Ch.77Chapter 77 – Caroline Augustus Milverton

“I’m not sure if you understand the meaning of what you just said.”

From behind the veil where a chilling silence hung, a stern voice was heard.

“Are you perhaps underestimating the power of the royal family? It seems Microny hasn’t properly explained what’s happening in the shadows of the British government.”

“Excuse me, but I understand perfectly.”

“Then, you must also know what will happen if you leave this room now?”

“That, I’m not so sure about.”

As I scratched my head saying this, the woman behind the veil tilted her head slightly.

“You should know that no matter how hard you try, you won’t survive the day.”

“What if I were to lunge at the princess right now and take her hostage?”

“I don’t know what makes you say that, but I’m not a princess.”

“With the royal knights and guards surrounding the building with fire in their eyes, and countless snipers eagerly targeting my back?”

But as I said this, she straightened her posture and sighed.

“For someone who knows this well, you’re behaving quite boldly in front of royalty.”

“That’s precisely why there’s more merit in lunging at you, isn’t there?”

“How insolent.”

“I’m sorry, but if I see any sign of you raising your hand or sending a signal, I’ll pounce immediately. Please be careful.”

As I whispered this with a serious expression, a small laugh came from behind the veil.

“You truly are the beast they say you are.”

“………”

“But if you rampage recklessly, you might one day end up on display in my room.”

The leisurely voice that followed exuded an unmistakable dignity and pressure.

Judging by this, her confidence seemed to have a foundation unlike the people I’d dealt with before.

“Issac Adler. Apologize for insulting Her Majesty the Queen right now and obey her orders.”

“………”

“Our royal family has already noticed everything you and the professor are doing. Naturally, we’ve already devised countermeasures.”

Sure enough, startling statements began to reach me as I remained silent.

“With one simple order, all military power England can muster will crush you. This has already been agreed upon with the Prime Minister, so you need to choose quickly.”

“………”

“Choose which queen you’ll serve as an Englishman, at this very moment.”

A chill ran down my spine and cold sweat began to pour over my body.

“…Still, I have only one queen.”

But my answer remained the same.

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same.”

And then came silence.

“…I don’t understand.”

As I sat in the chair, ignoring the killing intent behind me and swallowing dryly, the princess’s exasperated voice came from behind the veil.

“Just one word saying you’ll follow Her Majesty would be enough to save your life.”

“………”

“Weren’t you forcibly attached to that professor? Why would you miss this excellent opportunity to eliminate such a being with royal support?”

After staring at her quietly, I finally answered in a low voice.

“I cannot betray the being I created.”

“What?”

I couldn’t possibly summarize all the complex feelings I had about Jane Moriarty.

“As a creator, I cannot betray my creation.”

“…So that’s what it was?”

Therefore, as I mumbled one of the most trivial reasons, an even colder voice began to come from in front.

“It seems I’ve misunderstood the causal relationship.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You’re the real mastermind that needs to be eliminated.”

At that voice full of hostility, my body began to tremble involuntarily.

“A normal university professor who showed no movement until recently suddenly became a prominent figure in the mathematical world, and simultaneously began to make a name in the underworld.”

“………”

“The appearance of such a sudden comet was so abrupt that even our informants couldn’t properly grasp it. But now I understand why.”

I felt the killing intent surrounding the building suddenly focusing on me.

“It was you who polished her from a raw stone.”

“…Hmm.”

“You were behind all this, not the professor. The causal relationship was reversed, which is why no solution was found despite mobilizing people.”

I felt like vomiting from extreme tension, but nevertheless, I showed a relaxed smile and answered.

“You’re quite intelligent.”

“Is it okay to admit it so easily?”

“The professor merely follows my orders. Even if you kill her, unless you kill me, London will become a battlefield.”

Although her expression was hidden behind the veil, I could imagine the princess’s eyes narrowing.

“It sounds like we need to capture you, not the professor.”

“Well, would you like to try right now? To see if I can pounce on you, escape from here, and mobilize my colleagues hidden throughout London.”

“………”

“If you don’t want to start a game of tag with London’s fate at stake, let’s negotiate, Princess.”

Picturing that scene in my mind, I quietly played my trump card.

“I’m sure we can find a compromise that satisfies both of us.”

And silence fell between us again.

“Hmm…”

In the room where only a small moan echoed from beyond the veil, I tried to hide my racing heartbeat.

“…I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible.”

At the princess’s firm response that came a moment later, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“It’s about time I conveyed Her Majesty’s real orders.”

However, what followed was quite different from what I had expected.

“You mean the Queen’s order wasn’t to eliminate the professor?”

“That was actually my personal request. I’m the only one in the royal family who noticed your suspicious movements.”

“………”

“Of course, it’s impossible to move the army for my personal demands. Still, it’s fortunate that I’ve confirmed you’re definitely plotting something.”

