Bloom, and the Butterflies Will Come

Faced with two dark gun barrels, Robber Number Two caved, setting down his pistol and dropping to the floor with his hands behind his head. Risking his life was out of the question. Even twenty-odd cultists of the Goddess of Death had lost their nerve the moment Veronica pointed a gun at them, let alone a simple train robber out for quick cash. It was only prison. Once he got out, he could pick up his old trade again. Why throw away his life? A man had only one life, after all! Wayne hurried forward, grabbed the robber's head, and slammed it repeatedly into the floor. *Bang, bang, bang!* The concussive blows left Robber Number Two seeing stars. *Big bro, what are you doing? I have human rights too! What happened to international humanitarian spirit?!* Unable to hold back a chuckle, Xifei stepped in to spare Wayne the trouble. She brought her boot down on Robber Number Two's head with a sharp *crack*, saving him from any further abuse. She could tell Wayne was trying to knock the man unconscious, but lacking experience, his clumsy attempts had proved futile. "Why didn't you use your gun? A few whacks to the back of the head with the butt would have done it." "It's a fake." Wayne shook the toy gun in his hand. It was a model carved from wood, finished with a coat of black paint, its muzzle wrapped in a layer of sheet metal to ensure whatever poor fool had it pressed against the back of his neck would feel the icy chill of impending doom. Xifei stared, stunned. "So... you couldn't shoot from the very beginning?" "Yeah, it was just an act. As long as the robber released the hostage, my job was done." Wayne waved his hand with modest unconcern. His intellect only stood out because the robbers were idiots; the truly pivotal figure was Xifei, while he had barely lifted a finger. He did possess two real firearms, but carrying them on his person was out of the question. He had crafted this toy gun a few days prior strictly for sneak attacks from behind; it was utterly useless in a head-on confrontation. Unless it was pitch-black at night. "Wayne, I'm finding myself admiring you more and more..." Xifei's praise was heartfelt. When Wayne had first pointed a gun at her, she had honestly thought her daughter had gone blind. Only when Wayne deliberately dropped hints like "move your muzzle" and "innocent hostage" did she realize his scheme and play along. Devising the optimal countermeasure in a split second, securing the hostage's safety, and subduing the robber—all of it spoke volumes of Wayne's meticulous mind and sharp execution. His acting was just a little too convincing. It didn't feel like an act at all... hm, very much like her bastard of a husband. Xifei also understood why her daughter had fallen for him. Gold shone wherever it was buried, and a capable young man was bound to draw the eyes of the opposite sex. *Bloom, and the butterflies will come!* Of course, she didn't rule out the possibility that her brilliant daughter had caught Wayne's eye first, and the two of them, kindred spirits, had promptly fallen head over heels in love. Xifei's admiration stemmed strictly from the perspective of an elder assessing a junior. Wayne, however, had no inkling of this. The more he listened, the more suspicious it sounded. He figured that now that the wealthy cougar had made her interest clear, the next step would be whipping out a sugar-mommy contract. Heaven have mercy, he was terrible at resisting temptation and remarkably easy to lead astray. If he actually signed a contract to become a kept man and turned into a two-timing scumbag, how on earth was he supposed to explain himself to the three boats he was already straddling? Wayne wore a look of deep distress. Misreading his expression once again, Xifei said with a light chuckle, "Don't worry. I'll take care of the rest of the robbers. When I get back, you'd better explain clearly what piece of clothing is missing from my outfit." With that, Xifei pushed open the dining car door with her pistol in hand, her strides graceful and composed. Wayne couldn't help but suspect she was a spy. A Frankish spy dispatched to the Kingdom of Windsor, a renowned fashion designer who could swiftly infiltrate high society, make connections among the nobility, and funnel an endless stream of intelligence back to Frank. "No, she's far too high-profile. She can't be a foreign spy." Wayne muttered under his breath. Rather than a spy from Frank, it made more sense that she was a Windsor spy sent into Frank, now retiring after a successful career and returning home to find an honest sucker to settle down with. *And turns out the honest sucker is me!* *** At eleven o'clock in the morning, the luxury train pulled into Enrold Station. Station constables hauled away the five black-clad robbers, including the mustachioed man who had deliberately bumped into Wayne earlier. Wayne and Xifei were ushered into the stationmaster's office. Having taken down five armed criminals and rescued an entire carriage of high-society passengers, their preposterous combat prowess inevitably invited police questioning. Inside the office. Xifei sat with her legs crossed and hands resting on her knees, her posture upright and poised. She observed proper etiquette at every moment, self-discipline having long since become second nature. Both in looks and aura, she ranked in the very top tier of all the women Wayne had ever met. Veronica's manners weren't bad either, but she still had a childish streak. In particular, whenever Villy played a prank, the young lady could never resist getting into a brawl with her. The young lady was in charge of the thrashing, while Villy was in charge of curling into a ball—a remarkably clear division of labor. "Wayne, what line of work are you in?" "I run a detective agency." "You sound like a successful man." "It gets by. One assistant, one clerk, a cat, and a dog." While the officers were busy processing the robbers, Wayne chatted idly with Xifei out of sheer boredom. He could tell that Xifei harbored immense curiosity toward him, constantly dropping probing remarks about his personal life. *It's over. I've truly been marked by a sugar mommy!