Chapter 219: The Valley of Fear (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 219: The Valley of Fear (2)
Several days after Adler—narrowly escaping the threat of being captured and "preserved" alive—managed to flee Britain with Lupin, a bell chimed in a far-off land.
— Ding…♪
"Welcome."
The door to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in Michigan swung open, and a familiar blond visitor stepped inside.
"Are you the one who contacted us earlier?"
"…Ah, yes. Haha."
"Please, take a seat. I’ve prepared some tea for you."
Bowing in greeting, the woman gestured toward the sofa.
"Um… I just came to file a case. There’s really no need for such hospitality…"
"I insist. It would be quite improper of me otherwise."
Placing a teacup in front of him, she brushed off Adler’s hesitation with a professional demeanor.
"If we neglected a VIP like Isaac Adler, the higher-ups would certainly have my head."
"Uh… I’m a VIP?"
Seeing the bewildered, absentminded look on Adler’s face, the woman let out a small sigh.
"Mr. Adler, you’ve commissioned hundreds of cases from us over the years. Surely you’re aware of how important you are to this agency?"
"Uh, well…"
"Considering the chaos you’ve left in your wake across New Jersey, Milan, and Warsaw, it’s actually impressive you haven’t hired us more often."
"……."
"I almost thought you’d grown a bit wiser since moving to London, given that the requests stopped. However, the uproar I’ve been reading about in the British newspapers suggests otherwise."
The woman spoke with a face devoid of emotion, her voice flat. Suddenly, she leaned forward, whispering in a chilling tone.
"You haven’t switched agencies, have you? You should know that no one can provide you with better service than we can."
"T-That’s unlikely…"
"Speaking of which, there have been a few scandals involving that fledgling detective in Britain. Perhaps…"
"…Holmes is not a fledgling."
As Adler moved to dismiss the remark, her next words made him flare up momentarily, causing the woman to frown.
"My hunch was right, it seems."
"………"
"So, why are you here? Just to say farewell to an old patron?"
"B-Before that… may I ask a question?"
"…Go ahead."
Adler, gauging her reaction, finally whispered his query.
"If you don’t mind me asking… who are you?"
"…Haa."
His words elicited a momentary look of utter disbelief. The woman was rendered speechless for a long beat before she let out a heavy sigh.
"I am the Director of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency’s Western Regional Division."
"Oh, is… that so?"
"I also manage the Michigan branch office."
When Adler still looked puzzled, the woman added a frosty glare that practically threatened murder.
"…And until a few months ago, I was your exclusive agent. Not that you seem to remember. I was promoted because you stopped sending cases. While my rank has risen, my salary has, unfortunately, decreased."
"Ah…"
"How could you forget me after we worked together for so long? Then again, considering you meet a new woman almost every day, it’s no wonder you conveniently wiped me from your memory."
As she chided him in a bone-chilling tone, Adler’s expression turned slightly aggrieved.
"You forget the person who risked their life for you, and yet you have the gall to look like the victim?"
"…I’m sorry."
"Haaah… never mind. Honestly, the money was the motivation for taking your work, not you. I’ll consider us even."
Mumbling under her breath, the Director quickly reverted to her expressionless, professional mask.
"Let’s get back to business. Are you receiving death threats from another woman again?"
"…Something along those lines, but I assure you it’s not quite what you’re thinking."
"That’s fine. Just give me the details. Or are you being threatened by an unknown party again?"
"…I am being threatened, yes. But that’s not the point. I need you to find someone for me."
Adler handed her a note containing the personal details of the individual he wanted the Pinkertons to track down.
"Female, under twenty years old, presumed student, gloomy and dark personality, racist, uses a Western accent, introverted…"
As she read through the request with narrowed eyes, she reached the final line.
"…Lastly, her name includes Lovecraft."
After finishing the list, the Director tilted her head.
"Do I need to protect you from this woman?"
"No, I just want you to find her."
"And once we find her?"
"I’ll… take care of the rest myself."
At Adler’s reply, a flicker of displeasure broke through her mask.
"Even with these details… America is vast. It will take a considerable amount of time to find her without knowing her general location."
"…That’s exactly why I came here."
