Chapter 92: The Secret Club in the London Fog Ah, the academic master is still...
After getting out of Vermouth's Aston Martin, Shiho stepped onto the snow-covered sidewalk, her eyes quickly scanning the storefronts, signs, and even the gaps between the bricks, taking in the environmental information in her mind.
The Shiho-brand scanner, now rational, was actually using professional instinct to avoid emotional attacks. Unfortunately for Vermouth, a single glance would likely break her defenses.
"I suppose you are a member here?"
The social trial begins. Shiho asks, with a veiled meaning: Why did you bring me here? Is it a "mission"? Or a "personal matter"?
The science-savvy heroine is here, her observation skills on full display, her composure tinged with a touch of tsundereness. "You must be the boss, right?" This is the essence of "asking with your mouth, knowing with your heart," revealing Shiho's foxy nature. Adorable.
"Not exactly," Vermouth answered tactfully, extending her hand toward her in a traditional manner. Who could resist such elegant, seductive play?
Today, Vermouth in London has returned to her MAX control, social predator, and master of flirtatious dialogue.
"Let me put it this way, the people I know also happen to know the people here," she said with a smile.
The spy-themed context is incredibly sophisticated. Isn't this the equivalent of "I may not say it directly, but I'll make it clear."
An ambiguous answer, saying everything and nothing at the same time, a master of suspense. As always, Beilu Modou style.
"You are always like this." Shiho said calmly, but reached out and held Vermouth's arm.
The body warmth coming through the cashmere coat made her feel a little relieved. In fact, it had nothing to do with the severe winter cold.
Hard on the outside, soft on the inside, arm in arm for warmth, the ambiguity is extreme. Beneath the cold exterior of the science and engineering girl, there are gentle little emotions.
Vermouth: The social queen, seducing without being noticed, ladylike demeanor + dark side, extremely charming.
What is Shiho's most likely inner thought today?
A. "Why does she always see right through me? No, no, no, I'm not panicking. I'm super calm."
B. "No label needed, but I've secretly given her a note."
C. "If she flirts with me again, I won't go home tonight."
D. "What is the Cartographers' Guild? As long as she's there, she can go anywhere."
E. "If you keep curling your lips, I'll... I'll... I won't leave."
Next to the thick oak door, there is only a simple bronze plaque, hinting at the unusualness of this place.
The design of this door gives the impression of an underground gathering of the Black Organization. I almost thought that Gin would pass bullets behind the door.
What is a "plain bronze medal"? In the Conan universe, the plainer it is, the more interesting it is; the more low-key it is, the more outrageous it is.
Vermouth pressed a small button, and after a moment, the panel on the door slid open, revealing a pair of vigilant green eyes.
The castle gate + peeping eyes, the science warning is full.
Isn't this the essential ritual for the opening of a British locked-room murder case? Even Sherlock Holmes would give it a thumbs up.
If you savor it carefully, it feels like you’re back in “The Phantom of Baker Street”, with a strong sense of déjà vu of “The Duke of Darkness’ Invitational Admission Guide”.
"Wynyard," Vermouth gave his last name, "a guest of Lord Montagu."
Oh my, this surname sounds so-called British and noble. Is it going to turn on Sherlock Holmes mode the next second?
The owner of those eyes seemed to recognize someone for a moment, then faded away. The door lock clicked and swung inward. A neatly dressed man stood behind the door, bowing.
Classic. After all, a classic brass door lock without a "click" sound is not worthy of appearing in a mystery series. (Does the door lock manufacturer get a profit in every episode?)
The waiters and doormen in the quaint buildings of the science world: 1% security, 99% atmosphere group.
"Lady Wynyard, we are expecting you. Lord Montagu is deeply sorry that he cannot come to greet you personally. I hope you enjoy your stay."
The familiar NPC voiceovers are now available. Only the supporting characters in the Conan world can be so dedicated. The protagonists are treated like VIPs wherever they go, and even the NPCs have their own so-called noble buffs.
The name Lord Montagu conveys the feeling of "I am important but I will not appear."
"How convenient." Shiho thought to herself.
