Chapter 83: The Wager's Conclusion

Chapter 83: The Wager's Conclusion

Morning of a certain unspecified day, several days after Carolines mansion was besieged by a group of uninvited guests,

In the rendezvous point near Windsor Castle, where Adler and his party had recently arrived in a secret carriage

There, once again gathered, were Charlotte Holmes and Professor Moriarty, maintaining silence as they glared at each other openly.

Why such a fierce gaze, Miss Holmes?

Just fatigued, which has made my eyes somewhat sharp, thats all.

Nobody knew how much time had elapsed as their silent confrontation continued

Is that how I seem in the professors eyes?

As Professor Moriarty, starting the conversation, reached for a cookie, prepared on the table for them, Charlotte, sitting opposite, interrupted with a sarcastic remark.

Honestly, you just look like a puppy desperately holding back its poop.

Now youve abandoned all decorum, havent you?

Have we ever been in a situation to maintain decorum between us?

And so, another round of their verbal sparring began anew.

This is just how our relationship is, isnt it?

I dont know what youre trying to say, but it gives me the creeps seeing how chummy youre acting, so could you please stop?

Oh dear me, Holmes.

The professor, having topped the cookie with a lump of sugar, popped it in her mouth and began to chew, tilting her head from side to side as she savored its taste.

You heard what Adler said back then

Im not quite sure if I did, actually. So save the sweet act for Adler and keep your head still, please.

Charlotte, frowning at the professors characteristic habit of bobbing her head, cut her off with a decisive huff.

Its a personal habit.

Do you think I care?

Friends overlook each others habits, dont they?

What did you just say?

She cocked her head with a baffled expression on her face.

I want to be friends with you, Holmes.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Thats the most horrible joke Ive heard all year.

Its not a joke.

However, seeing the professor continue her farce with her trademark smirk, Charlottes expression grew progressively distorted with time.

You and I are opposites. I have no desire to mix with someone like you.

When extremities reach beyond their limits, they eventually converge. The heads and tails of a coin seem opposed at first glance, but in reality, theyre just parts of the same coin.

Yet, the professor merely continued with a relaxed smile on her face in response to her vehement refusal.

In the end, arent you and I doing all this to quench our unfulfilled thirst? Its just a matter of the methods we employ, that are different.

Respectfully, thats quite typical of you, dont you think? You are just forcing it at this point. Everything in this world has similarities and differences inherent in their traits. Youre just exaggerating coincidental similarities and ignoring the differences.

Is that so?

Its an obvious fact if you think about it logically. The back alley forces youve been quickly subduing over the past few weeks dont seem to think so though.

Charlotte, having said that, took a moment to catch her breath, her gaze mirroring frigid ice.

But not everyone in this world is a fool who falls for a few words from you. Remember that and drop some of that arrogance of yours.

Despite that, some officers who sensed something off and were keeping tabs on me were quickly influenced by my words though.

Londons police are a bunch of dolts, indeed.

However, as she leaned back and muttered with clear annoyance in her eyes, Professor Moriartys eyes shined silently with a dangerous hue.

Why deny the truth? Its not only the Londons police who are dolts.

In a few years, London will become my playground. Do you really think you alone can stop me?

Charlottes expression turned progressively more frigid as she heard her arrogant words.

As expected, you arent confident in stopping me, right? Then why continue this farce? Just become friends with me and both of us will have a lot of fun together.

Theres nothing Id hate more than that, no matter what.

You have as much potential to be a criminal as I do.

And you have as much potential to be a detective as I do.

Thus, their conversation continued, running on the parallels they enacted with their lives.

Its a shame. I once dreamed of being a detective too.

Changed your strategy, have you? From excluding me to corrupting me?

Think what you will.

How lacking in confidence must you be to have changed your whole strategy! If it were me, Id be too ashamed to even lift my head.

Charlotte, feeling disgusted with that fact, whispered with a dark expression, while the professor looked at her with her characteristic smirk.

Im looking at the bigger picture, something that you clearly cant see.

Ah, is that so?

And at the center of it is none other than Adler.

Im not sure how long you plan to pretend to care for someone whose eyes havent even been dyed in your colors.

Mimicking her, Charlotte wore a brazen smile and spoke with her arms crossed.

You should win the bet before you start speaking.

Do you actually believe youve won, Holmes?

