Chapter 38, Episode 26 Cool
Episode 26 "Cool"
Enough with the jokes, let's get back to the main topic.
This cruise trip was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather an invitation received from Ivy Blackwell, one of Milworth's blackmail targets.
Eva Blackwell, 28, a Londoner living in Chelsea, is the sole manager of Blackwell Studio, a rapidly rising event planning company that gained immense popularity on Instagram last quarter. Despite her privileged background, she hasn't rested on her family's laurels; instead, she has quickly built her personal influence in London's fashion and high-society circles through her keen aesthetic sense and extensive network.
She was invited to serve as the chief planner of the maiden voyage celebration for the "Noah," taking full responsibility for all customized projects on the cruise ship, excluding basic entertainment facilities, including academic salons, musical performances, and onboard art exhibitions. The entire maiden voyage event was positioned as a mobile extravaganza integrating academia, art, and elite social interaction, attracting significant public attention.
Such outstanding talents in society are required to pay Milwalton 10% of Blackwell Studio's annual revenue as consulting fees every year.
Based on Herbers' continuous monitoring and feedback over the years, the fee started at £150,000. With the company's rapid growth in recent years, and based on this year's financial report, the amount payable has now reached £750,000.
She has already delayed delivery by a month.
After Herbers routinely issued a notice demanding payment, Ivy Blackwell wanted to renegotiate the fee structure with me, suggesting that I could use resources instead of cash, or a phased buyout.
At the same time, I received an invitation from the Noah organizers.
Actually, this was a very sincere invitation from Ivy.
Because she was one of the organizers, and the cruise ship environment was enclosed with numerous prominent third parties present, it meant that if an agreement couldn't be reached, Milverton could hold the power of life and death over her reputation. This was definitely not a safe option for someone who relied on their reputation for a living.
Furthermore, she didn't even pressure me through a lawyer or intermediary; instead, she spoke with me one-on-one.
To me, this meeting should have been an overwhelming one, but it wasn't.
Noah was still, after all, on her turf. From the flight path to the cabin layout and personnel allocation, everything was under her control. This was clearly a typical elitist stance. Even when at a disadvantage, she insisted on having the right to discuss the rules.
What alarmed me even more was that I could sense a sense of arrogance in her arrangements.
Firstly, because her name wasn't on the invitation letter they sent me, completely distancing themselves from any connection between us.
Secondly, because I had been on the ship for more than two hours, but she had not shown up.
I personally hope this isn't a dangerous sign. Her attitude of ignoring creditors and trying to distance herself from the situation is clearly more like a blatant test of my limits, an attempt to break free from Milverton's control over her.
When it comes to extortion and control, London is the place to go.
At first, London thought I would reject this kind of blackmail. After all, for the past two months, I've been living at my own pace, not following the Milverton work ethic and lifestyle.
The truth is, I didn't feel much shame or guilt about the extortion. Because I knew that truly "good people" were almost impossible to blackmail. And most of the leverage I had over them consisted of dirty deeds and scandals.
If they have done nothing wrong, what is there to be afraid of?
If they are honest enough to take responsibility for their mistakes, they naturally don't need to heed my threats, much less pay me exorbitant ransoms.
Therefore, those who truly come into my view are never the innocent, but rather those who have made mistakes but have managed to escape social condemnation and legal sanctions through luck, shady deals, or some kind of special treatment.
It's laughable if they still fantasize that after making mistakes, they can continue to live a carefree life and let time heal all wounds.
And that is precisely my reason for, or my interest in, holding power in Milwaukee.
I have no interest in being a good person.
Good people need to constantly demand self-discipline from themselves, which is too tiring for me.
All I want is for them to remember their mistakes every moment they are terrified of Milvolton, and for them to be more terrified each time they repeat the same mistake.
"People only remember the pain for a long time when they are hurt."
I firmly believe this.
Our gaze returned to Ivy.
In the public eye, she is the queen of the emerging event planning world, dazzling and admired. Every time she attends a salon, art exhibition, or charity event, she elegantly commands the scene, embodying the image of an independent, talented, and positive entrepreneurial woman in the public eye.
But no one could have imagined that her academic credentials were fabricated, her award-winning works were plagiarized from her classmates' ideas, and most of her startup funding came from undisclosed charitable projects she led, as well as money laundered funds.
What the public sees is merely the halo she has meticulously crafted.
Most things in the world can be priced, even bad things.
This is why Ivy pays a 10% consultation fee every year.
And I'm confident she'll never allow herself to be ruined and imprisoned. Not to mention, I have a solution she can't even imagine.
So, since she dared to invite me, I will definitely accept it.
But I still felt a little worried.
That is, "Eva Blackwell," who appeared in the original work and in a chapter of "Milverton."
In the original novel, Ivy asks Holmes to help her get back the incriminating evidence against her from Milverton.
The reason was that she was about to get married. However, Milwaukee had letters from her premarital entanglements with other men, which could disrupt her marriage or bring shame to her family. At the same time, Milwaukee was demanding £7,000 (roughly equivalent to £950,000 today). But this buyout fee was too high for her to pay.
Holmes already believed Milverton was exploiting the innocent, and when he met Milverton in person, he felt even more that Milverton was cunning and prone to extortion, so he readily accepted the mission. During this mission, although Holmes did not personally punish Milverton, he witnessed Milverton being beaten to death.
