Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 17: Awareness of the Problem

Although Levi did not know through what channel Katie managed it, the process of entering the Splendor Club went smoothly.

Katie showed a card to the doorman, and she was immediately led into the Splendor Club.

In Levi’s eyes, this was more like a high-class bar.

Or rather, the nature of a club was almost the same.

A group of men and women drank wine, smoked, and bragged.

It could be considered a kind of social entertainment in an era without television or the internet.

Basically, it was no different from chatting with drunkards in taverns in the Lower City—at most, they dressed better and boasted in a more sophisticated way………

When Levi and Katie passed through the corridor and entered the hall, they saw quite a few men and women chatting.

At the same time, a middle-aged man in a flamboyant suit, looking like a playboy, walked over with a smile and nodded to them.

“Hello, Mr. Levi, Miss Katie, welcome to the Splendor Club.”

“May I ask who you are………?”

Levi looked at the playboy in front of him and asked.

The latter twitched the corner of his mouth.

“I am one of the members of the Splendor Club, Baron Cohen Drex, and also your introducer.

If either of you needs anything, feel free to tell me, and I will do my best to satisfy you.”

“Alright, Baron Cohen.

Your generosity and hospitality honor us deeply.

I believe we will certainly spend a pleasant time here.”

“Well then, I won’t disturb you two.

Enjoy yourselves.”

After saying this, Baron Cohen nodded to them, then turned and left.

Watching his back as he went upstairs, Levi tilted his head slightly and whispered to Katie.

“Do you know him?”

“No.”

Katie shook her head, as if it were only natural.

“I just said I wanted to join the Splendor Club and asked them to find a way.

That’s all.”

“………………”

Alright, as expected of you.

“Phew………………”

After walking up to the second floor, Baron Cohen finally reached out his hand, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Then he turned his head and secretly glanced at the hall.

As a baron, Cohen himself did not have much talent.

If he was skilled in anything, it was in eating, drinking, and playing.

That was why Baron Cohen had joined such a Splendor Club.

There were at least eight to ten thousand such small clubs in Mist City.

Normally, Baron Cohen did not think his little place was worth anyone’s attention.

Yet to his surprise, last night a messenger of an important figure came to him, hoping he could let these two join the club………

Baron Cohen was just a minor baron.

No matter what, he could not be compared with such figures, let alone that they usually had no dealings.

With Baron Cohen’s status, there was no way he could ever meet such people.

Although he did not know what the other party meant, Baron Cohen certainly would not refuse……… or rather, he had no way to refuse.

So he obediently wrote the letter of introduction as asked and did his best to arrange everything securely to avoid accidents.

However, this was also a good thing.

Baron Cohen smiled proudly.

In the past, he had no way of connecting with those high-ranking people.

But these two young ones clearly looked like a handsome man and a beautiful lady, perhaps even descendants of a great family, or even betrothed.

Maybe they wanted a private place to get intimate, and that was why they chose here.

Otherwise, with their status, wouldn’t it be easier to join those exclusive noble clubs?

Forget it.

No matter what, as long as he treated them well, he would surely gain opportunities to get closer to high-ranking figures in the future.

Meanwhile, Levi and Katie also greeted most of the club members.

In return, they received warm and friendly responses.

This was only natural—after all, Levi was devastatingly handsome, and Katie, after dressing carefully, was a noble-looking, beautiful lady.

In most people’s eyes, they must be a couple who had come to a private club for a secret date………

Such things were quite common.

After all, in this era, social class was strict.

Noble couples could not walk hand in hand through the streets or parks, openly showing their love before commoners.

A private setting with a refined social atmosphere was naturally the best choice.

Compared to Katie, everyone paid more attention to Levi.

Partly because he left such a deep impression, and partly because the Courtesan Killer case had only just been solved.

As a “famous detective,” his reputation was still high during this period.

If Levi were just an ordinary detective, people would not have welcomed him so warmly.

