Chapter 74: By Order Of The Queen
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Delay is like a noble thief who steals your time.
–Charles Dickens1
When more people visit the city, inn sales might temporarily increase, and the streets may become lively.
However, if a conflict erupts among those flocking to the Shaolin Temple, it’s only a matter of time before London descends into chaos.
If clashes between martial artists occur throughout London, innocent people will inevitably suffer.
“Don’t worry. Neither my master, Mycroft, nor I are loose-lipped. The secret will be kept.”
That is, if the Minister cooperates.
I swallowed the last sentence without speaking it aloud.
By now, Sir Harcourt would have understood.
If he doesn’t hand over what I want willingly, there will be trouble. “Just to clarify, the Mycroft you mentioned, is he the head of the Secret Intelligence Service?”
“Yes. Are you perhaps well-acquainted with him, sir?”
The Home Secretary quickly shook his head with a serious expression.
“I’m relieved. It’s better for one’s mental health to stay away from him. Trust me, I’m his brother.”
“…I agree. He’s not someone to meet often.”
Fortunately, the Minister was a sensible person.
If he had been close to Mycroft, I would have bolted from the office without looking back.
“So, you’re that man’s brother. Now it makes sense. You have a knack for getting what you want. It’s easy to make enemies, but if you can handle it…”
Anyway, he understands what I want.
The Minister said that and then opened a drawer to take out seven long pieces of metal.
Those seemed to be the keys to the underground passage of Scotland Yard.
“They look peculiar.”
“That’s what everyone says.”
However, the Minister only showed them to me without handing them over, and then put them back in place.
“Unfortunately, I can’t proffer these to you. Keeping the keys safe is part of my responsibility.”
“……”
Then you shouldn’t have shown them to me in the first place.
I barely managed to hold these words back with superhuman patience.
“Lending these keys will be considered when you, having gained Her Majesty’s approval, need to visit the underground for London’s safety someday.”
“That’s a tough condition.”
“This isn’t something for those who just want to satisfy their curiosity by entering the underground.”
I should wrap up the conversation about the underground here.
The Minister’s stance is firm, and there would be no gain from discussing it further.
No, just seeing the keys with my own eyes is enough of a gain.
“Alright. Let’s talk about the keys later and call it a day for now.”
“Okay. I shall send Lestrade with the Pursuit Powder later.”
After finishing my greetings with the Minister, I gathered my silk bundle and left the office.
By the time I returned to the boarding house by carriage, the sun was already setting in the west.
It seemed Watson hadn’t returned from work yet.
Since she went to work in the afternoon, she wouldn’t be back until after midnight when she switches shifts with a colleague.
‘I’ve received something valuable.’
I placed the two silk bundles I received from the minister on the desk and opened them once more.
Fabric made from Ancient Vicuña Wool.
And the horn of a Unicorn Salamander.
Just by wearing clothes made from this fabric, one could enjoy the same abilities as being bladeproof and water and fire resistant.
Moreover, since the fabric is woven solely from the wool of a single spiritual creature, no Essence loss occurs even when channeling energy.
‘…Thanks to this, the range of Kung-Fu I can use has expanded.’
Baritsu, a comprehensive martial art created by my master who didn’t want to be confined to the Eighteen Arms2 framework, included unique moves that other schools wouldn’t dare to attempt.
By unique, I don’t mean moves like Bare Knuckle or Quick Sword, which fall within relatively common sense categories.
I’m talking about Baritsu’s unique weapon moves, like:
Rain Dance, which subdues the enemy with an umbrella.
Silver Waltz, the use of a bicycle as a weapon.
Chair Shot, fighting with a chair.
And Coat Trick, deploying with an outer garment.
‘I never dared attempt Coat Trick, but now I have the opportunity.’
As the name suggests, Coat Trick is an advanced Kung-Fu that uses clothing as a weapon, excelling in both offense and defense when fighting an opponent within four yards.
When mastered, it can immobilize and neutralize the enemy in an instant without allowing any counterattack, making it akin to a Meissen Bespoke Ceramic in capturing criminals.
The only reason I haven’t used this convenient Kung-Fu in actual combat until now is just one.
“All this time, there wasn’t a sturdy enough outfit to withstand a duel to the death with a Kung-Fu criminal…”
I recalled my master, who somehow had acquired a stylish Heavenly Silk Suit.
His coat was an unbelievable item that couldn’t be easily cut even by Sword Aura.
Even if I were to face an ultimate master right now, using the Heavenly Silk Suit with the Coat Trick technique, I could easily overpower the opponent.
“Damn old man. If he had the leisure to infuse Internal Energy into Physical Combat Strength, he should have left the clothes behind.”
