Ch.222Chapter 222 – Valley of Terror (5)

“…Excuse me.”

“Yes, how can I help… oh?”

Charlotte entered the Pennsylvania police station to verify the information published in the morning newspaper about the incident.

“Are you… Miss Sharlotte Holmes?”

“…Do you know me?”

She looks puzzled at the police officer who recognizes her and extends a friendly handshake.

“Of course I do. ‘A Study in Scarlet’ and ‘The Adventures of Sharlotte Holmes’ are bestsellers not just in America but in France too.”

“…I didn’t realize they were that popular.”

“Anyway, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Inspector McDonald. What brings Holmes here?”

Charlotte sighs and takes out a newspaper in response to the inspector’s question.

“…What’s this?”

“It’s a case from today’s newspaper. I came here for information since this is the jurisdiction.”

“Oh. So you’ve decided to work internationally now?”

“That’s not it.”

She explains with a slightly dark look in her eyes.

“It’s just that due to the special circumstances I’m in, I have no choice this time.”

“Hmm… I see. I wonder what kind of case would move a big shot like Holmes.”

“No need to explain. Just look at this.”

At her words, the inspector lowers his head again and carefully reads the newspaper Charlotte has placed down.

“Ah… you mean this assault case?”

“That’s right. I want all available information about this case.”

“Hmm… it doesn’t seem serious enough for someone of your caliber.”

“Something that appears trivial on the surface might hide an abyss thousands of feet deep.”

“…Well, alright. Given your reputation, I suppose it’s fine.”

Just as the inspector was about to speak.

“In my personal opinion…”

– Creeeeak…

Suddenly, the door behind them opens, and someone enters the police station.

“”……….””

And then silence falls.

“Well, well… look who it is.”

In that silence, a familiar sarcastic voice reaches Charlotte, who is staring with a frozen expression and cold eyes.

“This is bordering on stalking, Holmes.”

“…This time you’re the one who came looking.”

The owner of the voice was none other than Professor Moriarty, who looked just as displeased as Charlotte.

“Did you predict my route in advance? Impressive.”

“Hah… what nonsense.”

The atmosphere in the police station grows chilly as both women’s faces sour at the fact that they have to see each other even in a foreign country.

“Um… excuse me, but who are you?”

“…I’m Professor Moriarty.”

As the inspector cautiously asks the question, the professor changes her expression and steps forward.

“Just an ordinary university professor.”

“…You’re not mentioning that you’re a professor at Auguste Academy and a notable figure in the academic world at a young age for your papers on asteroid mechanics and binomial theorem?”

Charlotte interjects with a sarcastic tone.

“You speak as if I’ve ever gone around boasting about that.”

“Oh, and you’re also someone with a teacher’s salary of 700 pounds a year, yet somehow has a 40,000-pound painting displayed in your home study. I wonder where that money came from.”

“I’ve never told you my salary, nor have I shown you my study?”

“…A detective has her ways of knowing.”

“Such as illegal breaking and entering?”

And thus begins yet another of their countless power struggles.

“Well, even you wouldn’t dare spout your baseless delusions in front of a detective. Both America and England have clear laws against defamation.”

“Shall I tell you an interesting story, Detective? In the 1750s, there was a woman named Julia Wild…”

“A real person who had considerable influence over London’s criminals. She also lent wisdom and organizational skills to villains and took a 15 percent commission.”

“My, you know quite a lot about her.”

“Don’t think you can avoid defamation by omitting the subject. This is my final warning.”

“Thanks for the warning, Napoleon of crime who’s spent over 6,000 pounds on your subordinates in the past month.”

“I’ll be meeting with a lawyer soon.”

“Not a lawyer but an armed assassin, I imagine. Mind your words.”

The inspector, who had been watching their confrontation with an anxious look, finally attempts to mediate in a timid tone.

“Um… you can fight later. Could you first tell me why you’re here?”

“…I was just thinking the same thing.”

Professor Moriarty finally takes her eyes off Charlotte.

“I’d like to hear about this case reported in today’s newspaper…”

“Huh, so there really is something to this case?”

As she takes out the same newspaper that Charlotte had shown and asks her question, the inspector scratches his head and begins to speak.

