Chapter 14: The Red Mana League (3)

Chapter 14: The Red Mana League (3)

“Who could this be?”

“Hmm, oh no.”

A few hours before the plan was executed—

Upon the orders of Professor Moriarty, as I was investigating to uncover what Princess Clay was hiding from us...

“If I had known the request would end this blandly, I would have asked for more fees from Senior Wilson.”

By sheer coincidence, I had run into Charlotte Holmes who had received a request to find me from Diana Wilson.

“So, why were you lurking around the pawnshop run by my client’s family?”

Judging by her appearance, it seemed that she had just started investigating the new case.

“...This is a good opportunity.”

I couldn’t afford to miss this chance.

It was a golden opportunity to accelerate the growth of Charlotte Holmes in front of me by helping her out.

Honestly, it was indeed a bit funny that I, of all people, was helping her but given the situation, I had no choice.

In the original, Holmes solved his first case around 3 years after this age.

And about 20 years later, he used the prestige accumulated over the years to fiercely battle with Moriarty and narrowly secure a victory in their final confrontation.

But Charlotte, although she retained the brilliant mind and deductive reasoning, she still lacked the experience and prestige that the original Holmes had.

Thus, she faced a few failures in the game.

And one of them was the game’s first case, “Red Mana League.”

“I should help her out.”

Of course, it was an event that greatly contributed to her mental growth, but in her current state of mind... there was a severely high chance that it would be game over if she were to lose this case.

It was quite early but because of the appearance of an enemy who ranked at the top tier in both intelligence and power, Princess Joan Clay, and...

...For some reason that I could not fathom, it seemed that Dr. Rachel Watson, whose presence often posed to be crucial in dangerous cases, was not accompanying her today.

“...It’s a problem if I only focus on nurturing Moriarty.”

Only by balancing the opposing forces of the two geniuses can peace be maintained in London.

But right now, Professor Moriarty was growing at a terrifying rate due to my full support.

And thus, at this point where the balance might easily be disrupted, it seemed that I need to gradually intervene and make sure to maintain the balance.

Yes, if the last case was the crime introduction scenario of Professor Moriarty, then this case would be the growth period for Charlotte Holmes.

“Seeing that you’re silent, it seems that you’re quite taken aback?”

“Miss Holmes.”

After gathering my thoughts I spoke in a soft voice to Holmes, who was confidently smirking in front of me.

“It’s quite the coincidence. I was also investigating this case.”

“You were investigating your own disappearance?”

“Miss Holmes, you’ve already noticed, haven’t you? The intricate underlying details of this case.”

Then she asked with a curious smile,

“But why is someone who claims to be a criminal consultant investigating those details?”

“It seems my client is hiding something from me. So, I decided to find out.”

“Hmm...”

“It’d be a problem if it interferes with the case.”

Just as I was about to subtly suggest that we investigate the case together to her, she sightly furrowed her brows while tilting her head to the side and...

– Clank!

I suddenly felt the cold touch of metal on my wrist.

“Alright then, let’s investigate it together. Mr. Adler.”

Holmes abruptly handcuffed my wrist, then cuffed her own and crossed her arms, declaring those words.

“I’m offering to hire you as my assistant for the day.”

“...What is this about?”

While I was slightly pleased to receive the grand title of ‘assistant for the day’ from her, what on earth was this restraining play all about?

“I’ve secured an accomplice in the case, or perhaps a crucial witness.”

“I won’t run away, even if you don’t ‘secure’ me. And, don’t detectives lack the authority to arrest someone?”

“You never know. Just like the last time, you might leave a note and escape leisurely without a care in the world.”

She spoke such words with a smirk on her face, playfully shaking our cuffed wrists together in the process.

“And regarding the arrest, there’s no issue. If anything, I’ll testify that I was threatened by a mage and was taken hostage.”

“That’s a bit much.”

“Shall we then start our investigation, Mr. Assistant for the Day?”

With that, Charlotte Holmes and I, handcuffed together by the wrists, began walking down the busy streets under the gaze of many.

『Villain Maker』

– Description: Fulfilling the probability of Professor Moriarty’s appearance.

– Progress: 15% → 17%

“What the fuck?”

“Pardon?”

Amidst all this, why had the progress of the main quest slightly increased for seemingly no reason?

“But, why did you come to the pawnshop?”

“Here?”

As Charlotte walked in sync with the detained Isaac Adler, she responded to his question.

