For the sin of defying the natural order and abandoning the code of the martial world, receive your punishment. Capture that scoundrel. If he resists, show no mercy. Strike him down.

–William Shakespeare, Othello

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“Ah…!”

“It seems the victim, fearing that his younger brother would outshine him, prevented him from attending. But to murder one’s own sibling over such a trivial reason—indeed, blood does not lie.”

In truth, the moment I saw the wounds on the dead body of Drake, I recalled the racehorse that perished at the hands of its owner during the Epsom Derby.

Even when using the same Inner Heavy Hand Technique, the traces left behind vary greatly depending on the martial clan.

Upon seeing the body with similar wounds, I initially suspected someone from the Drake family as the perpetrator, and my suspicion was confirmed.

“Where is the chaperone of the Drake family?”

“…I am here.”

No sooner had I spoken than a middle-aged man in a navy uniform approached.

“Is that Francis Jacob Drake lying over there?”

“Yes, he is…my younger nephew…”

He answered with a face that seemed as if his soul might depart from his body at any moment.

Given that one promising heir of the family was dead and another was about to be taken away as a murderer, I could fully understand his feelings.

Though it’s none of my concern.

“Damn it…!”

Meanwhile, the culprit, lying weakly with his hood removed, cursed and struggled to escape as Lestrade, holding handcuffs, approached.

“Stop this nonsense and admit your crime.”

The man who stood up glared at the encroaching Scotland Yard inspectors.

I realized that he had not yet given up resistance.

“Do you think the likes of you can arrest me?!”

Without warning, he pulled out an old-fashioned musket from his coat.

“If you recognize what this is, kneel immediately!! You wretched dogs of Scotland Yard!!”

“Ha…”

The sudden appearance of an unexpected token left everyone, including myself, frozen in place.

The gilded firearm

bore the emblem of the Tudor dynasty, and even someone like me, not well-versed in history, could identify what that gun was.

“That is…!”

“Isn’t that the Golden Gun

bestowed by the late Queen Elizabeth?!”

During the Age of Exploration, Queen Elizabeth,

who laid the foundation for the British Empire’s golden age,

bestowed immunity items to the families of her loyal subjects along with land grants.

The Golden Gun of Sir Francis Drake, the founder of the Drake family who led the privateer fleet,

was the most famous among them.

The owner of such an immunity item gains the ultimate privilege of being pardoned once for any crime except treason.

“So he had something to rely on, hiding his last move all along.”

With this, the London Metropolitan Police could not arrest Jonathan Drake.

“That third-rate detective, Sherlock Holmes or whatever, got his comeuppance too!! I’ll deal with you later!!”

It seemed Jonathan had secretly taken that musket with him when he left home, just in case.

“Hahaha!!

Unless Her Majesty Queen Victoria intervenes personally, no one can judge me!!”

However, seeing the figure declaring victory with a bloodied face and limping legs, I couldn’t help but find him pitiful.

Unfortunately, today, Lady Luck had turned her back on him.

“Did you just say

you’d peacefully surrender if Her Majesty commands it?”

“Yes! If a mere wretch like you

can bring Her Majesty here, then go ahead and try!”

I turned my head to look at Lady Sunshine.

“Thank you for the advice. It’s truly a good idea.”

Though she froze momentarily upon meeting my gaze, she quickly understood my intent.

“Mmph!! Mmmph…!!!”

The lady, with a flustered face, was diligently making a small X with her index fingers while keeping her mouth shut, but I couldn’t comprehend what she was trying to convey.

“Sssss―”

Taking a deep breath, I circulated the remaining internal energy through my lungs and throat.

Maintaining precise pronunciation and intonation while showing utmost courtesy required considerable focus.

“Ladies and gentlemen!! From now on, I present to you a distinguished guest who has secretly sought the U-35 Invitational!!”

Lady Sunshine frantically waved her arms and mouthed words, but I intended to finish my speech regardless of her actions.

-Wink.

After a brief wink at Lady Sunshine, I proceeded with my Lion’s Roar.

“By the grace of God, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, the Duchess of Hanover, and the Duchess of Brunswick and Lüneburg, the Queen Consort of Saxony and the Queen Consort of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Empress of India, George IV Royal Knight Commander, Garter Knight Commander, Thistle Knight Commander, Saint Patrick Knight Commander, Bath Knight Commander, Saint Michael and Saint George Knight Commander, British India Knight Commander, Indian Merit Knight Commander, Star of India Knight Commander, Royal Victoria and Albert Knight Commander, Indian Empire Knight Commander, Indian Throne Knight Commander, Military Knight Commander, Victoria Royal Knight Commander, and! Sword Queen of the South Sea Gibraltar Arm, Her Majesty, Queen Victoria has arrived!! Proud citizens of the British Empire, prepare to receive her Majesty with the utmost honor!!”

After a brief silence, everyone present knelt on one knee

to pay their respects to Her Majesty.

