Chapter 87: That's Right, It Is Indeed Me!

Given that Stuart’s attire didn’t match his own and might lead to misunderstandings when meeting Miss Kate, Louis had Stuart turn invisible.

After leaving the train station, Helen gazed up at the grand clock atop the station’s high tower, her eyes filled with admiration. She knew the clock was named after her cousin “Osyclis.” She’d heard about it before, but today she finally saw it with her own eyes.

Many vendors were gathered at the station entrance. Noticing Helen glancing longingly at an ice pop and surreptitiously wiping her mouth, Louis pulled out a one-pound note and handed it to the Yodeler vendor.

The vendor, seeing the money, became flustered and fumbled with a crumpled mass of notes and coins marked with the word “shi,” but still couldn’t make proper change.

“Sir, I just opened for business this morning, so I don’t have much change,” the Yodeler vendor said apologetically as he handed the ice pop to Helen. “Let’s just say it’s a gift for the young lady.”

Helen took off her detective cap, made a cheerful little bow, and accepted it.

It was deliciously sweet.

Only then did Louis realize the true value of one pound. He looked at the fat wad of bills in his hand and fell into contemplation.

Later, he quietly slipped the one-pound note into the vendor’s pocket and went on his way with Helen.

As they walked, Louis asked Stuart about the purchasing power of the currency.

“Sir, two thousand pounds is no small sum. In the countryside around Briton City, it could buy a farmhouse large enough for a family of five.”

At this, Louis’s eyes lit up—wasn’t that equivalent to two hundred thousand yuan?

And a single pound would be roughly a hundred?

Stuart stroked his beard, sighing, “Back in the days of ‘Francesco,’ wizard money could be exchanged for Muggle notes, but now, if you want to exchange currency, you have to go to places like Blackhorn Alley. Even then, the market rate is unstable.”

“Oh? Then these two thousand pounds could buy quite a few interesting things, couldn’t they?”

“Of course, sir.” Stuart pointed to the large-wheeled bicycles along the street. “These are the most popular and stylish ‘iron steeds’ among young people. The average price is only six pounds, and branded ones are just over thirty. There are some that run into the hundreds—those are what the nobles ride for leisure.”

He gestured toward a group of elegant noble ladies cycling past—their bicycles were veritable works of art, adorned with gold and silver.

“These ‘iron steeds’ cost more than some small cars, while the cheapest automobiles are only a few hundred pounds.”

He nodded toward some cars down the road.

Following Stuart’s finger, Louis saw several rather ugly, large, and clunky “black tractors”—some even had no roofs.

“Of course, even the cheapest car is only affordable for nobles and big merchants—these things are expensive, and costlier to maintain than a fine horse. Those who can buy them can’t always afford to keep them.”

Louis nodded. On these wide avenues, there were plenty of cyclists and horse riders, but only a handful of those vintage cars. Each car parked at the station entrance to pick up passengers drew a crowd of curious onlookers.

He even spotted a group of goblin reporters hiding at a street corner, snapping secret photos of those unsightly “tractors.”

Shaking his head in mild disappointment, Louis finally understood what kind of contraption Triff drove. Among the cars parked on the street, many were roofless tractors, but two had folding tops and emblems—proper automobiles by any standard.

Among them, one with a folding top had several glamorous ladies sitting atop it, posing for the photographers—undoubtedly a luxury car.

At this moment, a vehicle pulled up nearby.

“As for this sort of car…” Stuart eyed the lengthened, black luxury automobile drawing near, clicking his tongue, “Well, this isn’t something you could buy with just a few grand houses.”

This much was obvious even without Stuart’s explanation. Several mounted policemen were escorting the car!

Louis’s eyes brightened slightly—this was a true vintage car, pleasing even by modern standards, and at the front of its grand bonnet stood a pure gold angel figurehead!

The car was stunning, and so was the woman who stepped out.

