In any case, at this moment, in Watson's eyes, his roommate's gaze was undoubtedly extremely peculiar.
There was even an indescribable strangeness and unfamiliarity about it.
Unfortunately, there was no time for further contemplation between the two, as the door of 221B Baker Street was soon knocked upon once again...
This time, entering was a lady with an exceptionally pale and haggard expression, her slender figure and crisscrossing scars visible beneath her plain white dress appearing particularly horrifying, undoubtedly revealing the terrible things that had happened to this poor woman.
As an upright gentleman, even before fully hearing the terrible ordeal of this beautiful lady before him, the small flame of anger in Watson's heart was instantly ignited.
Yet looking at his companion beside him, there were still those indifferent, somewhat mechanical mist-gray pupils, an unmoved cold expression, and questions that remained sharp to this day.
Even with Watson repeatedly making eye signals from the side, the other showed no intention of correcting himself, his words still sharp:
Watching helplessly as the lady before them grew increasingly miserable and uneasy. After a moment, Watson finally realized something.
"Was there something wrong with that lady just now?"
Seemingly surprised by his friend's sharpness, Sherlock, who had been studying the notebook left by the other party, finally turned his head and fixed his mist-gray pupils steadily on the doctor before him.
Watson somewhat embarrassedly rubbed his head.
"Actually, more than that lady, I simply believe more in Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who has lived with me for so long—that you are not, as some say, a great detective completely lacking in empathy and compassion."
"Besides, Sherlock, please don't forget that I am also a loyal fan of the Famous Detective Carl series..."
Mentioning his idol, a rather fervent light shone in Dr. Watson's eyes at that moment:
"I must say, Sherlock, regarding the thousand-faced enchantress, Miss Deresse, written by Mr. Rosente, that lady was simply too formidable!"
Due to the setting of a fragile young girl at her appearance, with exceptionally convincing acting skills, until the moment before the grand finale, his younger self had been genuinely worried about this girl.
So much so that when the truth was revealed, poor Watson could barely process it and even felt depressed about it for a long time afterward.
Because of this, he even held shadows against fragile young girls for quite some time.
"Simply unbelievable, if not for Mr. Rosente, who could have imagined there would be a young lady in the world so skilled at deception!"
"Ah, no wonder even the exceptionally intelligent Detective Carl fell into her trap!"
Even now, Watson couldn't help but sigh with emotion, especially to this newly acquainted friend before him. Also, in his eyes, the only one who could rival Detective Carl:
"But Sherlock, you're really amazing."
Carefully reviewing every move of that lady just now, yet still finding nothing wrong, Watson couldn't help but look curiously at his friend who had been unusually silent since earlier:
"By the way, Sherlock, how did you immediately spot something wrong with that lady just now!"
This point was even more impressive than Detective Carl. Dr. Watson secretly compared them in his heart.
Silently looking at this new roommate full of curiosity, the great detective before him for the first time lost the desire for deduction, or even explanation...
Casually picking up the diary filled with various strange codes left by the visitor and tucking it into his embrace, donning his familiar khaki trench coat, the detective said in an extremely fast tone:
"Watson, let's go, time is urgent, now is not the moment for these discussions!"
"Oh! Oh! Coming!" Watson responded instinctively.
For the first time without his companion's sharp explanations, Watson was inevitably somewhat confused at this moment. But out of trust in his companion, he still quickly followed.
Strangely enough, under his companion's very puzzled gaze, the carriage carrying the two soon stopped at a beautifully decorated villa area on Pall Mall.
"Wait, Sherlock, what are you doing?"
"Didn't I say time is running out? To gain the advantage before the other party, we must solve the codes in this diary as quickly as possible..." the great detective spoke rapidly.
"So, as you see, we're here... to find external assistance."
"Wait, ex... external assistance?"
Hardly believing that the words "external assistance" were seriously spoken by his companion, Watson couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.
After a long pause, he stammered out three words.
However, as his words fell, he heard the other speak in an ordinary tone:
"Yes, Watson, you heard correctly, external assistance, a formidable individual superior to me in both mathematics and codes."
Superior to his friend in mathematics and codes—considering his companion's impressive abilities, Watson instinctively straightened up and said seriously to his companion beside him:
"Wait... Sherlock, since we're visiting this elder, aren't we too hasty today!" As he spoke, this gentleman even unconsciously reached to smooth the slightly wrinkled cuffs of his suit.
But when he turned his head, he was met once again with his companion's particularly strange look.
What... is wrong this time?