221B Baker Street.
After a busy day, Russell returned to his small apartment. After changing out of his Phantom Thief attire and into ordinary loungewear, he lay down on his bed.
Before going to sleep, he opened the System interface to check his current status.
[Name: Russell Watson]
[Reputation: Slightly Famous (Malice Points acquisition +10%)]
[Class: Phantom Thief]
[Skills: Stealth (C+), Climbing (C), Sleight of Hand (C+), Investigation (C), Listening (C)]
[Notification: Attributes available for upgrade]
[Malice Points Balance: 850]
[Recent Earnings: You successfully made Mary Morstan feel provoked — +100]
"Not bad. At least I didn't walk away empty-handed," Russell muttered, satisfied as he closed his eyes. He wasn't discouraged by the fact that his net profit for the night was technically zero.
As long as his deeds hit the newspapers tomorrow, or that Miss Morstan went to Scotland Yard to file a report, the subsequent Malice Points would slowly trickle in.
Often, the Malice Points provided by the victim themselves were merely an appetizer.
For Russell, the real premium clients were actually Scotland Yard.
He had certainly milked them for quite a few points in the past.
He held up the only spoils of the night above his head, examining the brooch under the glow of the nightlight.
It was a pure gold brooch encrusted with sapphires. One look was enough to tell that it was incredibly valuable.
This thing wasn't even the size of his palm, yet its price could probably buy his life.
Sigh, evil capitalism.
I'll find a chance to return it tomorrow night, he thought. I can farm some more Malice Points while I'm at it.
After all, even if he wanted to cash this thing out, he'd need to find someone daring enough to buy it.
Since that Miss Morstan already felt provoked, he might as well play the villain to the end.
Russell almost always returned what he stole.
On one hand, he didn't really have channels to fence these items. On the other hand, doing so often allowed him to harvest another wave of Malice Points.
One shouldn't forgo Malice Points just for the sake of money.
Having planned out his agenda for the next day, Russell yawned.
A dreamless night.
...
The next day, as the morning light grew faint, Russell rose early. After washing up, he went downstairs to start his daily routine.
He sneaked up behind the figure busy in the kitchen and reached out to gently tap her.
"Yo, Mrs. Hudson."
"Ah!"
Mrs. Hudson jumped, startled. She turned around, looking at him with a mix of helplessness and annoyance.
"Russell, you scared me again."
"Just saying hello," Russell grinned as he pulled out a chair at the dining table and sat down.
[You startled Mrs. Hudson. Malice Points +10]
"What's for breakfast this morning?"
"What else could it be? The fried eggs and toast you never seem to get tired of."
Mrs. Hudson gave him a reproachful look but moved deftly to place a steaming hot breakfast in front of him. She had even thoughtfully added two extra sausages to his plate.
"Eat up quickly. Isn't today the opening ceremony for your university? Don't be late."
"Mrs. Hudson, you are my lifesaver," Russell exaggeratedly pressed his palms together in thanks before picking up his knife and fork to dig in.
"Smooth talker," Mrs. Hudson scolded with a smile. She turned back to polish her precious silverware, though she couldn't help but chatter on:
"By the way, a letter arrived yesterday. That empty room next to yours has finally been rented. We're going to have a new neighbor, Russell."
"A new neighbor?" Russell raised an eyebrow.
Could it be Charlotte Holmes?
"It's a girl about your age. I think she's also a freshman at Imperial College. You might even run into her at school," Mrs. Hudson said.
"You have to take good care of her, do you hear me?"
She spoke as she refilled Russell's cup with milk.
"And don't go playing any pranks on her right off the bat."
"Rest assured, Mrs. Hudson. I am a well-known gentleman," Russell smiled.
A female, and a classmate? That basically ruled out Charlotte Holmes.
"You?"
Mrs. Hudson clearly didn't buy it, but looking at Russell's handsome face, she ultimately didn't say anything more, simply shaking her head in resignation.
"I'm warning you, that girl's brother seems to be a big shot. Don't go causing trouble."
"Understood, understood," Russell replied perfunctorily as he quickly polished off the breakfast on his plate.
Bidding farewell to Mrs. Hudson, Russell stepped into the opening ceremony venue at Imperial College just in the nick of time.
The magnificent auditorium was packed. He hunched over and skillfully slipped into an inconspicuous corner in the last row, preparing to safely wait out this hypnotic ceremony.
The principal's lengthy speech was as boring as expected, and Russell's eyelids began to fight a losing battle.
He started shifting his attention elsewhere—for instance, wondering why the Malice Points from Scotland Yard hadn't arrived yet.
Lestrade, do you not hate me anymore?
Have you forgotten our past together?
Just as Russell's mind was wandering, he suddenly noticed that the girl walking up to the stage to speak on behalf of the freshmen looked a bit familiar.
Silver-white long hair, blue eyes... exactly like the girl he saw at the Morstan Estate last night.
What a coincidence.
"My name is Mary Morstan. It is an honor to stand here and speak as the freshman representative."
The voice was just like the one he heard in the collection room last night—cool, clear, and carrying a hint of detachment.
What a coincidence, she's also named Mary Morstan...
Wait a minute?
Russell snapped his head up, his gaze cutting through the mass of people to land precisely on the figure at the podium.
Her long silver hair flowed like moonlight, shimmering with a soft luster under the brilliance of the auditorium's chandeliers.
She was wearing a proper freshman uniform, the hem of her skirt falling just above her knees, outlining her slender and upright figure.
Holy shit, it really is you!
Shouldn't you be at home waiting for Scotland Yard to come take your statement? Why are you here acting as the freshman representative?
On stage, Mary Morstan's speech had concluded. She bowed slightly, her gaze sweeping calmly across the audience below.
That gaze was like thin ice on a winter lake—clear yet distant. It swept over faces filled with awe, curiosity, or admiration, before finally, without any warning, locking onto a corner in the back row.
It met Russell's gaze, which was filled with curiosity and confusion, for a fleeting second.
The two looked at each other from across the distance. In that instant, Russell felt as if he were nailed to the spot.
But Mary's gaze lingered for less than a second before naturally moving away as she turned to leave the podium.
Russell breathed a small sigh of relief, attributing the momentary heart palpitations to the normal physiological reaction of a guilty conscience.
After the conclusion of Mary's velvet-smooth voice, the ceremony returned to the principal's dry, lengthy clichés.
But Russell didn't want to stay here anymore.
He wanted to bolt.
Relying on his [Stealth C+] attribute, as long as he didn't make any noise, he would be almost impossible to detect.
No sooner said than done.
While observing his surroundings, he slowly inched his body toward the back door.
That place...
As long as he reached that place...
However, just as he was only a step away from the back door, a new figure abruptly appeared in the wide-open doorway.
"Sorry, full house."
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