A well-preserved antique rapier from the Sherlock dynasty could feto less than 180 écu at au, with some rare pieces selling for over 300 écu.

  Because of this, many terfeit Sherlock dynasty rapiers exist on the market. The magical rapier Charlot purchased was undoubtedly a replica.

  The only reason he was willing to buy this terfeit antique rapier was that it came with an authentic scabbard from the Sherlock dynasty.

  Sherlock dynasty scabbards were even rarer than intact magical rapiers. However, because they were not sidered gereasures, no ohered to specute on their value.

  Few people khat certain pos of Sherlock dynasty scabbards were made from the same steel used in magical rapiers. Only their inal scabbards could ceal the magical energy waves of the rapiers, preventing enemies from deteg them prematurely. However, these scabbards were not ented and therefore not magical artifacts themselves.

  In the Fars Empire, collectors often repced scabbards with new oo enhahe appearance of their colles. The old, heavily worn, or damaged inal scabbards were frequently discarded aually ended up in sed-hand on shops.

  Oh, walking into an antique market and hoping to find a gereasure amidst a sea of fakes seemed as fantastical as a fairy tale.

  In the Fars Empire, however, there were no true antique dealers in this medieval society, only sed-hand shops where overlooked relics often surfaced.

  Charlot po find a reliable bcksmith to melt down the scabbard and fe it into a neier. If a little Star iron could be added during the process, the resulting on would surpass military-grade rapiers in quality, though the process would undoubtedly be troublesome.

  After spending some more time at the ons market, Charlot purchased a sed-hand Magnum revolver and twenty bullets for 89 times. The shopkeeper even threw in a shoulder holster, the kind that could be cealed under a coat.

  A brand-new Magnum revolver would fetore than two or three flor on the bck market, with sed-hand models in near-mint dition costing about half that.

  The one Charlot bought was exceptionally cheap, and naturally, it showed more wear, being only 80% new. However, none of its parts were damaged, and a test shot firmed its accuracy.

  Charlot didn’t think he would o use it often, so he didn’t care about its dition as long as it worked.

  After acquiring these two ons, Charlot also purchased a portable leather sheath for his Vampiric axe. With that, he left the ons market and walked back to the Savings Union apartments.

  As soon as he reached the ground floor of the apartments, Charlot had a subtle sense of foreboding.

  Parked outside were four or five patrol carriages, alongside over a dozen cavalry horses. Several city patrol guards stood chatting by the carriages—something had clearly happened.

  Charlot approached them with a friendly demeanor and said, “I’m Charlot Meburg, a first-css civil servant with the tral Gover Office. I’m a tenant here and would like to know what’s going on.”

  Charlot was far too young, and g to be a senior civil servant often made people think he was lying. Additionally, invoking Kilmainham Prison wasn’t as useful as the tral Gover Office, so he used his outdated title.

  The patrol guards exged gnces, chuckled, and replied, “There’s been a robbery here, and someone was killed. We’ll have it resolved soon, Mr. Meburg.”

  Charlot’s unease deepened. “ I go home?”

  One of the guards replied, “Of course, it’s no problem. The se has already been iigated.”

  Charlot ehe building and headed to the sed floor, where he saw patrol guards filling the hallway. His sense of foreboding grew stronger.

  When he reached his room, he saw the door wide open, with several guards talking at the entra that moment, Charlot realized he was the unlucky party involved.

  He stepped forward and asked, “This is my room. you tell me what happened?”

  A young and handsome patrol guard instinctively drew his longsword, his face tense. An older colleague pced a hand on the younger guard’s arm and said, “Dubin, this man came in from outside. He’s —no bloodstains. He’s probably the tenant the doorman described, Mr. Meburg.”

  The guard who had drawn his sword twirled it theatrically before sheathing it. He then said sympathetically, “Sir, you might o e with us for a bit.”

  “There’s been a murder in your home. A woman was killed there.”

  Charlot felt a faint headache creeping in and asked, “Mr. Dubin, I know the details of the case?”

  The young guard expined, “This afternoon, a man and a woman came to visit you. They forced their way into the apartmee the doorman’s attempts to stop them. The man used violeo break into your room and got into a fight with the woman inside.”

  “The man killed his panion in your room and thehrough the window.”

  “I’m sorry, but this i will likely disrupt your life for some time.”

  From the scattered women’s clothing in the room and his own fragmented memories, Charlot could piece together a rough picture—his predecessor’s private life was anything but “pure.” What he didn’t expect was for trouble to kno his door so soon and in such a severe form.

  He rubbed his temples and asked, “ I go in to check my belongings?”

  The young guard nodded aured for him to proceed.

  When Charlot stepped into his room, the first thiiced was the mess—clothes scattered everywhere, some stained with blood, evidence of a violent struggle.

  A quice revealed that the multi-headed fil and vampire battle-axe tossed in the er, as well as the diary on his desk, were untouched. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief and resolved to always carry the vampire battle-axe with him from now on.

  Exiting the room, Charlot turo the apartment manager, who had been standing nearby with the patrol guards, and said, “I’ll need a new room.”

  The manager hesitated for a moment and then replied relutly, “We only have a few suites left, and they’re more expensive. If this had been an actal i, we’d cover the costs, but in this case, I’m afraid you bear some responsibility…”

  Charlot smiled faintly and said, “I’ll cover the differen rent for a year. I o go out with the patrol guards now, but when I return, please take me to see the new room.”

  “And make sure someone keeps an eye on my belongings so nothing goes missing.”

  Relieved by Charlot’s promise, the manager said, “I’ll have Mary keep watch for you. You know how reliable she is.”

  Charlot nodded and turo the patrol guards. “I’m ready to cooperate with the iigation.”

  The guards had already determihe basic facts of the case. With Charlot, the key party, returning, their work here was essentially plete.

  In the Fars Empire, city patrol guards performed the duties of modern police but cked the extensive rules aiculous procedures of Earth’s iigative systems.