Ch.219Chapter 219 – Valley of Terror (2)

A few days after Adler narrowly escaped England with Lupin, avoiding the risk of being stuffed and mounted.

– Ding…♪

“Welcome.”

As the door to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in Michigan opens, a familiar blonde visitor steps inside.

“Are you the one who called ahead?”

“…Ah, yes. Haha.”

“Please have a seat. I’ve prepared some tea.”

The woman bows her head in greeting and quietly gestures to the sofa in front of her.

“Um… I just came to file a case. There’s no need for such hospitality…”

“No, that would put me in a difficult position.”

The woman, who had been placing tea in front of him with a business-like attitude and narrowed eyes, shakes her head at Adler’s refusal.

“If I were to treat a VIP like Issac Adler poorly, I’d certainly hear about it from above.”

“Um… I’m a VIP?”

When Adler asks with a slightly bewildered expression, the woman sighs and speaks.

“You’ve already commissioned hundreds of cases with us. You should know that better than anyone, right?”

“Uh, well…”

“I suppose it’s rather impressive that you’ve only commissioned hundreds of cases, considering you’ve spent your life causing chaos while traveling between New Jersey, Milan, and Warsaw.”

“……”

“I thought you might have matured a bit after moving to London and reducing your requests, but judging by the commotion reported in all the British dailies yesterday, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

The woman, who had been speaking bluntly to Adler with an expressionless face, quietly leans forward and whispers.

“You haven’t switched detective agencies, have you? No one will treat you as well as we do.”

“O-Of course not…”

“Come to think of it, there were a few scandals with that young detective in England. Perhaps…”

“…Holmes is not a youngster.”

When Adler bristles slightly at this remark, the woman momentarily furrows her brow.

“I thought as much.”

“………”

“So, why are you here? Have you come to say goodbye as a former regular client?”

“B-Before that… may I ask one question?”

“…Well, go ahead.”

After watching her cautiously, Adler asks in a low voice.

“Excuse me, but… who are you?”

“…Ha.”

At his words, she briefly makes an incredulous expression, then sighs and speaks.

“I’m the Western Regional Director of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.”

“Oh, is… that so?”

“I’m also the branch manager of the Michigan office.”

When Adler looks dumbfounded at this, the woman adds coldly:

“…And until a few months ago, I was your dedicated agent. I got promoted because you stopped giving us cases. Thanks to that, my position is higher but my salary is lower.”

“Ah…..”

“How could you forget me? Well, I suppose it’s more surprising that you’d remember someone like me, given how you’re constantly meeting different women.”

When Adler makes a slightly hurt expression at her words, she presses him in a cold voice.

“How dare you look hurt after forgetting someone who risked their life for you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Haah… forget it. To be honest, I was motivated by your money, not you. So neither of us has room to complain.”

After muttering this, she returns to her original business-like expression.

“Let’s get back to the point. Which woman is threatening to kill you this time?”

“…It’s similar, but not what you’re thinking.”

“Of course not. Just tell me the information. Or are you being threatened by multiple unknown individuals again?”

“…I am being targeted, but I’m looking for one specific person.”

Adler hands the manager a note with the person’s details.

“Female, under 20 years old, presumed student, gloomy and dark personality, racist, speaks with a western accent, poor social skills…”

The manager narrows her eyes as she begins to read Adler’s request.

“…And finally, has Lovecraft in her name.”

After reading through the personal details without taking a breath, the manager tilts her head and speaks.

“Do you want us to protect you from this woman?”

“No, I’d like you to find her.”

“And after we find her?”

“That… I’ll handle myself.”

When Adler answers her follow-up question, the manager speaks with a clearly dissatisfied expression.

“These details are quite specific, but America is vast. Without knowing which region she lives in, it will take considerable time to find her.”

“…That’s why I came here.”

“What I mean is, this will require appropriate compensation.”

At her words, Adler silently places the bag beside him on the desk.

– Click…

“Will this be enough…”

As Adler tries to open the lock to show her the contents:

“Mmph, mmph…!”

