1836: I Became a Literary Giant in Great Britain

Chapter 138 Holmes Ignites New York

"Top Secret Scotland Yard Files?"

Upon hearing this, Bennett immediately lowered his legs from the table.

He was a newspaper tycoon who made his fortune by selling "yellow news".

His keen sense of smell immediately picked up on a familiar scent in Harper's words.

It exudes an aura that promises huge sales!

This immediately piqued his interest.

Bennett quickly reached out and picked up the manuscript.

The feel of the paper told him that it was indeed a product from England.

In fact, Bennett was no stranger to Britain.

Because he was born in Scotland and immigrated to the United States in 1819.

It's fair to say that these days, a significant portion of America's talent pool comes from population exports from Britain...

A Study in Scarlet

Bennett glanced at the title and then turned to the first page of the article.

"In 1831, I received my Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of London."

"What does this say? What's the case?"

The opening was so unremarkable that Bennett almost threw the manuscript back to Harper.

But he still patiently continued reading.

After all, Harper came all this way; it's not like he would be the one to make fun of him.

When the strange man named Sherlock Holmes appeared, Bennett's brow furrowed immediately.

"Beating corpses with sticks in the autopsy room? Just to see bruises?"

He muttered to himself, feeling that this matter was starting to get interesting.

When Bennett read about the crime scene on Lauriston Garden Street, he saw the German word "RACH" written in blood on the wall.

When “E”.

His breathing suddenly became rapid.

That's it! This tastes just right!

This is exactly what his readers love to read!

Mysterious, bloody, and with a touch of exoticism.

This case alone provides a foundation for a big hit.

Bennett continued reading the manuscript, and when he came to Holmes's analysis of cigar ash, soil type, and rut width.

Bennett could no longer sit still.

He began to believe Harper's claim that these were top-secret files leaked from Scotland Yard.

This doesn't seem like something a novelist could make up at all.

This is so real, it's almost frighteningly real.

Every detail is so precise it's outrageous.

If this is something a novelist could write, then he would be willing to pay a hefty sum to hire him!

Let him create as much "news" as possible.

"How is it?"

Seeing Bennett's absorbed reaction, Harper felt even more confident in Michelle's plan.

""

Bennett did not answer.

He looked up and examined Harper with a completely new gaze.

"Harper, you bastard, where did you get this thing from?"

"I told you, a retired London policeman."

Harper repeated the lie without batting an eye.

The two stared at each other for a full ten seconds.

The only sound in the office was the dull hum of the printing press coming from next door.

Bennett smiled.

He put the manuscript back on the table, like a hungry wolf that had spotted a plump prey.

"I don't care if it's true or false."

"Starting tomorrow, it will be on the front page of the New York Herald!"

"but."

Bennett then changed the subject.

"Words alone are not exciting enough."

"We need something that even illiterate dockworkers can understand."

Harper understood immediately.

"I've already had someone draw it."

He pulled out several sketches from the other side of the folder.

One image shows the eerie exterior of a haunted house, another shows a horrifying scene of a corpse lying on the ground, and the third is a close-up of the bloody word "RACHE" on the wall.

There was even a forged reward notice bearing the emblem of the Metropolitan Police.

He had already forged these things and made all the necessary preparations.

Anyway, British law has no jurisdiction over our free America.

Bennett's eyes were frighteningly bright.

"Harper, you're a born liar."

"Likewise, Mr. Bennett."

The two exchanged a smile, their laughter filled with the satisfaction of a successful conspiracy.

They hit it off immediately and reached a cooperation agreement after exchanging some benefits.

A few days later, in the early morning in New York.

A ragged, thin newsboy waved the latest issue of the New York Herald and shouted at the corner of the street.

His voice pierced the city's dawn and ignited the curiosity of the entire city of New York.

"Top Secret Scotland Yard Files Leaked! Horrific Murder in London!"

Mysterious words written in blood have been discovered in a haunted house; the culprit's motive remains a mystery!

"Come and see! The shocking secret the British Empire is trying to cover up!"

These sales pitches immediately captured the curiosity of New Yorkers.

The secret files of Scotland Yard, that sounds incredibly exciting!

At this time, the relationship between Britain and the United States was still very delicate.

It was both the former suzerain state and one of its biggest rivals.

Overall, Americans have very mixed feelings about Britain.

We must see the scandal that Britain is trying to cover up.

What's more, the Herald only costs one cent a copy.

You won't lose out, you won't be cheated.

So, several people immediately bought that issue of the Herald and began reading it.

Once you start reading, you'll be hooked on "A Study in Scarlet"...

They were completely captivated by this bizarre case that had occurred in London, England.

To enhance realism, Harper, following Michelle's instructions, hired an artist to create numerous on-site sketches based on the manuscript.

