Chapter 119: The Hound of the Baskervilles (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 119: The Hound of the Baskervilles (7)
The moment I realized the doppelgänger I’d attached to Charlotte Holmes had been compromised, I scrambled to vanish into the moors, desperate to mask my presence.
“Isaac Adler.”
“...Hmm.”
Unfortunately, escaping Gia Lestrade—a woman hailed as a literal genius when it came to hunting down criminals—was no easy feat.
“Is there a problem, Inspector Lestrade?”
“Hands where I can see them. Walk toward me, slowly. If you surrender willingly, I won’t have to resort to violence.”
“Are you planning to kidnap me?”
“If you won’t come to me, I’ll just have to come to you.”
“My, how scandalous.”
“...Forgive me, but I’m not in the mood for your jokes.”
Despite my attempt to lighten the tension, Lestrade’s expression remained stony as she began to close the distance.
...I have no choice, then.
I did have a last resort to slip out of this predicament, though using it would surely earn me her eternal loathing. However, it would be peak stupidity to hold back at such a critical juncture for that reason alone.
“Stop right there.”
“...?”
As I made my decision and whispered the command, Lestrade flinched, her body coming to an abrupt, jarring halt.
“What are you trying to do?”
“Heh.”
I looked at her, frozen in place like a statue, a smirk playing on my lips. I walked over cautiously and began to poke her side with a finger.
“Ah.”
“...Inspector, have you already forgotten the golden seal etched into your lower abdomen the day we signed our contract?”
As my hand trailed over her stomach, Lestrade glared at me, her voice dripping with ice.
“I thought that was merely a mark of victory—a stain representing your wretched tastes.”
“That’s only half-true. It also contains a powerful binding magic that makes you an absolute slave to my whims.”
“...Is that so?”
The look in her eyes was now several times colder than the day we first met.
“Was that arrogant confidence you displayed every time you gave me orders because of this mark?”
“Of course. How else could I possibly hope to best you without it?”
“...I see.”
“Well, I’ll be on my way now. Please tell Miss Holmes that I have urgent business to attend to and that we’ll meet later...”
Her gaze was terrifying, but I had matters that required my immediate attention. While gently caressing the seal, I issued my final command.
Swish—
“...Huh?”
After staring at me in silence for a moment, she reached into her pocket, pulled out a pair of handcuffs, and snapped them onto my wrists. I stared at her, panic beginning to flare.
“This is...?”
“I am placing you under emergency arrest on suspicion of the murder of Julia Stapleton.”
What was going on?
“Inspector? I told you to go back.”
Why wasn't the seal working? I’d touched it; I’d given the order.
“...Mr. Adler, I am cursed with an anomaly that neutralizes every abnormality, oddity, and supernatural phenomenon I encounter.”
“Ah...”
“As a result, I cannot wield mana, let alone mana-based weapons or convenient magical artifacts. After decades of training, I’ve barely managed to grasp a faint trace of aura, but that is the extent of it.”
Doubt had clouded my mind, but her explanation cleared it instantly.
“However, thanks to that very same curse, no oddity or supernatural ability can affect me. Not even that foul trick you used to charm half the women in London.”
“...Then why did you sign my absurd contract without a second thought?”
“That... well...”
As I stared at her in disbelief, Lestrade began to fumble over her words.
“...It was deliberate.”
“Was it, really?”
“After all, I didn't need to worry about such things.”
She quickly admitted the truth.
“Then why did you act like you hated the seal so much? Why did you follow my orders so obediently?”
“...I took it as a threat. I thought if I disobeyed you then, you would show everyone that indelible slave tattoo you’d branded onto my stomach.”
“Ah...”
I nodded slowly, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. This was bad. At this rate, I was actually going to end up behind bars.
“In any case, the conclusion is simple: you cannot stop me while I am fulfilling my duties as an inspector. Isaac Adler, you’re coming with me.”
“........”
“It might have been different if that unruly brat or the red cat were with you.”
The "Red Cat" was, in fact, currently squirming in my arms. The problem was that I had been diverting my strength elsewhere, drawing upon the Princess’s power to accomplish a certain task... which had reduced her to the level of an actual house cat.
And unless I was at full power, facing a prepared Inspector Lestrade was a losing battle.
“...Shall we just get married instead?”
“I am currently performing my duties as an officer of the London Metropolitan Police.”
I tried to flash a charming smile, a desperate last-ditch effort to wiggle out of the situation, but she shut me down instantly.