– Bang…!

He makes eye contact with Watson, who was still tied up inside and glaring at him with sharp eyes, and hastily closes the bag.

“What was that…”

“I’m sorry. I grabbed the wrong bag.”

Adler then places another bag on the desk with an unperturbed expression.

“No, I definitely saw a naked woman inside…”

– Click…

“…Hmm.”

As he opens the bag again, the manager, who had been questioning him with surprised eyes, quietly closes her mouth.

“It’s 6,000 dollars in total. I can offer more if you wish.”

“…To spend this much to catch one woman, this must be no ordinary matter.”

“She’s an extremely dangerous individual. You’ll need your very best agents.”

“Hmm…”

At Adler’s words, she falls into contemplation.

“…If we backed away from danger, the Pinkerton Agency wouldn’t have come this far.”

She mutters in a low voice as she reaches for the bag on the desk.

“Of course, I’ll only pay if you succeed in catching her.”

“……..”

“But I’ll give you $1,000 as a retainer. How does that sound?”

As Adler pulls the bag back and says this, the manager briefly glares at him.

“You know we work on advance payment.”

“Hehe…”

“Don’t laugh. Not everything in this world can be overcome with smiles and good looks.”

After scolding Adler, who was grinning broadly, she sighs and leans back in her chair.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m doing this because you’re a VIP.”

“Thank you. Here’s to a good deal…”

“…However, we have one condition.”

She quietly tilts her head and stares at Adler.

“A condition… you say?”

“Nothing major. We have a case we’re working on, and we’d like you to lend a hand.”

“…That does sound major.”

When Adler makes a sour face and shows a negative reaction, the manager calmly continues.

“We already have many of our elite personnel assigned to that case. To resolve your case as quickly as possible, we need that one wrapped up fast.”

“If that’s the case, I’m willing to cooperate… but doesn’t that sound like quite a dangerous case?”

“I won’t force you. But if you help, I’m willing to reduce the price.”

At this, Adler pauses, falling into contemplation.

“…Let me hear about it first.”

“You’ve made a good decision. Let me explain briefly.”

A moment later, as he cautiously watches the manager, she begins to explain in her business-like tone.

“The request came from Burma Valley in the western region under my jurisdiction…”

“…The Valley of Fear.”

“Huh? How do you know that?”

Hearing Adler’s murmur, she stops speaking and asks with wide eyes.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing? How do you know the local slang for that region that I heard from the client?”

“…Um, did I read it in a newspaper?”

“A U.S. newspaper while you were in London?”

“You really like to pry, don’t you? Actually, a detective friend of mine was interested in that case. That’s how I know.”

Adler, sweating nervously, makes an excuse while avoiding the manager’s gaze.

“…Hmph.”

The manager briefly looks at Adler with a sulky expression.

“Anyway… there’s news that a delinquent organization has been thriving there recently.”

“…A delinquent organization, you say?”

“I want you to infiltrate the place.”

“Um… excuse me.”

At her words, Adler asks with an incredulous expression.

“Shouldn’t professionals handle that? Why would someone as recognizable as me…”

“…You’re the perfect candidate. Honestly, sending you alone would be better than deploying our entire agency staff.”

“No, why is that?”

The manager answers with an indifferent expression.

“…Because all the members are women.”

“Ah, I see.”

At those words, Adler nods with a bright smile, as if immediately understanding.

“Leave it to me.”

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Meanwhile, in England.

– Crunch…

Sitting in her professor’s office, which served as her hideout, the professor chews on a sugar cube with an expression full of anger.

“…So he was in America.”

She erases the complex formulas used to bypass the wiretap from her desk and stands up.

“Just you wait, Mr. Adler.”

And the same was true for Sharlotte, who had tracked the location planted on Watson rather than Adler at the boarding house, and Inspector Lestrade, who had pinpointed the location through a contract with Adler.

“””This time, I’ll definitely stuff and mount you.”””