Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

Singh remained remarkably calm in the face of the young woman's question, clearly not unexpected.

Holding the pipe between two fingers and gently wiping it against his lips, the man slowly exhaled the stale air and began to speak in the condensed white mist.

"Ladies, do you know how many pennies a laborer in Jongno district earns in a week of hard work? Do you know what kind of cases an unknown and cowardly detective will receive and what kind of situation he will end up in? In the past, I went into those factories and bottled kerosene in smoke-filled, pungent workshops, just to get a clue from the mouths of the suffering people."

“The Tiber River is clear and transparent when it flows into Tingen, but it becomes turbid, black and smelly when it flows out, as if it has collected all possible filth.”

Without directly answering the question, he quietly examined the three girls from top to bottom and from left to right.

“Winnie, tell me, what do you think it takes to be a detective’s assistant?”

"I'm so sorry, sir, I've only heard from others that this is a very famous place, that it's been in the newspapers, but as for the specifics..."

Her gaze darted away, her voice stammering, and the bird girl nervously clutched the hem of her dress, taken aback by the abrupt question.

Winnie's answer was not unexpected by Singh. He felt sorry for this girl who looked very poor, but he did not expect her to have time to care about information outside of her life. He guessed that she had only inquired about the firm superficially before the interview.

Then he looked at Sufby, the girl who had been so arrogant just moments before, now had her arms crossed, her lips pursed, and her body seemed to be trembling slightly.

This is not a sign of panic, but rather an outward expression of indignation and hatred.

Looking at the fingertips digging into his flesh, Singh was once again certain of his inner guess, and also intentionally opened up the topic, pretending to bring up memories of the past.

"Five years ago, when I was still unknown, I had the opportunity to attend a noble ball due to my work, where I met the most dazzling pearl of Florence at that time, Souppy Dill."

Looking at the former impartially, his words, though clearly in remembrance, seem to subtly point to a specific target.

"To this day, I still can't forget that gorgeous red dress. It's just a pity that as the Countess of the Palace, her father, Mr. Dill, was involved in a rebellion. He was stripped of his title by Emperor Rothari and sentenced to be hanged. His wife and daughter also disappeared without a trace."

At this point, the old detective couldn't help but sigh, as if lamenting the injustice of the world.

"It must be said that many of those who were hanged died unjustly."

boom!

She slammed her hand on the table and listened intently to the introduction. Sufby immediately sat up and took a step forward, her beautiful breasts heaving with each step.

“Singer Stanton, you—”

The red-haired girl was about to question the man by calling out his full name, but then she seemed to remember something and choked up, unable to speak. In the end, she staggered two steps, pale-faced, and fell back onto the soft sofa.

In an instant, his arrogance vanished, leaving only a dazed look with disheveled hair.

Upon seeing this, Singh was not angry at all; instead, he frowned, revealing a hint of melancholy at not having found any clues.

Well, Charlotte suddenly felt that she needed to change her perception of the old detective, at least she couldn't continue to see him as a pragmatic and ordinary person.

Because of those words, she gained a deeper understanding of Sufby.

Whether Singh was deliberately trying to elicit information or genuinely knew the truth, his actions confirmed his identity as the daughter of the Earl of the Royal Palace.

Looking at the red-haired girl's luxurious dress, Charlotte noticed a detail she hadn't seen before. Although the dress was elegant, it didn't quite fit Sophoby's voluptuous figure, like an old garment that she didn't want to ruin.

So that's how it is. The deceased had passed away, and the family had fallen into decline. This was a situation similar to hers.

Well, given our similar backgrounds, I should show her more compassion in the future, provided, of course, that we can meet again someday.

Charlotte pulled her felt hat down to cover one eye, and from the gradually darkening atmosphere, she roughly understood Singh's intention.

Any signal given during an interview is not unintentional; clearly, it's all a setup for what's to come.

