Ch.218Chapter 218 – Valley of Terror

“Holmes, what kind of speech habit is that?”

“Speech habit?”

Watson reflexively hid the briefcase behind her back and spoke with a composed face, to which Sharlotte responded with a hollow laugh.

“Are we awkward enough to need formalities in our speech?”

“…I suppose not.”

“Then…”

“But I don’t think we’re close enough for me to forcibly show you my private briefcase.”

Watson answered her question without batting an eye.

“Um, I think there’s something wrong with what you’re saying…”

“You won’t even show me the desk drawer in your room? That was supposed to be a shared drawer.”

“…Why are you being so indecent?”

“Holmes, you’re the one who’s…”

Just as their usually friendly gazes began to grow colder.

– Thump…

Two hands were simultaneously placed on the bag.

“…Didn’t you say there was nothing inside?”

“Yet something keeps rattling inside.”

“T-that’s…”

As Professor Moriarty and Inspector Lestrade, the owners of those hands, began questioning with expressionless faces, Watson faltered slightly under their pressure.

“I put some lab mice in there…”

“…Are mice this heavy?”

“I-I put in a lot. About a hundred…”

“But I only sense one presence.”

Despite her continued attempts at excuses, the professor and the inspector had already joined forces to pressure Watson.

“Open the bag for a moment.”

“I-I refuse. Do you have a warrant for this?”

“This is an emergency search. A law was passed a few months ago allowing seizure and search at will if it’s determined to be related to supernatural matters.”

“T-that’s absurd…!”

“It’s for London’s safety.”

Finally, when Watson, overwhelmed by their force, slightly loosened her grip on the bag.

– Swish…

The professor and inspector’s hands simultaneously reached for the bag’s lock, but.

“”…….Huh?””

A brief bewilderment crossed their expressions.

“Mmph…?”

Because what was inside the bag was, surprisingly, Rachel Watson herself, who had been arguing with them just moments ago.

“Mmph mmph…!! Mmph…!!!”

– Clank, clank…!

Half-naked and tightly bound with rope, she looked momentarily confused in the bag, then began shaking violently with a face turning bright red.

“…It’s fun acting after so long.”

And the next moment, a familiar voice was heard in front of them.

“You know, did you really think I would be detected by the mana mixed in my body forever?”

“”……….””

“Not a chance. I’ve actually transcended that level already. Now I can easily…”

Issac Adler, who had been wearing Rachel Watson’s clothes, had somehow revealed his true form and was proudly explaining, but.

“…You used substitution magic. When did you learn that from the phantom thief?”

“Did you have Ms. Watson’s consent? This is a crime.”

“How shameless. And you call yourself an English gentleman?”

“Ah, um…”

As the signature members immediately grasped what had happened and began condemning him, he started scratching his head with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“…I apologize.”

Then, suddenly bowing politely, Adler bent at the waist.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

“Where to?”

“Are you joking?”

As he took a step forward, the women’s gazes began to grow cold.

“”………..””

And the same was true for the rioting women surrounding them.

“Hmm…”

Adler looked at the scene as if troubled.

“About this contract. I proposed it, but it seems there’s a bit of a problem.”

“…You’re just realizing that now?”

“I didn’t expect the situation to get this heated.”

At those words, Professor Moriarty, who was at the front, quietly tilted her head and opened her mouth.

“I thought you were actually enjoying this situation.”

“…So, I’ve come up with a pretty good solution.”

But ignoring her words, Adler continued with a smile.

“That is, not just me having the right to end the situation, but you all having the right to end it too. To explain more precisely…”

– Whoosh…!

“…Oh?”

But as he was speaking, the professor’s eyes glowed gray, and she waved her hand widely, shooting gray smoke in all directions, causing Adler to pause with round eyes.

– Thud…

“Yes, now continue.”

“Ah, um… you didn’t kill them, did you?”

“Continue.”

As everyone surrounding them except for Sharlotte and Inspector Lestrade lost consciousness and collapsed at once, Adler began looking at the professor with slightly frightened eyes.

“H-how about… we end this with a fair game of tag?”

“”………””

A cold silence descended around them.

“Whoever catches me first within three months wins. Of course, it has to be one of the four who signed.”