* "Do you have a girlfriend?" Xifei finally revealed her dagger, cutting straight to the question she cared about most. Wayne sorely wanted to confess that he was a destitute bachelor on his knees, desperately in need of a wealthy big sister to provide for him—he wouldn't even mind doing it for free. But the words stuck in his throat, and listening to his conscience, he replied, "I do. She's very fond of me, and I love her dearly. We swore never to betray each other." As he said this, Wayne's heart bled. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would actually turn down such a mature, elegant lady. And a filthy rich one at that! Xifei gave a satisfied nod, murmuring wistfully, "What an enviable romance..." Something seemed to cross her mind—her bastard of a husband—leaving her quiet for a long while. Wayne knew that if he asked now, she would seize the opening to recount her tragic romantic history, weep delicately, look for a "sob-silencer," and seek shelter against his broad shoulders. *Hah, don't think you can fool me. I won't ask!* Wayne kept his mouth shut, and Xifei showed no urge to pour her heart out. After another quiet moment, she got straight to the point. "What is missing from my brand?" Wayne hesitated briefly before speaking in a measured tone. "Madam, that garment hasn't been invented yet. It's just a fanciful idea of mine. Once I create it, you'll be the very first person I tell. Please don't ask for any more details; I'd hate for you to steal my idea." "Is it very profitable?" "Yeah. I'm counting on it to support my wife for the rest of my life." "Sounds wonderful. I wish you every happiness." Xifei offered a meaningful smile. Her assessment was complete: the lad was decent enough, possessed a sharp mind alongside caution and initiative, but remained somewhat naive, in need of guidance from an elder. Moreover, Wayne didn't seem to understand the true nature of this world. Ordinary people and mages belonged to two completely different realms. Without a common language, it was exceedingly difficult to stay together. Even if they managed to join hands, discord would arise sooner or later for one reason or another, ultimately fracturing the marriage. Reflecting on herself and her scoundrel husband, Xifei resolved to lend Wayne a hand, teaching him magic so that her tragedy wouldn't play out again with Veronica. Her return to Londan this time was to take up the important post of regional high priest. She lacked an administrative assistant, and it was about time she took on a disciple. Whether he had talent didn't matter. What mattered was trustworthiness! A moment later, two constables entered. After offering apologies and gratitude, they examined Wayne and Xifei's identification papers. Following brief questioning, they explained with some embarrassment that because the robbery involved far too many wealthy elites, the authorities back in Londan had decided to form a special task force. In other words, Xifei and Wayne would have to alter their plans and take the next train back to Londan. "Could this wait a while? I have very important matters to attend to," Wayne said with a furrowed brow. The two constables merely shrugged, offering their helpless regrets. "Damn it. Are decent people just doomed to be pushed around?" Wayne muttered bitterly. If that was the case, he'd stop being a decent person from now on. "Wayne, remember that you owe me a favor. I'll collect on it when the opportunity arises." Xifei borrowed the office telephone. Five minutes later, the station chief arrived in person to offer profuse apologies, explaining that the constables' negligence had squandered the two distinguished guests' valuable time. The matter was settled; Wayne and Xifei were free to leave whenever they wished. Wayne stared at Xifei in astonishment. This wasn't merely the power of money—this was authority. The wealthy lady held far more sway than he had imagined; her identity was certainly nothing as simple as a spy. *Damn it, why did I turn her down just now?!* *** Outside the station office, servants and butlers who had been waiting for some time crowded forward. They had remained behind on their wealthy masters' orders specifically to express their gratitude. Money was trivial compared to their lives; heaven only knew what those crazed robbers might have done. Besides, quite a few of the wealthy gentlemen traveling hadn't brought their wives along. There were secretaries, mistresses, and, more often than not, other men's wives. If the scandal blew up, the secondary wave of social ruin would be far more than they could bear. To show their appreciation, the servants and butlers presented their masters' business cards. This crowd belonged to the Inner Londan Central District, representing an extraordinarily well-connected social network. Wayne accepted the cards and patted his pockets, only to find to his chagrin that he had no calling cards of his own to advertise his detective agency. Xifei, on the other hand, jotted down her telephone number on the back of each card in exchange. Noticing Wayne's predicament, she smiled and announced that Wayne was an exceptionally capable private investigator, and should any of the gentlemen run into trouble in the future, they could reach Wayne through this number. Wayne: "..." *Damn it. The cougar hasn't given up at all—she's already roping me into her network!* *** After the two departed, the chief had a brief chat with the two constables, confirmed Xifei and Wayne's identities, and placed a call to Londan to file his report. Not long after, an outgoing call was placed from Londan Metropolitan Police Headquarters. "Mr. Landau, do you know a Xifei Landau?" "Yes, she did injure several people, but it was an act of civic duty. She took down five armed train robbers, though she was perhaps just a tiny bit heavy-handed." "Indeed, she is in Windsor. The train departed Londan last night..." "According to the constables at Enrold Town Station, she was accompanied by a gentleman, and the two subdued the robbers together." "His name is Wayne... Yes, Wayne... I am positive, it's Wayne." "Oh? How did you know Mr. Wayne is a detective?" "According to the train attendants, the two appeared very close. They had breakfast together early in the morning and even visited the observation carriage side by side..." "Yes, they left the station together. Madame Xifei was unwilling to return to Londan and went with Wayne, boarding the same motorcar." "Not at all, it's my honor to be of service to you." "It was only my duty. But if you insist, I'll go collect it from the finance office. Right, thank you for your generosity."