Distinguishing between primary and secondary points and highlighting key information, the old detective undoubtedly needs a trigger, a trigger that someone else can point out, but neither Winnie nor Sophoby are in their current state and clearly cannot speak.

Fine, let Miss Watson do it then. What can I do? I'm such a kind and understanding person.

Straightening the brooch on her chest, she straightened her knees, placed her palms against her chest, bowed slightly with standard etiquette, and parted her lips slightly.

Similarly, don't forget the gentle words of a lady, including playful scolding and grievances when unaware of the truth.

“Mr. Singh, please forgive my rudeness. Although you are the employer who issued the job posting, Miss Sofby’s words are not without reason. At first, I also thought that you were looking for pretty girls just to find an eye-catching, attention-grabbing vase.”

Sufby stared blankly at the silver-haired girl who was at odds with her but had spoken up for her at this moment, her gaze pausing for a moment in surprise.

Amused by his behavior, or perhaps it was exactly what he wanted to hear, Singh forced out a few dry laughs and nodded to Charlotte without making a sound.

"That's why I said it's a happy problem. Ms. Watson, you're half right. I do intend to hire a beautiful lady, but the mistake is that she won't be soliciting customers. More importantly, I have very high requirements for this lady's abilities."

Unfolding the newspaper in front of him, the old detective's gaze lingered on the shocking number thirteen, his voice lowered as he spoke.

"The case of the missing girl is not a simple one. To this day, the police in Tingen have not been able to find any of the victims, whether it is the whereabouts of the body or the first place where the disappearance occurred."

His words carried a hint of nostalgia, and a few wrinkles appeared on his forehead.

"The ability to handle things properly and erase all traces always makes me unconsciously look up and speculate about the possibility of a group crime. That's why I need a girl who can subtly gather information about the victims by whispering in the ears of those rich girls, or measure whether they know anything about it through their words and actions. She needs to be bold, have little stage fright, and it's not easy. That's why this weekly salary is so eye-catching."

He gently trembled his pipe, and the remaining ash splattered onto the oil-paper recruitment section, the lingering sparks scorching the ink-printed words black.

"It would be too difficult to meet all the requirements, so I only set the bare minimum requirement in my recruitment – ​​beauty. Knowledge can be learned, etiquette can be practiced, and demeanor can be cultivated, but natural beauty cannot be taught by anyone."

In a stark contrast to his previous harshness and pressure, Singh looked down at him with genuine kindness and offered words of praise.

"But fortunately, I met the three of you, so I have a little more leeway. The Winter Tea Party is the most famous circle of young ladies in Tingen, especially the host of the tea party, 'Leona Bathory'. Born into a noble family, with effortless talent and a well-deserved arrogance, she is a typical and cold aristocrat. Although her father has had some less-than-honorable rumors that have spread throughout the streets, that does not prevent her from being admired by many."

“I don’t expect you to meet her high standards—if you could, you probably wouldn’t be stuck in this small office.”

"So, whether it's talent, knowledge, or even the skill of flattery, all I need is for you to befriend those pampered young ladies at this tea party and find out some inside information about the missing Ms. Ksia that outsiders cannot know."

He recounted the whole story in detail, and with a short phrase, the old detective put a pause on the urgency of the situation.

"Of course, not today."

He clapped his hands lightly to signal the end of the interview, then opened the doors and windows to let in the sunlight, making way for the three of them to leave.

"I will prepare your identities and attire. As for the number of days until the tea party, that's your time to plan. I will be waiting for you at the office on the morning of December 27th."

Having said all that, Singh's meaning is quite clear, amounting to nothing more than two words—send the guest off.

Without lingering for long, after processing the overwhelming amount of information, both Winnie and Sophby lowered their heads and left the office quickly, lost in thought.

Only when the echoes of footsteps could no longer be heard around did the old detective pull out his chair and recline lazily and casually, as if the solemnity just moments before was merely an illusion.