"What I’m trying to say is, it will require appropriate compensation."
Without a word, Adler placed a bag on the desk.
— Click…
"This should cove—"
He began to unzip the bag to show the contents, but—
"Ugh, ugh…!"
— Bang!
The moment his eyes met Watson’s—who was still tied up inside the bag and glaring at him with murderous intent—he slammed it shut in a panic.
"What was…"
"I’m sorry. I got the bags mixed up."
With practiced nonchalance, Adler set that bag aside and placed another on the desk.
"Wait a second. There was definitely a naked woman in there…"
— Click…
"…Hmm."
When he opened the second bag, the Director, who had been about to question him further, immediately fell silent.
"There is $6,000 in cash here. I can provide more if necessary."
"…If you’re willing to spend this much to find one woman, it must be a serious matter."
"She is a significant threat. You’ll need to deploy your very best agents."
"Hmm…"
The Director contemplated the matter seriously for a long moment.
"…If we shied away from danger, Pinkerton wouldn’t have made it this far."
Murmuring in a subdued voice, she reached for the bag.
"Ah, of course, you’ll receive the full amount once the task is complete."
"…….."
"But I’ll provide a down payment of $1,000 now. How does that sound?"
Before she could touch it, Adler pulled the bag back, earning himself a sharp glare.
"You know we take payment upfront."
"Hehe…"
"Don’t laugh. Not everything in this world can be overcome with a smile and good looks."
Admonishing him, the Director leaned back in her chair with a sigh.
"Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s only because you’re a VIP… that I’m willing to bend the rules this time."
"Thank you. And good luck with the case…"
"…However, there is one condition."
Tilting her head, she gave Adler a long, searching stare.
"A… condition?"
"It’s nothing major. We’re currently handling a case, and we could use some assistance."
"…That sounds like a lot of work, actually."
As Adler’s expression soured, the Director calmly continued.
"Most of our best people are tied up in this matter. To resolve your request even a day sooner, we need to wrap this one up quickly."
"I’m willing to cooperate if that’s the case, but… it’s dangerous, isn’t it?"
"I won’t force you. But if you help, we’re willing to reduce our fee."
Adler paused, weighing his options.
"…Let’s hear the details first."
"A wise decision. Here is the rundown."
Seeing Adler’s willingness to listen, she reverted to her professional stance.
"To get straight to the point, I have a client from the western region under my jurisdiction, specifically Vermissa Valley…"
"…The Valley of Fear."
"What? How do you know that?"
The Director stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening in surprise as she stared at him.
"Oh, no reason."
"What do you mean, 'no reason'? How do you know the local slang used by the residents of that area, Mr. Adler?"
"…Perhaps I saw it in the newspaper?"
"You read local American newspapers while living in London?"
"You really enjoy digging into the details, don’t you? Actually, a friend of mine—a detective—has been focusing on that area lately. That’s how I know."
Adler, breaking into a cold sweat, made excuses while avoiding her gaze.
"…Hmmmm."
The Director looked at him with an annoyed expression but continued.
"Anyway… a dangerous gang has been flourishing there recently."
"…A gang?"
"I want you to infiltrate the area, Mr. Adler."
"Um… excuse me?"
Adler looked at her in bewilderment.
"Isn’t that a job for specialists? Why send me? I’m far too well-known…"
"…You are the perfect person for the job. Honestly, it would be more effective to deploy you alone than to send our entire roster of agents."
"But why, exactly?"
The Director gave him an indifferent reply.
"…Every member of that gang is a woman."
"Ah."
Realizing the implication immediately, Adler nodded with a bright smile.
"Just leave it to me."
.
.
.
Meanwhile, back in Britain.
— Crunch…
Sitting in her office, the Professor chewed on a sugar cube, her expression furious.
"…So, you’re in America."
She wiped away the complex formulas she had used to bypass her own eavesdropping measures and stood up in silence.
"Just you wait, Adler."
Elsewhere, Charlotte had tracked Adler’s location using the device she had planted on Watson back at the boarding house. Inspector Lestrade had done the same, utilizing the "marriage contract" she had made with him.
Just like that, all three women were now aware of Adler’s location.
"""This time, I will definitely preserve you alive."""