Chapter 58: To Rule or Be Ruled
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 58: To Rule or Be Ruled
Not long after Adler had an unexpected visitor arrive at his doorstep…
“Mr. Adler.”
“…Hello, Professor.”
Still embarrassed by the shameful events that had transpired not long ago, he was now greeting yet another unexpected guest.
“Is this the base you mentioned?”
“How does it look? Isn’t it a decent enough hideout for a back alley?”
“Certainly. For a place considered one of the most dangerous in London, it is quite… normal, so to speak.”
Professor Moriarty spoke as she stepped through the front door.
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“No. I simply came to see your face.”
She began to stare intently at Adler.
“To see the subordinate who takes it upon himself to organize matters without so much as a word to me.”
“Haha…”
“As soon as you returned to London, you cooped yourself up here of your own accord. You haven’t even bothered to attend the academy. Honestly, I am slightly surprised by your behavior, Mr. Adler.”
The professor’s dark grey eyes remained fixed on him.
“Well, it’s almost time for vacation anyway. Taking a short break shouldn’t pose a problem for my attendance record…”
“But for a man with the highest probability of being murdered or kidnapped in all of England to hole up in a back alley like this… Are you still intoxicated?”
“…I sobered up quite a while ago, actually.”
“What would you do if Jill the Ripper attacked you in the middle of the night?”
As she spoke, the professor began to slowly shake her head from side to side in her characteristically cute yet unsettling manner.
“I have already made preparations for such an event.”
“I trust you aren’t suggesting that a single Demi-Human and a Vampire with sealed powers constitute an adequate security detail. You are smarter than that, Mr. Adler.”
“…Professor.”
Faced with her simultaneously charming and threatening demeanor, Adler spoke in a quiet tone, a thin smile stretching across his lips.
“Now is the time to take risks.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… it is time to expand the organization and take it to the next level, even if it entails certain risks along the way.”
At that, the professor stopped shaking her head and began to listen intently.
“We have consulted on many cases so far, but haven't they all been procured through our own initiative? We were the ones looking for the clients.”
“True. There have been too many coincidences, too many overlaps. Thinking back, everything was related to you in one way or another.”
“That is the problem.”
Adler’s expression turned grave.
“Continuing like this only creates a vicious cycle. We are crime consultants, not investigators who go hunting for trouble.”
“Hmm.”
“Haven’t I said this repeatedly? We need to create a situation where clients come to find us directly, rather than the other way around. Just like detectives.”
The Professor nodded silently. “You mean the clients should bear the burden of the approach, not us.”
“Exactly. Even considering the recent Reigate case, your information has become too exposed to the world.”
Adler pulled today’s newspaper from his pocket.
“Professor Jane Moriarty, who stirred the academic world with her Binomial Theorem, solved a murder case in Reigate… Of course, it is a trivial article on the back page, but if these things accumulate…”
“We will be caught sooner or later.”
“Precisely.”
As the Professor finished his thought, Adler folded the newspaper and continued.
“Given the nature of crime consulting, we cannot step into the limelight like detectives. Therefore, with the holidays approaching, it is time to expand our organization.”
“…………”
“Beyond ensuring smoother criminal activities and easing the progress of our criminal kingdom, our reputation in the underworld will rise. Naturally, more clients will take interest and approach us.”
“Are you suggesting we let our identities slip to an unspecified multitude? That seems dangerous.”
“Of course, we would use a stand-in or send a subordinate to meet clients. Or perhaps we receive letters unilaterally. Except for a very few VIPs, no one will know we are the ones behind it.”
Professor Moriarty wordlessly observed Adler as he delivered his passionate pitch.
“If I take a small risk now, we will be able to rise rapidly.”
“………”
“So, please bear with my conduct—at least until this holiday ends.”
“I understand what you are saying…”
The Professor suddenly interjected, a dark smile gracing her lips.
“But I wonder if there is any need for such haste.”
“…Why?”
“As you may already know, I was the one behind the recent Reigate case.”
At her sudden confession, Adler’s expression hardened slightly.
“I had actually finished all the preparations a week before Charlotte Holmes even bought her train ticket to Reigate.”
“…I wasn’t aware.”
“I was planning to kill her there.”
“………”
Shadows crossed Professor Moriarty’s face.
“That incident was my perfect trap to eliminate Charlotte Holmes.”
“……….”
“In the end, thanks to the incompetent Colonel Hayter and your inexplicable sabotage, everything came to naught.”
In the eerie atmosphere, Silver Blaze and Princess Joan Clay, who had been peeking from behind Adler, flinched and swallowed hard.