-Thud!

“Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, Edmund Henderson,

pays his respects to Her Majesty the Queen!!”

“Lieutenant Blythe Walker of the Adversary,

sends greetings to Her Majesty!!”

.

.

.

“Long live the rightful and glorious ruler of the British Empire!

Long Live The Queen, God Save The Queen!!!”

In less than three seconds, everyone except me knelt and cheered.

“This, th-this, th-this…”

Her Majesty’s face, looking

this way, was flushed red.

It was evidence that Her Majesty could not hide her anger at the rogue who dared to disturb the way of the martial world right before her eyes.

Ah, what a righteous sovereign this is.

Her Majesty’s reign will be eternal.

“Consulting detective Sherlock Holmes

pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen.”

I, too, knelt on one knee and paid my respects to her.

I realized that the true identity of Lady Sunshine

was Her Majesty Queen Victoria right after I noticed the pet fur on her dress.

The story of animals transforming into spiritual creatures after consuming elixirs is more common than one might think, but there is no place across all of Europe where an Angora cat and two Border Collies, transformed into spiritual beings, dwell together other than Buckingham Palace.

The Boot-Wearing Royal Cat, White Heather, and the Canine Fairies, Sharp & Noble.

These three

were renowned throughout Britain for their loyalty and martial prowess, so much so that Her Majesty would bring them to official events.

Moreover,

the dress Her Majesty was wearing was at least several decades out of fashion.

Considering these two facts, I deduced that the rejuvenated

Queen Victoria was out on a playful adventure.

Of course,

I never once entertained the disloyal thought that Her Majesty had impulsively attended a gathering of debutantes ‘for personal enjoyment’.

Surely, there must have been deeper intentions unknown to me.

“Long Live The Queen, God Save The Queen!!!”

Amidst the thunderous salutations repeated several times,

Her Majesty’s patience finally ran out.

“Enough.”

The Queen removed her mask, revealing a face full of

wrath.

Even though it was a rare opportunity to see Her Majesty in the flesh, the subjects seemed foolishly formal in a situation where a criminal needed to be promptly judged.

“Sigh…

”

Her Majesty could not suppress her lamentation upon witnessing the great disorder of the martial world.

Yet, among those who bowed their heads and kneeled, there were those daring enough

to foolishly comment on the deep thoughts of Her Majesty.

“I simply cannot understand.

For Her Majesty to hide her identity and attend the Debutante Ball.”

“She must have come to see the young talents who will bear the future of the British Empire. Surely, she hid her identity to prevent the young ones from getting nervous.”

Even though the voices were lowered considerably, the fact that I could hear it from this distance meant

Her Majesty was also listening.

“When I think of it that way, I can understand. But why would someone who has reached the state of Unrestrained realm pretend to be a debutante and participate in the duel? She could have stayed on the second floor…”

“Now that you mention it, that’s peculiar.”

“No way, did she come out for a stroll for fun while rejuvenated—”

-Rumble!

The men could no longer continue their conversation.

Because the smooth wooden floor beneath Her Majesty’s feet turned to powder and began to rise into the air.

They dared to

misjudge the profound intentions of the Queen of the British Empire, so it was a natural reaction.

However, fortunately,

Her Majesty did not erupt in anger.

“Ah, now I understand…”

Just in time,

there was a debutante who realized the purpose of Her Majesty’s visit to the U-35 Invitational.

“Her Majesty came to impart teachings to inexperienced debutantes like me…!”

“…?!”

The genius boy from the McMahan family, who was defeated in the duel with Her Majesty, stood up and bowed politely, overwhelmed by the fact that he received direct guidance from a master of the Unrestrained realm.

“Your Majesty. May I, cry a little?”

“You have my permission.”

“Uwaaah! Uwaaaaaaaaah!”

As soon as Her Majesty granted permission, he began to sob, shedding large tears, unbecoming of his large stature.

-Wooong!

The unique and profound energy of the Northern End Clan was enveloping his body, and seeing the faint light emanating from his entire body, it seemed he recalled the blow from Her Majesty that knocked him unconscious and gained enlightenment.

“…To gain enlightenment from just a single hit, it seems the Unrestrained realm is indeed extraordinary.”

Watson, observing this, spoke with a bewildered expression.

The reactions around were not much different.

Encountering a master of the Unrestrained realm itself is rare, so the fact that one could experience a Eureka moment just from receiving a blow felt surreal.

“That’s obvious.”

They must have forgotten the biblical record that Jesus healed the blind with just a spit.

“Nevertheless, even with a fortunate encounter, reaching the level of a first-class expert at just seventeen is remarkable. Truly fitting for the youngest participant in the U-35 Invitational in history. His future looks promising.”

“Holmes, what did you just say?”

“I said Angerson McMahon is seventeen years old. I confirmed it when I saw the list of participants earlier.”

Unable to contain his shock, crude words slipped from Watson’s mouth.

“How could he be seventeen…”