A female master is born from the collaboration of an immortal and the Heavenly Demon.

–William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus

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“Did your bet go well?”

“No? Not at all.”

The butler pushed up his monocle.

Though he had served the master for a long time, it was still difficult to gauge Irene’s mood.

As she mentioned failing at gambling, asking more about what happened could lead to unfavorable results.

Wilson nodded lightly and was about to leave the room, but his master’s voice held him back.

“Don’t worry. I’m not particularly upset or anything right now.”

Wilson turned back to face Irene.

Because of the inscrutable smile that always clung to her face, Irene often informed her close aides of her mood for smooth communication.

Saying she wasn’t upset meant she was willing to continue the conversation.

Wilson asked Irene again.

“…It seems something good happened.”

Irene nodded slightly.

After quitting her career as an opera singer, the young lady often complained of boredom and had just returned from observing the Debutante Ball at Willis Room.

Of course, she hadn’t been formally invited.

She had merely paid the Almack’s gatekeeper guarding the secret passage to enter the secret audience seat and placed a bet on the martial arts of the Super Juniors.

As the master of the Afternoon Tea Party1, she had no reason to be concerned over small change.

Like the racetrack, the gambling hall was a social venue where gentlemen and ladies exchanged greetings.

Her purpose was to mingle with other upper-class figures who secretly came to watch the Debutante Ball.

To the leader of the Afternoon Tea Party, who deals with information, connections were like a sword, and those who neglected the maintenance of their weapon would lose their standing in London Murim.

“A detective.”

“…?”

But at the next moment, when an unexpected word came out of the master’s mouth, the butler’s eyes wavered.

“A detective, you mean the parasites that thrive on the incompetence of Scotland Yard?”

“Yes.”

Irene nodded nonchalantly, as if it was the expected reaction.

“I cannot understand. That the Leader would show interest in such a breed.”

The detectives Wilson thought of were those who, lacking intelligence and possessing only meager martial skills, touted their profession.

In London, those who claimed to be detectives exploited the security vacuum caused by a lack of official personnel and infrastructural bias, extracting exorbitant fees from clients.

Ironically, most of them were second or third-rate martial artists, committing acts no different from criminals under the pretext of solving cases the police couldn’t handle.

For this reason, Wilson’s view of detectives being akin to the hyenas of Southern Africa feasting on corpses was something Irene could easily empathize with.

However, this time seemed a bit different.

“Not just any detective. A consulting detective.”

Consulting detective. A term quite unfamiliar.

It seemed to be a newly emerging profession.

“Quick-witted and strong.”

“…Then it’s even more advisable not to get deeply involved.”

Considering Irene Adler used the term ‘strong’, this consulting detective must have reached at least the Peak or Transcendence realm.

And not just that.

Wilson had only witnessed the leader of the Afternoon Tea Party praise someone’s intelligence twice.

The first was the leader of the Church Of Asteroid.

The second was the consulting detective just mentioned.

“Why?”

“Why would someone as knowledgeable as you…?”

Irene flashed a sly smile at Wilson, who was touching his forehead instead of answering.

“If it’s someone I need, it’s a different story.”

Weighing risks and rewards was her forte.

Wilson recalled the time when Irene took over the position after the previous leader of the Afternoon Tea Party passed away.

Irene had tested Wilson and was satisfied with the results.

Even as various elders and protectors were replaced, Wilson retained his position for this very reason.

He speculated that she might be thinking similarly about the consulting detective this time as well.

Of course, he couldn’t quite understand it.

“Is he really necessary? That consulting detective?”

The Afternoon Tea Party had a completely different nature from typical clans.

Their martial arts were designed to protect their bases, which existed in a nodal organization form, rather than confronting external clans or individuals.

Wilson thought it was far more beneficial to welcome someone with influence and intelligence into the clan rather than an individual with outstanding martial prowess and strategy.

If it were simply about recruiting a member for the Afternoon Tea Party, there were better options, like a political giant.

The Afternoon Tea Party dealt with a softer power, more flexible than the Tai-chi of Wu-Tang.

A group that handles extensive information but possesses ambiguous strength would only cause their clients in the Orthodox and Unorthodox Murim to become wary.

Is it really necessary to take on such a risk just to sway a mere detective?

“You know, Wilson.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Have you ever heard of someone called the Heavenly Demon?”

The problem was that Irene had once again brought up an unexpected term.

Following the consulting detective, the Heavenly Demon.

Wilson’s brain momentarily stopped as he struggled to understand the order and combination.

“The Heavenly Demon? If it’s the urban legend, then a few times.”

“Urban legend?”

“Yes. Embarrassingly, I can’t recall the details. I’ve only heard the most ridiculous stories.”

Street Gossip, alleyway rumors.

The tale of the martial artist known as the Heavenly Demon had spread across Europe like an urban legend or ghost story for decades.

The story of a masked recluse wandering the martial world in search of someone who could defeat him was romantic enough for listeners.

People said that the Heavenly Demon.

Would indiscriminately visit the headquarters of clans to challenge them to duels.

