Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Durand's Shadow

I also honestly knew.

That is well, thinking of my current name value strange not monitoring.

First two men smoking tobacco at the distant alley corner. Shabby clothing and pressed a loose hat deeply but actions awkward.

A man sitting on the bench and fiddling something in the pocket. Pretended calm but gaze handling immature.

A man slowly walking from afar and disappeared. Already saw only that person's face for 2 weeks. Every time only clothing different.

Monitoring not necessarily other intention. Might be the purpose of exploring surrounding situations and protecting, or the intention of blocking unnecessary problems in advance.

If able to filter uninvited guests crowding seeing my name value with only atmosphere in advance not a matter to see badly even from this side.

Yes, knew...

This a bit excessive not?!

Seeing didn't feel gazes much usually, clearly adjusted the monitoring pattern matching my life pattern.

If mixing in the numerous crowds passing Lombard Street not easy to notice either.

But observing one step back from others' gazes like this the sense of incongruity clearly felt.

Why waging nerve wars with each other?!

Moreover the people waging nerve wars not one or two. Every moment their gazes crossed subtle tension glimpsed.

Only then realized. The fact that the monitoring group not one.

But seeing nothing happening, probably some tacit agreement not to fight among each other.

'Don't want to cause problems, right.'

Understood. But still uneasy.

Somehow strangely multi-racial...

Correct mixing monitors with Latin series and Slavic series?! Later have to confirm? Who to ask?

"Ahem."

Joe coughed from behind.

I also suddenly came to senses and decided to move. Since disguised but if doing nothing and staying still will arouse suspicion again.

Fortunately the people monitoring my restaurant concentrated only there and didn't pay particular attention to me.

Like that the moment trying to safely exit Lombard Street, I faced a very welcome face trying to enter the city.

Surprised I unconsciously shouted small.

"A-Ashford Sir?!"

"...Who?"

Certain.

Pale blonde, cold blue eyes, and eyes soaked with irritation. This man with stubborn pride flowing from the whole body. A characteristic that can't hide even if trying to hide.

Half a year ago, the guardian knight of the Duke of York who appeared in front of me. Sir Geoffrey Ashford.

That is well how forget? The person who first kidnapped me.

Looking back from that day my life started changing rapidly, so forgetting rather a strange matter.

Sir Ashford also wearing a loose coat and scarf and doing something like disguise, but noticing my side clearly faster.

He hurriedly stopped the steps at the sound I called, and slightly showed flustered signs and slowly turned to my side.

And the moment recognizing who I am, his expression hardened.

"A-no. This way! Come this way!"

He abruptly grabbed my wrist and hurriedly dragged me into the nearby temperance bar.

I had to urgently block Joe trying to run from afar with eye gestures and head gestures.

* * *

Temperance bar.

If social clubs for nobles, coffee houses for the middle class, for London commoners exactly this temperance bar.

In one word, street cafe.

As can guess from the name 'temperance', a business type that arose under the influence of the temperance movement popular in the 19th century Victorian era, a space made with the purpose of drinking coffee or tea instead of alcohol.

Here sold cheap coffee, black tea, simple snacks, and a wide interior simple and plain but atmosphere comfortable so a hideout secretly popular among working class laborers.

Clearly noisy so no place as suitable as this to exchange secret talks in the current attire.

Sir Ashford unlike entering vigorously, continued hesitating something looking at the black tea placed in front of the eyes.

Even with only the hand gesture of repeatedly lifting and putting down the teacup sufficiently guessed how complex his head.

A sense of the times.

When first met a person who just tried to eat me up.

I recalled that time and laughed inside.

He also seemed to recognize that his current position and my current position quite far apart.

"Ahem."

I coughed small. Somehow seemed have to open the mouth first from my side.

How to attach words? If an acquaintance comfortable, but strictly speaking this person not even an acquaintance.

Thinking about it now title also, position also me much higher, and even the disguised appearance my side looking much older, so decided to just speak comfortably.

Fortunately a sample to follow.

I simulated inside as if I became Chairman Balfour.

"Mr. Ashford. You should be attached to York... no, Mr. Edward Richard, right? That person?"

"Ah, I was reassigned and newly 'commuting' this side. Not long."

"That person well?"

"Yes, well. Staying with family at the manor in Norfolk doing hobbies."

Since the Boer War ended no more matter of wandering overseas, seemed released seclusion and now comfortably residing at home.

Excessive escort personnel also no more needed, right. Probably so Sir Ashford also reassigned this side.

"Slightly regrettable. That person said will visit the restaurant with family."

Thinking about it the sovereign gold coins the duke gave me greatly helped my business expansion.

At that time even that quite big money.

The Duke of York who appeared with crude Holmes makeup a bit missed.

"Visited. Around last month."

"Uh, so? I didn't know?"

"Quietly secretly visited. Seemed didn't want to burden Teacher."

"So... Hmm."

The moment hearing those words, one corner of the chest strangely emptied.

I seemed hoped the duke appears secretly at midnight again and asks 'are you doing well'.

After receiving anonymous letters once or twice news completely cut off.