…It feels like just yesterday that I was resenting my master.
Finally, fortune smiled upon me, and I acquired a precious fabric that could not be bought even with a fortune.
I couldn’t openly show my joy in front of the minister, but now that I’m back at the boarding house, there’s nothing to hold me back.
As I rubbed my cheek against the soft fabric, a light sigh involuntarily escaped my lips.
“Ah…”
No matter how much they say Manner Maketh Man, having refined attire is a cardinal virtue for a gentleman living in London Murim.
Her Majesty the Queen surely wishes for someone like me, who has reached the level of a Super Junior in a wealthy Kung-Fu Noblesse or a major clan, to have attire befitting my achievements.
I placed the fabric on the desk and bowed toward Buckingham Palace.
It was a grand kowtow3, the most respectful of the Nine Styles of Bowing.
“I am eternally grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”
Thinking about visiting a tailor on Savile Row tomorrow to have my measurements taken and order clothes already makes me feel like I’m floating.
It would be embarrassing to show such an excited side to Watson, so I diluted the juice of Tianshan Snow Lotus Fruit, known for its calming effects, and injected it into my veins.
As the 7% concentrated elixir was absorbed, I felt a cool Yin Qi rushing through my meridians, cooling my head.
‘…Anyway, there’s only a month left until the ball.’
As my excitement subsided, my mind began to fill again with information about the tasks I needed to undertake.
The invitation hasn’t yet arrived, but there are just over 30 days left until the Buckingham Palace ball.
Just like at the Debutante Ball, there will not be any direct duels, but instead, I’ll have to engage in a chess match with Her Majesty.
‘Was it three years ago when I last played chess?’
I have never assessed Her Majesty’s skills, but generally, experts in the martial world are also known to be skilled in chess.
This is because chess skills are said to be proportional to one’s Kung-Fu achievements.
Therefore, considerable preparation is necessary to conduct a match that would satisfy Her Majesty.
“I need to regain my touch beforehand.”
Over the next month, in between finding ways to contact the Afternoon Tea Party, I must regain my peak chess skills.
Fortunately, I have plenty of time before Watson returns from work, and there is nothing urgent to attend to.
I began to review a collection of chess strategies I had tucked away in the corner of the bookshelf.
“Isn’t this a perfect offensive? Starting with the Queen’s Gambit, then smoothly attacking the center, followed by a swift checkmate-”
I was muttering to myself, unaware of the passing time, when I heard the sound of hooves outside the window. And the noise of wheels grinding.
“It’s not Watson.”
She had been scrupulously saving money recently, claiming she needed to borrow a dress for the Buckingham Palace Ball.
Walking to and from work instead of taking a carriage was part of such frugality. Of course, this was only possible because her legs were in better condition than before.
Considering she received a substantial reward from the Phantom Fist incident and her salary from the hospital, renting a luxurious dress for a day shouldn’t be difficult.
It seemed she might have debts at the gambling house she frequented.
“Hmm?”
However, the sound of a carriage came to a halt precisely in front of the boarding house.
It appeared to be a visitor looking for me.
If they came by carriage at this hour, they must be a client.
“That’s…”
Peeking out the window, I saw a small, pristine white two-wheeled buggy stopped at the door.
And the large emblem emblazoned on the carriage roof was a symbol that no one living in London, or rather England, could fail to recognize.
“This is serious.”
I straightened my attire in front of the mirror and hurried down the stairs.
Before the maid, who hadn’t yet left work, could open the front door, I managed to reach the first floor, ready to greet the visitor with as natural an expression and posture as possible.
“Are…are you okay?”
The maid, about to open the door, looked at me with concern.
Despite continually taking antidotes from the White Worm, she shamelessly poisoned every meal without getting tired of it.
“What are you doing? The guest is here, hurry up and open it.”
“Oh, yes.”
As soon as the dazed maid opened the door, a fierce cold wind rushed into the house.
As Mrs. Hudson, who followed the maid, shivered at the sudden chill, a visitor with a noble face caught her eye.
-Tap.
The person who entered was a woman with neatly tied-up hair and an air of nobility.
A noblewoman. From a family of considerable status.
Her position was evident just by the emblem engraved on the single-seater carriage she arrived in.
“What brings the Messenger of Buckingham to such a shabby place…?”
“…Shabby?”
Mrs. Hudson glared at me, but the visitor ignored her and abruptly produced a scroll and unfurled it.
- TL/N: The original quote is as follows—Procrastination is the thief of time; collar him ️
- TL/N: A list of the eighteen main weapons of Chinese martial arts ️
- TL/N: The Chinese style of bowing where one is on their knees and touches their forehead to the ground ️