The blue devil was taken aback and hurriedly asked:

"What's wrong? Choking on food? Hurry up and drink some water, maybe feel better. ”

"No, it's not that I'm choking, it's that I'm feeling a little uncomfortable."

"Do you want to go to the door to get some air?"

"No, let's get out of here! Please bring my coat and hat, etc. Do you see the two gentlemen sitting at the table behind me?"

"yes, that's two people, one tall and one short."

"Well, you lean on my left, I don't want to be spotted by that tall gentleman."

"Do you know him? Does he contradict you in any way?" The Blue Devil didn't dare to stare at the two people carefully, for fear of attracting their attention, so he just talked to Bai Lang in a low voice.

"He's my formidable rival, the big detective we just talked about, Markovsky, and the short one is his assistant Bunin."

"What? Is he Markovsky? Isn't that the road narrow?"

"Yes, they came too hastily, so I was not mentally prepared, just because Markovsky's opponent was too strong, otherwise I would not be so panicked with my character of not being afraid of heaven and earth."

"However, you have already disguised yourself, and no one knows you, if it weren't for the time and place I made an appointment with you, I wouldn't believe that you are the famous Bailang."

"Markovsky is incomparable to ordinary people. He's very powerful, and even though I've only met him once, I'm afraid I'll never be able to escape his eyes again.

"In his eyes, the change of appearance and outfit cannot deceive him, he has seen through my essence, he can intuitively feel my existence, just like receiving radio waves. In other words, he has an amazing sixth sense, which can foresee things that others are not aware of. That's why I'm also terrified of his animal instincts

"However, because he is a strong opponent, he can also bring out my potential, and fighting against him will make me fight, which is a lot of fun, a real adventure. I will deal with him to the end, and if I lose him in the world, I will also feel heroic loneliness. ”

"Didn't you say that he arrived in Dongzhou at 6 o'clock? How did you end up here so soon? Let's go quickly! The Blue Devil said unhappily.

"No, now that I'm going out there with a bigger goal, he may have become suspicious of my back. I can now feel a pair of piercing eyes on my back...... Sooner or later, he will find out about us...... It's better to strike first and seize the initiative! ”

Bai Lang smiled, stood up suddenly, turned around to the table behind him, and greeted the two guests in front of the table gracefully: "Ah, it's been a long time, it's nice to see you here again!"

It happened so suddenly that the great detective Markovsky was caught off guard for a while, and he instinctively wanted to make a defensive measure, but in an instant he calmed down and regained his gentlemanly demeanor. He stood up casually and introduced to his assistant Bunin, "Bunin, I would like to introduce you to our friend, Mr. Hakuro. Then he turned to Shirarou and said, "This is my good friend and my assistant, Mr. Bunin." ”

Bunin was unprepared, and was a little hurried for a while, and that embarrassed image made Bai Lang laugh secretly in his heart. He never dreamed of meeting an adversary so quickly and so suddenly, and being introduced to him like a gentleman.

"Markovsky, why don't you arrest him?" He asked Markovsky quietly.

"Don't be impulsive, it's not time to startle. Besides, it's not that easy, as soon as you have an idea, he will disappear like a shadow. Let's take a look at the situation first. ”

Bai Lang saw Bunin's thoughts, walked to their table, pulled a chair and sat on the side away from the door, and said to Markovsky with a smile: "Mr. Detective, don't worry, I won't run, let's talk amicably." ”

Bunin was stunned by his audacity, and glanced at Markovsky, only to see that he didn't even shake his eyebrows, and still looked at Bai Lang with a gentlemanly demeanor. Then he also greeted the Blue Devil and said, "You can sit down with you!" Then he called to the waiter: "Another bottle of vodka." ”

The drinks were brought at once, and the four of them sat facing each other, silent, like a moment of silence before a storm, like a boxer greeting each other with a boxing glove before the fight, and the thief and the detective gathered around a table to talk.

Markovsky and Bai Lang are like old friends who have been separated for many years, and they frequently raise their glasses to wish each other health and career success. In fact, they both saw a fighting spirit in each other's eyes. On the surface, they are smiling and polite, but in fact they are careful not to give the other party a chance.

After a while, Hakuro thought that it was enough, so he stood up and said, "It is my pleasure to have a pleasant conversation before confronting a great detective like you, and I think I should take my leave." ”

Then he reached out and shook hands with Markovsky very graciously and said goodbye.

Markovsky also held his hand tightly and said: "How dare you, I am also very happy!" Regardless of the outcome or defeat, I am very satisfied to have the privilege of competing with you. However, I think I've got the win, and I'm going to beat you. What do you think?"

"It's hard to say, I'll get the final victory."

"Okay, let's limit it to ten days, and within ten days, I will definitely find out the mystery of the ancient table case and the sapphire murder case, and arrest you."

"Very well, I will not let you have a smooth sailing, you must be prepared to endure hardships, I have already taken care of you in advance. I wish you and me a happy ten days! ”

"Of course, I hope you give it your all!"

"Of course! You won't be disappointed, Mr. Detective! ”

"Mr. Thief!"

The two stood facing each other, their hands still clasped together, and they knew each other, and just like that, the first meeting between a thief and a great detective was over.

Out of the restaurant, Markovsky said to Bunin: "You go to Alice's Hotel first, open a room there, take a bath, and sleep again, and deal with Bai Lang, you can't do it without your spirits, and I will give you instructions." ”

"Aren't you going along?"

"I'll act right away and visit Zhong Lan and his wife first, they will pick me up at the station. You have to be careful not to be targeted by Bai Lang's men, and it will be a big trouble for him to know your address. ”

Markovsky and Bunin broke up, and he went straight to the North Station and boarded the express train to Deer Cloud.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhong Lan were already waiting in the carriage, and Markovsky greeted them first, and then went to the corridor of the carriage to smoke his pipe, and by the way, he looked around, and only after the train started did he return to the carriage.

"Madame, did you bring the ring?"

"Brought it, want to see it?" Madame Zhong Lan took out the ring and handed it to Markovsky.

The detective turned the sapphire ring over and over and looked at it again and again, and said, "Sure enough, as I expected, this gem was transferred, and now this one is fake."