Heavenly Demon Holmes: London’s Subjugation

When making martial garments, measure seven times and cut once.

When engaging in a duel, observe seven of the opponent’s moves and break them all with a single strike.

**–**Russian Proverb1

The emperor did not provide a straightforward answer.

I suspect that his words meant that the topic was difficult to discuss here, expressed in his own way.

“I do not intend to stay long in England. After meeting my elder in-law and giving a gift to my nephew, I will attend to a couple of matters and then return to Russia immediately.”

“Is that so.”

“I will give you the opportunity to serve me. I will leave this country three days after the ball ends. Come to Claridge’s before then. Remember, I do not offer twice.”

“I will keep that in mind.” The Tsar nodded with an expressionless face and then turned his gaze to Master Poole.

“Did you say it’ll take three months? Make sure to complete the clothes.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

After confirming the respectful bows of the two masters, Alexander III walked out of the tailor shop without looking back.

“…….”

An empty silence lingered in the emperor’s absence.

He really just said what he wanted and left.

Well, most monarchs probably treat others like that.

“…Amazing. To receive a direct recruitment offer from the Tsar.”

Meanwhile, Master Poole, who had been holding his breath and watching our conversation from start to finish, couldn’t conceal his excitement.

Even a seasoned master in the tailoring field seemed to be witnessing a royal directly recruiting an ordinary warrior for the first time.

“I have no intention of accepting. Moving is such a hassle.”

“Heh…”

I was just spouting whatever came to mind, but somehow, the two elders were showing the deepest admiration I’d seen today.

“To serve no two kings with one body, indeed… Such is the proper attitude of a gentleman.”

“I can fully understand why Sir Harcourt himself wrote you a letter of recommendation.”

“A talent like yours appearing is truly a blessing for London.”

“I promise. We will put twice the effort into making your Kung-fu attire, using the finest wool and cotton.”

“You flatter me. As someone living under Her Majesty’s grace in the Empire,

I merely said what was expected.”

I wasn’t entirely sure, but it seemed they were misunderstanding me in a positive light.

I felt like correcting them, but since they offered to put extra effort into making my Kung-fu attire, it was best to hold my tongue for now.

In truth, while the attire was important, I couldn’t stop thinking about what the Tsar had said.

‘By Claridge’s, then it’s indeed that place.’

There was only one place that came to mind upon hearing that name.

Claridge’s Hotel in Mayfair, renowned for maintaining close ties with Buckingham Palace since the ‘60s, is famous for hosting foreign monarchs and important guests.

Even the grand nickname “Buckingham’s Annex“ speaks volumes about its prestige.

‘Since the House of Hanover and the Romanovs are related by marriage, it’s only natural for the hotel to offer a room.’

Thus, it was perfectly natural for the Tsar to be staying at Claridge’s Hotel.

Maybe the real residence is somewhere entirely different, and the emperor’s subordinate might still be waiting for me at the inn.

And the term “elder in-law” refers to an elder of a higher rank from the in-law family.

The current Duchess of Edinburgh, Maria Alexandrovna, is the sister of Alexander III.

Her husband is the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Ulster and Kent, which means

he is Alfred Ernest Albert, the second son of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

The marriage of the century, achieved despite the opposition of Her Majesty the Queen and the late Tsar Alexander II, continues with considerable noise and functions as a link between the British and Russian Empires.

The main reason Alexander III, who had just completed the 40-day mourning period of the Russian Orthodox Church for his father, appeared in London was undoubtedly to handle diplomatic matters that needed coordination with the Hanoverian royal family, his in-laws.

Visiting a tailor was naturally to order the ceremonial attire for the street parade after the coronation and the coronation itself a few years later.

‘Seeing that he is even considering a gift for his nephew, it seems that the rumors of his special love for family are true.’

It was an aspect that couldn’t be imagined just by looking at his cold exterior.

What concerned me the most was the “couple of errands” he mentioned, which, being separate from discussions with the British royal family, suggested they were matters unrelated to diplomatic issues.

The fact that he showed interest in my ability to reveal his identity, even after a brief observation, likely means he wants to use me immediately.

Although I can’t be certain yet, I felt the scent of a case tickling the tip of my nose.

After the royal ball next month, I honestly wanted to approach the Tsar and discuss becoming a criminal advisor client.

But before that, first―

“Then, may I check the fabric you brought before taking your measurements? I heard it’s a precious item, so I was looking forward to it.”

I should handle my business first.

“Alright.”

I placed the silk bundle on the table.

As I untied the knot, joy spread across the faces of the two masters.

“……”

“……”

The two masters, who had been holding their breaths for a moment, quickly opened a drawer and took out monocles without prompting.

Fixing the lenses between their cheekbones and orbits, they leaned in close to the fabric and began to slowly stroke the dense fibers with their fingertips.

