Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

Without immediately checking if she was alright, Charlotte raised her head slightly and looked up at the white sky above.

Fine snowflakes, carried by the cold wind, landed on the tip of her slightly twitching nose, but were quickly melted by her warm body temperature, leaving only a cool sensation on her frozen skin.

It was very cold, but this real sensation made Charlotte raise the corners of her lips slightly and smile gently.

"It went very smoothly, like... water flowing into a channel."

Unlike the cold, aloof voice of the original, this tone was smooth and straightforward, with a slightly somber tone yet possessing a captivating magnetism.

Lowering her eyes, she made out the body's appearance through the nearby puddle.

At sixteen or seventeen years old, about 1.62 meters tall, with thin eyebrows, thin lips, and slightly upturned eyelashes, his plain white men's undershirt and slim-fitting polyester trousers, while stripping away the girl's naivety, added a touch of heroic spirit, like a gentleman visiting from England.

Although compared to her predecessor, who was laden with fruit, this young lady could only be compared to a budding flower, her upright figure and understated attire created a unique and ambiguous beauty that transcended gender.

Without holding back her self-praise, Charlotte closed her eyes slightly, trying to recall her experience of separating her consciousness and entering the puppet.

First comes the detachment of thoughts, the feedback from the five senses gradually fades, followed by the pulling pain and the obscuring feeling of being rubbed, then the senses return, and when you open your eyes again, you are already in the present situation.

Although the senses transmitted from the main body were much weaker, they could still vaguely reflect back to this body, and vice versa. Even so, multitasking and dual-control were still not a problem. Moreover, from the outward appearance, it seemed more like Charlotte Earl was tired and sleepy, lacking energy, which was actually a good disguise for the guards.

However, the experience just now was a little bad. In the tradition of the O'Shaugh family, the most precious live puppets and their original bodies are often placed in specially made coffins. This caused her to spend a lot of effort to push open the heavy coffin lid and the snow.

She then spread her palms out to shield herself from the rising sun, and then loosely clenched her fingers, feeling the energy flowing through her fascia. The friction between her skin and the gauze made Charlotte keenly aware of the difference.

As mentioned in the introduction, this body is unusual. Putting aside the differences in appearance and ignoring the reduction in arm span and leg length, her senses seem to be excessively sensitive to some extent.

Visually speaking, even though they were far apart, she could see through the trees to the ants crawling on the mound. She could see not only the general shape, but also their serrated limbs, soft yet tough antennae, and tiny, sharp mouthparts.

Similarly, her hearing and smell were amplified to a level of detail, and her mind was incredibly clear, able to process and analyze information instantly, using her existing knowledge to refine her considerations, much like solving a complex math problem logically.

Normally, whether it is seeing too many things or hearing too much noise, the human body will instinctively feel uncomfortable and react in response to protect itself. But the fact is that Charlotte clearly felt these reactions, but she did not feel annoyed or disgusted at all. It was as calm as touching water. No, even the coolness of the water would make her fingertips tremble slightly.

So, she leaned back, lowered her center of gravity, and just before falling, she made an attempt and got the answer she wanted.

When the body is in danger, with just a thought, one's spine, tendons and ligaments can exert force simultaneously, adjusting the posture in an instant, standing firmly in a near-dance-like manner, without any hesitation.

The improved sense of harmony seemed to completely erase the imbalance. Charlotte couldn't describe this series of feelings. If she had to put it into words, it was probably like watching a movie from the perspective of a perfect person. No matter what the protagonist of the story encountered, she would not feel the slightest bit of rejection.

Ha, just because it's a puppet, does that mean it can exhaust the human body's talents and reach the limit of compatibility in many aspects?

Just as my mother said, this is truly an important gift.

She offered words of thanks, but her body trembled slightly. It wasn't a physiological reaction to the cold, but rather Charlotte's overwhelming joy.

Being an independent individual, with one's words and actions unrelated to oneself, and no need to worry about the exposure of one's identity or the safety of one's true self, isn't this the most authentic and unrestrained role-playing?

Of course, before that, she had some minor troubles to deal with, namely, as a kind-hearted philanthropist, she inadvertently revealed the truth and unintentionally helped the lonely and pitiful Miss O'Shaw.

