The fairy maid cheers for her deceased master today.

One hundred pounds! That's a whole one hundred pounds!

The next day, when he received the money bag delivered by the Knights Templar of the Church, Ax was relatively calm, but Angel had already circled the money bag several times and was grinning foolishly.

Despite appearing calm, Ax was actually quite tempted.

Based on common sense and fragmented memories from before his transmigration, one hundred pounds was of great significance to a small-scale mechanical workshop owner like himself.

It's important to understand that one hundred pounds is equivalent to nearly four years' worth of total income for an average worker. One hundred pounds, if considered an annual income, would already place one in the upper-middle class.

This extra income means that the equipment that X had previously consumed in the equivalent exchange can be replenished as much as possible, thus maintaining the normal operation of the workshop.

There's even a surplus that makes life better. If only there were no debts...

Although as a dead man, X can't really enjoy life... just imagining it still feels wonderful.

Axe took the money pouch from the Templar Knight, his fingers tracing its fabric. It felt heavy. Angel peeked out, her blue eyes shining as if they had just been wiped clean.

"Master! So much money!"

As soon as the Templar Knights took their leave, Ex immediately tore open the bag.

The gold coins gleamed warmly in the candlelight. He quickly counted them. A full hundred. Yes, Samuel was truly generous.

Samuel was such a good man.

"How many strawberry candies can we buy?" Angel counted on her fingers.

Ax ignored her. His mind raced with calculations. The workshop needed three yards of brass tubing, six shillings per yard. Half a pound of silver wire, two pounds and ten shillings. A set of gears, seven pounds. And to rebuild the machine they'd already used, there was still…

"Master?" Angel tugged at his sleeve.

Ex instinctively waved to interrupt, continuing to calculate the money. The toolbox was broken and needed replacing; three pounds. Two pieces of the chandelier were missing; repairs would cost one pound. Angel needed ice-attribute evolution items to grow, but they were expensive; he might as well buy five shillings for now…

"Master!" Angel jumped up.

X finally looked up: "Huh? What?"

"When are we going shopping!"

Angel couldn't wait any longer.

This suddenly startled Ex.

He suddenly remembered that he had used Angel's hair clip before.

I recalled the day before yesterday at the Crystal Palace, when Angel stared blankly at the jewelry exhibits. Those hair clips, studded with tiny diamonds, sparkled like stars under the lights.

"Get ready, we're going to Bond Street soon." X closed his purse. "It feels like it's been a long time since I bought you any jewelry."

Angel immediately cheered and hugged him. Her hair tickled his chin. She didn't act like a maid at all.

■

Bond Street is a famous shopping street.

Therefore, the shop windows on Bond Street are always dazzlingly bright.

Upon arriving, Angel quickly pressed her face against the glass, her breath blurring the jewels inside. X immediately pulled her up.

"Don't act like a country bumpkin."

Angel rubbed her nose: "Master, look! That hair clip!"

Inside the glass case, a silver hairpin was set with a sapphire, like an angel's eye. Ax glanced at the price tag—three pounds and fifteen shillings.

"Too expensive."

Angel's face fell. Her blue eyes instantly welled up with tears.

X really thinks it's a shame this guy isn't an actor; he can cry on cue!

X glanced at her. He went into the store.

"That hair clip," Ex said, pointing to the counter.

The shop assistant was a plump old man whose eyes were hidden behind reading glasses. "Good eye, sir. This is the latest model, designed by a famous designer."

The fat old man brought out the jewelry box.

Angel stared intently at the jewelry in the box. Her fingertips carefully touched the gemstones, as if she were touching a fragile dream.

"How much?" Ax asked.

"Four pounds."

Axe raised an eyebrow: "The price was just three pounds and fifteen shillings."

The shop assistant coughed involuntarily: "That was the old price from a few days ago. The price has gone up now."

Ax couldn't help but sneer. He put down the gold coins: "Three pounds. Take it or leave it."

