The appearance is the most serious lie. The world is always deceived by it.

–William Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice

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In fact, it wasn’t that my internal injuries worsened that I’m coughing up blood.

This is a natural occurrence after completing the first round of breathing exercises and activating the meridians during my healing process.

It was just a small amount of stagnant blood that had been gathered separately, coming out during the process of refining the meridians.

However.

“…My hands have gotten dirty.”

The sleeves of my robe, made from the fur of the Ancient Vicuña, repelled the blood perfectly without absorbing it, but my palms were covered in blood.

The state of my meridians isn’t good enough to ignite the blood with Buddha Fire.

Above all, if I carelessly scatter the ashes of incinerated blood on the carpet, the Etiquette Enforcement Special Maid Corps hiding in the floor and ceiling won’t leave me alone.

I had no choice but to take out a handkerchief embroidered with the initials I.A. and wipe the blood off my hands.

Since I had used it once in the Grand Hall earlier, I had to use the side where the bloodstains hadn’t dried.

‘It’s something I have to return, but I’ve soiled it.’

As a gentleman, I felt a little sorry for the owner of the handkerchief.

Well, even if she is a criminal.

In fact, wiping the blood with the handkerchief was done with the confidence that my impression wouldn’t worsen to this extent.

There was another reason, but anyway.

Wasn’t it the other side that first hinted at having business with me?

‘…Irene Adler. She’s someone I need to speak to at least once.’

She was a client who used Moriarty’s crime consulting services before my regression, so she might be maintaining some kind of relationship with him in this world too.

She has already established her position in London’s social circles.

I haven’t yet met her, but she must have attended the royal ball.

It wouldn’t be bad to extract the necessary information from her.

If I get too greedy, it might result in exposing my existence to Moriarty, so it’s best to be as cautious as possible.

But first, the damaged meridians—

‘It’s a good thing I prepared in my own way… Otherwise, I would have suffered more severely.’

Fortunately, the extent of the internal injuries is manageable.

If I had to return without attending the ball, it would be quite disgraceful.

I assure you, if I had been wearing different clothes, it wouldn’t have ended like this.

What protected me from the intense whirlwind of Essence was none other than the Henry Poole bespoke dinner suit.

Without this suit, which protects the wearer from tricks and hostile energy, I would have suffered twice as severe internal injuries.

Today, once again, my life is sustained by the help of others.

By Her Majesty, the tailors of the suit shop, and Watson.

Yes. Watson.

‘…It’s about time she returns.’

Having refined the meridians and removed the stagnant blood, it’s time to start proper treatment with her help.

Is there about ten minutes left?

If I don’t begin treatment within the next ten minutes, the damage to the meridians will linger, so I’ll have no choice but to use my Essence for self-healing, even if it’s a bit wasteful.

I walked to the window and watched the small fish tank with goldfish swimming in it, waiting for Watson.

I was looking forward to experiencing the effects of the Medicamentum Communionem which I had only heard rumors about.

If today isn’t the day, there’s nothing I can do.

If Watson brings the medicine, I’ll have to pretend to take it and hide it.

As I was thinking that.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Holmes.”

Watson appeared, opening the door to the drawing room.

“Watson, you’ve come!”

As I answered Watson, I saw the face of the royal attendant over her shoulder.

“Once you’ve finished your treatment and are resting, I’ll come to escort you before the Ball begins.”

The attendant, with an impeccable expression and attire, finished the greeting in a polite but emotionless tone and closed the door.

-Thud!

The room was left with just the two of us.

Watson, with a triumphant look, shrugged and showed me the item she brought from the Wonder Drug Storage.

In her hand was a small wooden box marked ‘II’.

It was my first time seeing it directly, but it seems to be the second pill of Factor VIII, the Medicamentum Communionem.

“I managed to bring it safely.”

“Amazing. I’ve never seen anything other than the first pill of Factor VIII. Thanks to you, I’m having a rare experience.”

“It’s nothing. After all, it’s thanks to you that I received an invitation to the royal ball.”

Watson scratched her head as if embarrassed.

