Ch.22Chapter 22 – Microny Holmes

Microny Holmes.

The brother seven years older than Sherlock Holmes, whom Sherlock admitted was smarter than himself.

Naturally, Microny exists in this world based on the Sherlock Holmes series.

Of course, with a gender change to female and renamed as “Microny,” but still.

‘I didn’t expect to meet her this quickly.’

But that doesn’t change her status at all.

For me right now, she’s practically the final boss, even more so than Professor Moriarty.

Being the British government itself and a behind-the-scenes power player, she’s unlikely to be friendly toward me as I steadily build my criminal kingdom in London.

“Miss Holmes. What kind of person is your sister?”

“My sister?”

So before entering the club, I quietly asked Sharlotte a question.

Of course, I had reviewed the story and understood some information, but those were just fragments.

If I don’t want to be delivered to Professor Moriarty’s office tomorrow morning packed in a sardine can, verifying information is essential.

“She’s quite an extraordinary person.”

As I looked at Sharlotte expecting an answer, she smiled slightly and replied.

“Her powers of observation and deduction are honestly better than mine. If it weren’t for that bulky, insubstantial body of hers, she would have become a better detective than me.”

“I take it your sister is a bit overweight?”

“She’s been frail since birth. She never exercises all year round, and doesn’t go anywhere except to work or the Diogenes Club.”

“I see…”

“And she suffers from severe lethargy and anhedonia. She probably wouldn’t feel anything even if she injected a lethal dose of cocaine into her body.”

After saying that, she put her finger to her lips and whispered.

“Now, we need to be quiet from here on. Otherwise, we’ll be thrown out.”

“That’s quite an unusual club.”

“My sister created it for people who, like her, hate socializing with others. Shh, now you really can’t say a single word.”

I wanted to get more information, but Sharlotte hurried her steps, so I didn’t learn much more.

At least I found out she’s a person of some… weight?

I’m sure when I reviewed the initial draft, her appearance was somewhat different from this description. Could the setting have been changed midway?

– Rustle…

With these thoughts, as I follow Sharlotte’s guidance toward the guest reception room, people reading newspapers glance at me.

Some seemed quite surprised by my presence, but fortunately, thanks to the club’s rules, no troublesome situations arose.

– Creeeeak…

As we entered the guest reception room without incident, I finally laid eyes on the most fearsome existence at this point in time.

“Hello~”

Microny Holmes, who was waving at me with narrowed eyes and a bright smile, indeed had the bulky figure Sharlotte had described.

‘So the setting didn’t change.’

The heavy bosom resting on the table was exuding a formidable presence.

‘…In that case, there’s only one approach.’

It’s now or never.

There’s only one way to break through the severe lethargy and anhedonia she suffers from.

One way or another I’m dead, so I might as well try it.

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“Sister, that insubstantial, bulky mass of flesh seems to be growing larger by the day.”

As Adler stared blankly at Microny Holmes, Sharlotte Holmes, who had been glancing at him from the side, suddenly hurled an insult at her sister.

“Yes. How nice it must be to be as slender as you, Sharlotte.”

Microny Holmes countered with a relaxed voice.

“How strange. Isn’t this the kind of useless body part one would refuse even if offered?”

“Shut up.”

Sharlotte, who had been staring down at her own chest for a moment, frowned at her sister’s voice tinged with amusement.

“I never imagined my little sister could become this cute… *cough*.”

After looking at Sharlotte with a fond smile, Microny coughed with a slightly pained expression.

“Has your health gotten worse?”

“What’s your secret for making my sister so adorable, Mr. Adler?”

“…Stop talking nonsense.”

Holmes, who had been asking with a slightly worried expression, turned serious at Microny’s following remark.

“Holmes. When you spend enough time observing people here, there are things you can see without even having to look into their hearts.”

But Microny, undeterred, pointed toward the window.

“For example, look at that person crossing the street over there.”

“…A prostitute.”

“But she’s been seeing someone recently. While hiding her identity.”

“She’s already married.”

“No, precisely speaking, she’s engaged. You still have a long way to go, Sharlotte.”

Within just a few seconds, various deductions spilled from their lips.

“…How do you know all that when she’s so far away?”

“All the accessories she’s wearing are clearly gifts. But they’re just extravagant with no consistency or harmony.”

“If such a woman is fixing her makeup at this early hour while heading from the commercial district to a residential area, her profession is obvious.”

When Adler posed a question to them, Microny and Sharlotte took turns explaining.

“If she were just going home after work, she could remove her makeup entirely, but she’s changing from elaborate makeup to something more ordinary, which means she’s going to meet someone she doesn’t want to reveal her identity to.”

“And there’s a jewel catching the light on the fourth finger of her left hand as she applies makeup. So she’s either engaged or married.”

“Sharlotte, this sister of yours can definitively say she’s engaged.”

“…Why is that?”

At her sister’s words, Sharlotte made a puzzled expression.

“What do you think, Mr. Adler?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Really?”

When Adler responded to Microny’s question with a feigned expression of ignorance, the corner of her mouth turned up slightly.

“It’s a bit strange that Mr. Adler, Britain’s foremost expert on romance, doesn’t know the reason?”

“………..”

“Unless the person inside has suddenly changed.”

“…Ah, I think I understand now.”

