Cherreads

Chapter 3 - Night Flame Chapter 3 - A Cup of Blood

The mysterious man in a suit enters the café.

Casper: Welcome, sir, the manager.

The Manager: Hello, how are you all doing?

Maria: Fine!

Lawrence: Hmph… I'll go to sleep, goodbye.

The Manager: Hey, don't you greet your manager?

Lawrence: Hello… Hmph, is this enough?

The Manager: Slightly better… now get out, you insolent one!

Lawrence: Hahaha, can't you handle my work today?

The Manager: What did you do today?

Lawrence: I cooked.

The Manager: … Go away from in front of me, and ten coins are deducted from your pay today!

Casper (washing the dishes): Calm down, William. He just burned his hand by accident.

Lawrence: Don't mention it.

Casper: He burned his hand, and all the customers laughed at him.

Lawrence leaves the place angrily, while Maria and Nila laugh.

William (chuckling lightly): Well, if that's the case… ah, right, why did you call me so late, Casper?

Casper: Ask Liner who brought her.

Liner (carving a small wooden object): Just a girl working in investigations, new to the city.

William: Really? Hahaha, you are slow to understand. Well, at least tell me she's not staying here.

Nila: Actually, she is staying here.

William: … Where is the respect for the manager and democracy in my opinion!

Maria: You weren't here, how would you know? Should we send a carrier pigeon?

William: … Casper, am I really their manager?

Casper: They are just joking with you.

William: Fine, since you, Liner, brought someone here without my permission, you'll have another cleaning task at this time, you and Nila.

Nila: Why me?

William (blowing a whistle): You opposed my opinion, so this is what you deserve.

Nila: Why me? You have Maria and even Lawrence.

William: The first person who came to mind was you.

Nila: I'll show you one day.

William: Try it.

Liner leaves the place without a word.

Nila: At least wait for me.

Nila chases after him.

Nila (looking out the open window): So… where should we go?

William: Ah, I forgot.

William throws a paper to Nila; she catches it easily and follows Liner.

Casey exits the police station.

Casey: I thought work would never end there, haha… at least I got my advance salary today.

She walks through the city and stops in front of Marjinato restaurant.

Casey: I want one medium pepperoni pizza.

Waiter: We'll prepare it for you.

A few minutes later…

Waiter: Here's your order.

Casey: Thank you.

Waiter: Ahem… the bill is 8 copper coins.

Casey: Here you go.

Casey sits near the window, eating while the cheese stretches from the pizza.

Casey: It tastes delicious.

After a few minutes…

Casey: That was a tasty meal.

Waiter: Tell your friends about it.

Casey leaves and continues wandering until she stops before a clothing store.

Casey: Hmm… half of what I brought from the trip fell during yesterday's chase. I need some new clothes.

She tries a red dress.

Casey: How does it look on me?

Store Clerk: Amazing on you.

Casey: I'll buy it.

Then she tries a formal suit.

Casey: How does it look on me?

Store Clerk: It's like it was made just for you.

Casey: I'll buy it.

Then she tries a winter outfit.

Casey: How do I look?

Store Clerk: Wow, this is one of the finest things I've seen in my life!

Casey leaves the store carrying many bags.

Casey (happily): They will definitely like this.

Suddenly, she bumps into someone, dropping her bags.

Casey (picking them up): I'm sorry, I didn't notice you.

Person: Don't worry, this happens every day because of the shops.

Casey looks up — it's Sherlock Holmes.

Casey (shocked): The city's famous detective… I apologize for what happened.

Sherlock Holmes: Don't worry. This happens to me every day. But it's strange — you took so many bags?

Casey: Because they looked good on me, according to the clerk.

Sherlock Holmes: Hahaha, well, if you're convinced too, that's fine.

He enters an apartment building.

Sherlock Holmes: It's been a long day.

Servant: Welcome, sir…

Sherlock Holmes: You don't need all that formality.

Servant: But…

Sherlock Holmes: As I told you.

He hands his shirt to her.

Sherlock Holmes: Wash it, and tell the second servant to bring tea. I'll be in the office.

Servant: Yes, sir.

Sherlock enters his office and starts reading files about Jack the Ripper.

Sherlock Holmes (to himself): How did he survive that fire…?

The door opens.

Servant: Here's your tea.

Sherlock Holmes: Thank you.

He's about to place the cup down when he notices movement in the lower corridor.

Sherlock Holmes (serious): Tell the second servant I'm stepping out for a moment.

Servant: Yes, sir.

Sherlock leaves, a revolver tucked at his waist.

In a narrow alley, Liner wears his mask.

Nila follows, wearing hers.

Nila: What do you think of him?

Liner: Better than your face, at least.

Nila hits him.

Nila: And now?

Liner: Same ugliness as yours.

Nila: You're hard to understand.

Liner: And you're foolish.

Nila: Anyway… we've arrived, Mr. Cold.

A group of thieves has turned the place upside down.

Gang Leader: Didn't you tell me where you hide your money?

Father (half-gagged): I already told you.

Gang Leader: You expect me to believe you only have thirty gold coins in a house this size?

He stabs the father's foot.

Father (screaming): I swear, that's all we have!

Gang Member (from upstairs): I found some fine dishes!

Gang Leader: Bring them here.

As he turns, the kitchen window explodes — Nila kicks it open.

Nila: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to today's endless show.

Liner: Flashy with foolishness.

Nila: Yes, indeed.

Battle ensues — Nila and Liner cut through the thieves one after another.

Nila: Next time, get rid of them; they annoy me.

Liner: Alright, princess.

Nila: Haha, yes, I am your princess.

Liner: Princess of annoyance, then.

Nila: …

They keep cutting down the gang.

Nila: Regular members three points, leader ten. Deal?

Liner: I reached twenty already, I win.

Nila: When?

Liner: Twenty-three now.

Nila: Leave some for me!

Finally, they corner the gang leader.

Nila: That's mine.

Liner: No, mine.

Together, they slice him into pieces.

Nila: Who gets the point?

Liner: I win.

They free the tied family.

Father: How can I repay you?

Liner: Just don't let it happen again.

They jump out the window.

Nila (smiling): Good luck.

A brown-haired man with golden eyes examines items in the alley.

Sherlock appears behind him, revolver aimed.

Sherlock Holmes: I didn't expect a pirate like you here.

Pirate: Nor did I expect someone like you.

Sherlock Holmes: Lucky for you, I'm not in a bad mood.

Pirate: Hahaha.

The pirate moves swiftly, grabs Sherlock's arm — gun fires, alerting the police.

They clash; Casey appears behind Sherlock, casting fire magic.

Sherlock Holmes: Glad to see you, miss.

Pirate: Hahaha, did you buy all this? The scams in this city must've grown.

Casey (angry): You'll regret that!

She fires — the pirate blocks it with a flour barrel; dust fills the alley.

When it clears, he's gone.

Casey: Where did he go?

Sherlock Holmes: Look above.

Casey looks up and sees him jumping onto a rooftop.

Casey: We must catch him!

Sherlock Holmes: Don't tire yourself. He won't wait for you.

He walks away, leaving Casey staring up in frustration.

A man with golden hair and eyes carries a large object on his back.

He sees a thief snatching from an old lady.

In an instant, he dashes forward, slamming the thief to the ground.

Old Lady: Thank you, young man.

The Man: No thanks needed.

He walks away silently.

More Chapters