“I came to meet Miss Victoria Spaulding.”

“Why?”

“Perhaps because the last time I barged into the interview room, I happened to eavesdrop on your conversation through the door’s gap?”

“You managed to catch the gist, didn’t you?”

“And she seemed quite familiar.”

Saying so, she took out a wanted poster from her possession and waved it before him.

“Joan Clay. The last survivor of the Clay ducal family, all of whose members were annihilated a few years ago due to treason against the state.”

“.........”

“She’s now known as the leader of a group planning the resurrection of vampires, the ‘Red Mana League’. A rather dangerous individual.”

“And?”

“What are you doing standing there? Aren’t you coming along?”

“.............”

“The next riddle awaits us.”

Adler, having said those words, flashed a teasing smile at her.

– Thump...

And at that very moment, Charlotte’s heart began to race like never before...

‘Is he of the same kind as me?’

The look in Isaac Adler’s eyes referring to the case as a ‘riddle’ was filled with joy and anticipation.

And that look was strikingly similar to the excited gleam reflecting off the bank’s window across the street— that is, her own gaze.

Thus even though their purposes might differ, there was a high probability that at their core they belonged to the same kind.

“Excuse me?”

Someone she had never met before, someone she believed didn’t exist in this world— her true counterpart.

A prime candidate for that role was smiling right in front of her.

‘And moreover, he seems to be on par with my skills.’

And this counterpart, astonishing as that may be, was an individual who had bested her at least once.

‘...Perhaps even more.’

No, it might even be beyond that.

If she wasn’t mistaken, he, just like her elder sister, had swiftly deduced the answer and subtly handed her a clue to reach that very answer.

Yet, unlike her hateful sister, his approach was incredibly gentle...

– Thump, thump...

Charlotte’s heart began to beat even more fiercely as her thoughts reached that point.

It wasn’t certain yet. It could just be a coincidence, and she might encounter a less impressive show of deduction at the next location, leading to inevitable disappointment...

But if her hunch was correct, numerous riddles would unfold before her in the future to come.

Riddles that might finally free her from the ‘curse’ of the terrible boredom and aimlessness that had tormented her since childhood.

Riddles meant exclusively for her, as a detective.

‘...But why is he consulting on crimes?’

With her head bowed, hiding her expression from the world, Charlotte quietly followed Adler and suddenly had such a thought...

‘He seems to have a kind nature.’

Her gaze rested on Adler’s burned left hand, a mystery that remained unsolved to this date.

‘...No.’

She soon shook her head.

‘Of course, he’s not doing it for me.’

Only her sister and Watson knew about her ‘curse’.

Thus, there was no way for Isaac Adler to know about it, and even if he did, there was no reason for him to go to such lengths to try and solve it by sacrificing his own self.

‘...Was it Professor Moriarty?’

Suddenly, the image of the young female professor who had been sitting next to Adler in the office popped into Charlotte’s mind.

‘I should look into her background.’

Holmes, recalling the professor’s name with a frown on her face, murmured silently to herself.

『Villain Maker』

– Description: Fulfilling the probability of Professor Moriarty’s appearance.

– Progress: 17% → 20%

“This is driving me mad, really...”

“What did you say?”

“...Nothing.”

A solid narrative coherence was forming in the stories of Charlotte and Jane, interlocking them in a web that was spun unknowingly by a blond-haired womanizer.

.

.

.

.

.

“Are you alright?”

“...Yes, I felt a bit dizzy for a moment.”

Adler, who momentarily stopped walking and gazed into space while perspiring for some reason, responded with a smile to Holmes’s question.

“That’s strange.”

Holmes murmured, harboring doubts upon seeing Adler’s somewhat uneasy demeanor.

“.......Ah.”

She then remembered the events from a few hours ago and quietly slipped her hand into her pocket.

“...........”

The hourglass she pulled out from her pocket was nearing its end, with only a fingernail-sized amount of sand left within.

“Um, I need to use the restroom.”

Adler, who was in a daze for a while, suddenly asked Holmes with an innocent look on his face— scratching his head in the process.

“Can you please undo the handcuff for a moment?”

Holmes, who had been intently staring at his pale face for a while, finally spoke.

“...Let’s go together.”

“Pardon?”

“I need to stop by as well.”

And that was the moment when Holmes’ long obsession with Isaac Adler came to a start...

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