He absorbed every martial art he encountered as his own.

It was said that no one dared to oppose him.

Some claimed he was the greatest sword in England.

Even Queen Victoria could not defeat him, though Wilson dismissed this as absurd nonsense.

Nothing was known about the Heavenly Demon’s wanderings because he supposedly took honor lightly, was elusive, and conducted duels away from prying eyes, but it was all nonsense.

“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but most of the rumors going around are true.”

“That can’t be.”

“It doesn’t matter how much people exaggerated. The Heavenly Demon is stronger than that.”

“……”

Irene’s voice was filled with conviction.

Wilson, unable to dismiss the leader’s words as mere bluster, could only nod quietly.

The leader enjoys jokes but has never uttered nonsense when it comes to information.

Clearly, she must know something unknown to Wilson to speak with such certainty.

“I’m sure. It was the same technique I saw back then…”

A faint fervor was evident in Irene Adler’s eyes as she muttered to herself.

“No matter how vast Europe is, the only one who can oppose him is the Heavenly Demon.”

Wilson’s eyes widened.

Irene’s intention was clear.

She had found a way to take revenge on the enemy who took the life of the former leader of the Afternoon Tea Party.

As Wilson, who was his closest confidant, it was a welcome story.

However, that was only if Irene’s plan was feasible.

“I apologize for saying this, but even if the Leader’s words are true, isn’t it decades since the Heavenly Demon was active?”

“That’s right.”

“Then there’s a possibility that his skills have declined due to aging, or he might have died—”

“There were sightings just a few years ago, weren’t there? I should have mentioned that I’m one of the people who has seen the Heavenly Demon directly.”

“You saw the Heavenly Demon in person?”

With a more assured expression than ever, Irene nodded.

“His only disciple appeared before my eyes today. If fate exists, this must be it.”

The detective the leader mentioned earlier was indeed the disciple of the Heavenly Demon.

“Whether the Heavenly Demon is alive or dead does not matter. If it is his disciple, Sherlock Holmes, the Little Heavenly Demon, he can fulfill our long-held wish.”

“Is he worthy to be your blade, Leader?”

“Let us test him. If his master, the Heavenly Demon, were alive, I would have him find him. If that’s difficult, I’ll have to tame the Little Heavenly Demon who succeeded him.”

“What if, what if you can’t have him? If he were to uncover the secrets of the Afternoon Tea Party—”

“Well, if he acts impudently without knowing his place…”

Irene Adler unfolded the fan in her hand to cover her mouth.

“Perhaps a little education is in order?”

Her crescent-shaped eyes spoke volumes, even more than her sweet voice.

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The following afternoon, Watson and I leisurely departed from 221b Baker Street.

We carefully boarded the carriage, ensuring the seasoned pill2 of the Unicorn Salamander was safely encased.

Engaging in various conversations, we traveled for a full fifty minutes before finally reaching our destination.

“Is this the place where the elixir for Her Majesty is researched?”

The first sight that greeted us as we disembarked was Kew Gardens located in Richmond, southwest London.

Though my whole body felt restless from the long sitting, the thought of the previous night’s efforts being worthwhile lightened my spirits.

However, alleviating the side effects of the Lionheart Method wasn’t as easy.

Even while riding in the carriage, I had to resist the terrible temptation to break the glass case and swallow the pill.

Had I not been an intellectual and self-controlled English gentleman, I might have already leaped over the fence of Kew Gardens visible before us.

“Five minutes to three. Shall we head to the shop?”

Though the urge to explore Kew Gardens was strong, today we had a different purpose for leaving home.

“There it is, in sight.”

The place we arrived at was a tea room with a sign that read Newens.

The building, made of vivid red bricks, was small but elegant, and the interior visible through the glass windows was filled with patrons who had come to enjoy afternoon tea.

However, saying they were enjoying it might have been a bit misleading.

A significant number of the patrons inside were drinking elixir tea and immediately beginning Breath Control.

“Everyone seems quite diligent.”

In this world’s London, it has become fashionable to hold tea time for cultivation in tea rooms to enhance one’s internal energy.

This was because one could leave behind the distractions of home and refine their internal energy in a quiet place while enjoying high-quality elixir tea and snacks.

“I hope there’s still a seat available.”

“Don’t worry. Our spot is already reserved.”

After reassuring Watson and opening the door, an elegant aroma tickled my nose.

Indeed, the stories about the excellent snacks here seemed to be true.

Since Newens began operations 31 years ago, there were two major reasons why it had been consistently popular among London’s gentlemen and ladies.

First, they had recreated the secret recipes for the bread and pastries favored by the gourmet Henry VIII.

Second, there was a special space open only to the upper class or wealthy professionals.

“Excuse me.”

I approached the attendant and stated the purpose of our visit.

“I’d like to rent the Private Party Room for about three days.”

Here, Watson and I intend to commence the treatment for Nine Yin-Qi Nails.

1. TL/N: Name of the Hao Sect/Gate ️

2. TL/N: Inner core ️