However, as a critic, shouldn’t you be alert and say, “If things go too smoothly, it’s more suspicious”?
Vermouth paid the tip generously.
Although tipping is not mandatory in Europe, she is a famous Hollywood actress after all, so she still follows the American way of doing things. #The Empire's hegemony extends to the ancestral island.
Rich + mysterious + in control of the situation = Has the sister already memorized the script in the SOP of flirting?
The two followed the leading waiter and stepped into the dimly lit corridor.
On both sides of the corridor, various ancient maps with a sense of age are quietly displayed in glass windows. The air is filled with the unique faint smell of old paper and wooden decorations.
Pay attention. This is clearly the smell of "something about to happen." Every time the protagonists enter this "classical" place, it's either for a meeting or something unexpected happens. The protagonists are naturally case magnets.
"What's this atmosphere?" Vermouth's soft breath tickled Shiho's ears. "It's almost like... well, it was carefully planned."
Self-deprecation plus the legendary "whisper attack." Is this a case or a date? Scientific reasoning and romance flow seamlessly together. A beautiful older woman and a vigilant young woman—a classic crime-solving combination.
Once she returns to the role of Chris, she feels like Vermouth-lite, elegant, seductive, and unconventional, but without a gun (I think).
Shiho shook her head and ignored her.
At the end of the corridor, there is a room that is very grand, which is in stark contrast to the slightly plain appearance of the building.
But I saw that the arch was high and was painted with star-like patterns. Below it were exquisitely carved pillars, which supported the arch steadily.
This renovation budget, I dare not breathe.jpg
"Star Map" and "Pillars"? This isn't the Map Room, it's the Hogwarts Library Deluxe DLC.
Against the wall are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, densely packed with heavy leather-bound books and even some parchment documents rolled into tubes.
It must be a modern replica. If it were ancient, it wouldn't be preserved so carelessly, Shiho thought.
In the glass display case, there are ancient navigation instruments, the brass ones glowing dimly.
There are several globes that can emit soft light and are obviously made in different eras, with nautical charts from different eras drawn on them.
The atmosphere in this room is full of excitement, and it is the standard setting for "strange cases happening" in mystery dramas.
The bookshelf, globe, and glass display case, a three-piece set, appear. Will the next step be to drop a book or a body?
Shiho felt as if she had been dragged into a case by the detective team, and she sighed inwardly.
"Welcome to the Map Room," the waiter ushered us in, speaking in a steady, Oxford-accented English. "Lord Montagu has specially arranged a private viewing for you. Dinner will be served in the Magellan Suite afterwards."
"Map Room + Magellan Suite"—something's bound to unfold today. Private viewings are a hotbed for crime, but having a central character like Vermouth go through the usual three-choice or four-choice slog seems a bit overkill.
Vermouth and fishing line, no matter how you look at it, it seems out of place. How can a big boss be equipped with everyday props?
Fortunately, the protagonists’ luck with food is always good, and if the plot isn’t enough, the food will make up for it.
The waiter disappeared into the corridor. After all, NPCs either vanished or fled, leaving the protagonists alone to confront each other. This was an eternal law of the Conan universe.
Shiho immediately looked at Vermouth, her eyes filled with distrust: "That Lord Montagu, he's completely fictitious, right?"
Shiho's expression: I've seen through everything. The old-fashioned guy who usually makes comments in the background of the protagonist group has determined that he is fake.
Calm analysis + face-to-face sabotage, the familiar "Haihara-style distrust". After all, Shiho is the type of person who says, "If you lie to me again, I'll just take out a gun."
But, "completely fabricated"? To be on the safe side, should Shiho also check if this person is a nominal member of the Black Organization?
Vermouth chuckled softly, her laughter crisp and a little drunken. "Oh, he really exists. As for whether he knows that he will entertain us today... that's another matter."
Vermouth's smile = "I know but I won't tell you," a line unique to the Science fiction heroine. "Does he know it?" suggests the protagonists are always trying to take advantage of NPCs, while also making themselves known.
The greatest arrogance from the winery is: "People are there, but they just don't know they are being arranged."
