Ch.58Chapter 58 – To Rule or Be Ruled

Shortly after an unexpected visitor came to Adler.

“Adler.”

“…Hello, Professor.”

He, who was quite flustered, was greeting another unexpected visitor.

“Is this the ‘base’ you mentioned?”

“How does it look? Isn’t it quite an impressive hideout for being in a back alley?”

“Indeed, it seems rather normal for a place considered one of the most dangerous in London.”

With those words, Moriarty steps inside the entrance.

“Would you like to have some tea before you go?”

“No, I have no such intention. I just came to see your face.”

And then, she began to stare intently at Adler.

“The face of my assistant who took matters into his own hands without consulting me.”

“Haha…”

“As soon as you returned to London, you holed up here without attending the academy. Frankly, I was a bit surprised, Adler.”

The professor’s dark gray eyes were fixed on Adler.

“Since vacation is coming soon anyway, a little rest shouldn’t affect my attendance…”

“But for someone like you, who has the highest probability of being murdered or kidnapped in England, to stay in such a back alley? Are you still drunk?”

“…I sobered up a long time ago.”

With that, the professor quietly shook her head from side to side.

“I’ve made preparations.”

“I hope you’re not suggesting that placing a mere horse Werebeast and a Vampire with sealed powers as servants is the solution. You’re a smart boy, after all.”

“…Professor.”

At that cute yet threatening appearance, Adler quietly puts on a smile and begins to speak.

“Now is the time to take risks.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it’s time to grow the organization further, even if it means taking risks.”

The professor, who had been tilting her head, stopped and began to listen quietly to his words.

“We’ve consulted on quite a few cases so far, but they were all cases where we had to do the legwork ourselves, weren’t they?”

“That’s right. Coincidences piled up too much. Come to think of it, they were all matters related to you.”

“That’s the problem.”

Adler says with a deliberately serious expression.

“If we continue like this, it’s a vicious cycle. We’re people who consult on crimes, not people who go looking for crimes.”

“Hmm.”

“Haven’t I been saying this all along? We shouldn’t be looking for clients; clients should be coming to us directly. Like detectives.”

The professor nods quietly and opens her mouth.

“So you mean the clients should bear the burden, not us.”

“Yes, that’s right. Just looking at this recent Leigate case, too much of your information was exposed.”

After saying that, Adler takes out today’s newspaper from his chest and mutters.

“Professor Jane Moriarty, who stirred up the academic world with the binomial theorem, solves a murder case in Leigate… Of course, it’s just a minor article on the back page, but if these things accumulate…”

“We’ll eventually get caught.”

“That’s right.”

As the professor cuts him off mid-sentence, Adler quietly folds the newspaper and continues.

“Due to the nature of crime consultation, we can’t come out into the light like detectives. That’s why we need to expand the organization during this upcoming vacation.”

“…………”

“Aside from making future criminal activities and kingdom building easier, our reputation in the underworld will rise. Naturally, more clients will become interested in us and approach us.”

“Are you suggesting leaking our identity to the general public? That seems dangerous.”

“Of course, we’ll have to use stand-ins or send subordinates to meet clients. Or receive letters unilaterally. Except for a very few VIPs, no one will know that we’re behind it all.”

At Adler’s passionate speech, the professor silently looks at him.

“If I take just a little risk now, we can rise quickly.”

“………”

“So please understand. At least until this vacation is over…”

“I understand what you’re saying.”

Suddenly, with a dark smile, the professor interrupts his words.

“But I wonder if there’s a need to rush.”

“…Why not?”

“As you know, I was behind the recent Leigate incident.”

At her sudden confession, Adler’s expression slightly hardens.

“I had completed all preparations a week before Sharlotte Holmes bought a train ticket to Leigate.”

“…I didn’t know that.”

“Plans to kill her, that is.”

“………”

Shadows fell across Professor Moriarty’s face.

“That incident was my perfect trap to eliminate Sharlotte Holmes.”

“……….”

“In the end, everything turned to nothing thanks to the unreliable Colonel Hayter and your inexplicable interference.”

At that terrifying atmosphere, Silver Blaze and Lady Joanne Clay, who were peeking from behind Adler, flinched and swallowed hard.

“But I wasn’t that angry.”

But the next moment, the professor suddenly smiles brightly and says so.

“…I realized there was no need for such restraint.”

At those words, Adler quietly tilts his head.

