Chapter 64: The Blooming Detective (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64: The Blooming Detective (2)
Driven by the desperate need to save Charlotte Holmes, Isaac Adler burst through the boarding house doors and bolted into the street.
"It’s been a while, Mr. Adler."
"…?"
Confronted by the one person he never expected to see at this moment, his expression instantly crumbled into one of sheer fluster.
"Miss Lestrade?"
Gia Lestrade stood before him, her expression unreadable and apathetic.
"Wh-what brings you here?"
"I came to survey the area after receiving witness reports of your presence here," she replied softly.
Adler, his mind racing, gave a distracted nod.
"But… did something happen inside?" she asked, her head tilting slightly. "You don’t look well."
He tried to brush it off with a nonchalant murmur. "…It’s nothing."
At that moment, a strange undercurrent flickered in Lestrade’s eyes. "So, if it’s nothing, then—"
"There! Carriage!"
Blinded by the vivid, haunting image of a dying Charlotte, Adler failed to notice the subtle shift in her gaze.
Squeak—
He ignored Lestrade, who remained frozen, muttering to herself, and rushed to hail the passing carriage. Her gaze grew colder than ever before.
"Don’t you have anything to say to me?" she asked, her tone icy.
"Oh…"
As he prepared to scramble into the halted carriage, Adler finally noticed the anomaly—her body was a map of bandages, with fresh wounds clearly visible on her arms.
"……"
For a moment, a heavy silence hung between them.
"I’m sorry," Adler whispered, gritting his teeth as he climbed inside. "Let’s talk later."
The carriage began to roll forward.
"…Sigh."
Exhaling a cold breath as she watched the carriage disappear, Lestrade quietly raised a hand to her ear.
"As you predicted, Adler has started to move."
Bzzzt…
"Should we tail him now?"
Lestrade glanced back at the 212B Baker Street boarding house, posing the question to the voices on the other side of the line.
Bzzzt…
"…?"
For some reason, there was no response.
What’s going on?
She hesitated, tempted to step toward the boarding house, but she stopped herself.
Clatter, clatter…
No, tailing him is the priority.
She could always reconnect with the Baker gang—those she had recently agreed to cooperate with. But if she lost Adler now, he would be gone for good.
If I delay any longer, I’ll lose the trail.
Having received an urgent call only minutes ago, she wasn't entirely sure of the specifics. But one thing was certain: she had to track Isaac Adler. According to the Baker gang, this was the only moment they could capture Adler’s truth and his heart.
Initially, she had been irritated that they assigned her a task without a detailed explanation. However, the flattery—the claim that she was the only trustworthy figure in all of London—had quickly melted her resolve.
Moreover, in her own estimation, she was the right choice. Compared to the vulnerable Charlotte Holmes or the seemingly gentle Rachel Watson, her expertise in tailing and combat made her the only one fit for the job.
Tap!
Taking a quiet, deep breath, Gia Lestrade began to sprint along the pavement, her presence vanishing into the shadows.
…Not bad.
Thus began the bizarre spectacle of a human keeping pace with a horse-drawn carriage.
"Wha—what was that? Just now?"
"…A ghost?"
Her movements were so swift and discreet that to the passing citizens, she appeared as nothing more than a shadow darting between alleys.
I thought you were kidnapped… I blamed myself for it…
Lestrade showed no signs of fatigue.
But in the end, you’re just a pathetic man with a despicable scheme.
Hidden behind her fluttering white hair, her eyes shone with a coldness she had never felt before.
No, it’s foolish to dwell on that now.
The injuries she had sustained over the past few weeks while searching for Adler burned with a fresh intensity as the painful thoughts seared through her mind.
I chose him knowing he was a lowlife from the start.
She discreetly wiped a bitter taste from the corner of her mouth, her expression hardening into a stoic mask as she pressed on.
…He isn’t even worth my disappointment.
*
An hour later.
"…The Master is not in at the moment."
"What did you say?"
"I’m sorry, but I must ask you to leave."
