Friday was supposed to be Arthur's working day, but since he had relinquished his specific jurisdiction over the District, he was able to allocate all of his working time to himself instead of sitting in his office at 4 Whitehall Street.

However, while the intensity of today's work is much lower than Arthur's previous work, Arthur is not entirely fishing.

In a nondescript corner café in London's West End, Arthur was holding a black teacup and looking back and forth with his piercing black eyes at Miss Fiona Ivan, the new queen of Taur Hamlets, who was sitting across from him.

At this time, Arthur only felt that the blonde woman who was weak on the surface, but actually had a fiery temper, had a slight chin in her mouth, hung her head, her eyes were erratic, and she didn't dare to move with her hands on her knees, as if she had done something wrong.

Arthur asked, "I told you, don't dip into opium tinctures." Although it has the effect of calming the mind and relieving pain, taking too much will not only produce addiction, but also cause adverse reactions such as epilepsy, dizziness, and vomiting in severe cases.

And the happiness that that thing can bring you is always short-lived, and once the illusion is gone, your mood will fall into a long period of low points. After a long time like this, there will be problems with your spirit. ”

In response to Arthur's kind words, Fiona just winked her dark gray eyes playfully.

"Please, Mr. Hastings. Of course I know you need to control your intake, but you know how much of a waste of effort it is to manage a criminal gang of 100 people.

If I can't regulate my emotions with the help of some little spice in life, I'll have to be pissed off by those idiots sooner or later. You should have heard about the case that happened last week at the West India Docks?

One of my stupid donkeys fought with the dock sailors for the favor of a weaver, and used a gun in the fight. But thankfully, no one was killed, otherwise I really wouldn't know how to explain this to you. ”

Arthur took a sip of black tea, only to feel that the tea was a little astringent, so he lifted the tin pot full of milk and poured a little more into the teacup.

"How to explain it to me, it's very simple. You send him to Scotland Yard, and everyone is happy. Don't forget the rules between us, if your men commit only minor crimes, I will turn a blind eye.

But if you commit a felony or a crime of rebellion, then I'm sorry, even if I want to help you, I can't do anything about it. Although Taur Hamletz is no longer in charge of me, the newly promoted Superintendent Brydon Jones should still be taking good care of you, right? ”

Arthur's voice sounded very gentle, and if it were combined with the bright sunshine and the scene of a man and a woman having lunch together, it might be called sweet words.

But to Fiona, a woman who has been at the bottom for many years, the big boss is already euphemistically expressing his dissatisfaction with the current progress of the work.

Although this kind of harsh rebuke is not severe, Fiona does not dare to take it lightly.

She understands how difficult it is for women to make a difference in this day and age.

For people from London, who lived in the materialistic 19th century, everything was very realistic.

And this is more directly and bloody in the underworld.

Just like the reason why Rowan didn't dare to touch Arthur, it was not because he was afraid of Arthur's outstanding ability, but because he didn't dare to go head-to-head with Lord Broughham and the people of the University of London who were about to take the throne.

Fiona's ability to sit on the Diaoyutai is not due to her management skills, but because the ruffians really don't have the courage to compete with the superintendent of Scotland Yard.

Perhaps because of these years of experience, Fiona understood a truth early on - there are many capable people, but few people with backgrounds.

Many people think that when faced with difficulties, competence can solve the problem. But they ignore one point, that is, if they want to solve the problem, the background alone can actually be used, and the usefulness of the background is far more than that, which is beyond the reach of ordinary talents.

Therefore, Fiona seems to be in the limelight right now, and the pleated skirt of Taur Hamletz will cause countless domineering villains to fall to their knees in front of her, even if she orders the group to lick their shoes like pugs, they will not have a problem.

But as soon as Arthur withdrew his support for her, or even showed the slightest wavering attitude in front of several of her subordinates, then Scotland Yard would not need to intervene, and Fiona would soon be bitten and devoured by sharks that smelled blood.

At that time, I'm afraid that even returning to the original situation of teaming up with her companions to do fairy jumping will be a good ending for Fiona.

But for this lady who has been mingling with men all year round, it is better to have a few witty words than a serious answer.

She dragged her chin with her slender lace-trimmed wrists, leaning forward slightly to close the distance, so that the smell of her expensive lavender perfume, which was evidently different from that of a few months ago, also entered Arthur's mouth and nose.

She dragged her chin with her slender lace-trimmed wrists, leaning forward slightly to close the distance, so that the smell of her expensive lavender perfume, which was evidently different from that of a few months ago, also entered Arthur's mouth and nose.

Fiona blew in Arthur's ear, "So, are you trying to punish me?"