Feeling a sudden chill at those words, Adler averted his gaze and spoke.

“Usually, rings with large gemstones set in the center like that are engagement rings. Most wedding rings have a simpler band design.”

“That’s right.”

“And if she were married, she’d be wearing a wedding ring. Someone who works in dangerous back alleys would carry a relatively less valuable wedding ring rather than an expensive engagement ring.”

After finishing his explanation, Adler quietly scratched his head and added.

“Well, it’s strange that a prostitute would care about such things in the first place.”

“That’s true. But love sometimes numbs even reason.”

Looking quietly at Sharlotte standing beside her, Microny spoke with an amused voice.

“I never imagined that the eyes of Sharlotte, who claims to be asexual and a misandrist, would…”

“I still maintain that claim. And say one more word.”

“Pfft…”

But when Sharlotte whispered in a low voice, Microny leaned back in her chair with a pleased smile.

“By the way, I envy Sharlotte… to feel good from such simple logical thinking. I can’t feel the emotion of enjoyment no matter what I do.”

“So, why did you call me…”

As the atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit, Adler tried to ask, but upon seeing her swaying bosom in his field of vision, he averted his gaze again.

“Well, I just wanted to see you.”

“Pardon?”

“The man whom Sharlotte sent a letter to, calling him her destiny.”

“Sister, I really don’t understand why you would so grossly misinterpret a single word written in the cooperation request…”

Just as Sharlotte was about to flare up with an expression that suggested she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Excuse me… Are you perhaps…”

“……?”

“Miss Sharlotte Holmes?”

A voice from behind.

“Yes, I am.”

“I… I’d like to talk for a moment…”

“…Are you a client with a case?”

When the intruder who peeked into the guest reception room quietly nodded at those words, Holmes, who had been frowning slightly, stood up.

“I’ll be right back.”

With those words to Adler, she went outside.

“”……………””

Afterward, silence filled the room for a while.

“For our Sharlotte, who can’t resist a case, to make such an annoyed expression at the sight of a client.”

After a while, breaking the silence, Microny rested her chin on her hand and muttered.

“It’s truly remarkable.”

At the weighty voice, different from the gentle one she had been using until just now, Adler, who had been looking away, shifted his gaze to her.

“Don’t you think so, Mr. Adler?”

Her eyes, which had always been narrowed, were now slightly open.

“I…”

“You are a variable.”

Before Adler, whose spine was beginning to chill at the sight, could say anything, Microny continued in a gentle voice again.

“A variable much harder to figure out than the Auguste Detective Academy and the unsolved cases that have occurred in London’s dark streets for nearly a year.”

“……….”

“And if left unchecked, a variable that will obviously collapse the flawless system of England operating under my command.”

Of course, the sharp, pale gray eyes shining from her slightly opened eyes didn’t look gentle at all.

“Crucially, my precious sister, the only one who can make me feel the emotion of enjoyment, has fallen too deeply for you.”

Microny, who momentarily wore a chilling expression as she muttered this, narrowed her eyes again and announced to Adler with a gentle smile.

“So, would you please convince me within five minutes?”

“Convince you of what?”

“Why I shouldn’t kill you right here and now.”

As soon as those words ended, a murderous aura began to emanate from beyond the door.

“I didn’t know the Diogenes Club was an assassin’s club.”

“I rented it out for just today. They’re elite agents from British Intelligence, so even a magician like you would find it difficult to escape.”

The gazes of London’s black and white powers quietly crossed.

“Aren’t you rushing things a bit?”

“I can’t help it. I don’t have much time left.”

Microny answered Adler’s question with a slightly pale face, then started coughing again.

“One minute has already passed.”

“……….”

“During the remaining time, try to convince me by any means necessary.”

At her words, delivered with a languid smile as she raised her head again, Adler quietly rose from his seat.

“You spoke first.”

“Hehe.”

As Adler began to approach her, Microny raised her hand to restrain the assassins waiting on the other side of the door.

“I’m sorry, but I’m already married to England.”

“……….”

“I also suffer from the curse of extreme lethargy and anhedonia. So regrettably, the method you’ve been using won’t work at all…”

“Miss Microny.”

Adler, who had suddenly brought his face close to her neck, whispered to her in a low voice.

“You must become my blood bag.”

“What?”

His eyes had already turned red.

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A few minutes later.

‘…Another one of these silly pranks.’

Sharlotte Holmes, who had been called out by a client claiming there was a strange case, returned to the club in an irritated mood after determining it was her sister’s scheme when the client didn’t show up despite waiting outside for quite some time.

“……..?”

A strange scene caught her eye.

“”…………””

The secret agents, who had clearly been prepared by her sister and had been reading newspapers earlier, were blocking the door to the guest reception room while sweating profusely.

“What’s…”

Tilting her head at the suspicious sight, Sharlotte moved forward.

But as she approached the door, the agents urgently shook their heads and pushed her away.

– Hah.

A voice, familiar yet strange, reached her ears.

– Mmnh.

As she tilted her head, wondering if she had misheard, a sweet moan clearly reached her ears again.

“……….”

It was unmistakably Microny Holmes’s voice.

– Ohhhhh….

Black smoke began to rise from Sharlotte’s cane as she tilted her head slightly to the side, staring intently at the reception room.