Zhang Fan's grasp was gentle as Watson regained consciousness, yet an awkward silence enveloped them. Watson's eyes flickered with complexity upon noticing the school uniform draped over her.
"You're... disguising your gender, aren't you?" Zhang Fan finally broke the silence, referring to students who attend Armed Detective High School while concealing their true gender, a rare occurrence indeed.
"Just kill me. I've lost this game," Watson replied, not addressing his question, her expression one of resignation.
"Losing means death? You're not some samurai from ancient times," Zhang Fan nearly laughed at her melodramatic response.
"I am nobility... I lost this duel... I'm willing to face the consequences. Do with me as you will," Watson offered herself up, defeated.
"What do you think I am, a villainous seducer?" Zhang Fan retorted, giving her a light knock on the head. He was not about to take advantage of her vulnerability.
"I am nobility..." Watson repeated weakly.
"I don't care about your noble heritage. We just had a friendly spar, and since I won, you'll honor our agreement. That's enough," Zhang Fan dismissed her noble status with a wave of his hand. Titles meant nothing to him.
"But why disguise yourself as a man?" Zhang Fan inquired, curious about her reasons.
"To ensure Arya marries into the Watson family. If she married me, she'd become a Watson. I was raised as a boy for this purpose," Watson confessed, her gaze shifting as she spoke. Since her defeat, she seemed to regard Zhang Fan with a mix of complexity and admiration.
"Family obligations, then," Zhang Fan mused.
"To gain support from the Holmes family, my marriage to Arya was arranged. Despite not being part of our secret society, the Holmes family approves of our actions. Thus, for the sake of producing superior Armed Detectives, our families made this secret pact," Watson explained, revealing the burden of her family's expectations.
"A soap opera plot! Such a cliché!" Zhang Fan thought to himself, amused by the overused narrative of family drama.
"What will you do now?" Zhang Fan asked, shifting the conversation back to her.
"I don't know... Perhaps face punishment back in Britain. But don't worry, I'll keep my promise to stay away from Arya," Watson said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"How about joining my squad? As long as you don't use Arya, I can't just stand by and watch you suffer," Zhang Fan offered, extending a hand of friendship.
"Really? Can I?" Watson seemed genuinely surprised by his offer.
"Of course. Your skills are commendable. Joining our team would certainly be a boon," Zhang Fan reassured her, his words part truth, part strategy.
"Thank... Thank you..." Watson murmured, her demeanor softening.
And so, Watson became a member of Zhang Fan's team, followed by Jeanne d'Arc's affirmative response, completing the squad.
The Baskerville Squad, named by Arya, reflected her heritage from Dartmoor in Devonshire, a testament to her British nobility.
The squad's roster included:
◎ Zhang Fan (Assault, S-rank)
○ Arya Kanzaki (Assault, S-rank)
o Shirayuki Hotogi (Supernatural Investigation, G17)
o Riko Mine (Detective, A-rank)
o Reki (Sniper, S-rank)
o Fuuma Koyuki (Intelligence, B-rank)
o Jeanne d'Arc (Information, A-rank)
o El Watson (Medical, S-rank)
Zhang Fan served as the captain, while Arya was proposed as vice-captain. The squad's formation, especially Watson's inclusion, surprised everyone, fueling rampant gossip, especially among the more romantically inclined classmates.