“The Sharlotte Holmes I saw in the Leigate case was below expectations.”

“……..”

“It’s not just that I was disappointed; it was laughable.”

Then, his face began to harden.

“…Didn’t she deduce everything perfectly?”

“So what? She didn’t even understand your signal to avoid the sniper and approached the window three times.”

“That’s…”

“Moreover, she even let Hayter Colonel’s accomplice escape while dazedly scooping up your melted remains for a long time.”

The professor’s voice, mixed with laughter, echoes in Adler’s ears.

“At such a pathetic level, she can’t be a worthy adversary for you and me. She seems to have realized it herself; according to reports from subordinates infiltrated into Baker Street, she’s been holed up in her boarding house for days.”

“……..”

“London’s hope? It’s just laughable.”

And then came silence.

“Adler.”

“…Yes.”

After silently looking at Adler in that silence for a moment, the professor asks in a low voice.

“So you’ve chosen me after all?”

“…….?”

At those words, Adler, who was wearing a blank expression, tilts his head.

“Throughout my time in Leigate, Sharlotte Holmes seemed distracted.”

“Ah…”

“To the point of making stupid mistakes, let alone demonstrating her skills.”

The corners of Professor Moriarty’s mouth were quietly raised.

“Thank you for breaking that child for me.”

“I…”

“Well, it makes more sense to be my assistant than that youngster’s. Is that what you realized when you acted?”

With that, she gently strokes Adler’s head.

“…That’s what I’ll believe, Adler.”

“……….”

“Don’t betray my trust by trying to balance the already tilted scales.”

Her lips slightly touch Adler’s neck.

“A housewarming gift.”

And then, caressing her lip mark left on his neck, the professor whispers in a low voice.

“…I’m honored.”

“Now I must go back. As you said, it’s not good to be noticed in a place like this.”

As she was about to turn around and leave the mansion, she suddenly looks back and adds.

“By the way, you should clean up.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t the floor too dirty?”

At those words, Adler’s eyes shake slightly as he looks down.

“Are you raising some kind of beast?”

Mud and bloodstains that hadn’t been cleaned up were still visible in the corners.

“…I’m raising a hunting dog.”

“Ah, that’s good.”

As Silver Blaze hurriedly runs up from behind to clean up the stains, Professor Moriarty smiles faintly and agrees with Adler’s answer.

“…On the path to this place, I saw two pieces of meat lying around.”

“…….”

“Be careful, Adler.”

The eyes of the woman who opened the front door and stepped outside were shining darker than ever.

“A hunting dog that has tasted human blood can pounce on its master at any time.”

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‘…I broke Sharlotte?’

– Tsuuuuuuuu…

As I stare at the firmly closed front door for a long time with a troubled expression, lost in thought, I hear the sound of magic being dispelled from beside me.

“…I’m sorry.”

Celestia Moran, who had been hiding her presence with my invisibility magic, was trembling and saying so.

“For what?”

“I, I don’t know exactly… but for causing trouble…”

Despite being terrified, she shows a quick sense of awareness, which makes me understand how she’s been treated all this time.

Well, I could tell just by looking at the numerous scars on her body.

“…So you’re Celestia Moran.”

“Y-yes.”

“I see…”

But I never imagined that this small, cute little girl would be ‘Colonel Moran’.

Among the designs I reviewed, I thought this one had the lowest possibility of being real.

Will this child really become the second most dangerous existence in London after Professor Moriarty in the future?

Judging by how she easily evaded a large-scale police pursuit while covered in blood, there’s no room for doubt, but still, something feels a bit off.

“…Eek.”

As I couldn’t leave her in this state and carefully reached out my hand, she suddenly collapsed, her legs giving way.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I haven’t eaten anything for five days.”

“………”

Hearing that voice that stirred compassion, I sighed and spoke to her.

“There’s a bathroom over there. Go wash yourself.”

“Um…”

“I’ll prepare a meal in the meantime.”

At that, she opened her eyes wide and began to look at me cautiously.

“…Can I use hot water?”

“Do as you please.”

At those words, Moran, whose hair was a mess from the rain, bowed her head with a bright expression while still watching me cautiously.

“…Thank you, Mr. Demon.”

And then, she began to toddle towards the bathroom far away.

“…Trash.”

“It’s okay, Master. I like you even if you’re like that.”

As I was watching her retreating figure with a slightly pleased smile, cold voices flew in from the side.