She is the epitome of virtue, beauty, and kindness.

Coming to her senses, Charlotte glanced at the briefcase beside her, an original item that had been placed inside the coffin long ago.

The box was small and could be lifted with one hand. It was entirely covered in leather and was quite well-made. The surface was also embroidered with clean and neat diamond-shaped patterns. If I'm not mistaken, the box should contain the essential items for this puppet's travels.

Unlock the lock, and you'll find two sets of clothes, a pocket watch, a cane, and a small wallet, all neatly arranged and pleasing to the eye.

Although there were only a few items, they filled the entire suitcase to the brim—mainly the two sets of clothes, from the inner lining to the outer coat, from the leather boots to the headdress, everything was included, leaving no space inside.

Looking at these items, Charlotte raised an eyebrow slightly. She ran her fingertips along the lining fabric; it was soft, comfortable, and easy to move in—presumably high-quality goods. However, compared to them, the pocket watch and cane placed on the other side seemed overly plain, as if they were merely practical tools befitting her status, tasteful yet unpretentious.

Although it looks simple and unadorned, this precisely highlights the owner's capable, clear-headed, and pragmatic nature.

Hmm, not a bad persona, but you'll need to pay more attention to your speech and actions in the future.

She then took out her wallet and began to pay attention to what she cared about most—the wealth she had at hand.

Unfortunately, the amount in the wallet did not meet his expectations.

He picked up a neat coin with his fingers and examined it closely in the sunlight. Its color was slightly dark, but it shimmered with silver. The front was engraved with the head of a man wearing a crown, and the ears of wheat behind him surrounded a simple number '1'.

The fusion of memories made Charlotte realize that this was the second-tier currency of the Hadings Empire, abbreviated as Sule, or Suledes for short. One Sule had the purchasing power of roughly one hundred dollars before she transmigrated. Below that was the smaller penny, and above that was the extremely precious gold coin.

She counted the number of coins in the interlayer, turning them over and over, but there were only about five sules in her eyes. This amount was enough for her to live on her own for a month or two, and she could manage with frugality. But to think about doing anything practical was just wishful thinking.

"I have to say, this is really terrible news."

Charlotte sighed softly after turning the silver sulphur, which was issued when Emperor Rothari ascended the throne, over her fingertips a few times, and then tucked it into her wallet.

"Perhaps I need to find a short-term job within this month that allows me to gather information while also offering relative freedom, and ideally, I can make good use of the unique features of my profession and leverage the limited resources at hand."

Even though she had experienced working overtime and taking time off in her previous life, she wasn't too resistant to it. After all, through this series of observations, Charlotte had already created a rough character profile for this living puppet.

—A young woman who is decisive and efficient, but whose family has fallen on hard times and has to be frugal and tough.

That's why she was able to suppress her impatience and calmly accept her current situation; to be precise, Charlotte had already gotten into character.

Just as she gripped the leather suitcase with her fingers together, pulling it inward to her waist, restoring her aristocratic bearing and bringing back her lost spirit to her pupils, she put away her previous calm, letting her silver-blue hair fall down to her neck, and frowned, her lips pressed together in a cold voice, "The weak me of the past is dead."

After speaking, Charlotte drew her cane, grasped the shaft, and with a slight flick, made it stand firmly on the ground with a dull thud.

"Hopefully, sadness will turn into joy, pain into pleasure, and evil into the dead... Finally, let us not fear forgetting, but celebrate new life."

She took a small step back, pressed her hat brim against the ground, bent down towards her reflection in the puddle, and bowed respectfully.

The coffin is closed now, and we move out, no longer lingering in this remote cemetery. Whatever the means, practical action is needed; words without deeds are meaningless.

Following the only main road in this suburb, Charlotte walked towards the familiar yet unfamiliar streets and alleys in the distance, and just then caught a glimpse of the pocket watch on her chest pointing to seven o'clock.

"...The timing is perfect; it couldn't be more fitting to start with the dawn breaking."

As the rising sun slowly shone, the clamor, shouts, and noise grew louder as she drew closer, and soon this bustling port area came into view once again.