“Well, alright. Whatever the case, you clearly have legitimate credentials as a professor at Auguste Academy…”

“……..Tch.”

“So, to continue what I was about to say earlier…”

Just when it seemed the inspector’s story would finally begin.

– Creeeeak…

“Excuse me!”

At that moment, the door opened again, and a familiar voice rang out.

“I’m Detective Inspector Zia Lestrade from the London Metropolitan Police. I’m here to request cooperation regarding a case…

Lestrade, who had been speaking with a spirited voice, froze upon seeing the two women already inside, and once again silence fell over the police station.

.

.

.

.

.

“Um… there won’t be anyone else coming in, right?”

“”……….””

“Ahem, shall I really start now?”

The inspector, sweating nervously while looking at the three women sitting with arms crossed and completely expressionless faces while avoiding each other’s gazes, clears his throat and finally begins his story.

“So, to continue what I was saying earlier… in my personal opinion, this case seems to be connected to a violent organization.”

“A violent organization, you say.”

Charlotte responds with slightly interested eyes.

“There’s a particularly vicious group that’s been active in this area recently.”

“Where exactly are you referring to?”

“Well… a place called Vermissa Valley in Pennsylvania…”

The moment he answered her additional question without much thought.

“Thank you!”

“Good grief!”

“Have a nice day!”

Lestrade suddenly stood up and dashed out of the police station in the blink of an eye.

“What’s with her…”

The inspector looks at the door that seems like it might not survive much longer with a bewildered expression.

“…The conversation keeps getting interrupted. So, to continue…”

“”……….””

“Hello? Are you alright?”

He asks, looking at Professor Moriarty and Charlotte who, unlike Lestrade, hadn’t run out but were fidgeting in their seats with anxious expressions.

“…I’m fine, please continue.”

“But could you make it quick?”

“Hmm…”

He makes a disgruntled face and tilts his head before continuing.

“…I’ll continue. Anyway, I think the organization that’s been active there recently is connected to this assault case.”

“On what grounds?”

“The fact that all the perpetrators are women caught my attention. The members of the group called the Scowrers are all women too.”

The eyes of both the professor and Charlotte light up at those words.

“However, one thing I don’t understand is… why they would do something like this…”

“…Thank you for the information.”

“Much appreciated.”

The two women stand up, leaving behind the confused McDonald.

“Are you leaving? Then you should be careful.”

The inspector, looking at them with a slightly worried expression, begins to offer advice out of concern.

“Vermissa Valley is now called ‘the Valley of Fear’ by the residents. All the members are violent and vicious, so even the police can’t properly control them.”

“”……….””

They pause briefly and slowly turn around.

“Thanks for the advice.”

“But it was rather unnecessary.”

“…!”

The killing intent they momentarily emitted made the inspector almost draw the gun from his holster without realizing it.

– Creeeeak…

“Phew…”

As the two women quietly left the police station, he exhaled softly and muttered in a low voice.

“…Whatever it is, the valley will soon be called Vermissa again.”

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at the same time.

“…Is it just my imagination?”

Adler, scratching his head with his wig placed beside the bed, felt a sudden wave of anxiety.

“I’m getting chills all of a sudden…”

Just as he reached out to transform back into Irene Adler.

– Thud thud thud…!

“Kid, you’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“Our Irene, are you okay?”

“We beat that bastard to a pulp…”

“…!”

Suddenly, the door of his boarding house began to open.

‘…They’re breaking the lock by force?’

Adler, shocked by the physical strength of the members who were forcing their way through the securely locked door, hurriedly grabbed his wig and put it on his head.

“Oh, you’re here…?”

He tried to greet the leader and members who had come looking for him with a forced calm smile, but.

“””………….”””

For some reason, the expressions of the women who had been smiling until just a moment ago were ominous.

“What, what’s wrong…?”

He cautiously sweats while watching their reactions and asks in a low voice.

“…Your wig is on backwards.”

“Ah.”

At the leader’s words, he unconsciously turns the disheveled wig around to fix it.

“””……..”””

And then silence fills the room.

“…So it’s a male?”

“See? I told you I smelled a male…”

“Hmm…”

As the members smile eerily in that silence and lock the door, Adler begins to back away trembling.

“Ah, I’m female…”

Of course, there was no escape route.