Chapter 10: A Case of Robbery and Murder

A well-preserved antique rapier from the Sherlock dynasty could fetch no less than 180 écu at auction, with some rare pieces selling for over 300 écu.

Because of this, many counterfeit Sherlock dynasty rapiers exist on the market. The magical rapier Charlot purchased was undoubtedly a replica.

The only reason he was willing to buy this counterfeit antique rapier was that it came with an authentic scabbard from the Sherlock dynasty.

Sherlock dynasty scabbards were even rarer than intact magical rapiers. However, because they were not considered genuine treasures, no one bothered to speculate on their value.

Few people knew that certain components of Sherlock dynasty scabbards were made from the same steel used in magical rapiers. Only their original scabbards could conceal the magical energy waves of the rapiers, preventing enemies from detecting them prematurely. However, these scabbards were not enchanted and therefore not magical artifacts themselves.

In the Fars Empire, collectors often replaced scabbards with new ones to enhance the appearance of their collections. The old, heavily worn, or damaged original scabbards were frequently discarded and eventually ended up in second-hand weapon shops.

On Earth, walking into an antique market and hoping to find a genuine treasure amidst a sea of fakes seemed as fantastical as a fairy tale.

In the Fars Empire, however, there were no true antique dealers in this medieval society, only second-hand shops where overlooked relics often surfaced.

Charlot planned to find a reliable blacksmith to melt down the scabbard and forge it into a new rapier. If a little Star iron could be added during the process, the resulting weapon would surpass military-grade rapiers in quality, though the process would undoubtedly be troublesome.

After spending some more time at the weapons market, Charlot purchased a second-hand Magnum revolver and twenty bullets for 89 centimes. The shopkeeper even threw in a shoulder holster, the kind that could be concealed under a coat.

A brand-new Magnum revolver would fetch no more than two or three flor on the black market, with second-hand models in near-mint condition costing about half that.

The one Charlot bought was exceptionally cheap, and naturally, it showed more wear, being only 80% new. However, none of its parts were damaged, and a test shot confirmed its accuracy.

Charlot didn’t think he would need to use it often, so he didn’t care about its condition as long as it worked.

After acquiring these two weapons, Charlot also purchased a portable leather sheath for his Vampiric axe. With that, he left the weapons market and walked back to the Savings Union apartments.

As soon as he reached the ground floor of the apartments, Charlot had a subtle sense of foreboding.

Parked outside were four or five patrol carriages, alongside over a dozen cavalry horses. Several city patrol guards stood chatting by the carriages—something had clearly happened.

Charlot approached them with a friendly demeanor and said, “I’m Charlot Mecklenburg, a first-class civil servant with the Central Government Office. I’m a tenant here and would like to know what’s going on.”

Charlot was far too young, and claiming to be a senior civil servant often made people think he was lying. Additionally, invoking Kilmainham Prison wasn’t as useful as the Central Government Office, so he used his outdated title.

The patrol guards exchanged glances, chuckled, and replied, “There’s been a robbery here, and someone was killed. We’ll have it resolved soon, Mr. Mecklenburg.”

Charlot’s unease deepened. “Can I go home?”

One of the guards replied, “Of course, it’s no problem. The scene has already been investigated.”

Charlot entered the building and headed to the second floor, where he saw patrol guards filling the hallway. His sense of foreboding grew stronger.

When he reached his room, he saw the door wide open, with several guards talking at the entrance. At that moment, Charlot realized he was the unlucky party involved.

He stepped forward and asked, “This is my room. Can you tell me what happened?”

A young and handsome patrol guard instinctively drew his longsword, his face tense. An older colleague placed a hand on the younger guard’s arm and said, “Dubin, this man came in from outside. He’s clean—no bloodstains. He’s probably the tenant the doorman described, Mr. Mecklenburg.”

The guard who had drawn his sword twirled it theatrically before sheathing it. He then said sympathetically, “Sir, you might need to come with us for a bit.”

“There’s been a murder in your home. A woman was killed there.”

Charlot felt a faint headache creeping in and asked, “Mr. Dubin, can I know the details of the case?”

The young guard explained, “This afternoon, a man and a woman came to visit you. They forced their way into the apartment despite the doorman’s attempts to stop them. The man used violence to break into your room and got into a fight with the woman inside.”

“The man killed his companion in your room and then fled through the window.”

“I’m sorry, but this incident will likely disrupt your life for some time.”

From the scattered women’s clothing in the room and his own fragmented memories, Charlot could piece together a rough picture—his predecessor’s private life was anything but “pure.” What he didn’t expect was for trouble to knock on his door so soon and in such a severe form.

He rubbed his temples and asked, “Can I go in to check my belongings?”

The young guard nodded and gestured for him to proceed.

When Charlot stepped into his room, the first thing he noticed was the mess—clothes scattered everywhere, some stained with blood, evidence of a violent struggle.

A quick glance revealed that the multi-headed flail and vampire battle-axe tossed in the corner, as well as the diary on his desk, were untouched. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief and resolved to always carry the vampire battle-axe with him from now on.

Exiting the room, Charlot turned to the apartment manager, who had been standing nearby with the patrol guards, and said, “I’ll need a new room.”

The manager hesitated for a moment and then replied reluctantly, “We only have a few suites left, and they’re more expensive. If this had been an accidental incident, we’d cover the costs, but in this case, I’m afraid you bear some responsibility…”

Charlot smiled faintly and said, “I’ll cover the difference in rent for a year. I need to go out with the patrol guards now, but when I return, please take me to see the new room.”

“And make sure someone keeps an eye on my belongings so nothing goes missing.”

Relieved by Charlot’s promise, the manager said, “I’ll have Mary keep watch for you. You know how reliable she is.”

Charlot nodded and turned to the patrol guards. “I’m ready to cooperate with the investigation.”

The guards had already determined the basic facts of the case. With Charlot, the key party, returning, their work here was essentially complete.

In the Fars Empire, city patrol guards performed the duties of modern police but lacked the extensive rules and meticulous procedures of Earth’s investigative systems.

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