Chapter 117: The Hound of the Baskervilles (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: The Hound of the Baskervilles (5)
The following morning, in the wake of a horrific incident at Baskerville Hall that sent tremors of fear across the nation…
- Brrrrrbrrbrrbrrbrrr…
“Miss Watson.”
“… Aaaaahhh!?”
Watson, wrapped in a blanket on the sofa in the estate’s lobby, was shuddering uncontrollably. When someone tapped her shoulder, she jerked upright with a scream.
“Why are you so startled? You’re making a scene…”
“I-I was just caught off guard!”
Adler scratched his head, staring at her trembling form with a vacant gaze. Watson sighed deeply and shot him a reproachful look.
“Come here and sit down.”
“… Why?”
“Don’t talk back. Just do it.”
As she glared fiercely at Adler and tapped the seat next to her, he tilted his head in puzzlement before quietly sitting down as instructed.
- Click…
In that instant, Watson pressed her pistol against Adler’s side.
“What’s gotten into you now?”
“Did you orchestrate this incident?”
Already accustomed to having a gun or knife held to him, Adler merely looked at her with a subtle smile. Watson’s tone turned icy as she threw the question back at him.
“Who? Me?”
“… Don’t play dumb with me.”
“I truly don’t know. I only came here for some final relaxation before the academy’s vacation ends.”
“Haa…”
Adler tried to deflect the interrogation with a shifty tone. Watson sighed quietly and leaned in closer.
“My gun is loaded with silver bullets.”
“… Eek.”
“You’d better start speaking the truth before I put a hole in your ribs.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper, causing Adler to break into a cold sweat. He even began to tremble.
“Please, save me…”
“Speak up if you want to live, you vile vampire…”
“… I wasn’t talking to you, Miss Watson.”
Adler whispered back with a teasing tone and a mischievous laugh.
“… Holmes?”
Following his gaze, Watson turned her head. At the end of her line of sight stood her partner, looking weary after a night of investigation. Watson’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“I’ve been searching the moors with Inspector Lestrade.”
“… Both of you are out of your minds. To wander the moors so fearlessly after witnessing such a dreadful scene.”
Watson shook her head in disbelief at the bold reply, then immediately turned her glare back to Adler.
“Listen. Holmes, whom you’re so fond of, is troubled by the legend of the Baskerville family.”
“… I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“And yet, instead of confessing, you’re denying it?”
“Watson, it’s not like that.”
Charlotte muttered irritably from behind, staggering toward the fireplace.
- Drip, drop, drip…
She picked up the kettle sitting nearby, tilting her head back to gulp down the coffee inside.
“Holmes, I told you not to do that.”
“… Is she always like this?”
“Only when there’s a case. She’ll probably start chain-smoking next.”
Watching her odd behavior, Adler heard the frustration in Watson’s voice. He walked toward Charlotte, who was already fumbling through her pockets.
“Hey, I’m not finished with you yet—”
“Miss Holmes, it’s time you quit the habit of smoking whenever a case isn't going your way.”
Ignoring Watson, who had risen with her pistol still in hand, Adler snatched the cigarette Charlotte had just pulled out.
“Surely you’re not going to claim it’s a healthy herb this time?”
“… I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
Charlotte gazed at Adler with a grim expression. She pressed her fingers under her eyes, where dark circles had formed, and muttered under her breath.
“I had a rough idea of what was going to happen. Everything was falling into place until this interference. It’s quite displeasing.”
“Hmm, interference, you say?”
“…. Surely you’re not asking because you don’t know, Mr. Adler?”
She took a step closer, squinting her eyes as she locked gazes with him.
“Are you aware that a scent different from your usual sweetness is emanating strongly from your body?”
“Could it be that Miss Holmes is in heat…?”
The retort left Adler’s mouth before he could think. Realizing his slip of the tongue, he quickly shut his mouth.
“… I’ll let that comment pass. It’s not entirely incorrect, after all.”
“Pardon?”
“The important thing is that your body is giving off the scent of a beast, Mr. Adler.”
Charlotte buried her head in Adler’s chest, inhaling deeply while whispering.
“How do you plan to explain that?”
“… I think you’ve become overly sensitive and are making baseless assumptions.”
“It’s far more obvious now that I’m up close. Especially since you’ve tried to cover it up with perfume or cologne.”
“… Could it be that Miss Holmes also believes in the existence of that demonic hound?”
Adler kept her at bay with a hand on her shoulder as she continued to sniff him while standing on her tiptoes. He whispered in a soft tone.
“If that’s the case, you should see this first.”
Simultaneously, Adler pulled something out from inside his clothes.