“””……….”””

“If no one catches me after three months… I’ll choose as I please……”

“Are you joking…”

After a moment, Zia Lestrade was about to open her mouth in disgust at the childish proposal.

– Swish…

“Oh really…?”

But before she could finish, the professor and Sharlotte extended their hands toward Adler with eerie smiles.

“No, these people…”

Sensing danger instantly, the inspector also began extending her hand forward with superhuman speed.

“…I haven’t finished explaining the rules yet.”

– Tap…

But just before their hands could touch Adler’s body, they all stopped.

“…Grrrr.”

The Hound of the Baskervilles, who had been grinding its teeth after being humiliated by Watson hours ago, was blocking Adler with blue glowing eyes.

“Do you… seriously think this puppy can protect you from me?”

After observing the scene with interest for a moment, the professor asked Adler with a genuinely curious expression.

“I never thought you would underestimate me like this. I’m truly disappointed.”

“No… I need at least a bodyguard.”

– Crack…!

Despite Adler’s attempt to smoothly change the subject, there was suddenly the sound of something breaking from in front.

“Uh oh…”

“I… can’t… stand this… anymore.”

The professor, who had broken the hound’s paw in the blink of an eye, was moving forward, emitting a terrifying killing intent in all directions.

“I’ll just stuff you right now. Then you won’t be able to do these foolish things anymore.”

“………”

“You brought this upon yourself, Mr. Adler.”

But Adler looked at her with a surprisingly calm expression.

“So…”

“Now!”

Just before the professor’s hand could reach him, he suddenly shouted loud enough to resonate throughout the area.

– Pop…!

The next moment, something broke through the professor’s smoke, snatched Adler and his still rattling bag, and soared into the sky.

“…How dare you!”

And in less than 0.1 seconds, the professor, spotting the phantom thief’s white cape in her field of vision, took a stance to leap with an extremely angry expression, but.

“Grrrr…”

The Hound of the Baskervilles, also responding with superhuman speed, blocked her path.

“Ugh…”

“Don’t let her catch him!!”

Eventually, Sharlotte and Lestrade grabbed her from both sides, barely preventing the professor from giving chase.

“Issac…”

Thus, despite having three top-tier individuals hanging onto her, the professor, not completely subdued, began grinding her teeth as she watched Adler moving away in the air.

“The next time we meet… you will no longer be my assistant…”

Her chilling threat echoed lowly through the gray fog-filled afternoon in London.

“……I’ll turn you into a statue if I catch you.”

.

.

.

.

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[Thief’s Treasure: You have successfully completed being kidnapped by the phantom thief.]

[There are really only a few quests left now.]

“…Phew.”

Sweating at the professor’s chilling statement echoing from far away, I soon let out a deep sigh as I saw the system message appearing before my eyes.

‘About 2 or 3 left, right?’

[The time to say goodbye to this world is really not far off.]

“……..”

[You might need to prepare yourself mentally in advance.]

As System-yang said, my plan is gradually approaching its finale.

To be honest, I’m not mentally prepared at all, but if I take time to organize my thoughts, I feel like I might weaken.

‘…Never mind.’

So, quietly shaking my head inwardly to strengthen my resolve.

“Hey, Adler…”

“Yes?”

“This means you’ve chosen me after all…?”

I raised my head quietly in response to Lupin’s whisper, who was holding me preciously in his arms and smiling broadly as if something was so pleasing.

“Let’s go to the Rock Castle. I’ll treat you well there.”

[Game Over Crisis!]

[Probability of being stuffed: 99.99999%]

“I’ll give you better treatment than any treasure…”

“That sounds good. Haha.”

As I tried to maintain a smile while receiving her transparent statement.

“By the way, I have a personal favor to ask before that…”

“Hmm?”

I began to make a proposal to her, whose eyes were already rolling.

“Could we stop by America for a moment?”

“Why there? I do have subordinates there… but it will take some time at this speed?”

Still, before disappearing from this world, I should at least catch the culprit who was trying to destroy it, right?

“…I have some business with the Pinkerton Detective Agency.”

Yes, this is directed at you who are still steadily voyeuristically reading my monologue. Ms. Lovecraft.

“I need to find someone.”