Chapter 524 - Deductive Reasoning (End) (1/2)

Chapter 524 Deductive Reasoning (End)

Holmes described the case from beginning to the end as simply as he could. However, words could never perfectly depict the complicated feelings and relations.h.i.+ps involved in this case. Whether it was Father Jacob and Jack the Ripper, or the relations.h.i.+p between Jack the Ripper and the victims, it was probably more complicated than the world could perceive. It was a pity that they couldn’t find the answer to those questions since Father Jacob killed Jack.

No matter what, the case was finally over. This was the best result that one could compare with the real-time cold case that would take place seven years later. Holmes stretched his arms, telling Zhang Heng, “You won the bet this time. Although you put yourself in grave danger, I can’t deny that you were always one step ahead of me. Now, you can execute the privilege of the winner. It’s time to choose the opera to watch tonight.”

“Really?” Zhang Heng asked, “But why do I feel as if you didn’t give it your best? Deliberately let me win this time?”

“Who knows, you seem to have an unexplainable reason-you have to beat me

once.”

Holmes smiled, “But I did try my best this time. After all, solving crimes is a pa.s.sion of mine. It would be hard placing a roasted turkey before a food connoisseur and asking him not to eat it.”

Two hundred seventy days seemed like a long time, but for Zhang Heng, who had been continually absorbing new knowledge every day, time pa.s.sed in a blink of an eye. Including the Whitechapel District’s serial homicides, he and Holmes had covered over a dozen cases together.

There were many bizarre and twisted stories. If Zhang Heng wrote all of them down, he might replace Conan Doyle as the greatest Victorian-era detective novelist. In the later period, Zhang Heng even began to handle some of the cases independently. His criminal investigation skills had reached Lv.2, followed by makeup skills. Other than that, he also asked Irene Adler for some knowledge about putting up a good performance, though his art appreciation skills remained at Lv.o.

Thus far, this game had yet to provide him with any items. It wasn’t until the last day when Zhang Heng and Holmes went to see an equestrian show. When it ended, the two wandered along the banks of the Thames, talking about contemporary violin artists and 18th-century pirates, where Holmes marveled at Zhang Heng’s understanding of Na.s.sau. Following that, the two went to a tavern on the side of the road to sit down and relax.

It wasn’t far from the pier; hence many sailors drank and played cards here. It was indeed a vivacious establishment; it’s atmosphere loud and lively.

It was then that Sherlock Holmes’s hold habits began to surface again. He pointed at a man with a mustache on his left and said, “Scotsman, has many brothers, graduated from Edinburgh University, worked as a marine doctor, went to West Africa, likes writing, and they are good at crossword puzzles as well.”

“Heh, we don’t have to compete this time. I’ll buy you a pint.”

Zhang Heng still had some money, and it would be hard to spend all of it before leaving this world. That was why he did not mind to buy Holmes a drink. “That couldn’t be better. We’ll start with two pints,” Holmes requested to the bartender.

Just when the two found a seat to sit down and wait for the beer, the mustached man playing the crossword puzzle at the other table came over. Newspapers in hand, he exclaimed, “Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his Eastern roommate, Sir. Zhang Heng! I did not expect to see you two here.”

“Good, sir. You know us?” Holmes raised his eyebrows.

“Of course, you two are the most famous detectives in London right now,” replied the mustached man with a smile. “Can I sit here?”

“Please do! The more we drink with, the more interesting it gets,” Holmes said. “What is your name?

“Doyle, Arthur Conan Doyle,” said the visitor enthusiastically, reaching out his hand.

Holmes was a little surprised. After shaking his hand, he turned to Zhang Heng. “Is he the friend that you mentioned before?”

Holmes noticed Zhang Heng was even more surprised than he was when he heard the name.

“Don’t be surprised. We actually met for the first time.” Conan Doyle explained, “Before that, we were communicating through words.”