Dance, as if you have cast a stealth technique.

Love, as if you have never been wounded.

Sing, as if your acupoints have been pierced.

Live. You are beautiful.

–Mark Twain

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Not long after Irene Adler disappeared to prepare for her performance, the sound of trumpets echoed, officially announcing the start of the Debutante Ball.

“By the grace of God, Her Majesty Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Protector of the Faith, Grand Duchess of Hanover, Princess of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Empress of India, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of George IV, Knight of the Garter, Knight of the Thistle, Knight of St. Patrick, Knight of Bath, Knight of St. Michael and St. George, Knight of British India, Knight of Indian Merit, Knight of the Indian Star, Knight of the Royal Victoria and Albert, Knight of the Indian Empire, Knight of the Indian Throne, Knight of Military Merit, Knight of the Victoria Royal, and the Sword Queen of the Gibraltar Temple,

Her Majesty Queen Victoria has arrived!”

First, an official title never heard since the Debutante Ball was proclaimed, and the door to the Sword Queen’s private waiting room opened.

Her Majesty the Queen donned a luxurious ceremonial robe prepared for the official occasion, not the outdated dress she wore at the Debutante Ball.

Through the Rejuvenation technique, she appeared no older than twenty, rejuvenated, but the dignity emanating from her small frame was more than fitting for the title of the Supreme Ruler of Britain.

The mischievous and human face she showed earlier when she came out on the first floor and teased the Zion Clan priest was nowhere to be seen.

As the queen who rules Great Britain, now welcoming the guests, she was a flawless sage.

Before the radiant authority shining from the Ruyi Scepter 1 in her left hand, all the British that were present knelt.

“Isn’t the atmosphere completely different from when we saw her earlier?”

“It is a virtue to act differently depending on time and place. From now on, no matter what anyone says, this is an official occasion where she must act as a monarch.”

Following Her Majesty’s appearance, other members of the royal family also appeared one after another.

Edward, Prince of Wales, who had been regarded as less talented than his eldest sister but ultimately became the official heir.

And the second son, Duke of Edinburgh Alfred, the Duke of Connaught and Strathern Arthur, and the fourth son Leopold, who is to be married next year.

Though the eldest daughter Victoria, who became Empress of the German Empire, and others who left abroad were not present, the other children responded to their mother’s call and attended the ball.

Including Crown Prince Edward, who was called a lout, all looked at the attendees with perfect composure.

The royal family of Great Britain is intact.

The royal family’s appearance, asserting this before those gathered at the court ball both domestic and abroad, instilled pride in the people of England.

From the aura emitted by the princes who had undergone relentless training and gained real combat experience in the military, one could glimpse the level they had reached.

Though I had considered the tradition of displaying power externally inefficient, I could not help but respect that strength as a fellow martial artist.

“Only monsters have gathered here.”

“Monsters? It would be better to refrain from such disrespectful remarks.”

Perhaps because I had excessively intimidated her beforehand, Watson had been nervously watching since earlier.

Well, it’s better than acting recklessly and getting kicked out.

Anyway, what’s important now is not trivial etiquette.

When I used my Eye Technique, I saw several guests who hadn’t even shown their faces on the first floor gathering in groups of three or five according to their clans or origins.

“This is no problem. It’s a term referring to an unspecified majority. More importantly, Watson, look around. Try to be discreet if possible.”

“Around? …Ah.”

Watson, who had been focused only on the royal family, glanced around and showed a startled expression.

“…There are many faces I did not see on the first floor.”

Powerful figures from major clans and families, such as the head disciples of the Swiss and Marseille sorcery sects and the next head of the Saxe family.

Strong warriors like Alfred Nobel, who boasts a reputation rivaling major sects by individual strength.

Even eccentric figures like Mr. Sawyer, the head of the Mississippi Wanderer Clan who wanders the martial world wearing a straw hat after discovering the secret of eternal youth.

Those who were thought never to gather in one place unless a World War broke out were assembled at the Palace.

“Just counting the faces I’ve seen in newspapers, there must be dozens. Where on earth have they been hiding?”

“They probably waited in a separate VIP lounge and came out. I think they gathered after hearing the news that the Sword Queen has reached the Unrestrained Realm level.”

Masters with formidable reputations, none to be underestimated, deliberately avoided people’s eyes and leaned against the walls, watching the queen.

Was it to celebrate the birth of another Unrestrained Realm master, or to kindle rivalry aiming at the Sword Queen?

It was not easy to guess all their reasons for coming to Buckingham, but one thing was certain: there was no sign of intimidation in their eyes when looking at the royal family members.

“…This is going to get interesting.”

As the strong representatives of the Orthodox sects silently ignited their fighting spirit toward each other, I, walking the forgotten Demonic path, could not conceal my excitement.

Someday, a day may come when I witness their martial arts and cross swords with them.

Of course, this would not be to take each other’s lives but to sharpen each other’s blades and ascend to higher levels.