It was mainly because of his temperament and appearance———black hair and black eyes were symbols of ancient noble bloodlines, traceable even back to the First Dynasty founded by Emperor Arthur.

Moreover, Levi’s own manners were elegant, neither humble nor arrogant, with a calm composure.

Everyone present was shrewd.

They could tell at a glance this was not someone raised in an ordinary household.

So their attitude toward Levi was naturally friendly.

Levi also exchanged words with some of them.

To put it simply, the members of this club did not hold particularly high positions, but they were not low either.

There were no great capitalists or high-ranking politicians.

On the contrary, many of them were secretaries to capitalists, or deputies to politicians.

Others were horse-riding instructors, painters, and similar types—connected to the upper class, but not belonging to it themselves.

Was this club prepared especially for such people?

Then what was its purpose?

“Hey.”

As Levi pondered, Katie stretched out her hand and discreetly pinched his arm.

“Hiss—————what is it, Miss Katie?”

“Isn’t it inappropriate to reveal your identity so openly?

Weren’t we here to infiltrate and investigate?”

“We are here to investigate, but not to infiltrate.”

Levi rubbed his arm.

Katie’s pinch looked ordinary, but he felt as if his arm had been caught in iron pliers, almost breaking.

When he went back and took off his clothes, he would probably find bruises.

This young lady looked delicate and frail, but where did all that strength come from!

“Not infiltration?”

“No.”

Levi shook his head.

If he could, he would have liked to investigate like in detective novels—sneaking in, searching slowly.

Unfortunately, what Levi lacked most now was time.

After finishing the last mission, Levi gained forty-five days of lifespan.

Adding what he had left, he had just over fifty days, less than two months.

How could he waste time here?

So Levi had no choice but to take this risky approach.

Just like with Doctor Doolittle, he had to appear directly in front of the other party, forcing them to react.

Levi could be sure: if that mysterious woman saw him here, she would definitely become alert.

Thanks to those newspaper reports, the whole Mist City, even the Empire, and all areas where news circulated, knew about Levi, the famous detective who solved a mysterious case.

If she was guilty, she would surely show some reaction out of nervousness.

That was exactly what Levi needed.

When you did not know if a mouse was in the hole, waiting patiently was one way.

But if time was short, poking it with a stick worked too.

Only, the woman had not yet appeared.

Levi had already greeted several ladies, but none was the one he was looking for.

Though at the church, he had not seen her face clearly because of the veil, he still remembered her gait and bearing.

The ladies he met earlier were completely different from that memory.

So……… she had not appeared yet.

Time passed, minute by minute.

Levi played a few rounds of cards with the gentlemen of the club.

Katie, meanwhile, chatted with the ladies about Mist City’s popular clothing and cosmetics.

As night fell, most people took their leave after dinner.

Soon, fewer and fewer remained.

Levi and Katie exchanged a glance and finally decided to leave.

After all, this was not urgent—if they did not see her today, they could come back tomorrow………

After finishing another round of cards, Levi stood up to take his leave.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him—“tap, tap, tap.”

Hearing that, Levi’s spirit lifted instantly, because those footsteps belonged to that woman!

She finally appeared!

“Ah, Madam.”

At the same time, the three gentlemen who were playing cards with Levi also noticed the source of the footsteps.

They quickly stood up.

“We never thought you would come so late.

We thought you wouldn’t appear today.”

Then, a calm, gentle woman’s voice sounded.

“Sorry, I had some matters to handle.

Did everyone have a pleasant evening?”

“Of course.

Oh, and today we have new members……….”

At that moment, Levi had already turned around and looked at her, then froze.

She also froze slightly upon seeing Levi.

Levi had truly not expected to see her here———because the one who appeared before him was none other than the mistress of the Pink Lady———Madam Clattie!

Looking at this kind, benevolent-looking elderly lady, Levi twitched his mouth.

From running the Pink Lady in the Lower City to a private club in the Upper City?