I felt momentarily dazed.

I don’t know which princess she is, but if she becomes the next queen, wouldn’t England’s future be quite bright?

“…So, what’s the real order?”

“Hehe.”

As I asked with a slightly wounded pride, the princess quietly smiled and put her hand in her bosom.

– Swish…

A moment later, a slender, snow-white hand emerged slightly from the veil and placed something in front of me.

“This is…?”

As her hand retreated back behind the veil, a photograph appeared before my eyes.

“Who is this?”

“I didn’t think you wouldn’t know.”

As I stared at the unidentified person in the photograph and asked, the princess answered with a slightly incredulous voice.

“Caroline Augustus Milverton. Don’t you know her?”

“Ah.”

Only then could I realize the identity of the person in the photograph.

“Of course I do.”

Caroline Augustus Milverton.

In the Sherlock Holmes series, this character appears as Charles Augustus Milverton, a villain who controls prominent figures in society by exploiting their weaknesses.

In the original work, he outsmarts Sherlock Holmes and Watson’s plans and even blackmails them, eventually forcing the two to illegally break into his mansion as a last resort—a very difficult and frightening villain.

Because of this background, in the game our company was developing, this character appears as one of the top-tier mid-bosses.

“Of course you should know. There’s a famous joke that if half of London’s women belong to Issac Adler, half of the men belong to her.”

“Is such a rumor going around?”

“The problem is that it’s not a joke or rumor, but a clear fact.”

Naturally, she too has become a woman, targeting men as the princess said, just as she targeted famous women in society.

“Anyway, I believe you’ve figured out why I showed you her picture.”

“…You want me to handle her?”

“One of Her Majesty’s acquaintances has been put in a very difficult position because of her.”

As I asked the question recalling this background knowledge, the princess’s cold voice returned.

“Seeing that you’re using honorifics, I assume that person is also royalty?”

“…Don’t try to dig too deeply.”

“Well, I understand.”

Quietly nodding, I picked up the photograph on the desk.

“What exactly do you want me to do with this person?”

“Neutralize her. By any means necessary.”

“I never imagined I’d receive a criminal consultation request from royalty.”

“As long as you’re backed by the great Queen’s orders, your actions aren’t criminal.”

Smiling at those words, I stood up, and the princess rose simultaneously.

“…Remember this.”

As she quietly put on what appeared to be a robe, she glanced at me and spoke.

“I’m keeping a close eye on your suspicious activities in London.”

“…………”

“You’ll need to correct those impure thoughts of yours soon.”

Then, a question suddenly came to mind.

“If you’re so wary of me, why haven’t you revealed the truth about me to anyone?”

“If it weren’t for Caroline’s matter, I would have reported your activities to Her Majesty long ago.”

“If I were you, I would have mentioned it beforehand to prepare for any contingency.”

To that question, the princess answered in a calm voice.

“When I have such a good card that I can move alone, why would I share it with others?”

“You’re planning to use me in royal internal power struggles?”

“That’s not the only reason.”

And as she began walking toward the secret door behind the veil.

“Then, is there another reason?”

“…Well, you’re handsome. That’s why.”

“What?”

“I enjoyed your last performance.”

After leaving those words, the princess disappeared through the secret door with light steps, and the killing intent that had filled the surroundings instantly subsided.

“…That last part must have been a joke?”

Thinking that 19th century princesses were quite good at joking, I quietly headed toward the door behind me and left the room.

“……..?”

As soon as I opened the door, I tilted my head with wide eyes at the sight before me.

“Professor?”

Professor Moriarty was standing awkwardly, receiving Sharlotte’s cold gaze as she sat on the sofa opposite.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t follow me?”

“………”

As I looked at her in bewilderment and moved toward her, the professor slightly turned her gaze away, avoiding my eyes.

– Swish…

As she held out her hand to me with a slightly awkward expression, I instinctively opened my palm, and the professor gently placed something on it.

“…A gift.”

There were three sugar cubes—her favorite—placed on my palm.

“Thank… you?”

“…Mr. Adler.”

As I scratched my head, put them in my mouth, and smiled while chewing, Sharlotte’s cold voice came from behind.

“What is that photograph?”

She was looking at the picture of a rather elegant lady in my other hand.

“This is…”

It was at that moment that a bright light bulb went on in my head.

“…The subject of a bet.”

Sharlotte and Professor Moriarty’s eyes simultaneously began to glow darkly.

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at that time.

“…Miss, Earl Winston has contacted us asking to meet you.”

“Decline.”

In a dark room, a woman sitting in an armchair with her chin resting on her hand was staring intently at a photograph.

“He threatened that if you don’t meet him, there will be problems with your safety…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Then, a cold voice came from her lips.

“…I’ve already chosen a new target.”

In her eyes was reflected the image of a boy with golden hair.

“You don’t mean Issac Adler?”

“…Hehe.”