“This is…”

“Vicuña wool. On top of that, is it from a spiritual one?”

“Not just that, Cudney. Look at this. The Essence flowing from one end goes all the way to the other. It means this large amount of fabric was woven from the wool of a single creature.”

“A Vicuña of such size, could it be―”

“Ancient Vicuña Wool.”

In less than ten seconds, Masters Poole and Cudney reached the same conclusion I had when I first saw the fabric.

Indeed, their insight was befitting of England’s finest tailors.

“I’ve been in the tailoring business for a long time, but I never thought the day would come when I would handle this fabric…”

“I understand why Minister Harcourt said he would prepare the fabric separately and did not disclose detailed information.”

“If even the slightest hint of this precious fabric’s existence were to leak, the path to this place would be obstructed by the criminal and rogue factions of the Five Oceans And Seven Continents, attempting to plunder it.”

I found myself nodding unconsciously.

It was a moment that reaffirmed the meticulous nature of the Home Secretary.

The value of fabric made from the fur of the Ancient Vicuña is immeasurable.

Since it has never been released to the market, it was very obvious that its rarity alone would allow it to be traded at astronomical prices.

Beyond its collectible value, the fabric is made from the fur of a single spiritual creature, so it doesn’t suffer Essence loss when channeling internal power, significantly increasing its added value.

Especially in the case of this fabric, even considering its inherent durability, it can withstand a level of Sword aura, and when you factor in the absence of energy loss, its worth is beyond imagination.

The absence of Essence loss means that when wearing clothes made from this fabric, the protective effect of surrounding oneself with Self-Defense Qi or Protective Enhanced Qi is far more effective than with ordinary materials.

Unlike the renowned Orthodox martial artists who boldly stride down the main streets in broad daylight, for the rogue or criminal faction martial artists wandering through the darkness where blades might fly at any moment, this is akin to a second life.

And even excluding all these reasons, most martial artists are inherently unable to resist treasures, often risking their lives for the chance to possess them, so even the most righteous martial artist would find it difficult to withstand such temptation.

“If it’s the Home Secretary’s appointment, it must be certain.”

Sir Harcourt acknowledged that the tailors at Henry Poole were discreet, but to eliminate any potential variables, he kept the details of the fabric hidden until the end.

However, he was confident that the Poole tailors could handle the Ancient Vicuña Wool fabric they had never seen before.

Henry Poole and Samuel Cudney were veterans who had crafted hundreds of uniforms from various fabrics over decades. Newest update provıded by novel⦿fire.net

Among the clothes they had handled were luxurious masterpieces made from the pelts of spiritual creatures.

The Home Secretary decided to entrust the tailors with the challenging spiritual fabric because he trusted their history and craftsmanship.

“However, you can rest assured now.”

“Does that mean there’s a way to protect the fabric?”

“Indeed. Shall we start with the measurements?”

I nodded.

Curiosity piqued, but trusting they’d explain in due time, I took off my coat.

“Please stand comfortably. Let’s begin.”

The moment Cudney finished speaking―

-Swish!

A measuring tape imbued with internal energy slithered over my body like a snake.

Shoulders, sleeve length, vest length, back length, total length, back width, front width, chest circumference, midsection circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, trouser length, thigh, trouser hem circumference.

Even though the tailors didn’t lift a finger, the two tapes swiftly measured my body and returned to their owner.

“…?!”

The speed was beyond imagination, leaving my body frozen.

It took a moment to understand what had happened.

‘They’re using Poltergeist… But the speed and precision defy common sense.’

The movement of the two tapes was beyond the reach of my skills.

If the two masters had been assassins, and what they were holding were hidden weapons instead of measuring tapes, I would have been seriously injured.

Of course, this is assuming I hadn’t managed to activate my Self-Defense Qi in time, but it was a testament to the astonishing prowess of the elderly tailors.

It’s refreshing to feel a sense of respect for these elderly masters who use their Kung-fu skills solely to create protective Kung-Fu attire for the human body.

“Indeed, the nickname ‘Tailor Swift’ doesn’t seem to be a baseless title.”

“For those of us who aren’t part of the martial world, it’s a name that’s more than we deserve.”

The two masters of Henry Poole’s tailor shop were civilians, yet they were widely known in the martial world.

Tailor Swift.

Even just witnessing their technique of handling the measuring tape with Poltergeist, completing the sewing at an imperceptible speed, proves that the origin of their nickname is nothing but the truth.

And then, the words that followed from Master Poole surprised me once more.

“Then, would you please take a moment to warm up, great hero?”

What’s this? Are they challenging me to a fight?

1. TL/N: Original quote: Семь раз отмерь, один раз отрежь / Measure seven times, cut once ️