclusion of a certain person’s initials in the article from last night’s testimony.
The information that I was involved in solving the case was leaked to the reporter by a witness who calls herself I.A.
I.A. is the initials of the woman who handed a handkerchief yesterday.
This is undoubtedly a ssage.
No matter how I think about it, it seems like it’s ant for .
The reporter probably received money from her.
If I find him, he will tell the whereabouts of the woman who bribed him.
This too would have been part of her instructions.
Really, what should I say?
There’s a limit to underestimating .
‘I was planning to find her in due ti without using such botherso thods.’
Seeing how she even prepared insurance like that, she must be quite interested in .
Irene Adler. An opera singer born in Arica.
Having reached the pinnacle of sonic arts at a young age, she perford as a prima donna at the Russian Imperial Theater before moving to London, where she beca a socialite.
But that is rely her outward identity.
Before the regression, the woman I knew was a VIP client consulting with Jas Moriarty; in other words, a criminal.
In this world, that fact likely hasn’t changed much.
Still, I needed to find out exactly how she was operating in London.
‘It seems a bit awkward to go see her right now.’
I wanted to catch her and make her confess everything she knew about Moriarty, but the timing wasn’t right yet.
In the past, I engaged in a battle of wits with her and lost.
That incident remained one of my few failures, and I intended not to repeat the sa mistake.
Since Irene Adler is Moriarty’s client, seeking her out inevitably ans exposing my existence to Moriarty.
If the incidents I’ve experienced so far unfold similarly in this world, we’ll eventually et again.
Going to find her after preparing to so extent to counter Moriarty’s sches wouldn’t be too late.
Of course, if she seeks out first, I’ll have to think of a way to use it to my advantage.
For now, I need to use the fact that I’ve piqued Irene Adler’s interest to my benefit as much as possible.
‘…Having my na in the newspaper isn’t necessarily a bad thing.’
Although I was planning to operate quietly so as not to catch Moriarty’s attention, seeing my na in the article was unsettling, but upon reflection, it wasn’t entirely bad.
As a competent consulting detective, making a na for myself can provide the continuous inco necessary to sustain my current lifestyle.
And just as before my return, I can build connections with the high-ranking officials who need my help.
Since I’ve already been invited to the Buckingham Palace ball,
it would be advantageous in many ways to leave a deep impression on Her Majesty the Queen and other social leaders.
“……”
Of course, I am soone who absolutely detests such occasions, but this ti, I have no choice.
‘I can’t go up against Moriarty alone with just Watson…’
He is not alone.
Jas Moriarty is the Napoleon of cri, possessing organizational power and embedding subordinates in various social classes to dominate Europe’s underworld.
Just as Her Majesty Victoria is a master of the Unrestrained realm, Moriarty and his subordinates are likely to possess formidable martial power as well.
If Moriarty in this world has beco more dangerous than before my return, I must prepare thoroughly and face the battle accordingly.
Neither Watson nor I will survive unless we beco stronger.
“…Watson.”
In fact, compared to other prodigies of similar age, it was difficult to say that Watson was strong yet.
Despite having talent and not neglecting training, she had not overco the barrier due to the Nine Yin-Qi Nails.
In other words, if the ridian disorder could be cured, Watson could reach a much higher level than she is at now.
Thus, healing Watson not only ans saving her life but also gaining a reliable and strong companion.
‘I must share every elixir infused with Yang energy with Watson.’
Even removing just one of the nine nails has noticeably improved Watson’s health condition.
Watson never showed it in front of , but the day after using even a little internal energy, she was invariably pale and could barely eat.
However, now, not only her digestive functions and blood circulation but also the efficiency of her internal energy operation have generally improved.
Even the leg that was always limping is moving much more naturally than before.
‘The injury from the Jezail Sword Technique that hadn’t healed was probably due to the influence of the ridian disorder.’
Yesterday, she seed much more comfortable moving up the stairs than before.
Perhaps by the ti she has removed three or four nails of Yin energy, she won’t need a cane anymore, even if she can’t run.
If I put it this way, it might seem like the symptoms weren’t severe to begin with, but that’s how ridian disorders are.
It might look like a mild ailnt now, but as ti passes, the symptoms rapidly worsen, leading to sudden seizures and premature death—that’s the ridian disorder.
‘It’s a rare disease, so without the relevant knowledge, one might mistake it for a common ailnt and die unexpectedly.’
Of course, even with knowledge, the survival rate is low because it requires an imnse amount of elixirs and a martial artist of my caliber to guide the True energy.
In curing the Nine Yin-Qi Nails, it is crucial to repeat the treatnt without failure, little by little.
Just like how the final bullet’s landing point changes significantly by adjusting the angle of the gun barrel multiple tis.
I must save Watson from the fate of death through repeated treatnts.
If I fail to cure Jane Watson’s ridian disorder, I will never forgive myself.
I feel guilty towards John Watson, who is still alive sowhere in the world, and Jane Watson is already my dear friend.
‘At least we can catch our breath for a mont.’
The fortunate thing is that this treatnt extended Watson’s expected lifespan slightly.
More importantly, Watson’s condition improved, and her energy grew through the treatnt.
This was due to absorbing the seasoned pill and dissolving the needle, which not only provided a large amount of Yang energy but also released the Yin energy bound in the ridians.
Overall, the quantity and quality of her internal energy have increased, making her much stronger than before attending the Debutante Ball.
‘I don’t want her to get involved, but Watson won’t stay still.’
Perhaps it’s because she returned from crossing death’s line on the battlefield, or maybe it’s because her peculiar constitution always made her conscious of death.
Watson was always ready to fight.
She chose to confront the Dead Man of the archfiend Frankenstein.
Watson is a proud martial artist before she is a woman.
Even if she learns what sort of person Moriarty is, she will want to fight alongside .
So.
“I can’t just sit still either.”
If Moriarty perceives as an enemy, he will certainly try to threaten those close to .
I can’t allow such a thing to happen.
Fortunately, Watson wasn’t the only one who grew stronger during the process of treating the ridian disorder.
“…I should test this.”
-Wooong!
The pure internal energy accumulated through the Lionheart thod began to vibrate my right hand.
The realization I gained while treating Watson imdiately elevated the level of so martial arts I had learned.
For example.
“1200 Inch Punch.”
I extended my fist towards the doorway leading to the stairs.
To greet the intruder who had been waiting eagerly for an opportunity from earlier.
TL/N: The original quote is as follows—Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets. ️
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