A gloomy, empty house; the distorted face of the deceased; and bright red words written in blood on the wall...

These rough yet impactful illustrations complement the text perfectly, maximizing the reader's sense of immersion.

The New York Herald even published a fake "London Police reward notice" offering a £50 reward for any information about the word "RACHE".

For American readers in 1837, Sherlock Holmes's "deductive reasoning" was nothing short of a revolutionary technology from outer space.

In their limited understanding, they had never encountered such a scientific method of solving crimes.

This made them even more convinced that it was a top-secret file leaked by Scotland Yard.

Otherwise, how could they have such advanced reasoning methods?

So, it only took three days.

The entire city of New York, from the docks to the Broadway theaters, was filled with a name no one had ever heard of before.

Sherlock Holmes.

The name, through a report in the New York Herald that cost only a penny, permeated every corner of the city.

Discussions about Sherlock Holmes continued to unfold in every corner of the city.

In an Irish pub in Lower Manhattan, this was the topic of conversation among the workers who had finished a long day of hard labor.

It's no longer a complaint about the foreman's harshness and meager wages, but a completely new case.

They sat together, arguing animatedly over cheap whiskey.

The argument got so heated that their faces even turned red.

"If you ask me, that guy named Sherlock Holmes is definitely a wizard!"

"I've heard that there are many wizards over there in England..."

'

A man with a full beard shouted loudly.

"Otherwise, how could he know the doctor came from India at just one glance? How is that possible? He must be possessed by a demon!"

"You don't know anything!"

Another tall, thin man who looked somewhat cultured immediately retorted.

"Look, it's clearly written in the newspaper, that's called deductive reasoning! It's a cutting-edge science!"

"His skin color, the way he held his arms, and the haggard look on his face were all clues for deduction."

On the docks in New York, sailors rested against mooring bollards.

They no longer talked about their experiences in the New World or which place in New York offered the best value for money.

Instead, he smoked a cigarette while analyzing the case.

"RACHE, I guess that's the initials of the murderer's lover!"

"Completely wrong! That's German for 'revenge'! This is absolutely revenge!"

"I've flown German routes, trust me."

A sailor said with a smug smile.

Even in the police station, several detectives secretly huddled together, studying the cases in the newspaper.

Why not a police station? Is there one?

Yes, there really isn't.

You read that right. In 1837, New York didn't even have a proper police station.

As for maintaining public order, it relies entirely on part-time night patrol teams led by citizens and a very small number of security officers.

Therefore, the current state of public safety in New York can truly be described as a mess.

Compared to them, Scotland Yard is a role model and benchmark.

In fact, the New York Police Department was not officially established until 1845.

"Boss, look at this. It uses the depth of footprints to determine height and weight."

A young police officer pointed at the newspaper, his face full of surprise.

"If we could learn this trick, wouldn't we have caught that thief from last time much sooner?"

The sheriff then gave him a smacked tap on the head.

"Learn my ass! Get back to patrol! This is all just British bragging nonsense!"

Although he said that, he secretly stuffed the newspaper into his pocket.

After all, what the newspaper said did seem to make some sense.

Moreover, this is said to be a top-secret file leaked from Scotland Yard.

I need to learn this skill myself; I can't let the British have it all.

As Sherlock Holmes and the case spread, the sales of the New York Herald skyrocketed, much to Bennett's delight.

He has completely stopped caring about whether the case is true or false.

If it can generate sales, then it's real!

Bennett's printing presses ran 24 hours a day, yet demand still exceeded supply.

The thing people look forward to most each day is waiting for the newsboy to deliver the new issue of the newspaper so they can follow the latest developments in this real case that happened in Britain.

They followed Watson's perspective and entered the magical room at 221B Baker Street.

I saw that reclusive folk detective who played the violin, conducted strange chemical experiments, and had a withdrawn personality.

Sherlock Holmes is no longer a fictional character.

In the minds of New Yorkers in 1837, he was a real, living, London-based genius with extraordinary intellect.

The level of discussion surrounding him even surpasses that surrounding President Andrew Jackson.

Michelle, as the compiler and recorder of this archive, became known to countless Americans for the first time in an extremely mysterious manner.

People are curious about who this person is who can follow the detective and record all of this.

The case updates published in The Herald are becoming more and more gripping each day.

When Holmes was about to deduce the killer's characteristics, readers throughout New York were in an uproar.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the exciting moment of revelation.

However, just as all the readers were anticipating the next thrilling revelation and arrest scene, they turned to the end of the newspaper.

The case's progress... has come to a standstill.

Gone.

That's it?

Suddenly, furious roars echoed from countless corners of New York.

Damn the Herald!