The ship's horn sounded, and on the ship not far away, many workers were already sweating and shouting. It must be said that this was indeed a port full of vitality, vast and grand. The salty sea breeze carried the vitality from the azure sea, and seagulls cried out in the sky. Charlotte looked up, and the sunlight was particularly dazzling.

She raised one hand to shield her eyes from the morning light, but could not block out the noise around her ears or the fishy smell emanating from her nose.

"Oysters I just saw online are only three pence a dozen! Cheap and fresh!"

"Mini pancakes, eel soup with ginger beer, come and check it out!"

The bustling street vendors and pedestrians created a lively atmosphere, with their calls rising and falling. Some would stop to carefully consider their options, while most would wave impatiently, as they hadn't yet secured work for the day.

Seeing this scene, Charlotte stopped in her tracks, as if in another world. Through the myriad expressions of the people, she seemed to see the bitterness of her past life. Rarely losing interest in acting, she lowered the brim of her felt hat, bent slightly, just to leave this street as quickly as possible.

"jingle--"

Just then, a carriage sped by, stirring up the still-damp sewage in the puddle. A drop splashed onto Charlotte's cheek, the coolness jolting her back to reality.

"Miss, do you need a ride?"

Initially intending to refuse, the girl noticed the sweat dripping from the middle-aged driver's face and remembered the surprised looks from others, so she gently nodded.

Although her current attire wasn't extravagant and was relatively understated, it was still clothing that many ordinary people could only dream of, making her stand out starkly in the port area. Moreover, if the cemetery hadn't been nearby, she wouldn't have set foot in this chaotic region.

"...Hmm, to the city center, eight pence, no bargaining."

"Alright, please go ahead! There are some recent newsletters in the carriage. If you're interested, you can take a look during the journey to pass the time. Of course, if you'd like, I'd also like to chat with you."

A smile easily graced the man's forehead. The reason he stopped nearby was that he happened to see the elegantly dressed lady lowering her hat brim to avoid the gazes of those around her.

It's not that they're trying to fleece any wealthy customers; the deliberate avoidance reveals the former's discomfort with the port area. Such passengers are often generous spenders and rarely haggle. This isn't some outstanding skill, but rather a keen eye honed to secure good customers in order to make a living.

As Charlotte stepped into the carriage with the driver's welcoming greeting, she didn't need to look closely to catch a glimpse of the few flower magazines crookedly placed on the seats.

[Tinggen City Daily - Enhancing Citizens' Lives]

She already knew most of the morning newspaper from the original owner's eyes and hands, so there was no need to look at it again. However, the remaining few newspapers from other companies piqued her interest.

[Job Posting – Tingen, everyone has work to do!]

It wasn't just printed on oiled paper; several job postings were densely packed on various recruitment boards, many of which were circled in pen, with some having notes next to them such as 'long working hours,' 'unstable environment,' and 'female only.'

To be honest, the handwriting was quite messy and the wording was relatively straightforward; it was probably a note written by the driver himself.

"I never expected that this kind of recruitment method would still be popular in this day and age."

Charlotte gently pressed her chin against her chest, her eyes filled with thought. It would be almost impossible for her to rescue the original body within a month on her own, so she would naturally need to leverage external forces.

She was filtering through jobs that offered short-term high pay and convenient immigration status. Before long, her fingertips landed on a particular job posting.

[Singer's Detective Agency: Due to business needs, we are now recruiting a detective assistant. The weekly salary is thirty soles, subject to adjustment based on performance.]

[Requirements: Female, attractive appearance, basic information processing skills, salary negotiable]

Location: 221 Baker Street, Central District

Having noted down the address, the girl had already made up her mind.

In the current situation where clues are scarce and resources are limited, the most effective way to uncover the mastermind behind the downfall of the O'Shaughnessy family is to use someone else's name to facilitate their actions. Coincidentally, this Mr. Singh is one of the most famous detectives in the entire Tingen region, and even in the North Yannen Peninsula.

"According to the note in the newspaper, today was the last day to end the recruitment process. I never expected that I would have another interview."

With these thoughts, the clatter of the horse's hooves gradually slowed, and the occasional murmur of the stream could be heard; clearly, they had arrived at the central area.