The original novel doesn't mention the perpetrator's name, only that she was an avenger, a woman whose life was ruined because of Milvolton. In the 1984 version, this avenger's identity is also connected to Ivy. Knowing she would also fall into the abyss of threat, the avenger dealt with Milvolton for Ivy.
This vague information is certainly not of much use to me right now.
But it's better than nothing.
At least I know that Ivy will definitely not go it alone.
Because of Ivy's invitation, I went to see Holmes specifically to ask if anyone had recently come looking for him. Holmes disdained lying, so when he said no, I believed him.
So who will Ivy ask for help?
This became my question.
Of course, I have considered it, but I was overthinking it.
The less she appears in front of me now, the more I believe she has someone who can suppress me.
...
In any case, I will not let my careful considerations affect me.
Continue to eat and drink as usual.
Because I ate too much pineapple, my tongue became numb, so Watson told me to suck on yogurt until the numbness and pain in my tongue subsided by more than half.
I ate three cups of yogurt in total: one strawberry flavored and the other two plain.
Originally, only about two cups were needed.
I heard that eating yogurt could solve the problem, so I quickly downed a whole cup. But it didn't work at all. As an honest and conscientious patient, I naturally had to report my situation. Watson said that yogurt shouldn't be swallowed directly; it should be held in the mouth. It's like applying ointment to a wound; you can't wash it off with water before it takes effect.
So I ordered another original flavor.
The yogurt is thick, but not as bland as Greek yogurt, making it a flavor suitable for all ages.
Holding it in my mouth felt like eating candy; the yogurt melted slowly inside, and it was easy to push away with my tongue. After finishing one cup, I definitely felt much better. Since I was tired of the original flavor, I also chose a strawberry flavor.
After drinking two cups, although the numbness hadn't completely subsided, I was much better and could continue eating and drinking.
However, Watson suggested that we go find Sherlock Holmes.
He went to the concert hall and didn't come back for two hours, and the concert had ended half an hour earlier.
I sent a text message to Holmes, but there was no reply.
Watson was somewhat uneasy, fearing that something might have happened to Holmes. After all, Holmes's personality made him prone to offending people.
I think Watson is worrying too much about Sherlock Holmes, but I don't mind going along to play with him.
Everything he does is interesting to me.
Some people may find it hard to understand, but a somewhat imprecise analogy will probably make it clear.
Sherlock Holmes is like a panda in a zoo.
Standing outside the fence, watching a panda roll over fills visitors with excitement, prompting them to snap photos incessantly.
I feel the same way.
Whether it's playing the violin, smoking, or sitting in a conspicuous place lost in thought, these stereotypical Sherlock Holmes behaviors make me feel like I've successfully drawn a card. If I occasionally see some extra little actions, it's more like an unexpected bonus, filling me with joy.
Seeing my happiness, Watson couldn't help but chuckle, "How come you... are always so carefree? You really don't seem like the person the rumors say you are..."
As soon as he said it, Watson's expression changed slightly, clearly realizing that he had said the wrong thing.
I never put Watson in a difficult position, and immediately retorted smugly, "Then what do you think I am?" as if I had never heard the rest of his sentence.
Watson paused, seemingly considering his words, a half-serious, half-feigned helplessness on his face: "To be honest... it's like... well, like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland."
"Why Cheshire Cat?" I've never actually read the story; I only remember that the author was a British mathematician and logician. And because the IP is so famous, even without having read the story, I know most of the characters' names, such as Alice, the March Hare, and Cheshire Cat.
“Because you remind me of the dialogue in Chapter Six of the story, ‘Why your cat grins like that?’” Watson explained in a voice as warm as a winter blanket, like someone telling a story. “It’s a Cheshire cat,” said the Duchess, “and that’s why.”
He looked into my clear blue eyes, untainted by any shadows, and continued, "Because you are Milverton, you are as calm and composed as the Cheshire Cat, yet mysterious and unpredictable, and you always have an elegant smile no matter what you do."
Am I that perfect in his eyes?
Even if he knew about the rumors surrounding Milverton, could he bypass my social identity and use such language to define my very existence?
I felt an unexpected and irresistible pure light draping over me.
Watson is so cool!
As soon as he finished speaking, I couldn't help but chime in.
"Oh my god, London, I love him so much!"
London: "...He must be blind somewhere."
I enthusiastically invited, "Can I sleep with you tonight? I think your bed must be very warm."
Watson patted my head and smiled.
"no."
I think he must be the type who doesn't let his cat sleep on his bed.
"Cool!"
London: "Is this cool?"
"Damn it—Cool!"
"..."
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Author's note: He Ji, who was rejected: cool cool cool (Damn it, damn it, damn it)!
One day at home, I suddenly realized that "cool" can be used to mean "awful"! I use it regularly now.
I feel that once I finish writing about the Milverton case, the story can be completed!
Because Milverton didn't really have much to write about.
I initially envisioned it as a lighthearted, sweet story. Once He Ji overcomes Milvolton's deadly obstacle, the main story will end (just a quick character check and a quick wrap-up). [Go for it!][Go for it!][Go for it!]
If all goes well, I should be able to finish around the beginning of next month!
Go go go!!! [Laughing out loud][Laughing out loud]
20 small red envelopes will be randomly distributed.
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