If there is an opportunity to meet Annie's "cousin," Charlotte believes that he can expand his network and perhaps gain a strong supporter for his marriage with Annie. As for whether it might offend the other party, that's not something Charlotte considers. A sensible person doesn't give up on actions just because they might fail. Instead, they make thorough preparations and then face the consequences of failure courageously.
Annie nodded vigorously and said, "My cousin will be back in Strasbourg in a few days, and I'll help arrange for you to have afternoon tea with him."
Charlotte handed over a freshly brewed coffee and said, "Miss Annie, you really are my lucky star!"
Annie blushed slightly, took the coffee, and sipped it delicately like a proper lady.
Charlotte invited Annie to the rooftop terrace on the third floor to enjoy the view of the Lucavoro River, and Annie agreed happily. The two spent the entire afternoon on the terrace.
Charlotte still didn't gain the privilege of having dinner with the lady, sending Annie off before dinner. He accompanied her to the alley's entrance, watched her carriage depart, and was just about to find a place to eat when he suddenly felt a chilling sensation, and his Insight ability activated automatically.
A stranger with a murderous aura, disguised as a passerby, was quickly approaching him.
The man was already very close. In an instant, Charlotte judged that he didn't have time to use his anti-space sniper rifle, as it required a process to load the bullet. He flicked his wrist, sending the Blood Rose whizzing through the air directly at the attacker.
The assassin didn't expect Charlotte's reaction to be so direct and fierce. He thought he had hidden well and that the target wouldn't notice him. Facing the Blood Rose rushing at him, he had no time for extra maneuvers, so he bent backward in a move similar to the Iron Bridge stance, with his upper body almost parallel to the ground.
The Blood Rose skimmed past his nose, seemingly about to fly off, but the blood-draining rapier suddenly made a light, nimble turn, circling around the assassin's neck.
Clink, clink, clink!
Three crisp sounds rang out in quick succession.
The assassin had drawn a dagger, and in the split second of crisis, he clashed three times with the Blood Rose, neutralizing Charlotte's killing move.
Charlotte activated his blood flame aura, manipulating the Blood Rose to continue its assault while simultaneously drawing out his blood-draining hand axe and hurling it fiercely at the assassin's thigh.
The assassin could no longer maintain his disguise. He unleashed his battle energy, kicking away the blood-draining hand axe with a forceful blow, and his dagger swiftly blocked several attacks from the Blood Rose before he turned around and bolted.
The assassin had come after him.
How could Charlotte let him leave alive?
This assassin had many tricks up his sleeve and was much stronger than Charlotte. Last time, he had sensed danger and retreated. This time, he had even altered his appearance.
Though he was temporarily forced back by the blood flame aura's weapon control technique, it was only because of his caution. If he had fought to the end, there was a ninety percent chance he could have overpowered Charlotte.
If this assassin prepared himself and returned, there might be no escape for the newly promoted third-level secretary.
Charlotte planted his alchemy staff in the ground and pulled out the anti-space sniper rifle. The enemy had been too close earlier, and he hadn't had time to take out the rifle. Now that the man had run far away, it gave him the perfect shooting distance.
Charlotte half-knelt, resting his upper arm on his knee, assuming a standard shooting posture. He was surprised at how steady his hand was as he prepared to fire.
The first anti-space armor-piercing round flew out, striking the assassin's left shoulder.
The special anti-space armor-piercing round, strong enough to kill a Titan Ogre, would have been deadly even to someone as formidable as Archduke Ferdinand or Lord Leo.
Half of the assassin's body was blown away instantly, with the remaining half flung far by the impact of the anti-space armor-piercing round.
Charlotte stowed the anti-space sniper rifle back into his alchemy staff, recalled the Blood Rose and the blood-draining hand axe, and quickly approached the assassin. The man glared at him venomously, trying to say something, but before he could, he breathed his last.
Charlotte rifled through the assassin's belongings, finding a wallet, a dagger, and an alchemy pistol. As he was about to get up and report to the City Watch, a thin object slipped off the assassin's face.
A thin human face!
Beneath the thin human face was another unfamiliar visage.
Charlotte had a moment of realization, thinking, "So that's how he used this magical item to change his appearance. He posed as Aubrey Charlton Atwood at Hawk Lane No. 1, and this time, he took on another face."
"Too bad he didn't know I have Insight!"
"Even more unfortunate for him, he didn't know Insight has a feature that automatically activates in response to murderous intent."
"This ability has saved my life again!"
Charlotte waved to a few boys selling newspapers on the roadside and said, "Whoever is willing to go to Hawk Lane No. 1 in the Lucavoro District to report to the City Watch can head out now. I'll give five pence to the first one who arrives, four pence to the second, three to the third, two to the fourth, and one pence to the fifth. There will be no reward for those after the fifth."
The newspaper boys took off running, each eager to be the first and claim the five pence reward.
In less than an hour, Dubin arrived with a squad of City Watch, jogging up to the scene. Seeing the assassin's body, he couldn't help but comment, "Boss! Did you use that rifle from last time? Its power is just incredible."
Charlotte shrugged and said, "Take the body to the mass grave outside the city. No need to register it!"
The City Watch is responsible for urban security, and although this was the Picardy District, with no City Watch from there on-site, Charlotte overstepping jurisdiction to handle it wasn't a big deal.
Having pocketed the spoils, he had no interest in pursuing an investigation. After all, the culprit was the Stag Detective Agency, and the feud between them was only growing deeper. Charlotte believed that duels wouldn't solve the problem; even if the Stag Detective Agency temporarily backed off, he would eventually root them out once he had the power.
The newspaper boys returned, and Charlotte called them over, asking about their arrival order. He handed out the rewards as promised, even giving an extra penny as a consolation prize to each boy, including those who arrived after the fifth.
Living on Elysium Garden Street, these boys had sharp eyes. After this display of generosity, it would be much easier to get these kids to run errands for him in the future.
Dubin, having handled such cases many times, wrapped the assassin's body in a shroud and took it away. Once the City Watch had left, Elysium Garden Street returned to its usual bustle.
That's just how it is in this era.
No one cares about the life or death of strangers; such incidents of public killings are all too familiar to many residents.
Charlotte returned to 58 Elysium Garden Street and examined the newly acquired loot. The wallet contained fifteen ten-fir banknotes and some loose change. There was also a slip of paper with an address: 5 Dragon Castle Street, Alcatraz District, Chelsea Detective Agency.
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