"Here you go, ten pence, there's plenty of tipping money."

"Thank you, Miss. You are a very kind person. The goddess will protect you."

The driver gratefully accepted the coin, tipped his hat to the girl, and then drove the carriage away again, disappearing into the distance.

Well, although the middle-aged coachman didn't do anything, his annotations did give Charlotte a clear goal, so she didn't feel bad about the extra tip.

Stepping out of the carriage and onto the road with her leather boots, the surrounding space suddenly opened up. The clean and tidy streets enveloped the girl once again. This place was indeed bustling. Not only were the houses vastly different from the low-rise buildings in the port area, but even the aesthetics of the environment were worlds apart.

Without pausing, she followed the house numbers forward and couldn't help but sigh that the central area truly lived up to its reputation as the core of Tingen. Commerce, entertainment, and culture—most of the industries that bring enjoyment and pleasure to people—were concentrated in this district, with Piazza Turin playing a crucial role in hosting the annual Flower Exhibition.

Passing through intertwined trees and spread-out flowers, and crossing the turquoise fountain, she finally arrived at her destination—221 Baker Street.

Unlike the surrounding shops adorned with gold and silver, or the renowned shooting clubs in the distance, its signboard is relatively simple, without any advertising or promotion, and even the font is just a few lines of concise and powerful calligraphy.

"Singer's Firm".

Muttering the words in her eyes, Charlotte climbed the steps, reached out her right hand, and gently knocked on the half-closed wooden door.

Da da da.

"Please come in."

A deep, resonant male voice came from behind the door. Following her gaze, she pushed the door open and entered, also taken aback by what she saw.

There is no living room in the traditional sense. Classic sofas and soft armchairs are neatly arranged, while the office desk is placed next to a wooden coffee table. The overall atmosphere is cool and intimate, with only the sunlight shining through the window adding a touch of warmth to the room.

His interest in flipping through the newspaper paused briefly, then turned into a scrutinizing gaze, which was subtly cast over the newcomer.

His clothing, gait, age... he quickly made a rough assessment of the new guest.

"Madam, you're not here for help, are you? If I'm not mistaken, that job posting seems to still be in the newspaper from a while ago."

With a pipe dangling from his thick lips, the owner of the voice was slender yet exceptionally tall. His slightly hunched back did not diminish his composed demeanor, and his angular face accentuated the sharpness of his brows. What was most striking were his dark eyes and long, hooked nose.

"Yes, Mr. Singh, I'm here to apply for the job."

Charlotte bowed slightly and greeted the former man humbly. The portrait of this famous detective had long been known throughout Tingen, so she was not so incapable of not recognizing him.

"Hmm..." Without any hint of disrespect, the middle-aged man put down his pipe, looked directly at the girl in front of him, and said in a deep voice, "Would you mind introducing yourself? Name, background, interests?"

"With great pleasure."

Charlotte instinctively wanted to say the original owner's surname, but just as she was about to speak, she choked up.

The only daughter of the O'Shaughnessy family had already been arrested and imprisoned, her reputation ruined. In the public eye, she had faded from public view, so how could she still use a similar name?

So, this is the step of customizing a new identity?

Previously, I had given this puppet the label of "family decline," but now, let's add some more details to complete the story of "her," whose life experiences are currently blank.

Recalling the three headlines published in the newspaper, Charlotte immediately had an idea: a noble lady who had fled from the Duchy of Plantagenet—wasn't that the perfect theme for her needs?

Once the character design is finalized, the surname will be decided. Since the previous name was Charlotte, and I am also interested in being a detective and investigating matters in the shadows, it seems like a good choice to actually choose the name of an assistant.

Enhancing immersion can affect the enjoyment of the game, so it can't be taken lightly. However, I personally have a terrible knack for naming games.

Searching through the books and picture books she had read in the past, and considering all these coincidences, Charlotte couldn't help but straighten the corsage on her bodice with her fingertips.

...Got it.

Clearing her throat, the silver-haired girl spoke in a clear voice.

"Watson".

"Sir, you may call me Josephine Watson."

Chapter Three: A Commission