“Let me make it clear right here and now, I am not a human trash who feels sexual or romantic desires towards a 12-year-old.”

“”……….””

“Logically, what kind of person would do that?”

“The one standing right in front of my eyes seems quite capable of it.”

As I felt the need to clarify this point, I spoke with a calm expression, and Lady Clay opened her mouth mockingly.

“Lie down.”

“…Hik?”

Annoyed by the pet trying to rise above her station, I gave that order, and the collar around the lady’s neck emitted a red light, forcing her action.

“Fuck, can’t you remove this damn collar?”

“Roll to the side, then stretch out your hands like a dog and pant.”

“How dare you! The blood of the British royal family flows in my… Heuk.”

I allowed her to take human form inside the mansion for efficient guarding, but that doesn’t change the master-servant relationship.

As long as that cat collar is around her neck, Lady Clay is just the fourth smartest pet in London.

“…Huff, huff.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s right my ass…!”

As I gently stroke the belly of the lady who is panting with her hands stretched forward, she curses with an expression mixed half with shame and half with hatred.

“…Mmph.”

But when I forcibly push the fingers of my other hand into her mouth, her cursing stops.

– Gulp…

The lady, whose eyes were filled with tears from frustration, bites my fingers roughly and begins to suck blood with reddened eyes.

– Slurp…

As I quietly watch that scene, soft skin nestles into my arms.

“…Hehe.”

Silver Blaze, wagging her tail, was rubbing her cheek against my chest with a bright smile.

‘It’s peaceful.’

The thought that suddenly came to mind, was it just my mood?

‘Why is it peaceful?’

No matter how I think about it, the current situation is quite far from peace.

“…Miss Blaze.”

“Yes, Master.”

After scratching my head for a moment and thinking repeatedly, I casually asked Silver Blaze a question.

“Will you obey me forever?”

“…What do you mean?”

At that, she tilts her head with a puzzled expression.

“What pet would pounce on its master?”

Silver Blaze, who answered so, quietly covers my face with her tail that had been swaying.

“…Lady.”

“What is it, you fucking bastard?”

“Do you dislike me, Lady?”

As I stroke the belly of Joanne Clay, who was lying on the floor with her belly exposed, she answers with flashing eyes.

“Once I regain my strength, I’ll make you my slave.”

“So, you dislike me?”

“…Yes.”

“But you’re being forcibly oppressed by me, so you can’t say a word.”

“Grrrr…”

Just as I was beginning to understand why I felt comfortable, it happened.

“Um, excuse me…”

“”………?””

Moran, who still looked like a wet mouse, returned to us with a dejected expression.

“I can’t reach the shower…”

“”……….””

“…Please help me.”

Only after seeing that completely cowed expression did I fully realize.

“Sure, as much as you need.”

I feel more secure controlling and dominating someone rather than being dominated by someone.

“Take my hand.”

Once I realized that fact, I started to think that just living like this forever wouldn’t be so bad.

“I’ll wash you.”

Or, conversely, I could dominate everyone else.

[Hidden route is now open.]

“…Huh?”

The last lifeline to my fate that was heading towards catastrophe came down at that very moment.

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Meanwhile, at the London Metropolitan Police Department.

“Senior, did you know?”

“Hmm?”

“About Issac Adler who went missing recently.”

A sleepy-eyed inspector drinking coffee was talking to his direct superior whom he met in the corridor.

“That actor who disappeared a week ago?”

“Well, recently an information control order was issued.”

“What?”

Hearing those words, her superior’s eyes widened.

“There seems to have been some incident, but the report was omitted. This doesn’t happen often, right?”

“…What, was he finally murdered?”

“The probability is high. Journalists seem to have caught the scent, but all related parties are keeping silent.”

“Then it must be true. Either he died somewhere, or he’s being held captive in some high lady’s basement.”

Then he waves his hand with a sneer.

“It’s not even surprising, so go and organize the documents.”

“No, listen to me! My colleague who handled a murder case in Leigate this time, well…”

“I said enough.”

And so, the two people began to move away down the corridor.

“I’m not interested in stories about such fools.”

“Senior, you’re really no fun.”

“Well, I do feel sorry for him. He must have been trembling and asking for help in his final moments, but no one would have listened.”

“That is indeed sad.”

A girl passing by them stops and stands still.

“……..”

Cold sweat was running down the face of Zia Lestrade, the last person to see Issac Adler, who had just returned from a business trip.