So the moment seeing Sir Ashford might have unconsciously called.

Well opportunities to see again as much as one wants, right.

Because a prince of the British Empire.

"Good, then if visiting next can convey saying will entertain more delicious cooking hanging my name?"

"Yes, that possible. Will convey through Mr. Blackwood. And probably might return to London again soon. 'Officially'. Because next summer 'that matter'."

"Ah, 'that matter'. That fortunate."

'That matter' naturally meaning His Majesty Edward VII's coronation, right.

I lightly tapped the table with a finger.

And bit one butter cookie and roughly chewed and swallowed. Taste terribly bad.

"You, but you also just now hurriedly grabbed me and dragged this way. Any reason?"

"Uh... Ah, right! On earth how did 'that appearance' become?!"

"Strange?"

"No... Not strange, but heart almost dropped! Sir, no, that—"

"Hagwood. John Hagwood."

Sir Ashford whispered quietly to me in a firm tone.

"Mr. Hagwood must know the current weight!"

"My weight...?"

"Can't roam the middle of London as you like like the old days that talk! Know how many escorts attached now?! If Teacher moves immediately emergency that talk!"

"...How do I know that?"

Really, how do I know that?!

Knew escorts attached faintly heard, but I thought that because of my terrible fame by any chance some unfortunate accident arises.

Even a duke not that many people attached!

Indeed, thinking about it just now also saw unusual people laid around my restaurant.

Ah, forgot again.

Me, hidden French royalty, right?

Does this person also know I have a hidden identity?

"I also don't know at all what work Sir, no, Mr. Hagwood doing, how identity rose so fast. But now know well the fact that not looking ordinary like the old days. Because people who started receiving influence from each one of your actions arose. The important, not only us knowing that. Other countries' people also not fools."

Honestly even looking at me a situation that doesn't make sense.

A boy who fried chicken in the shabby back alley of Lombard Street, now even handling the British government budget.

So I also well, lately careful with behavior and trying to speak properly bracing up, but recently going around the parliament saying will solve the water problem or meeting Sir Campbell also seemed gave some alertness to the surroundings knowingly or unknowingly.

No, I really no particular thought only thinking of solving the water quality problem, and didn't particularly talk at the parliament!

But from the gaze of outsiders who know nothing something—

Seemed looked like a new political monster appeared in London politics!

A relationship the monarch of the world's strongest country cherishes, the Conservative Party supports without sparing, and even freely plays billiards with the rival Liberal Party leader!

So even among the escorts, even people betting I will obtain lower house within 1 year, upper house member within 3 years!

Moreover the next next or next next next British prime minister will be me?!

Crazy?!

Why do I do such bothersome work?

And that at that time the world war in full swing?

I decided to give some advice to poor Sir Ashford's gambling.

"Yielding a hundred times won't refuse up to minister position, but prime minister a bit... So bet on the opposite. If not wanting to lose money."

"Ah, understood."

"The win rate certain. If winning offer 10 percent to me."

"Ha, haha..."

Saying so and looked around. Fortunately still noisy so no one paying attention to us.

"Then curiosity solved so shall we get up now. Mr. Ashford also return to the workplace now."

"Oh, uh, where planning to go?!"

"...Wherever the feet go?"

"Ah, can't! Didn't I just say? Teacher currently in a very attention-receiving position! Of course not easy to recognize, but really might be a person who recognizes and chases! I'll escort!"

"That a bit... Just stick far."

"There are international spies. We also not clearly grasping who is who. Recently dozens of people using southern German accents appeared around and disappeared. Can't be careless."

"Hmm..."

Hearing Sir Ashford's story, I seemed became a major monitoring target of international spies without knowing.

Receiving the protection of Britain's political rank 3rd Chairman Balfour, and even became a relationship of drinking with His Majesty Edward VII so natural?

There even the large business Greenwich passing through my hands so all said. Even I would attach a lot of people.

The problem, if that side sends 2 this side at least sent 1 and countered, if this side sends 1 and blocks that side sends 2 more again, and this repeating countering again somehow the entire Lombard Street filled with spy personnel the laughable situation!

The vicious cycle structure of monitoring and response!

I now clearly realized the identity of these who were strangely waging nerve wars around my restaurant.

All those people spies, hmm.

How can't chase all out? If the refrigerator or computer discovered at this point a bit troublesome.

Or... shall I catch a few and use as double spies? Seems quite fun?

Anyway if doing a few riddles with me all exposed. So not particularly threatening.

"No choice. I'll do painter acting again from now, so following on your own."

"Ultimately not saying at all will return..."

"Have things to confirm. A very important matter policy-wise. And the makeup quite okay, right? From the start Teacher also didn't recognize me right away."

"...Understood. Do as you wish."

Sir Ashford reluctantly nodded, and I led him and came outside.

And after confirming the appearance of Joe rejoining from afar, I headed to the nearby tram.

Where thinking of going?

To the largest market in London.

From old times the thought that for examining public sentiment market sightseeing the best.

Since became like this, let's try incognito like Joseon kings.