shadow of britain

Chapter 24 The value of life

A straight dark blue turtleneck tuxedo, star-like three-star epaulets of Bath, spotless white gloves, slender and flawless trousers, a shiny silver buckle belt, and a police officer's knife hanging from his waist .

Arthur dipped his hands in some water, and meticulously pulled his hair back.

When he was sure everything was spotless, he finally put on the bowler hat with the Greater Scotland Yard crest, the emblem of the Scotland Yard Police.

He looked at himself in the mirror, and he returned to his familiar appearance.

In just three days, it seemed like a lifetime away from him.

He stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in the mirror, and slowly raised his hand to salute.

Agares' voice sounded faintly: "London Metropolitan Police, Superintendent of Greenwich Police District, East London Region, Arthur Hastings, tsk tsk tsk..."

Arthur straightened his collar: "Agares, why do you sound sour? I am just a small police inspector, managing 4 police stations. How can I compare with you who command 31 demons?" Where's the Legion's Duke of Hell?"

"Oh..." Agares covered his mouth and said, "That's all in the past, and now I don't have a single bastard under my command, so my words have no weight in hell, and you, the inspector, can at least In charge of the power of life and death in the 4 patrol areas."

Arthur stared at him, he always felt that this guy had been speaking strangely recently.

Agares leaned against the wall and looked at Arthur's new look: "Arthur, although I hate that you are wearing this skin, don't tell me, look at your outfit, you look really getting better and better. Looks like a nice guy."

Arthur said: "Agares, if I remember correctly. In the context of the devil, the word "good guy" doesn't seem to be a good phrase, does it?"

Agares grinned and laughed twice: "Although a good person is not a beautiful adjective, I am indeed praising you! Arthur, haven't you heard of that sentence?
The most advanced hunters often appear in the form of prey.

You can act like a good person, and it is really good for my soul harvesting plan. "

Arthur loosened his sore shoulders due to long-term tension, and said: "Really? What I heard is different from yours. I only heard: the most high-end ingredients often only need the simplest cooking Way."

"Arthur, what nonsense are you talking about. Why can't I understand? We're wearing a pair of trousers now, can't you be honest with me?"

Arthur shook his head slightly: "If there is only one pair of trousers, I'd rather let one of us wear them, while the other is naked."

"why?"

Arthur replied calmly: "Because if two people wear the same pair of pants, then what we both want to hide will be exposed."

Hearing this, Agares first looked down at his own, then looked up at Arthur's, and then he dragged his tongue and said something.

"Excellent! But, Arthur, if you have a pair of trousers, I'd better put them on for you first. Because is there something about you that's about to show?"

Arthur was taken aback when he heard this.

He slapped his head and cursed in a low voice: "Damn! I almost forgot about Willox."

He turned around and walked out with big strides.

Agares asked, "What are you doing?"

"Nonsense, of course I ran away. This trip to Scotland Yard is not bad, at least I earned a new set of clothes. See you in America, Agares."

Arthur clenched the doorknob tightly, but before he opened the door, he heard Agares' growl in his ears.

"Arthur!!!"

Arthur frowned and rubbed his ears.

"What the hell are you doing? My ears are almost deafened by you!"

"Can you stop being so active in everything? Just run away, you are a police inspector now! What are you afraid of? Anyone who wants to punish you, you will kill him!"

"What's the matter with the Inspector? Agares, this isn't hell, at least not the one you've been in. Murder is a felony here, and stealing five shillings is punishable by death. Do you still think murder is a trivial matter? You This outsider should respect the opinions of our locals on this matter."

Agares became angry when he heard the words: "Hey! Arthur, you are fucking! Are you still acting with me? I don't think you should stop being a policeman. Being a theater actor has a better future than being a policeman too much!"

Arthur raised his eyebrows slightly: "You mean, you will help me?"

Agares snorted coldly: "Of course. But..."

The Red Devil leaned on the table, crossed his hands and dragged his chin, showing a cannibalistic smile: "Let's talk about the price."

Arthur thought for a while, and struggled to raise five fingers at him.

Agares said in surprise: "Five souls?!"

"No, five pounds." Arthur wondered: "I have to keep another five pounds, and in case you fail, I have to go by boat."

"Arthur! Can you fucking forget about the boat ride! Don't you worry about my work?!"

The red devil was already hysterical: "I have never seen you bargaining with the devil like this! You dare to do anything to save your poor friends. Why did you come to Lao Tzu and ask you for something so hard? Damn, In my opinion, Jesus should be taken down from the cross and you should be nailed to it!"

Arthur was also very helpless about the Red Devil's anger: "Agares, five pounds is really a lot. Five pounds is one hundred shillings, and 1000 two hundred pence. If the "Blood Act" is not revised, the money will be worthless." Enough to kill twenty people."

"Then you go and buy the lives of those twenty people. I don't have the habit of shopping by myself! Do you have slaves here? You can buy two for me!"

"Agares, you have slept for too long, and you are a little confused. Great Britain banned slave trading as early as 1807. If a slave trader is caught, a slave will be fined a hundred pounds!"

"What if I just want slaves?"

Arthur shrugged: "Then you still have to leave five pounds for me to take the boat. There are plenty of slaves in the North American colonies."

"Can you stop thinking about your wrecked ship! Damn it, you kid is as shrewd as a fox when you face me.

do you know?What have you been made of by that Robert Peel?
He used your story as a cover for the Catholic Emancipation Act to distract the public.

By the way, he also promoted the abolition of the "Blood Act" campaign that he has always insisted on.

And you, you didn't react to that at all! "

Arthur sighed helplessly: "Agares, you are a devil, you don't need to care about reality. But I am different, I have to consider these things.

What's more, didn't you say it all?I'm an Inspector of Scotland Yard now too, and I speak better than you in London.

The Blood Act is about to be amended, the Catholic Emancipation Act is passed, and I can't think of a better outcome.

As for Sir Peel...

In these years, it is not easy for the development of things to have a good result. I really can't criticize the perpetrators for misconduct in the course of their actions.Just use it, at least our goals are the same. "

Agares gave him an angry look: "Inspector? Aren't you planning to run away by boat?"

Seeing that he was very angry this time, Arthur had no choice but to persuade him: "As long as you live, you can always get your job back."

"Are you fucking ready to run?"

"if not?"

Agares took a deep breath, and his nostrils were filled with sparkles.

Since signing the contract with Arthur, he feels that his temper has become better and better.

Agares gave him a hard look: "You little bastard, stop thinking about taking the boat. You will be fine."

Arthur didn't understand: "Why?"

"Because someone wants Willox dead more than you. Arthur, the Sheriff is no big deal, and neither are you the Inspector.

For some people, as long as you get in his way, he will always find a way to kill you.

In London, are there very few bums and beggars who die on the streets?Haven't you seen floating corpses on the Thames? "

Arthur's expression changed, he looked at Agares: "You seem to know a lot."

"Of course, don't forget which bowl of rice I eat, I can solve all the mysteries in the world."

Agares said meaningfully: "Arthur, you cherish life very much. But you have also seen that for those who once wrote the "Blood Code", a life is only worth five shillings..."

……

Just above the heads of Arthur and Agares, one floor above the locker room, is an ornate office.

A middle-aged man in the same police uniform as Arthur was working at his desk.

Boom boom boom!
There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

A capable policeman came to the middle-aged man and saluted, then bent down and whispered in his ear.

"Superintendent, Willox's body has been found."

(End of this chapter)