"Well then, it's time to talk about you, as Ms. Josephine Watson?"

P.S.: Waaah, I love you all, please stay with me forever. (Please vote and post more! /(ㄒㄒ)/, more updates coming soon)

Chapter Five: A Revolver

As Josephine Watson?

Could it be that my acting wasn't as convincing as I thought, leading to the discovery that my identity was fake?

She thought so to herself, but her expression remained unchanged. She maintained a calm and composed demeanor, yet seemed to only half-understand as she followed the voice.

"All ears."

"There's no need to be so nervous. I just wanted to ask, Ms. Watson, would you be interested in being my assistant?"

With no airs, Singh pursed his thick lips and extended an invitation to the other man with a smile, but these words were precisely what sounded an alarm bell in Charlotte's heart.

Previously, they had indeed agreed through code words to discuss the details later, but the current situation was not what they expected.

“Mr. Singh, aren’t you just being picky, choosing the best one who can enter high society, someone eloquent and adept at handling situations?”

With her legs together and slightly tilted to the side in an elegant posture, she feigned ignorance and posed a question.

Shaking his head, the old detective softened his tone and spoke again with sincerity.

"It seems my expression wasn't quite accurate. This isn't a one-time hiring, because I do need an assistant who can truly help with some tricky cases. Unlike those who came because of my reputation, perhaps I should add the word 'long-term'?"

"To be honest, I've been looking for someone like this for a while now, and I've tried quite a few experienced candidates before, but none of them have satisfied me. People who can control their tongues are too stupid, and those who are a little clever are too talkative. In fact, I've almost given up."

Sensing the man's unspoken meaning, Charlotte chimed in at the opportune moment.

"It seems my appearance has surprised you greatly."

Without denying the girl's words, Singh rubbed his temples, revealing a hint of sincerity in his slightly sunken eyes.

"I don't know if this explanation will dispel your concerns, Ms. Watson. Your talent amazed me during the previous tests. So, regardless of whether you conceal your real name from me or not, I sincerely invite you to serve as my assistant."

The old detective's demeanor was quite sincere, without any pretense. As for the way he addressed him, it was probably because he had spent a little more time deciding on the name, which made the other party notice something amiss.

Well, although Charlotte initially applied with a try-it-out attitude, to be honest, she was somewhat tempted.

A month is too short a time, and there are very few paths she can choose from. She herself doesn't have too many concerns and is planning to take a gamble. Not to mention, the case of the missing girl that the other party is in charge of is actually related to the downfall of the Ou Shao family.

The Winter Tea Party alone was enough to expose Charlotte to high society. While she might not be able to break through the rigid and aloof old-fashioned aristocracy, her eloquence would be a powerful tool for her to get to the bottom of things and gather information when she chatted with some young and proud ladies.

Perhaps, in the meantime, she can uncover the truth, find the real culprit who murdered O'Shaughnessy, and use that to gather strength, devise a way to break the deadlock, and thus bring down the former.

Just as one must first know what is right before doing something well, so that one will not be afraid and can proceed slowly.

Furthermore, as a detective, the process of handling cases and reasoning is indeed a novel experience for me, and I have to try it.

That leaves only one last question.

"Ahem, Mr. Singh, as your long-term assistant, how much is your weekly salary? Like you, my standards are just as high."

Oh, don't blame her for being greedy, it's just that the experience of poverty is not pleasant, and the hardship of struggling to make ends meet also makes this outfit difficult to wear. In order to play the role smoothly, all of this is very necessary!

"Haha, you can rest assured about that." Seemingly amused by the girl's earnest attitude, Singh's gaze became even more kind, as if he were looking at a grown-up girl next door.

He raised his knuckles and rested them on his chin, as if he were truly trying to figure out the girl's expectations.