Their gazes began to shine with frigid cold.

Ive definitely won this bet.

Thats unfortunate. I thought you were sulking because you lost the bet, but you were simply under the delusion that you have won.

As their eyes clashed, a chill akin to the arctic frost spread throughout the room despite the recent cessation of the heavy snowfall and the subsequent return of the summer weather, as it should.

Excuse me.

Just then, a familiar voice emanated from behind.

At the reply that returned from behind the veil, the professor began tapping on the desk with a chilly smirk on her face.

Then, do you agree with me that there is no more definite neutralization than this?

But theres something strange.

However, the clients voice began to grow heavier.

Why do you not mention the possibility of the existence of a duplicate of the letter?

We searched Caroline Augustus Milvertons mansion thoroughly, but no such evidence of duplication or a duplicate existed.

Were sure of it, having searched everything ourselves.

And what about the probability that the duplicates are stored elsewhere?

Reading the rapidly deteriorating atmosphere, the professor and Charlotte began to explain simultaneously, but the client continued pressing them with a voice laced with the frigidness of the arctic sea.

You know well that she trusts no one. Even the servants were unaware of the storing location of the letter. Its unlikely she would entrust anyone else with duplicates of such extensive materials.

Then, why did she disappear from her mansion a few days ago?

That is

Who knows if she, having vanished without a trace, is now hiding in a secret hideout with the duplicates, mocking us?

Upon hearing the clients challenging question, the eyes of Charlotte and Moriarty narrowed simultaneously.

It doesnt just end there. While most of the knowledge she possesses is mere blackmail material, the information leaked this time is related to national secrets.

I havent heard about such information?

The matter itself is a significant secret of the royal family, which made me hesitant to discuss it at all.

The client, looking back and forth between them, let out a sigh of disappointment.

If she who holds the information speaks carelessly, we will still be in a sizeable dilemma.

Oh, that shouldnt be a problem.

As Moriarty was about to speak with a smile growing progressively frigid,

Because, on that day, Caroline Augustus Milverton

is with me.

Finally clearing his throat, having been silent until that very moment, Isaac Adler spoke up and joined the battle.

At his words, the gazes of Charlotte and Professor Moriarty focused on him in unison.

Tell her to come in.

Adler, directing a bright smile to the looks of confusion directed at him, quietly clapped his hands to signal someone outside.

.

.

.

.

.

Swish

A moment later, the entrance door of the heavily guarded secret meeting place opened, making way for someone to enter.

..

The people inside inadvertently turned their gazes toward the newcomer and their eyes couldnt help but widen in shock and bewilderment.

Come here.

A woman fitted with dog ears and tail, her head bowed low, started to approach Adler at his call; her body twitching ever so slightly throughout her shameful march.

Pant, pant.

Like a puppy, she crawled, panting as she came to Adler.

Good.

Reaching the feet of Adler, the woman kneeled modestly with the handle of the leash around her neck in her mouth. Seeing the submissive display, Adler smiled and stroked her head lovingly, like a satisfied pet owner.

Swish, swish

For a moment, the womans face distorted in shame, but then she closed her eyes tightly and started rubbing her cheek against his leg.

Woof.

A small but distinct sound, one indistinguishable from a puppys, escaped her lips.

Ta-da~!

.

This is the little bitch that seduced half the men of London.

As Adler gazed down at her, leash in hand, and spread his arms with an innocent declaration, the expressions on Charlotte Holmes and the professor turned cold as the antarctic breeze.

Just days ago, she had a name, Caroline Augustus Milverton she was called, but as a result of several days of training, she has given up on being a person from henceforth.

Hooh.

However, unlike their expressions, the client behind the veil wore an intrigued look.

Press

Eek.

Adler, who had been smiling slyly at her, pressed his foot against the womans belly. She, steeped in a chilling sensation, bit her teeth and groaned.

..

Adler then looked down at her frigidly for a brief instant.

Growl.

Whos the victor now?

As the womans grunts and groans transitioned into a submissive growl, he smirked and posed the question to the client before him.

It seems the decision has just been made.

Surely not?

Id advise you to think again, as one of the potential future leaders of the British Empire.

Charlotte and Moriarty both glared at the client with serious expressions on their faces, but the conclusion had already been reached.

This is a perfect neutralization.

Youve crossed the line.

Britain is doomed, indeed.