The shop assistant stared at the gold coins, his Adam's apple bobbing. Of course, he eventually gave in. Angel quickly emerged with the hair clip box, grinning like a cat that had stolen a fish.

"Master is the best!"

Ex touched her head and ears; the pointed ears were warm. Just then, through the glass window, he saw a figure flash past behind him.

AX remained calm, pretending to straighten Angel's collar, while taking the opportunity to glance behind him.

The streets were bustling with people. Horse-drawn carriages jingled past. Nothing seemed amiss. But Ax already knew—someone was watching them.

Who is following them?

Axe realized his situation once again.

The assassins from the day before yesterday... the British Raven Brotherhood...

Or were they assassins from the Raven Brotherhood?

As long as it remains unclear who actually wants to kill you, this danger is like the Sword of Damocles, forever hanging over your head.

X doesn't want to die again.

But now there's still an information gap—assassins don't know they're dead and are no longer afraid of knives, guns, or bullets.

Perhaps we can take this opportunity to gather more intelligence. Offense is the best defense.

Angel was still admiring the hair clip. Ax continued forward, discreetly observing his surroundings. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a figure that had been following them for three blocks.

"Angel," X said in a low voice.

"Um?"

"Want to play a game?"

Angel's blue eyes lit up: "What game?"

"hide and seek."

Axe pulled her into an alleyway piled high with wooden crates and wine chests. Angel jumped for joy.

The follower did indeed follow her in, but in front of her, she only saw Angel looking puzzled.

Just as the follower was wondering what was going on, a weapon was already pressed against his back.

"Hands up!"

The follower obediently raised his hand.

"Turn around, who are you?...Irena!?"

As the follower turned around and emerged from the shadows, Ex immediately recognized the refined face.

To be honest, all fairies have exquisite faces; none of them are unattractive.

Only then did the follower remove her hat. Long, emerald-green hair cascaded over her shoulders. Small flowers adorned her pointed ears. Irene smiled, revealing her small, fanged teeth, like a cunning cat.

"Sir, how have you been?"

Ex didn't lower his gun: "Why are you following me?"

Irene shrugged: "It's a professional habit."

"A detective's habit? Isn't that a paparazzi's habit?"

Irene blinked. "Who said that?"

Irene took a step closer, and X instinctively raised the muzzle of his gun.

"Don't be nervous." Irene raised her hands again. "I'm just here to talk to you."

"What are you talking about?"

Ex and Elena are not familiar with each other.

He was pondering the detective's role. She had indeed saved his life, but she also seemed to have ties to the Church of Jesus.

Irene suddenly smiled. She pulled something out of her pocket—

"Your fairy dropped this."

Angel's new hair clip! Only then did X notice that the jewelry box Angel was holding was empty. When did it fall out?

Elena tossed the hairpin. Ax caught it with one hand. Elena seized the opportunity to take another step closer.

Just as Ax was about to issue a warning, he found himself completely entangled in green vines, with a thorn pointing directly at his eye.

Angel was also trapped by the vines and unable to move.

"You see, if I had malicious intent, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble, would I?"

"...Actually, I'm a very easy person to talk to. I think we can indeed have a talk." X was very sensible.

Just as Elena was about to speak, suddenly—

"Stop! Don't move! The fake detective is over there!"

Several policemen rushed in from the alleyway. Elena's expression changed; she released the vines and grabbed X's wrist with one hand.

"run!"

Ax was pulled and stumbled. Angel followed behind, completely bewildered. The police's shouts grew closer and closer behind them.

"This way!" Elena pulled them into another alley.

Ex then realized something was wrong. Why am I running? I didn't cause any trouble!

"What did you do?"

"Hey, it's just about not having a detective's license. Someone reported it, and Scotland Yard found out."

"Then why should I run with you?"

"It's simple. You don't want your identity as a thief... to be discovered by the Holy Order, do you, Sir Moore?"

Can I ask you one question? Are you a legitimate fairy?