Regarding the existence of "Lord Montagu", it is probably similar to Beihua's "a director of the Suzuki Group" and "a mysterious director of Teitan Elementary School". He is basically a tool to advance the plot and create identities.
Ding Dong, multiple choice question:
Shiho, facing Vermouth's wave of "whisper attacks" and the ambiguous teasing and the imminent outbreak of the scientific case, will:
A. "Please respect yourself. This is a locked-room mystery, not a locked-room flirtation." Immediately activate "Scientist Rational Mode" and analyze the air composition on the spot to look for clues to the next case.
B. "Ahem... I'm not blushing, it's the air that's too hot." He pretended to be attracted by Vermouth, but was furiously calculating in his heart: Will anyone "die in the map room" tonight?
C. "Come any closer and I'll drug you. Try the aftereffects of APTX4869."
D. Start right away and tease Vermouth: "Are you here for a date or to solve a case?"
"You are such a... speechless person," Shiho shook her head helplessly.
She looked at Magellan, the navigation, the maps, her mind racing. This Cartographers Club had been mysterious from the moment she entered. Could it be some "global hidden code"? Or was there a "hidden organization base on the world map" somewhere?
"Personally, I prefer the word 'resourceful.'" Vermouth raised her lips slightly, her breath just barely touching Shiho's, the distance between them shortened to within inches. "The other night in London, you seemed quite receptive to my 'resourcefulness,' didn't you?"
The selective double standard of Beilu Mofo.
Obviously, last night, the two of them... made good use of various tools and worked hard all night, but now they only mentioned the glory of being the top and the bottom on a snowy night in London, but did not mention the subsequent physical failure in the Miyano Laboratory in Tokyo, their younger brother's home turf... in which they wet the experimental table.
Shiho's face suddenly heated up as she thought of that night in London last month. "That was..."
"Unexpected? Eye-opening? Or... was that the most unforgettable night you've had in recent years?" Vermouth continued to ignore what happened in Tokyo and pressed the issue, her classic AMSR voice flowing with ease, transforming into a mellow and alluring texture.
Shiho took a half step back, creating some distance between them. "Humph, I just drank a little too much champagne."
Vermouth's premium champagne said: "I'm only about 10% alcohol, I won't get you drunk. I don't want to take the blame for this. I've already endured too much of the tangy flavor that shouldn't be experienced by someone my age."
"Ah, it was just a momentary drunkenness, but it lasted until the dawn." Vermouth narrowed her eyes and smiled, hinting at something, and her Japanese word choice and sentence structure continued to be elegant.
Generally, people whose native language is Japanese will only say that something lasted until "morning" or "dawn" when they talk or send text messages, and will not use such literary words as "the faint morning light".
Is this a common occurrence for high-IQ women learning foreign languages? At least Vermouth and Shiho probably have this habit: they'll memorize any literary-looking words they learn from a book and use them extensively in their spoken language. "Look, my Japanese is great!"
An adult comment floated by: "Alright, alright! Who cares if Vermouth is showing off her Japanese? Everyone knows her IQ is off the charts. That's not the point, right? The point is, what did they do until the dawn? Hurry up and spit out those 30,000 words of detailed description!"
Ding Dong, system prompt: The above barrage is too simple, direct and crude, lacking the delicate, implicit and high-end feel of this platform, and has been verbose by the system.
"But I didn't invite you here to dwell on the past, even though those memories are... well, quite touching. I asked you to come because I need to borrow your extremely brilliant brain."
Vermouth herself is a highly intelligent and powerful leader of an organization, but she actually has to borrow Miyano Shiho's 180 IQ in London. Is there some thousand-year-old mystery to be solved?
This successfully piqued Shiho's curiosity: "What do you want to do?"
Vermouth's arm gracefully swept across the room, gesturing around it. "This club houses a collection of maps that are truly world treasures. Among them are secret maps never before recorded in official history books, and also charts depicting... places that are generally believed to not exist."
Oh my, a mysterious sea chart of this level, like the Bermuda Triangle?
"So, you want to steal one of them." Shiho said lightly. It was not a question, but a statement.