Rather than suffering a humiliating defeat and bitter realization in the process, one must win proudly.

After all, these are opponents my master has defeated at least once.

If I, the successor, were to lose, I would be mocked by my master.

“I welcome your visit.”

As I looked up at the giants of the European Murim and steeled myself, the Sword Queen’s clear voice resonated.

“Today, enjoy the ball to your heart’s content, observing rules and manners.”

The brief greeting, free from formality, announced the official start of the ball.

“Your grace is boundless…!”

-Chak!

The paired martial artists simultaneously saluted with their swords.

“Glory to the path ahead of Great Britain.”

At last, Murim began to dance.

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While the music for the first sword dance echoed in the ballroom, former prima donna Irene Norton, real name Irene Adler, who was preparing a special performance in the adjacent waiting room, was engrossed in looking into the mirror.

The spotless dressing table mirror. She leaned in as if to enter it, sticking out her tongue longly, doing what?

“Ouch…”

She was checking the tongue she had bitten after being struck on the crown by a tray moments ago.

“I’m bleeding.”

Bright lights shone, but her pupils were wide as if in darkness.

The hollow eyes, incongruent with her elegant and innocent peony-like smile, revealed her true self hidden beneath the mask of a songstress.

“What are you going to do? Seriously.”

The precious blood of the Afternoon Tea Party, operating in the shadows of Europe, was leaking out of her body.

Irene tasted the blood flowing from the wound on her tongue and quietly controlled her rising emotions.

At first, she thought it was anger.

But Irene Adler soon precisely identified the nature of that feeling.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this much pain.”

How long had it been?

She, who had subdued countless enemies in the shadows without ever revealing her identity or getting hurt, now bled and felt pain.

Even when she playfully confronted the Little Heavenly Demon Sherlock Holmes, who was at a higher level, she left without a single internal injury.

Yet now, she was struck by a fallen silver tray at the Palace and bit her tongue.

“Only a lifelong partner is allowed to shed a lady’s blood.”

Irene wiped the blood from her mouth with her index finger and licked her fingertip again with her tongue.

-Schlurp!

Because the Tsar came to Britain searching for clues about the stolen ‘egg’, the Afternoon Tea Party rushed their plan, and the first attempt to tighten the leash on Sherlock Holmes ended in failure.

But this was also a stratagem to make him careless.

After all, the Afternoon Tea Party is not a clan that relies on force to achieve its goals.

It is enough to slowly entangle the opponent with a spiderweb through multiple attempts until they cannot even breathe.

Thinking so, they relaxed, but now the situation had changed.

“I guess I have to take responsibility?”

No one lets a dog they raise bite their finger.

To tame a sword that bites the owner’s hand, somewhat violent means are sometimes necessary.

“Wilson.”

“Yes, Clan Leader.”

When Adler called his name, the elderly butler appeared from the corner of the waiting room, which had no shadows.

Wilson is a powerful figure of the Afternoon Tea Party who carries out Irene Adler’s orders.

In his hand was a smooth silk pouch.

“The plan has changed. I intend to tighten the leash a bit more.”

“…Are you sure? Even so, the Sword Queen and many martial artists are watching.”

“We won’t be caught. We won’t leave any evidence.”

Wilson firmly sealed his lips.

He knew that Adler’s confidence always had a basis.

The secret techniques passed down from generations only to the Afternoon Tea Party leader were divine martial arts that could harm people without leaving any trace if certain conditions were met.

Since childhood, she had shown innate talent only in voice-based sound techniques.

Having opened her minor meridians and trained relentlessly, Irene Adler had reached a level of handling poison weapons more delicately than her predecessor Afternoon Tea Party leader.

No matter how many stronger martial artists than her there were that surrounded her, none could unravel the secret of this Kung-Fu.

Even the Little Heavenly Demon would not know what had struck him while bleeding.

“…Shall I release ‘that’ before the song starts?”

“No. Let him enjoy a few verses. I’ll cut through his eardrums anyway.”

Watching the Clan Leader spin happily with a smile, declaring blood must be shed, the butler once again realized how twisted his master was.

No matter if the opponent is the Little Heavenly Demon, he cannot escape this mysterious Kung-Fu.

“Either collapse on the spot with seven acupoints pierced, or flee during the performance showing a disgraceful figure and be expelled from the Palace.”

Once Irene starts singing, the Little Heavenly Demon will face one of these two fates.

“Your orders will be obeyed.”

Though the waiting room door did not open, the butler’s reflection in the mirror had vanished.

The Special Maid Corps hiding in the ceiling to watch the songstress could not hear a single word of the conversation between her and the butler due to the strange sound technique power wielded by the Afternoon Tea Party leader.

1. TL/N: A Ruyi scepter is a Chinese curved decorative object that serves as either a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talisman symbolizing power and good fortune in Chinese folklore. ️