Chapter 110: After the Adelhardt Games
"No, Bai Xue will never ever despise Zhang Fan," Bai Xue's face was animated with fervor. Indeed, she was determined to follow Zhang Fan forever, no matter what.
"You two, stop being so sappy! I'll make holes in you both if you don't cut it out!" Aria grumbled, feeling uneasy at the sight of Bai Xue and Zhang Fan's tender moment. Why did she feel so uncomfortable seeing Zhang Fan close to another girl? Aria, still unclear about the nuances of love, couldn't explain her feelings, yet she instinctively wanted to separate them.
"Let's leave this place quickly. I'm running late," Zhang Fan glanced at his watch, noting it was past two in the afternoon. If things were on schedule, the competition would have already started. He dreaded how Lan Bao, his no-nonsense mentor, would react to his absence, especially since he had been mandated to win both of his matches.
Thus, the group of four hastily exited the underground storage, immediately contacting the school's administration. The first to arrive was none other than Lan Bao, visibly irate and intimidating.
"You better have a good explanation!" Lan Bao demanded, gripping Zhang Fan's collar, clearly upset. Despite his triumph in the martial arts competition, his tardiness in the shooting event had squandered her high hopes for him.
"An explanation? I was busy capturing the Demon Sword," Zhang Fan rubbed his nose awkwardly. "C'mon, Lan Bao, there are girls watching. You're not exactly being ladylike, yanking a guy's collar like that."
"I don't want to hear excuses!" Lan Bao scowled, releasing him. She admitted to overreacting but, as Lan Bao, she couldn't fathom apologizing to a man. Ridiculous!
"Alright, alright, I admit my mistake. But capturing the Demon Sword should count for something, right?" Zhang Fan smiled slightly, finding Lan Bao's tsundere attitude rather endearing.
"Hmph, so this is the Demon Sword? Just a kid," Lan Bao scoffed at the still-dazed Jeanne. Despite her disdain, Lan Bao had improved significantly over the past year, and if not for Zhang Fan's rapid growth, she might have surpassed him.
Feeling guilty, Zhang Fan observed Jeanne's lost and confused demeanor. Had he gone too far? Although breaking Durandal was a necessary tactic, it was her spiritual pillar. Without her Holy Sword, Jeanne seemed to have lost her entire world.
"I'm sorry, Jeanne. I promise to give you a new Holy Sword someday. And I look forward to our next encounter," Zhang Fan whispered to her before Lan Bao escorted her away. A shiver ran through Jeanne as she looked at him, her eyes no longer vacant but filled with mixed emotions.
As Lan Bao led Jeanne away, Zhang Fan knew their paths would cross again soon. Given her youth and the potential for a plea bargain, prison was unlikely for Jeanne.
Judicial plea bargaining, a system where criminals assist in investigations or testify against co-conspirators for reduced sentences, had recently been adopted in Japan amid rising crime rates and a strained justice system.
Back at the games, the final cheerleading performance was underway. Aria and Yang Cai, dressed in black uniforms with yellow pompoms, danced charmingly. But then, to Zhang Fan's dismay, they pulled out guns and started shooting at the pompoms. Such an act, meant to improve the image of martial detectives, only seemed to tarnish it further.
With the games concluded, Zhang Fan, having saved Aria and Bai Xue and resolved Jeanne's case, felt no regret over not completing his side mission. After all, one can't achieve perfection in every endeavor.
"Decided to meet Watson?" Zhang Fan asked Aria, now back in her school uniform, smiling lightly. Facing Watson was inevitable for a Holmes descendant.
"Yes," Aria nodded resolutely.
"Let's go then." Finding Watson was easy, as he represented London Martial Detective High. But before they could set off, Watson appeared at the stadium gate, waiting for them.
"Hello, Aria. I'm El. Watson, your fiancé," Watson said, bowing and extending his hand towards Aria, embodying traditional British etiquette.
"What a joke! I've never acknowledged that engagement," Aria protested, her cheeks flushed with anger or embarrassment.