Adler, stepping down from the carriage and pulling his hat low, stood before the gate of a luxurious mansion. He was visibly flustered by the polite but firm rejection from the maid.
"That can’t be right."
"Sir, what are you doing?"
"I know exactly what’s going on inside this house."
Pushing past the maid, Adler marched through the gate toward the front door.
"Sir, you can’t just barge in like this… I’ll call security!"
Clink, clink…
As he grabbed the handle, the maid’s voice turned sharp with hostility.
Bang, bang, bang!!
Adler ignored her, pounding on the door relentlessly.
—Who the hell are you?
A youthful voice echoed from inside the mansion.
"Are you Miss Clarissa Smith?"
—I believe I said I wasn't receiving visitors today.
Adler pressed his head against the door, his voice urgent. "The ivory box!"
A voice filled with annoyance responded, —Why hasn't security been called yet?
"I apologize, Miss! I'll call them right—"
"The ivory box!" Adler shouted again, gripping the doorknob as if he intended to rip it from the frame.
A sudden silence fell over the scene.
Squeak…
The door slowly creaked open.
"Oh my," a girl said, smiling behind her hands. "What could you possibly mean by that?"
She was petite, wearing a shirt with sleeves so long they completely swallowed her hands.
"Please, Dr. Smith," Adler said, gritting his teeth. To any observer, she looked like a mischievous child, but he bowed his head with utmost courtesy. "Please, she—"
"First, come on in~"
The girl flashed a devilish smile and tugged at his hand. "You don't have any mana stones on you, right? No tools to threaten me or record our conversation?"
"……"
"Good, the magic circles aren't reacting. Come in."
A brief silence followed as they entered.
"By the way, you didn't just call me a 'little kid' in your head, did you?"
"……"
"Most people do when they first meet me."
Inside the mansion, Miss Smith sat arrogantly on a living room sofa, legs crossed. She rested her chin on a hand still hidden by her baggy sleeve.
"Despite appearances, I am actually ten years older than you, Isaac Adler—the 'great actor' rumored to have been missing for weeks. Though I suppose that rumor is dead now."
"……"
"Not only that, but I pride myself on being the greatest sorcerer in all of Europe. Even if the 'official' magic world refuses to recognize me."
"…I see," Adler interrupted quietly, sensing her rambling was going nowhere. "Do you know why I’m here, Miss Smith?"
Miss Smith’s devilish smile returned. "Because of the ivory box?"
"Yes, exactly—"
"Did someone dear to you open it and suddenly start suffering?"
"…!"
Adler’s eyes trembled with intensity. "Why on earth… why would you do such a thing?"
"Hm? I’m not sure what you’re talking about…"
As frustration and desperation poured out of him, Miss Smith only mocked him, her voice oozing amusement.
Crunch!
The sound of a breaking branch echoed from outside the window.
"……"
The tense atmosphere shifted as both of them snapped their heads toward the sound.
"Did you bring a friend?"
"…I don't think so, no."
Miss Smith rose from her seat, suspicion clouding her eyes.
"…Meow."
The soft cry of a kitten drifted in from the yard.
"Must be a cat," Adler sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly.
"You catch on fast. Sorcerers like me often keep cats in the yard. Though not exactly as pets."
Adler shook his head and looked her in the eye. "To be honest, you already know, don't you? What I want."
Miss Smith tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes.
"I’ll do anything," Adler said. "So please, let her—"
"That’ll be difficult." Her expression soured. "She owes me a lot."
"…A debt?"
"To be precise, her father owes me. He borrowed money from me and many others."
Adler looked stunned.
"He wasted it all on gambling," she continued. "Because of him, the farm business I was running in India was completely ruined."
"……"
"I’ve rebuilt my reputation and wealth through sorcery now, but back then, it felt like the world had ended. There was no way to recover."
Adler regained his composure, his voice filled with determination. "I will repay it. If she has any debt left, I’ll pay it off, no matter the amount."
"Heh…" Miss Smith leaned in, skeptical. "So the rumors are true?"
