Chapter 23

Kunikida Doppo is in a very awkward situation right now, not just an ordinary one.

Looking at the sullen little girl in front of him, Kunikida Doppo really didn't know what to say at this moment, but subconsciously began to sized up the child in front of him.

Based on her physical features, she appears to be European. However, her eyes are red, and the white hair visible through her eyelashes and the strands of hair peeking out from under her hat is also noticeable.

It wasn't dry, yellowish white hair, but rather the kind of white hair that was quite shiny.

—Apigmentation disorder?

Kenji Miyazawa, who ran in almost at the same time as Kunikida Doppo, witnessed everything that happened: "Mr. Kunikida, you seem to have made a mistake."

The characteristics of the black trench coat they were looking for clearly didn't match; the height and gender didn't fit the description of a "tall and strong man."

Regardless of whether he was male or female, it's possible the victim misread the situation.

It would be strange if this little girl could tell that he was tall and strong.

He tucked the ledger back into his pocket—he had taken it out specifically because he thought he was going to fight—Kunikida Doppo looked at the little girl who was still turning her head to watch where the cat had run off to, and took two steps toward her.

"How are you?"

The little girl, who had been sulking, turned her head to look at Kunikida Doppo as he approached, as if she had just realized what was happening. Suddenly, she jumped up and took several steps back.

It does look a bit like a frightened rabbit.

"Don't come any closer!"

"Okay, I won't go."

Seeing the little girl's reaction, Kunikida Doppo immediately stopped.

"Are you alright? Why are you here all alone? Did you get separated from your family?"

The little girl reached out and tugged at her trench coat, wrapping herself up even more tightly, as if that would give her a sense of security.

“I’m fine, I’m not lost, Robert is right behind me.”

After saying that, she suddenly muttered something else in a slightly lower voice.

"I was just chasing a cat."

Kunikida Doppo wanted to open his mouth to say something, but found that he had nothing to say, so he fell silent for no apparent reason.

The two inexplicably started a staring contest...

Kunikida Doppo was worried about the little girl who had run away for some unknown reason and was reluctant to let her continue to run around alone—he felt that even if he wasn't taking her to find her parents, he should at least take her to a safer place.

Instead of those alleyways where a group of thugs could jump out at any moment.

The child opposite clearly dared not approach Kunikida Doppo, this strange adult man who had suddenly appeared.

The two were locked in an awkward stalemate.

Kenji Miyazawa scratched his head, preparing to go over and try to persuade the two people who had inexplicably started confronting each other.

However, before he could move, a somewhat chaotic sound of footsteps suddenly came from behind him.

"Mary, what's wrong? What happened here?"

Kunikida Doppo and Miyazawa Kenji turned their heads at the same time to look behind them.

A young man of foreign descent, dressed formally but with slightly disheveled clothes, was breathing heavily. He looked at the two people in front of him with a hint of wariness, his gaze constantly drifting towards the child opposite him.

The child opposite seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw the young man.

It seems this must be "Robert".

Upon discovering that the child's parents had already arrived, Kunikida Doppo immediately stated, "I was just worried that she had gotten lost."

As he spoke, Kunikida Doppo stepped aside to make way for him.

Kenji Miyazawa followed suit and stepped aside to make way.

The foreign youth's expression softened considerably, but he still walked quickly past the two people with a slightly tense look on his face, heading towards the little girl.

"Robert!" The little girl ran over and grabbed the young man's hand.

Only then did the young man of foreign descent visibly relax, and even his breathing became much more steady.

After ruffling the little girl's hair, the young man looked behind him at Kunikida Doppo and Miyazawa Kenji.

"Is there anything else you need?"

His tone still carried a hint of wariness, but given the scene just now, Kunikida Doppo wasn't actually surprised.

He himself felt that the scene was somewhat like a thug who had malicious intentions towards a young child being discovered by the child's parents and then giving up on his own.

"It's nothing, goodbye."

Kunikida Doppo sighed, gave up on explaining, turned and gestured to Miyazawa Kenji, then strode out of the alley.

He was walking with his usual long strides, but given the scene... he looked more like a guilty suspect trying to escape.

However, Kenji Miyazawa did not notice these things.

Kenji Miyazawa gave the two people in this direction a bright smile as usual, and then turned and ran out with Doppo Kunikida.

Well, this time he doesn't seem like a suspect, but rather a kind person who wants to help.

Once he was certain that the two people opposite him had completely disappeared from his sight, the young man finally breathed a sigh of relief, patted the little girl's head beside him, and reached into his pocket to take out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and put them on.

"So Mary, why did you run off again this time?"

"There was a cat just now." The little girl's white hair swayed gently with her movements, and her red eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Pure black!"

"It was just a black cat..." The young man, who looked very gentle after putting on his glasses, sighed helplessly, "but he ran into some incredible people."

"Kunikida Doppo and Miyazawa Kenji! I know them!" The little girl raised her hand. "They're in the information the princess brought back!"

"Yes, that's right... But Mary, so not everyone with heterochromia is a princess, haven't I told you that many times?"

Crouching down to be at eye level with the little girl, the young man smiled gently: "If you keep saying that, Roland will get angry again."

The child called Mary gave a rather disappointed "Oh".

"They look so alike..."

And it's true that Romain Rolland could conjure up long, rainbow-colored hair.

The young man chuckled.

"Maybe a little, but just be careful not to get close to Vladimir in the future."

Standing up, the young man looked in the direction where Kunikida Doppo and Miyazawa Kenji had left.

"The Armed Detective Agency... This is a bit troublesome."

Holding Mary's hand, Robert took out a small telegraph machine with one hand and began to operate it.

After watching Robert finish sending the message quietly, Mary gently tugged at Robert's sleeve.

"Robert, will the plan be discovered?"

"I don't know, but it's very likely."

With a reassuring smile, Robert took Mary's hand and they walked slowly down the alley.

"The plan may be moved up, Mary, are you ready?"

Mary immediately made her expression as serious as possible and gave a rather unorthodox naval salute.

"Always be prepared!"

Robert couldn't help but laugh out loud, which displeased Mary.

This scene is just like a warm and ordinary daily life.