As the chauffeur opened the door for her, the reporters at the street corner unleashed a storm of flashes—if those earlier cars with beauties were luxury vehicles, this was aristocracy on wheels.

As the car approached, gentlemen and ladies nearby straightened, growing noticeably more reserved.

Louis couldn’t help but bite down on his pipe, studying the lady who had just stepped out.

She was the epitome of high fashion—a fitted pencil skirt, black silk gloves on her arms.

Atop her head, she wore a beautiful wide-brimmed blue hat, adorned with long swan feathers. Beneath its veil, one could glimpse a delicate, alluring face—her softly curled chestnut hair equally captivating.

Her attire matched the style of the lead actress from this year’s new Muggle film, “Victoria Strikes the Iceberg”—if the famed director Triff had seen this lady before filming, he’d have been at a loss whom to cast as the heroine.

Sensing the odd-looking young man on the street staring at her, the lady raised her head in slight displeasure, fixing Louis with a pair of large, commanding eyes.

Then she froze.

Louis, too, blinked.

[Charming young widow “Kate Crowley”]

[Louis thought this woman, around twenty-six or twenty-seven, was the very image of a refined lady, full of charm.]

[And undoubtedly wiser… after all, she was the real, mature elder sister type…]

“Excuse me, sir… you, you are…?” Miss Kate asked politely, her voice rich and magnetic, though it wavered slightly at the end as she looked Louis and Helen over again.

“That’s right, Conan—it’s me,” Louis replied, seizing Miss Kate’s hand for a kiss, though she deftly avoided the gesture.

He laughed it off and drew Helen over, introducing her, “This is my assistant, Haibara—Helen! Why have you put your hat back on? Take it off, now.”

“Aren’t we supposed to be playing detectives today, Louis?”

“When did I say we were playing detectives? We’re both wearing holy robes today!”

Miss Kate covered her face with her hand.

Her father had told her these two guests were from the Icon Tree Seminary. She knew the place—her childhood best friend taught there.

But she’d never heard of any Icon Tree detectives, and their attire was simply too strange…

Hearing Miss Kate’s unspoken thoughts, Louis frowned and glanced at his and Helen’s clothes—there was nothing wrong with them! They looked perfectly respectable—proper clerical attire!

Except for Helen’s hat.

Louis quickly put away his pipe.

[You suddenly realize Miss Kate seems to be questioning your identities—this is not an auspicious start, as you’ve given the client a less than ideal first impression.]

[You decide…]

[A. Show your skills.
Completion rewards: “Sorento Daily” *1, Ministry of Magic’s Wrath *1, Crowley Family’s Trust *1, Payment (200-8000 pounds) *1, Vintage Car Discount *1, Magic +1]

[B. Change the subject, display your grace and charm.
Completion rewards: Reporters’ follow-up coverage *1, Police and Ministry of Magic’s attention *1, Helen sits up front out of curiosity (Kate hopes to sit in the back with you) *1, Miss Kate’s handkerchief *1, Osyclis Favorability -30, Random Attribute +1]

[C. Ignore Miss Kate’s doubts, but thanks to “KFC Bellif,” she’ll still take you, sparing you some scrutiny and trouble.
Completion rewards: “Get in, Pastor Conan, Miss Haibara.” *1, Experience +50]

At the sight of these choices, Louis was suddenly wide awake.

He knew all too well what a handkerchief meant.

Right now, he had handkerchiefs in his pocket, secretly tucked there by Lilith and Sakura Bell.

“Louis.” Helen nudged him gently, sensing that they were being mistaken for charlatans, and signaled for him to demonstrate his abilities quickly.

Not far off, the reporters had also noticed that Miss Kate was greeting someone important this time, and all the old-fashioned cameras swiveled toward them, their shutters rattling noisily.

Amidst the flash of bulbs, Louis smiled faintly, as if he relished the attention.

Miss Kate’s eyes flickered slightly—this man seemed remarkably composed.