“… This is?”
Charlotte tilted her head as she saw the red cat hanging limply in Adler’s hand.
“As you know, it’s my pet.”
“Meow, meow~”
“See?”
As Adler gently stroked the cat’s belly, giving it a silent cue, a series of awkward meows leaked from the creature’s mouth.
“I held this little one all day yesterday. It’s only natural that the scent of an animal would cling to me.”
“Is that how you’re going to play it?”
“… Eh?”
“Never mind.”
Charlotte Holmes looked down at Adler for a moment, then turned away with a frigid gaze.
“… It’s not even teasing anymore. You’re just being pathetic.”
“………”
“I came all the way here thinking you might finally propose or something, but I really don’t understand what the hell any of this is about.”
Muttering to herself, Charlotte left the estate with heavy steps. A heavy silence followed her departure.
“Tsk, tsk…”
“………?”
“Are you pretending to be oblivious, or do you really not understand?”
Amidst the silence, Watson spoke in a chilly tone, glancing at Adler as he tilted his head in confusion.
“What is it?”
“… Can’t you see that Holmes is quite upset with you?”
A subtle, bitter smile stretched across Adler’s lips.
“I briefly saw her in the early morning, and she seemed quite busy… planning for our future children, no less.”
“… Ah, don’t worry about that.”
With that, Adler began ascending the stairs with quiet steps.
“The reason I called you all here was to find the answer to that.”
“….. What do you mean? Answer to what?”
“By the time this case concludes, I should be able to provide an answer to both Miss Holmes and Miss Lestrade.”
He reached for his doorknob and added a few more words in a low, cryptic voice.
“… And perhaps, to you as well.”
Watson’s expression filled with visible suspicion at his meaningful statement, but Adler had already entered his room.
*
“Haaa…”
Once inside, Adler exhaled a long sigh and sat down on the bed.
“… Professor.”
After a moment, he scratched his head and spoke to the empty air.
⦗Mr. Adler.⦘
“Why have you called me so early in the morning?”
Professor Moriarty, who had forcibly established a direct line of communication with Adler, spoke with a voice laced with mirth.
⦗What other reason would a criminal consultant have to contact you so suddenly?⦘
“… By any chance, have you been watching everything?”
⦗I see you’ve even started seducing puppies now.⦘
“Ha… haha…”
Adler could only offer an awkward laugh at her blunt observation.
“… If you keep this up, I might actually get offended.”
⦗Now, that would be troublesome.⦘
“Please announce yourself before spying next time.”
⦗However, that’s not what is important right now.⦘
As he attempted to gently chide the professor, she quickly shifted the topic.
⦗Regarding the plan you’re devising—there is a very important piece missing.⦘
“Yes?”
⦗Your real identity.⦘
Adler’s eyes widened.
⦗When you went there, I thought you, my dear assistant, had finally realized who you truly are.⦘
“……..”
⦗But seeing your actions, I see that isn't the case.⦘
The now-familiar monotone voice of the professor reached his ears.
⦗Did that new pet you’ve been keeping in the basement of the hideout give you any hints?⦘
“… Ah.”
⦗Mr. Adler, I must warn you. It is ultimately necessary to consider who you can keep close and who you must discard.⦘
Despite the distance, her words implied she could see through the entire situation—even beyond what he himself could envision. Adler nodded, his mind heavy.
⦗Remember this. As long as you do not realize your true identity, you will never win this case against Charlotte Holmes.⦘
“… I understand.”
⦗The hint is surprisingly close, so do make an effort, Mr. Adler.⦘
Professor Moriarty whispered to him in a very gentle voice.
⦗And do try to keep those seductive tendencies of yours in check.⦘
With that final piece of advice, she ended the communication as abruptly as she had started it.
“………”
Silence returned to the room.
“My real identity…”
As he pondered the words that both Mycrony Holmes and Professor Moriarty had mentioned, Adler caught sight of something suspicious out of the corner of his eye.
“… Hmm?”
On a small table in the corner of the room lay a letter that hadn't been there a few hours ago.
“This is…”
Curious, Adler picked up the letter. His face contorted as he read the contents.
If you value your life and your virtue, leave the moors immediately.
“What the hell…”
It was a threatening letter, composed of words cut out from printed paper.
*
Meanwhile, at that same time…
“…….”
A girl with wild, bushy black hair was gazing intently at Isaac Adler’s reflection in the estate’s window from the safety of the forest brush.
- Swoosh…
Then, in the blink of an eye, she was enveloped in darkness. She transformed into the shape of a monstrous black creature and vanished into the eerie moorlands.