"How about this: a weekly wage of two pounds and ten sulphurs, a confidentiality and risk allowance of twenty sulphurs, and a 10% commission on cases you participate in and complete. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Charlotte instinctively straightened her posture, placed her hands on her abdomen, and, mimicking the coachman's tone, bowed with utmost reverence.

“By the grace of Goddess, Mr. Singh, you will be my esteemed employer from now on.”

Quite satisfied with these figures, she had gradually gained some understanding of the prices in Tingen over the past half-day, and the weekly wage of pounds was definitely at a superior level. As for the seemingly pitiful commission, it should actually be quite high. Since Singh could offer such a high salary, his commission income must be quite considerable and there was much to be extracted from him.

"It is my honor as well."

Smiling, he opened the drawer and took out two copies of the contract. Considering Miss Watson's cautious nature, the old detective decided to sign the contract immediately, putting her mind at ease.

But, is the goddess above?

Not forgetting his earlier prayer, he realized it wasn't the right time to ask questions, so he cleared his mind, finished the payment, and handed the pen to the other man.

"please."

Without hesitation, after reviewing the documents several times and confirming that there was nothing noteworthy about these formulaic treaties, Charlotte tested her pen on a scrap of paper and then signed her name in the corresponding place—Josephine Watson.

With a quick, light grip and release of their fingers, and the alternating confirmation of the papers, their contract was thus finalized, establishing their relationship.

"Alright, now that the contract is in effect, I'd like to trouble Ms. Watson to be patient and work with me to examine the details of this missing girl case and the clues we've gathered so far."

He pulled a thick stack of documents from under the table, and after confirming the employment relationship, Singh meaningfully pushed it in front of the girl.

"This is?"

"A register, detailing the social networks of thirteen victims. In addition, it includes over ninety percent of Tingen's nobles, wealthy merchants, scholars, and even some renowned figures in various fields. This is also my greatest achievement in my activities in this city in recent years. And Ms. Watson, now that you have become my assistant, you must memorize this information over the next few days so that you can be immediately aware of any unexpected encounters."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, noticing the old detective's hidden smile, and pressed her knuckles down slightly on the foot of the page.

—Well, the detective game seems pretty boring too. Miss Watson's enthusiasm has waned, and she's in a bad mood.

This reaction seemed to play right into Singh's hands, making his mockery almost blatant.

“Madam, there is no such thing as a high salary without a reason. You are different from them. As my capable assistant, if you can’t even know the scope of the case or the names of the people involved, how can you deal with those gossipy bystanders or arrogant nobles at the Winter Tea Party or other occasions?”

Without any pauses or hesitations, Singh spread his hands and began his introduction quite casually.

"That's just how it is. Being a detective isn't a respectable job. To be my assistant, you'll be running around everywhere. Today it might be the dirtiest, smelliest sewer in Tingen, and tomorrow it might be a lavish ball where the powerful gather. No matter what, there will be no shortage of trouble. Ms. Watson, I have no intention of hiding the bad side of this job from you. Before you walk out this door, you still have a chance to back out."

"Of course, I really don't want you to back out. I'm too lazy to spend a lot of effort finding someone who suits my taste."

After speaking, he took a puff of his pipe, inhaled the lingering aroma, and waited quietly for the other person's answer.

A brief silence fell over the conference table. However, the old detective did not expect that after a moment, the girl's expression would return to calm. She simply looked up at herself, her silver-gray eyes revealing seriousness, and spoke word by word.

"Okay, add money."

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Singh felt nervous, yet also found it somewhat amusing.

"Sure, but that depends on your performance, Ms. Watson. If you satisfy me, I won't hesitate to increase your weekly wage."

"So, what about the rest of the information?"

Startled by this abrupt change, he instinctively handed over the report in his hand. However, less than half a minute later, Charlotte released her grip, letting it fall onto the table and spread out into several uneven sheets of paper.

"what happened?"

"I've already finished reading it."

As you can see, in this short time, she has memorized all the names and related interpersonal connections.