"Oh, my dear Shiho-chan, it's not 'stealing'," Vermouth corrected, her expression a little exaggerated. It was indeed her occupational disease, she was acting like a bit of a drama queen, and she even pouted slightly, acting as if she was a little offended.
It is not considered stealing for a scholar to steal a book, and it is not considered stealing for a scholar to steal a sea chart after stealing a shadow.
"It's 'check.' I believe there's a map here containing information that's crucial to both you and me."
The key word is win-win.
"Your interests and mine are rarely on the same side," Shiho pointed out.
"Last month, we were quite compatible, weren't we?" Vermouth narrowed her eyes, giving a mysterious yet mischievous smile as she retorted, "But this time is different. What I'm saying is that we should share a common curiosity and desire to explore the historical origins of the 'Organization'."
As Vermouth had anticipated, these words easily caught Shiho's attention. The organization's origins were shrouded in mystery, rumored to date back centuries. If only there were clues here...
"What kind of map is it?" Shiho asked, her curiosity as a researcher temporarily overcoming her wariness.
Vermouth OS: Got it right, so effortless. The plan worked. My Shiho-chan is super kawaii!
"It's the kind of map that not only marks the location, but also reveals the 'timing' and 'path'." Vermouth's words, as always, were full of mystery in the style of a riddler.
"To be more precise, the map is called 'The Cartographer's Paradox.' Legend has it that it was created by a fifteenth-century cartographer who claimed to have grasped the mysterious laws of history, the cycles that transcend time and space."
"This sounds more like the realm of mysticism than cartography," Shiho said coldly, not disguising her doubts. She was a scientist, not a mystic.
"Perhaps. However, the old guys in the organization believe in it absolutely and regard it as a classic. They firmly believe that the map contains the ultimate formula of this vast world, enough to foresee the future."
"You believe such a ridiculous thing?" Shiho disagreed.
"I only believe what I see with my own eyes." The mischievous smile on Vermouth's face faded, and her eyes became clear.
"The map exists. The organization wants it. These two points are enough reason for me to intervene first, aren't they?" she concluded lightly.
That was true. Even Shiho, who had perfected her skills in complaining, couldn't complain at all.
Just at this moment, an elegant, elderly gentleman came quickly over, and their conversation naturally came to a halt.
"Ms. Wynyard? I'm Dr. Field, the association's historical researcher. I heard you're quite interested in our special collections."
Field means field, which means land area. It is appropriate for a researcher of the Cartography Association.
The aura around Vermouth suddenly changed. The playful feeling of flirting with her younger girlfriend just now quietly disappeared. In a second, it was replaced by carefully crafted classical and elegant charm.
"Dr. Field, nice to meet you. Yes, I am fascinated by the interesting things in cartography. Especially those, um, those maps that challenge our existing cognition." Vermouth spoke English with a Hollywood accent smoothly.
"Ah, that's a truly fascinating field," the historian's eyes sparkled, his voice rising. "We have a collection of treasures that are truly worth exploring. If you have a moment, why don't you come with me and take a look?"
Of course there is time. Isn't this what we come here for? But in such an old club, speaking politely is still quite roundabout.
Shiho was complaining a lot in her heart.
Although she is half Japanese, she spent her teenage years studying in the United States, where her worldview was formed. She is accustomed to the more straightforward American style and is quite impatient with the beating around the bush in old-fashioned British clubs. It is just like in Japan, where sometimes when she goes to the castles of some company presidents on cases, she has to speak in a roundabout way.
From this point of view, Zhi Zhibao likes Suzuki Sonoko very much. Although she comes from a chaebol family, she speaks directly and never puts on airs.
They followed Dr. Field deeper into the building. The corridor darkened, the air carrying the faint scent of old paper and dust. Shiho's gaze flickered to Vermouth's profile. Her jawline was clean-cut, a graceful curve, and deep within her azure eyes was a wisdom that shone through the world.
Provincial version: Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
This woman switches between these two states so smoothly and effortlessly, it feels like she's two completely different people. She's truly the queen of the screen.
"You're looking at me again," Vermouth chuckled softly in Japanese, but her gaze remained fixed forward.
The advantage of knowing multiple languages is that you can flirt in public.