“Do not attempt to beguile me.”
“...Fine. Once I’m out, I guess I’ll just have to marry Charlotte.”
I sighed, muttering to myself while clinging to a shred of hope. For a split second, I saw a flash of contemplation cross the inspector’s face.
Was there a chance?
[Do you not understand the meaning of 100%?]
My vain hope was shattered by the system’s piercing rebuke appearing before my eyes.
Smack!
Inspector Lestrade’s police baton slammed into my head, seemingly piercing right through the system screen.
“...Ugh.”
A short epitaph flashed before my eyes: [Isaac Adler: Crushed by the weight of his own karma.]
And with that, the world went black.
*
“...Ugh.”
“You’re awake.”
“Gah!”
Isaac Adler felt a rhythmic throbbing in his head as he opened his eyes. He gasped in shock at the sight before him.
It hadn't even been a second since he’d regained consciousness, and he found himself face-to-face with Charlotte Holmes, who was sitting expressionless atop his knees.
“Ah...”
Adler looked up at her dazed, quickly realizing he was tied securely to a chair in an unfamiliar room.
“Miss Holmes.”
“........”
“Let’s get married.”
He offered an awkward smile and a proposal, but Charlotte only looked down at him with a frigid smirk.
“I’ll take care of all the housework. Can’t you at least consider it?”
“Do you have any idea?” she whispered, leaning close to his ear. “I have the power to commute your sentence to indefinite house arrest.”
“...Ahh.”
“I don’t know what you’re plotting, but I can manage it without the help of your foolish sister, who is currently playing maid in the basement of your hideout.”
Stunned by her terrifyingly accurate statement, Adler quickly tried to pivot.
“Come to think of it, Inspector Lestrade failed to inform me of my Miranda rights.”
“Miranda rights? What are those?”
“Well, it means... I wasn't properly informed of my legal rights during the arrest. That’s a direct violation of British criminal law.”
“...You always have a way with words.”
Adler, having cited a legal precedent that wouldn't exist for decades on a different continent, looked at Charlotte with sparkling eyes.
“Then release me, please. I wish to appoint a solicitor...”
“It doesn't really matter, though.” Charlotte shook her head quietly.
“I know you’re not the culprit.”
“What?”
“I just wanted to ensure you couldn't interfere with the investigation any further.”
Adler stared at her for a moment, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
“Interfere? I don’t know what you’re talking about...”
“Stay here quietly until I’ve closed the case.”
“What? You’re just going to leave me like this?”
As Charlotte turned to leave, Adler’s expression fell into one of visible disappointment.
“...Perhaps I should report Isaac Adler as a missing person.”
“What?”
The chill that ran down his spine at her words was very real.
“I’m joking.”
“By the way... where are we? This is the Baskerville Estate, isn't it?”
“.......”
“...Miss Holmes?”
*
“Miss Holmes... this isn't funny anymore...”
It had been quite some time since Charlotte Holmes had walked out of the room.
“Please untie me now~!”
Tszszszsz...
“I’ll marry you, I swear~!”
Still bound to the chair, Adler called out piteously. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a strange sound filling the room.
“...Grrrr.”
There, crouched low on the floor, was a bizarre creature emitting a sinister, guttural growl.
“Good... good boy.”
“..........”
“...Come here.”
Sweating slightly, Adler whispered with a trembling smile. The creature began to creep forward.
Pounce!
In an instant, the beast leaped from the floor onto Adler’s lap, staring intently into his eyes.
Lick, lick...
“You know, I’ve been thinking while looking at you...”
As the creature began to lick his face, Adler stared back in disbelief, his mouth hanging open.
“Could it be that my true identity is actually...”
Creak—
The firmly locked door suddenly swung open.
“...The inspector and the detective told me I should cooperate in keeping you confined in the estate’s basement.”
A high-pitched voice echoed through the room.
“What on earth is going on here?”
“Well.”
Adler, having already deduced who was behind the obscured face, stood up quietly.
“...Perhaps it’s because I’ve been framed for the crimes you committed?”
The ropes that had been tightly securing him were already lying loose on the floor. The strange creature that had been perched on his knee was nowhere to be seen.
“Who... who are you?”
“Who am I?”
The true culprit’s voice trembled. Adler placed a finger to his lips and whispered softly.
“...Just a charming criminal consultant.”
“What?”
“It seems a crime is about to be uncovered. Do you perhaps require the services of a professional like me?”
At that moment, an unexpected storm began to brew over the Baskerville estate.