“I was a bit late, but please understand. The Wonder Drug Storage is large, so it took time to find it. Plus, the withdrawal procedure is rather complicated.”

“It’s not the royal palace for nothing, I guess. Rest assured. There’s still plenty of time to use it for self-healing.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Was the anxiety she had hidden in front of the royal attendant starting to show? Watson’s voice was trembling slightly.

It seemed that watching me perform precarious acrobatics in front of her earlier made her feel as if her meridians were being torn apart.

I could somewhat guess why she didn’t get angry with me despite the repeated extreme situations.

‘That must mean she trusts me that much.’

I have an obligation to repay Watson’s trust.

Even if not just for friendship, constantly worrying my assistant and physician is something I must avoid as an excellent consulting detective.

For now, while the royal attendant was away, I honestly wanted to express gratitude for her courage in requesting rest on my behalf in a situation that might incur Her Majesty’s wrath.

“Isn’t it astonishing? Just looking at the box containing the pill, you can already guess its value.”

Watson’s hand, holding the box with the Medicamentum Communionem, was trembling slightly.

Come to think of it, she showed a similar reaction when receiving the Unicorn Salamander’s Seasoned Pill at the Yongbong Meeting.

She seemed nervous in front of a precious elixir she wouldn’t normally have the chance to touch.

Considering how she confidently gave her opinion as a physician in front of the Sword Queen and requested the Medicamentum Communionem from the royal attendant, it doesn’t seem like she’s lacking courage.

Is she worried about whether she can properly harness the power after administering the Medicamentum Communionem to me?

“Watson.”

“Hmm?!”

“I’m always grateful to you.”

“Wha-what’s with the sudden outburst?”

“I never imagined you’d ask for the Medicamentum Communionem there. I thought you’d ask for the usual medicine used in hospitals.”

When I spoke, Watson, with a startled expression, began to shift her eyes and look around.

She seemed to recall the trials of the Forbidden Palace and the existence of the Etiquette Watch, which I had repeatedly emphasized a month before attending the royal ball.

“Th-that is…”

Isn’t she too scared even though we’re not openly bad mouthing Her Majesty?

“It’s okay. I know why you asked for the Medicamentum Communionem, so you don’t have to say it.”

“As expected of Holmes. This is what it means to have a kindred spirit.”

Watson, relieved that she didn’t have to say something that the Etiquette Watch could use to punish us, smiled slightly.

The reason Watson boldly asked for the Medicamentum Communionem, even though I could proceed with self-healing with ordinary elixirs, was simple.

She clearly chose the option that would most help improve my internal energy, using my injury as an excuse for treatment.

Factor VIII, from the start, is not something easily accessible in daily life except for the first pill.

Because this is Buckingham Palace, boasting one of the largest reserves of elixirs in Great Britain, the Medicamentum Communionem is merely sleeping in the third Wonder Drug Storage. It’s rare to find the second pill even in the private vaults of wealthy or noble families.

“Considering your achievements, I thought Her Majesty wouldn’t mind a few elixirs.”

Watson boldly demanded the precious medicine from the royal attendant, relying solely on Her Majesty’s order to provide us with the necessary medicine.

With the certainty that the attendant couldn’t refuse.

“I don’t know what to say when you put it like that. It’s not like I did anything great.”

“Excessive humility isn’t helpful.”

Watson smiled slightly, as if she read my thoughts.

Excessive bravado and arrogant remarks are subject to punishment under the strict rules of the Forbidden Palace, so I was intentionally being more humble than usual.

This isn’t just talk, my position has risen unbelievably, both subjectively and objectively.

At just twenty-eight, my posthumous index managed to resolve an issue that could have escalated into a diplomatic dispute with Italy, involving the Zion Clan’s headquarters, the Apostolic See in Rome.

Moreover, the person involved holds a secret that even the Sword Queen covets.

Such an important figure has suffered internal injuries.

What could this possibly mean?

In simple terms, if the royal attendant, at their discretion, refuses to provide the elixir the physician requested for treatment, it might upset me.