"I'm analyzing it." Shiho replied calmly.
"Analysis results?"
"As for you, you are either the most dangerous woman I have ever met, or the one with the deepest inner scars... or perhaps, both."
Ah, but her so-called life was only 19 years, which was still relatively short.
Hearing the word "scars", Vermouth raised an eyebrow and smiled, with a little bit of genuine warmth: "Danger and pain often go hand in hand, don't they?"
Shiho remained silent. This wasn't the right time to discuss such matters.
Dr. Field led them through several increasingly private rooms, each one furnished with a more ancient and precious quality. He enthusiastically explained the evolution of map projections and innovations in navigation technology, while Vermouth interjected humorous questions to lighten the conversation and maintain the appropriate curiosity that a layperson, an actress, should have.
A Hollywood enchantress with high emotional intelligence.
Finally, they came to a small secret room with a constant temperature and humidity. In the center, there was an independent display cabinet.
"This is the most precious part of our collection," Dr. Field said in awe.
"The Cartographer's Paradox, by Andre Smithworth, 1475. Rarely exhibited, but you are certainly not an outsider."
Vermouth and Field exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Shiho was very happy to pretend to be a foreigner who didn't speak English very well. After all, she had an East Asian face, so she might as well make the best use of it.
Then, they approached the display case side by side. They saw a circular map placed under the glass, unlike any map Shiho had ever known.
There is no distinction between continents and oceans on the map, only countless nested spirals and symbols, and a lot of Latin words are marked.
"This may not be a map in the geographical sense." Shiho said softly.
"That's right," the historian nodded. "Smithworth claimed that this diagram depicts the recurring cycles of the tides of human history. Most scholars dismiss it as the product of eccentric imagination or mysticism, but its mathematical structure is incredibly sophisticated. Look at these spirals; they follow the Fibonacci sequence perfectly."
Vermouth leaned closer, her soft golden hair brushing Shiho's cheek. "Where's the Latin text on it?"
My dear actress, you clearly know everything, but you're pretending not to. Latin is as important in Western culture as classical Chinese is in Chinese classics, and Vermouth actually spent quite a bit of time learning it.
After all, she has lived two lives and has more time than others.
"Most of it is an obscure account of historical events, some of which even occurred after the map was made. This is why it is regarded as a miracle—Smithworth predicted several major turning points in history with an accuracy that even modern people find incredible."
"Or, the map was artificially modified at a later stage to create this effect." Shiho raised a reasonable question.
Dr. Field's smile deepened. "Ah, are you a skeptic? That's quite refreshing. It's interesting that you doubt the authenticity of this artifact. However, we've conducted extensive testing, and its materials and craftsmanship are consistent with fifteenth-century technology."
Shiho's suspicion was lightly repelled by the historian's attack of "Inbuki Sting Interesting".
But think about it. For such a club, steeped in mystery and steeped in history, to have its most valuable treasure, housed in a room deep within its most important building, turn out to be a replica, would be a complete disgrace to its reputation. The club's shareholders would be ridiculed by the aristocratic circles of London and even Europe.
For these old nobles, losing money or being cheated is a small matter, but losing face is a terrible thing.
Then the historian opened up, the explanation continued, and then turned to the technical aspects.
Shiho was listening attentively, comparing it with her superficial understanding of ancient maps in her knowledge base, and then she felt her palm suddenly sink. Vermouth quietly handed her a small glass bottle with a transparent liquid inside.
Oh my, the top student is still working hard on his homework, but the movie queen is trying to overtake him.
"What are you going to do?" She lowered her voice, full of vigilance.
“Trust me just once,” Vermouth continued in Japanese, softly and with a hint of coquettishness, “Just this once.”
Here it comes, being coquettish when older is the most deadly.
Is it a honey trap to gain trust? Isn't this a cliché? How many times has it been used throughout history?
But then again, it seems that the beauty trap basically always works, even against those so-called wise and powerful monarchs and heroes in history.
So, will Shiho Miyano, who has an IQ of 180, or even in this Logos simulation world, whose IQ is raised to over 200, fall for Vermouth's beauty trap?
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