72 Cannot Trust Even a Punctuation Mark (2/2)
”Lord Sherlock, I have an important question.” Bru's voice appeared in Sherlock's mind.
”Say it.”
”Your decision was like driving a Go-Kart and negotiating a bend using the drains. Are you sure it won't flip?” Bru asked bewildered.
”I don't understand most of what you've said. You seem to doubt my decision. Do you think that I made a loss?”
Sherlock stood by the roadside and removed his white gloves. He released two buttons and removed his waistcoat.
He was a perfect gentleman previously, and now he looked like a rebellious rich kid.
”Lord Sherlock, what I'm going to say may not be appropriate. This Ancient Ruins opportunity could be our only chance to have an Open Beta. I'm saying it could be the best chance to level up the Dungeon Core.” Bru's voice sounded lost.
”Who is the archaeologist who made you give up half of the Ancient Ruins loot? If that creature was your female schoolmate, or your childhood sweetheart, as your servant, I have to give you a suggestion.”
”What suggestion?”
Sherlock put his white gloves into his pocket and flagged a Hades carriage. He said to the coachman, ”Winterfell Old District No. 777 Black Shop Hotel, please.”
With the crack of a whip, the carriage took off.
”Lord Sherlock, please have a clear mind. I know that times are now different. While I was asleep for 10,000 years, the superior Devils started to obey the laws and even became poor. This kind of dog licking behavior has to stop, otherwise, your future will be ruined! Are you meeting that female Devil at the hotel?”
Bru was agitated, and he said, ”Even if you don't intend to adventure and find exploring the ruins troublesome, you could sell your exploration rights. There are many creatures fighting to buy exploration rights, and you could earn a few million Magic Stones. This is an Ancient Ruins! The Gnome only needed to recommend a female Devil and could obtain half the loot?”
”Your 'dog licking' description is filled with grievance.” Sherlock was sitting in the swaying carriage as he said, ”I can guess where you're coming from after listening to your gripes. Do you believe that I would share half my loot for a female Devil? Why do you have the wrong belief that I would be chummy with a female Devil?”
”What about the contract you signed just now…” Bru stopped talking as he pondered. He muttered, ”Lord Sherlock, are you…”
”That's right, I'm forging a tertiary certificate in Archaeology.” Sherlock nodded his head.
”But Sherlock, you've signed the magical contract. Even if you're a superior Devil, you can't renege on the contract? If you forge a tertiary certificate, you will have reneged on the contract!” Bru quickly reminded Sherlock.
”Renege on the magical contract? No, no, no, why would I? I'm a superior Devil with 90 years of compulsory education. Why do you think that my certificate is not substantial?” Sherlock smiled.
”Wait, Lord Sherlock, you… intend to disguise as the archaeologist? But why?” Bru went into deep thought and said, ”I understand! Lord Sherlock, you… you are cunning.”
Bru asked in a teasing voice, ”Lord Sherlock, you told the shopkeeper that the archaeologist is a female Devil! But you're a male, Lord Sherlock?”
Sherlock said with an emotionless face, ”Did the contract mention it's a female? No. Don't you know that with a Devil's words, even a punctuation mark isn't trustworthy if they aren't included in the contract? A trustworthy Devil like me would follow the contract to the dot!”
”I see, I see. I was worried just now, but it was unnecessary. Lord Sherlock, how did you know that the shopkeeper would be tempted? He possesses the Ancient Ruins Key and will have exploration rights. He could have explored the Ancient Ruins on his own.”
”Do you think that a Gnome shopkeeper, a merchant under the Merchant Alliance, would become the sole owner of the key and the exploration rights?” Sherlock asked.
”At most, he would obtain the price of the key, some Magic Stones as a reward, and benefits from the system like reduced taxes. The Merchant Alliance is not a charity organization. He can't make decisions, so he can't and won't decline my proposal.”
”Are you a Devil?”
”Yes, a superior Devil.”
Half of Sherlock's face was in the shadows, and he smiled sinisterly.
”We've arrived, Devil Lord. Two Magic Stones,” the Orc coachman turned his head and said as the Hades carriage came to a stop.
”That expensive? A price increase? Did you go on a detour?”
…
”Pa!”
The Hades carriage behind Sherlock left. Directly in front of him was the Black Shop Hotel, where he met Professor Bacon the first time.
The entrance was as quiet as the first time he came. The magical light from the signboard was a warm crimson color.
Sherlock adjusted his collar and placed his hands in his pockets as he walked to the hotel.
Sherlock stopped by the side of a stone wall where a green female Orc was leaning.
The female Orc noticed Sherlock and squinted her eyes. She shifted her heels and pushed her barrel hips, walking over alluringly.
She winked flirtatiously at Sherlock.
”Handsome guy, making your documents?”