Chapter 7 (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
Tang Luo didn’t hear what those people said.
However, he could clearly feel the Cotland Yard’s anxiety, or rather, their desperate measures in desperate times, as well as the unscrupulous measures they practically couldn’t hold themselves back from adopting.
Firstly, as a foreign detective with nothing on him and zero means whatsoever to prove his identity, the Cotland Yard didn’t bother getting to the bottom of his identity. They very easily and readily accepted his identity. They even gave Tang Luo credentials that allowed him to go about doing things easily and conveniently.
With those credentials, Tang Luo now had a status equivalent to that of an auxiliary police officer. He could even enter residents’ homes to conduct searches and only needed to present those credentials.
Being in possession of a gun wasn’t an issue either.
Other than that, the Cotland Yard even provided Tang Luo relatively confidential inside information. Even the entirety of their investigations’ results was given straight to him. Within which, a list of suspects that didn’t look in any way as if it should be given out was even included.
After giving him the list of suspects, the agent who received Tang Luo hinted desperately that the Ripper was definitely one of the people on the list. All of them might be, but they didn’t have any evidence to support that claim.
Thus, it wasn’t appropriate for the Cotland Yard to take any action. They hoped that the foreign detective Xuanzang, who had come from a distant land, could find evidence of their crimes.
Once the murderer was caught, Tang Luo would receive handsome rewards immediately. The agent placed special emphasis on the words ‘caught’ and ‘rewards’.
Tang Luo nodded in response, though whether or not he understood the Cotland Yard’s hint was a mystery. He then left together with the credentials and information.
The hint was straightforward. They wanted Tang Luo to spare nothing at catching the culprit. It was alright even if it weren’t the true murderer. What they needed was to at least provide an explanation for things.
Due to Tang Luo’s foreigner identity, he could just up and leave after settling everything. Even if the Ripper were to resurface and commit murders again in the future, the Cotland Yard could just claim that it was a copycat.
And should it happen repeatedly? Then they could just push the blame onto the foreigner Tang Luo.
To think in a slightly more sinister manner, they could even arrest Tang Luo and push him out to appease the masses’ fury when necessary.
In any case, they needed to shift the attention away from themselves—the people’s terror and fury needed a venting outlet.
Using foreigners as the toilet paper to wipe their asses was the most appropriate course of action. Whether or not he was a real detective, the Cotland Yard couldn’t care less. Of course, the ideal outcome was the foreign detective capturing Jack the Ripper for real—that would be to everyone’s delight and satisfaction!
Tang Luo didn’t take to heart the Cotland Yard’s plans and intentions.
Without their ‘cooperation’, how could he get his hands on credentials and magically transform into an authorized detective so easily?
When it was nearing noon, Tang Luo returned to the hotel. Other than the information and credentials, he also brought a few sets of clothes with him.
They were for Little Chu and the others to change into. Their clothes, especially Little Chu’s pink pajamas, were still rather out of place here.
Li Liang’s clothes were also stained with blood. If it were possible, they naturally needed to be changed.
So that they could do as the Romans do when in Rome.
The group was gathered in Tang Luo and Li Liang’s room and flipped through the information.
Every single one of them was solemn. Their brows were tightly furrowed, and the looks on their faces were awful.
The photographs of the victims in the information had created a fairly large impact on them. And these were black and white photographs that were rather blurry. Had they been in color, the impact would probably have been even stronger.
Tang Luo didn’t join them. The Jade Lotus of Virtuous Merit rolled about continuously between his fingers.
A bit more power of virtuous merits had built up within. It was from the punishment he had given to the Ripper Gang’s members.
Other than encouraging kindness, he could also obtain the power of virtuous merits through punishing evil.
“Master, are we going to the crime scenes or interviewing the families of the victims next?” asked Little Chu.
“Sure, all of you can go. Bring the photocopy with you and leave the original behind for now,” replied Tang Luo as he hung the Jade Lotus of Virtuous Merit around his neck once more.
Tang Luo had expressed that he had assistants and might split up to carry out investigations. Hence, the Cotland Yard had given him three copies of the same credentials—the original document and two photocopies.
“Aren’t you going, Master?” asked Little Chu.
Tang Luo shook his head. “No, my identity as a detective is fake. I’m just a bit more adept at fighting. I can’t even compare to Watson, who’s able to detect blind spots. Going there would just be a waste of time and energy. Just the lot of you going will do.”
Li Liang followed suit and said, “I’m not going either.”
Considering that weak and feeble tone of his and his pale complexion, it wasn’t appropriate for the others to drag him along too.
To be honest, they didn’t want to go around with Li Liang, either.
Who knew whether or not there were any problems with that fellow? It was better to stay away from him.
Only Tang Luo, owing to his superb ability, was gutsy enough and didn’t mind in the least.
After a short discussion, the remaining four—two men and two women—still decided to head out. Even though they weren’t detectives either, what if they made any discoveries?
Just as the four of them were about to head out, Tang Luo suddenly asked, “Oh, by the way, do any of you know how to shoot1?”
The others exchanged looks in silence. The atmosphere turned awkward at once.
‘Master Xuanzang, even if you’re a monk, asking something like that is too much!
‘There are still girls here whose looks are getting plainer by the day due to the lack of makeup. How are we supposed to answer?’
Evidently, Little Chu and the high school student, Little Zhou, weren’t that thick-skinned to the extent of proudly admitting to it or lying through their teeth and denying it.
“Whoever knows how to, hold on to this revolver. You can use it for self-defense.”
Tang Luo fished out a derringer that was smaller than most typical revolvers.
“…”
‘Master, don’t you know that it’s very easy for you to get hammered to death if you talk like that?’
Little Chu and the others definitely wouldn’t be able to defeat Tang Luo in a fight. Thus, in the end, Little Chu, who looked the most reliable out of them all, took the revolver.
Tang Luo also reminded them that should they meet members of the so-called Ripper Gang, they must take care to hide their knives and guns properly, as well as avoid being discovered by the other party and taken revenge upon.
After realizing that such a method of begging for alms was how Tang Luo’s money came about, these few people found it even more difficult to maintain their expressions.
So, was it a vicious person who up and went and became a monk? Or was it the monk who turned into a vicious person? This was a question worth deep contemplation.
Little Chu and the others left.
Li Liang lay back down on the bed, moaning and groaning as he did so. He acted as if he was half-dead.