“But I wasn’t actually that angry…”
The Professor suddenly broke into a broad smile.
“…Since I realized there was no need for me to employ such elaborate schemes.”
Adler tilted his head in confusion.
“The Charlotte Holmes I saw during the Reigate case was far below my expectations.”
“……..”
“It wasn’t just a simple disappointment; it was enough to provoke a hollow laugh.”
Adler’s face began to stiffen as he listened.
“…Didn’t she perform the deduction perfectly, though?”
“What of it? She couldn’t even understand your signal. She went so far as to approach the window three times, and you had to block the sniper yourself in the end.”
“That’s…”
“Moreover, she stood there dumbly gazing at your fake melted remains for quite a while, nearly missing Colonel Hayter’s accomplice.”
The Professor’s laughter-laced voice echoed in Adler’s ears.
“Such a pitiful level is not enough to become an arch-enemy to you and me. According to reports from the men I snuck into Baker Street, she hasn’t left her boarding house for several days.”
“……..”
“And you’re telling me that girl is the hope of London? I can only laugh.”
Silence fell over the room.
“Mr. Adler.”
“…Yes.”
The Professor, who had been observing him in the quiet, asked in a soft tone:
“Did you choose me after all?”
“…….?”
Adler looked puzzled, tilting his head.
“The entire time we were in Reigate, Charlotte Holmes was mentally absent.”
“Ah…”
“She couldn’t exhibit the full extent of her abilities, to the point of making stupid mistakes.”
The corner of Professor Moriarty’s mouth lifted.
“Thank you for breaking that girl so I didn't have to.”
“I…”
“It makes sense for you to be my assistant rather than that child’s. Didn’t you do that to her because you realized that fact?”
She reached out and gently stroked Adler’s head.
“…I will believe as much, Mr. Adler.”
“……….”
“Do not futilely try to balance an already tilted scale and betray my trust in you.”
Her lips softly brushed against Adler’s neck.
“A housewarming gift, if you will…”
As the Professor caressed the lip mark she left on his skin, she whispered in a muted voice.
“…I’m honored.”
“Now, I should get going. As you said, standing out in a place like this isn't good for me.”
As she turned to leave the mansion, she suddenly looked back.
“By the way, you might want to clean up a bit.”
“Huh?”
“The floors are quite filthy, aren’t they?”
Adler lowered his gaze, his eyes flickering at the sight.
“Are you raising animals?”
Uncleaned mud and bloodstains were vividly smeared in the corner.
“…I am raising a hunting dog.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
As Silver Blaze hastily ran over to clean the stains, Professor Moriarty responded with a subtle smile.
“…On the way here, I saw two chunks of meat lying in the alley.”
“…….”
“Just be careful, Mr. Adler.”
As she stepped out the front door, her eyes shone darker than ever before.
“A hound that has tasted human blood can turn on its master at any moment.”
.
.
.
.
.
‘…She thinks I ruined Charlotte?’
- Zzzzzzz…
As I stared at the closed door, lost in thought, the distinct sound of magic dissipating echoed from the side.
“…I’m sorry.”
Celestia Moran, who had been hiding her presence with my invisibility magic, spoke with her body trembling violently.
“What?”
“I don’t… I don’t know what it is, but… I’m causing trouble, right…?”
Despite her obvious fear, her quick-wittedness gave me a firm idea of how she had been treated until now. The numerous scars on her body told the story well enough.
“…You’re Celestia Moran, right?”
“Y-Yes.”
“I see…”
I never imagined that this small, fragile girl would turn out to be the highly-touted Colonel Moran. Among the character designs I had reviewed for the game, I thought this one was the least likely to be realized.
Could this child really become the second most dangerous entity in London after Professor Moriarty?
Though she had easily evaded a massive police pursuit while drenched in blood, something still felt unsettling.
“…Eek.”
Even so, I couldn’t leave her like this. As I cautiously reached out a hand, her legs gave way and she collapsed.
“What’s the matter?”
“…I haven’t eaten anything for five days.”
“………”
Hearing that pathetic voice, I sighed.
“There’s a bathroom over there. Go wash up.”
“But…”
“Prepare a meal while I’m gone.”
Her eyes widened, and she carefully observed my mood before speaking.
“…May I use hot water?”
“Do as you wish.”
At those words, Moran—looking like a drowned rat—nodded with a pure, relieved expression.
“…Thank you, Mr. Devil.”
She began to trot toward the bathroom.
“…You scumbag.”
“It’s okay, Master. I also like a Master with those kinds of preferences.”