This means the likelihood of me not accepting the Sword Queen’s proposal increases.

It suggests that I might promise the secret of the Indulgence Talisman to someone else for a reward, or be satisfied with the conditions presented by the Apostolic See and accept them, then remain silent forever (whether it’s by voluntary cooperation or not is another matter).

“You always surprise me, but this time it was twice as shocking as usual. How on earth did you learn the secret of the Zion Clan?”

It was then that Watson posed a difficult question.

For a moment, an old music box hidden in the corner of my lodging came to mind, and I was overwhelmed with a strong desire to satisfy Watson’s curiosity, but I calmly suppressed it and answered.

“It’s hard to say it here, so I’ll tell you that story later when we return.”

“Oh dear. You’ve told me over and over. That there are many ears listening in the palace…”

I nodded in affirmation.

“Yes. Besides the court ladies, there are many who listen in to our conversations. For example—”

I tried calling a name as a test.

“Like Mycroft, who’s eavesdropping over there.”

-Swish!

The next moment, the fish tank by the window turned pitch black in an instant.

The ink, disguised as water and goldfish with the power of Essence, revealed its true form inside the tank.

“What’s that…?!”

“It’s Mycroft’s unique weapon, Dusk Ink.”

“Ink?”

“Yes. Ink. It looks no different from ordinary ink, but it changes color and shape and moves freely according to the martial artist’s will.”

While I was speaking, the Ink in the tank was quickly crawling up the glass like a living creature.

“He was probably eavesdropping on our conversation by detecting the vibrations of our voices with the Ink poured into the tank.”

“Isn’t Mycroft your older brother? For what reason…”

“That’s what the butlers of the Secret Intelligence Service do. They’re a breed that lives for the joy of extracting others’ secrets.”

Before I could finish speaking, the Ink crawling up the window quickly began to take the form of letters.

Your eye skills have improved since I last saw you, Sherlock.

“Eye skills, my foot. I just saw the empty tank through the window before entering the palace.”

I spoke to Mycroft, who was controlling the Ink from somewhere, with my back turned to Watson.

I’ll have to be more careful next time. I’ll contact you again soon.

“I wouldn’t mind a request, but I’d prefer to avoid personal matters.”

With that short reply, the Ink seeped into the wall and disappeared completely.

“…That’s peculiar. Using ink as a unique weapon.”

“There are all sorts of eccentric people in the world.”

It wasn’t a big deal to me, so I answered lightly, but Watson suddenly looked startled and wiped her face dry.

“Oh dear. Look at me. This isn’t the time to be chatting idly. We need to commence the treatment.”

“I was about to ask you anyway.”

“Alright. Then quickly swallow the Medicamentum Communionem and turn around. While you manage the pill’s energy and circulate it, I’ll proceed with the acupuncture.”

I obediently turned my back to Watson and sat cross-legged as she instructed.

Watson’s white hand appeared from outside my view and fed me the Medicamentum Communionem, and I immediately began to absorb its energy.

However.

-Snap!

Suddenly, a fingertip filled with a large amount of Essence struck my acupoints with lightning speed.

-Zap!

In an instant, without time to react, movement of my entire body was sealed.

“…?!”

Unable to even turn my head, I struggled to speak, and the person who had performed the acupressure walked directly in front of me, leaning in uncomfortably close.

“Watson?”

I could instinctively tell. I was sure.

The being in front of me took Watson’s form, but it was definitely not the Watson I knew.

It wasn’t disguised with a Skin Mask or Face-Changing technique.

It was clearly mimicking another’s form with a strange sorcery from an Unorthodox Kung-Fu sect unknown to me.

Judging by the hand movements during the acupressure and the Qi Frequency emanating from in front of me, the opponent was a master surpassing me.

The one I was talking to just moments ago was definitely the real Watson, so when did they switch?

“Who are you? Reveal your identity.”

“…Hee.”

Watson’s eyes, Watson’s nose, Watson’s mouth.

The stranger, with familiar features, instead of answering, smiled by stretching its lips wide to the sides.