"…What?"
"I heard someone was quietly paying off her debts," she murmured, almost to herself. "She really is fortunate. Born with talent, and lucky with men too."
"Excuse me—"
"…Because of this body, not a single man has ever asked me out. Not once." Miss Smith’s eyes flashed with a dark hue. "I wanted to take it all from her."
"What?"
"The debt is just an excuse. I have more money than I know what to do with now; that paltry sum means nothing to me. But to her? It would be a death sentence." Her voice dropped an octave. "More than the money, I want revenge on those who made me hit rock bottom. Luring Isaac Adler away from her… it’s a start."
Adler’s eyes widened.
"You wouldn't want to see her buried forever in darkness, unable to even open her eyes, would you?" Miss Smith smirked. "In that case, you’d best listen to what I say."
"Excuse me…?"
"Well, if you don't want to, you can just abandon her and leave this mansion right now."
"…Really?"
Adler stared at her for a moment, then a jubilant smile broke across his face. His eyes shone with hope.
"Huh?"
"Are you saying that by a single act of mine, I can save her?"
Miss Smith blinked in surprise. "I… I guess?"
Swoosh—
"Wait, what are you doing?"
Adler dropped to his knees instantly.
"I will be your dog."
"……"
"So please, pull her out of that suffocating darkness."
Adler prostrated himself, his forehead touching the floor.
"Easy to say…" Miss Smith looked down at him, then chuckled softly as she uncrossed her legs. "But—"
Press.
"Can you prove it with your actions?"
She placed her foot firmly on the back of his head.
"…Yes."
"Then lick it." She commanded with an arrogant smile. "Gently, with utmost sincerity and devotion…"
She extended a pale white hand toward his face. "If you can't do it, then leave."
"…Heup."
Adler closed his eyes and gently took her hand into his mouth.
"Wow…" Miss Smith’s face flushed. She covered her mouth with her other hand, feeling the warm, ticklish sensation. "…You’re more pathetic than I expected."
She averted her gaze, mocking him to hide her own embarrassment. "An imbecile who doesn't even think of resisting. A total failure of a man~"
Adler remained silent, his expression placid as he continued.
"…Excuse me." Miss Smith’s taunting stopped. She looked down at him, her voice subdued. "Don't you feel humiliated?"
Adler tilted his head back slightly, his voice soft. "…I can do far more than this for her."
"Is that so?" Envy and jealousy swirled in her eyes. "Then, lick this as well."
She lifted her foot.
"……"
Adler stared at her small, pale foot, then bowed his head to comply.
"…Pa-pathetic~" Miss Smith whispered, her voice heated. "Do you find Gia Lestrade that endearing?"
"……?"
Adler’s expression froze. The warmth vanished instantly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Hm?"
"…Weren't we talking about Charlotte Holmes?"
His voice was as cold as a winter grave. Miss Smith tilted her head, looking puzzled.
"Why would you think that?"
"……Sigh."
The devilish smirk on her face began to fade as she felt the shift in the room.
"This bloody brat is really getting on my nerves," Adler said.
"Uh, what?"
"Blabbing carelessly without any caution, just like the original character."
Adler stood up, the subservient mask completely gone. He emitted a terrifying aura that made the air in the room feel heavy.
"Ah, shit!"
Swish—
"Why are you acting like this all of a sudden…?" Clarissa Smith stammered, her voice trembling as she backed away.
*
Meanwhile…
"…Huff, huff."
Beneath the mansion window, Gia Lestrade collapsed. She had been eavesdropping, but her legs had finally given out. She was drenched in sweat, her face pale with disbelief.
"Did I just…"
She had watched Adler kneel. She had watched him press his lips to that girl’s hand. But the moment the girl uttered her name, Lestrade’s strength had vanished.
"Just… what did I overhear?"
The image of the arrogant Isaac Adler, debasing himself for her sake, burned in her mind. Her heart reeled in total shock as she tried to process the ramifications of what she had just witnessed.