As I watched her retreating figure with a slight smile, cold voices drifted in from the side.
“Let me make it clear right now: I am not some piece of human trash who harbors desires for a twelve-year-old child.”
“”…………””
“Who in the world would do such a thing, reasonably speaking?”
“It seems entirely possible for the man standing in front of me.”
Princess Clay spoke with a scoffing smile, her tone emphasizing her point.
“Get down.”
“…Higeuk?”
As I issued the command, treating her like a pet, the collar around the princess’s neck emitted a red light, forcing her to obey.
“Damn it, can’t you loosen this cursed necklace?”
“Roll to the side, then hold out your hands like a dog and pant.”
“This is outrageous! The blood of the British royal family flows in my veins… Huk.”
For the sake of an efficient escort, she was allowed to assume human form within the mansion, but that didn't mean our relationship had changed. As long as that collar was around her neck, Princess Clay was merely the fourth smartest pet in London. Nothing more, nothing less.
“…Pant, pant.”
“Good.”
“Good, my ass…!”
As I gently stroked the belly of the panting princess, she spat out vulgar curses, her expression a mix of shame and hatred.
“…Uh-huh.”
When I forcefully inserted the fingers of my other hand into her mouth, her curses came to an abrupt halt.
- Crunch…
Driven by anger, tears brimmed in the princess’s eyes as she bit down hard on my finger and began to suck blood, her eyes glowing a deep crimson.
- Slurp…
As I watched her, another soft sensation buried itself into my embrace.
“…Hehe.”
Silver Blaze, wagging her tail, rubbed her cheek against me with a bright smile.
‘It’s peaceful…’
The thought occurred to me suddenly. Was it just a feeling?
‘Why is it peaceful?’
No matter how I looked at it, the current situation was far from peaceful.
“…Miss Blaze.”
“Yes, Master.”
I scratched my head, pondering the matter, and posed a question to her.
“Will you always obey me?”
“…What do you mean?”
She tilted her head, puzzled.
“Is there any pet that disobeys its own master?”
Silver Blaze responded by quietly covering my face with her swaying tail.
“…Princess.”
“What is it, you fucking bastard?”
“Do you dislike me, Princess?”
As I stroked the belly of Princess Joan Clay—who was still lying on the floor with her stomach exposed—she answered with eyes blazing.
“The moment I regain my strength, I’ll make you my slave.”
“So, you do dislike me?”
“…Yes.”
“But you can’t do a thing because you’re being forcibly oppressed by me, right?”
“Grrr…”
It was then that I understood why I felt so comfortable.
“Um, excuse me…”
“”………?””
Moran returned, still looking like a soaked rat, with a thoroughly deflated expression.
“I can’t reach the showerhead…”
“”……….””
“…Please help me.”
Seeing that utterly dispirited look, I fully realized it.
“Yes, anytime.”
I found far more stability in controlling and ruling over others than being ruled by them.
“Take my hand.”
Once I realized that, I began to think it wouldn’t be bad to live like this forever.
“I’ll wash you.”
Or conversely, that I might just control and rule over everyone else.
[The Hidden Route has been unlocked.]
“…Huh?”
The final straw of my fate, which was hurtling toward catastrophe, arrived at that very moment.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, at the London Metropolitan Police Department…
“Senior, do you know about this?”
“Hm?”
“It’s about Isaac Adler, the one who disappeared recently.”
A police inspector, sipping coffee with sleepy eyes, shared a story with her superior in the corridor.
“The actor who went missing a week ago?”
“Well, hasn’t there been a recent order for information control regarding him?”
“What did you say?”
Her superior’s eyes widened.
“There seems to have been an incident, but the report was omitted. This kind of thing doesn’t happen often, does it?”
“…So, was he murdered or something?”
“The probability is high. Journalists are sniffing around like predators, but all related parties are keeping silent.”
“Then it’s true. Either he died somewhere, or he’s confined in some high-profile lady’s basement.”
The superior waved a hand with a cynical expression.
“It’s not surprising. Go and sort out the documents.”
“No, please listen! My colleague is handling a murder case in Reigate, but, well…”
“I said that’s enough.”
The two continued down the corridor, their voices fading.
“I’m not interested in stories about dimwits like that.”
“Senior, you are a very boring person.”
“Well, it’s pitiable. Surely, in his last moments, he must have been trembling, calling for help, but no one responded.”
“Indeed, that is somewhat sad.”
A girl walking past them stopped in her tracks.
“……..”
The last person to witness Isaac Adler before his disappearance stood there with a dazed expression. Cold sweat rolled down the face of Gia Lestrade.