For Fiona's hint, Arthur just put down the coffee cup unhurriedly, and then calmly took out the proud 'civilization staff' of the Scottish Yard police officer from his trench coat and slapped it on the table: "Are you sure?" ”

Fiona looked at the staff of civilization and her eyelids jumped: "Although I know that you have always been violent, this ......"

Arthur said calmly, "Come on, Fiona, you are lucky today, because my flintlock pistol was left with Mr. Wheatstone. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taught you a lesson with the rod of civilization. ”

When the Red Devil sat at the next table heard this, he somehow got a blonde wig and conjured a pair of large Carslan eyes like Fiona, who had ordered belladonna eye drops.

The Red Devil clasped his hands together and mimicked Fiona's inner monologue with his flaming red lips that were deliberately disgusting: "Fuck, who can tell the old lady which country stinky idiot this Arthur Hastings is from?" ”

Arthur paused as he picked up the white porcelain teacup, he stared at Fiona's beautiful face and said, "If you want to scold me, you can say it to your face, I still have the ability to bear it." If you feel more comfortable scolding, at least you can drink one less bottle of opium tincture when you go back, which will definitely be a good thing for you to be in the state of your work. ”

"Scolding you? No, Mr. Hastings, you may have misunderstood, and it's too late for me to adore you. You may not know it, but guys like you have always been very popular with girls. ”

Fiona smiled, unable to see the slightest hint of blush on her pale concealer-coated face. Not only that, but she also raised her arm quite cooperatively and compared it to the staff of civilization on the table.

"You see, even if I don't look at your handsome appearance and strong body, at least I have to fear your force, right? You see, this stick is almost as thick as my forearm, and if I get hit with a stick, I may not be able to get out of bed for a few days, and the girl's family can't afford such a thing. You'd better use that to deal with some of London's fiercest men, like Fred's. ”

When Arthur heard this, he just stroked his hair: "Very well, Fiona, just open your mouth in front of me." Do you dare to question my sexuality, do you really think I can't hear anything? ”

When Fiona heard this, her originally bright smile froze: "You...... You know ...... No, what do you say? How dare I ridicule you, after all, there are thirty or forty girls in the whole of Taurhamletz who are counting on you to eat. Otherwise, if I bring them all to you to see, I can't get into your eyes, just because they can't. ”

Arthur tapped his finger impatiently on the table, "Fiona, what I'm going to talk to you about now is not a girl's problem, but yours." You provoked me, what am I going to do with them? ”

"Are you ......" Fiona first stared at Arthur for a long time when she heard this, and then glanced at the staff of civilization on the table, and then showed an expression that wanted to cry without tears: "Are you serious?" ”

Arthur shook his head and said, "Although I am not very civilized, I am not enough to do it directly to a lady. But you can't just leave that at that. Well, I've got a job in my hand, and if you can get it done smoothly, then the matter will be written off. But if you mess up, you'll be paid ...... for sending someone to follow Hetherington and Mrs. Norton."

Fiona was so angry when she heard this, and for a long time, the superintendent of Scotland Yard, who was a few years younger than her, turned out to be just trying to pay the bill.

She already knew that there was no good person in the police, and almost all men were bad people, and even if the two identities were combined, they would not be able to bear the burden positively.

But before she could finish greeting Arthur in her heart, she heard a gentle voice sound again.

Arthur laughed, "But, Fiona, don't be in a hurry to get angry. Correspondingly, if you can complete the next task, not only will you be paid as usual for the previous task, but I will pay you double.

I am not announcing this to you because I want to deserve your due. At present, the Criminal Investigation Department, which I am currently in charge of, has almost no office funds. The other organization I control is a temporary institution, so naturally it doesn't enjoy financial allocations.

But if you can get this done, then I have the confidence to apply to the top to convert the temporary organization into a permanent establishment, and then I will naturally have the money on hand.

Or, even if I can't change it to a permanent one, at least I can apply for a special bonus from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for this matter. If I have the money, I will be able to pay you. ”

When Fiona heard this, the anger in her chest gradually subsided, and she pursed her lips and changed to a pure and bright smile: "So, Mr. Hastings, what is the task this time?" ”

Arthur took out a folded job posting from the inside pocket of his coat and threw it in front of Fiona: "Your surname is Ivan, and your father is a second-generation Russian immigrant to London, I really hope he taught you Russian or German well before he died, otherwise your beautiful foreign appearance will be completely blind." ”

Fiona opened the show, just glanced at it, then looked up in surprise and said, "You want me to apply for a job as a maid at the Russian Embassy?" ”

(End of chapter)