"Good to see you again, Jeanne d'Arc," remarked Zhang Fan, breaking the ice in an unexpected move. Jeanne's aloof and unapproachable aura had deterred others from engaging with her, contrasting sharply with the lively scene that surrounded Watson earlier. Jeanne responded to his greeting with a nod, her demeanor cool yet not outright dismissive.
"Welcome, Jeanne," Riko chimed in, her fondness for Jeanne evident. They shared a bond from their time in I.Yuu, where they had been close friends.
"Riko, how have you been? Has this man mistreated you?" Jeanne's inquiry caught Zhang Fan off guard, prompting a puzzled look towards Riko. Had he ever mistreated her?
"I'm doing well, Zhang Fan is very kind to me," Riko reassured.
"That's good to hear. Zhang Fan, the famed 'Dual Master of Swords and Guns,' I trust you'll treat Riko well. She's already endured much hardship," Jeanne said after hearing Riko's words, then turned to Zhang Fan.
"Don't worry, Riko is one of my most important comrades, and I'll always treat her well. By the way, Jeanne, I'm forming a team. Would you like to join us?" Zhang Fan offered, smiling gently. His team still had room, and Jeanne would be a perfect addition.
"Your team? Give me a few days to consider. I'll give you my answer before the summer vacation starts," Jeanne pondered, indicating a certain fondness for Zhang Fan despite his role in her capture. Her decision to consider his offer, both personally and professionally, was a significant step.
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now," Zhang Fan replied, hopeful about recruiting Jeanne. As the bell rang for the next class, the morning session ended, but the curiosity about Zhang Fan and Jeanne's interaction persisted among the students, leading to a flurry of discreet inquiries.
To these inquisitive classmates, Zhang Fan simply explained they had met on previous missions, successfully deflecting further probing. He couldn't reveal Jeanne's true identity as the legendary Jeanne d'Arc XXX and a strategist from I.Yuu, recently arriving at Tokyo Armed Detective High through a judicial deal.
"Excuse me, Zhang Fan, may I have a word with you in private?" Watson approached as the classroom cleared, seeking a conversation with Zhang Fan. Curious about Watson's intentions, Zhang Fan agreed to talk, ready to confront him if necessary.
"Sure, I have plenty of time," Zhang Fan replied, following Watson to the rooftop, a place where trouble often found him.
"Please stay away from Arya," Watson bluntly stated upon reaching the rooftop, surprising Zhang Fan with his directness.
"You must understand, Watson, Arya and I are partners. Regardless of your status as her fiancé, you have no right to dictate our actions until you're married," Zhang Fan responded, frowning at Watson's audacity.
"Fiancé? That was just a child's play. I don't take that title seriously..." Watson seemed indifferent to his betrothed status.
"Then, you're planning to use Arya's identity?" Zhang Fan's eyes narrowed, finding Watson's lack of appreciation for Arya unacceptable.
"You should know, the title 'fiancé' is just a prefix for the Holmes-Watson partnership. Arya is skilled, but she's not smart enough. She needs to be re-educated to be my partner," Watson dismissed Arya's intellect, underscoring her lack of Sherlock Holmes's renowned deductive abilities.
"I think I need to teach you a lesson in respect. No matter what, Arya is my comrade, and you're not qualified to judge her like this," Zhang Fan stated, understanding but disapproving of Watson's perspective.
"Really? You should be aware that British Armed Detectives can kill in self-defense. As a royal armed detective with extraterritorial rights, I could kill you without consequence. Think carefully," Watson warned, calm despite his previous defeat to Zhang Fan.
"Think carefully? I've thought it through. Let's settle this. If I win, you must vow to never bother Arya again. If you win, I'll no longer interfere between you and Arya. How about that?" Zhang Fan proposed, seizing the opportunity to resolve their conflict.