Wasn’t that too much of a leap?

“………………….”

Madam Clattie’s expression also shifted slightly upon seeing Levi.

In that instant, Levi’s 【Investigation】 skill immediately detected the fleeting shock, unease, and panic in her eyes!

As expected, there was absolutely something wrong with this old woman!

Levi narrowed his eyes, showing a gentlemanly smile.

He stepped forward and gave Madam Clattie a slight bow.

“Good evening, Madam.

I am Levi, a detective.

May I ask how I should address you?”

“…………………You may call me Madam Durex.”

After a moment of silence, Madam Clattie gave an answer that nearly made Levi lose his composure.

“Alright……… Madam.”

Levi hesitated, but in the end he did not say the name aloud.

He suspected that if he did, he might burst out laughing immediately.

“This is my friend, Katie.”

Levi pulled Katie over.

The latter, upon seeing Madam Clattie, opened her mouth slightly and widened her eyes like a stunned fish.

But Madam Clattie did not seem to recognize Katie.

She only restrained her expression and smiled, nodding gently to her.

“Hello, Miss Katie.

It is my honor to meet you both.

I hope you enjoy this place.”

“Of course.

We are very satisfied with it.”

Katie came back to her senses, smiled, and gave a curtsy.

Meanwhile, Levi picked up his top hat and placed it back on his head.

“Forgive us, Madam.

It is late, and we must go.

I hope we can meet again.”

“Of course, Mr. Levi.

You are welcome at the Splendor Club anytime.”

They bid farewell with courtesy.

Then Levi took Katie and left the club, returning to their carriage.

“Wh-what on earth is going on?”

Back in the carriage, Katie immediately showed her astonishment.

“That was Madam Clattie just now, wasn’t it?

How could she appear in the Splendor Club?”

“It seems this case is more complicated than we thought.”

Levi stroked his chin and frowned.

Because of Madam Clattie’s appearance, Levi suddenly thought of a problem.

That was———even if resurrecting Emilia really required the blood and flesh of sinners, why target only courtesans?

Even if aborting children was considered a sin, in the Lower City, a place filled with crime, weren’t there far worse sinners everywhere?

Robbers, murderers, thieves, kidnappers………

A backstreet doctor like Doctor Doolittle surely treated all kinds of shady people.

He could have mixed Emilia’s powdered finger into some other medicine, had those people drink it, then killed them afterward.

Wouldn’t that have worked?

If the Lower City had anything in abundance, it was sinners.

And in this way, there was no need to specifically kill courtesans.

Kill a few thugs or gangsters, and no one would even care.

The Courtesan Killer case caused such a stir precisely because all the victims were courtesans, dying violently in the streets.

The impact was terrible.

Why?

Before, Levi had fully accepted Doctor Doolittle’s explanation.

But now, he began to doubt it.

After all, Doctor Doolittle’s explanation was also hearsay.

As a doctor, how could he understand occult matters?

Madam Clattie was the one controlling the Pink Lady.

From what 【Soul Sight】 showed, it was very likely she was the one who gave Doctor Doolittle that magic book.

Even Doctor Doolittle’s decision to attack courtesans could very well have been her order!

After all, as the owner of the Pink Lady, how could she not know the situation of the girls under her?

Even if they wanted to hide things from her, could they really?

Or was it simply that she did not care?

What exactly was Madam Clattie after?

Running the Pink Lady in the Lower City, a private club in the Upper City… did she have other identities too?

What on earth was she trying to achieve?

At that moment, a flash of light appeared before Levi’s eyes.

Then a line of system information appeared.

【Mission activated: 《Darkness and Shadows》】

【Mission objective: Investigate Madam Clattie’s true purpose】

【Mission reward: Lifespan +50, Random reward】

Seeing this, Levi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It was obvious———this time, he had found the right clue!

With that thought, Levi made a quick decision.

“Stop the carriage.”