Ch.84Chapter 84 – Aftermath

On the evening when the outcome of the bet with Charlotte and the professor was decided.

“Mr. Adler.”

“Ah, I was wondering who it was. It’s you?”

Adler, who had finally gained his freedom and returned to his hideout in the back alley, gives a gentle smile to his visitor.

“Do you have time to talk with me right now? If not, I hope you’ll make some.”

“I am a bit busy and I do have prior engagements, but I can’t refuse a request from my one and only girlfriend.”

The person standing before him is none other than Zia Lestrade.

“I think I need to make something clear before we start this conversation.”

“What is it?”

“I’m standing before you now not as your girlfriend, but as an officer of the London Metropolitan Police.”

As she speaks with a cold gaze, dressed in full police uniform, Adler, who was sitting at his antique desk organizing documents, quietly nods.

“I understand.”

“Then, let me get straight to the point.”

She takes another step toward him and begins to speak.

“The strange disappearance that occurred in Hampstead a few days ago—you’re involved, aren’t you?”

“…Hampstead?”

“I’m talking about Caroline Augustus Milverton’s disappearance.”

Adler’s eyebrows, which had been tilted in confusion, twitch slightly upon hearing that name.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on her for quite some time at the police department. She was a villain of the worst kind.”

“Is that so?”

“We were aware that she possessed a large number of letters intended for blackmail, and that more than half of them were the result of seducing young boys.”

Not missing this opening, Lestrade begins her fierce interrogation.

“But when we searched her house after her disappearance a few days ago, all the materials that were supposed to be in the secret room of the mansion were gone.”

“………”

“That’s not all. All valuable items remained untouched, and the servants are reluctant to testify despite continued questioning.”

By now, she had approached right in front of Adler’s desk.

“So we suspect that whoever intervened in this case either holds a very high position or has equivalent influence.”

“…Hmm.”

“And I know who was transported somewhere from my house a few days ago.”

“That’s quite a leap. Are there no other suspects besides me?”

As she finishes speaking while leaning on the desk, Adler calmly asks a question.

“I heard there were some witnesses…”

“There were reports of suspicious people seen climbing over the fence and escaping from the mansion that day.”

Lestrade frowns as she slowly recalls the memory.

“…One person was described as rather short with an overall dark appearance. Another was of medium height with a sturdy build.”

“That’s definitely not me. Those descriptions are so vague they could apply to Charlotte and Watson.”

“But the Mana Analysis Unit found traces of at least four people at the mansion.”

“If there are no fingerprints, hair, blood stains, or even footprints, it’s as good as nothing. Any skilled magician can manipulate traces of human presence.”

“Like you, Adler?”

Adler makes a slightly offended expression at her words.

“I don’t understand why you’re so desperate to catch me.”

“…Just now, I received pressure from above to close the case.”

“Oh, dear.”

But as Lestrade leans in with a cold expression, an awkward smile appears on Adler’s face.

“I can’t accept this kind of conclusion. I feel like I need to uncover the truth myself to clear this frustrating feeling.”

“As expected, Miss Lestrade is righteous.”

“So, please tell me properly.”

After observing her silently, she asks in a whisper while emanating a cold aura.

“Where is Caroline Augustus Milverton now?”

A brief silence flows between them.

“I’m starting to feel hurt.”

Finally, Adler breaks the silence with a disappointed voice.

“I don’t understand why you’re so convinced that I’m the culprit…”

– CRASH!!!

“…Ah.”

But his protest was cut short with a scream as Lestrade struck the desk with all her might.

“”…………””

Because Caroline Augustus Milverton, who had been lying at Adler’s feet with a leash around her neck inside the desk until then, was now staring blankly up at Lestrade through the gap in the broken desk.

“…Will you still deny it?”

After looking at the scene with a pitiful gaze, Lestrade shifts her eyes to Adler and asks.

“This isn’t Caroline.”

“Then what is it?”

“…It’s my pet dog.”

Avoiding Lestrade’s gaze, which looked at him as if he were despicable, Adler nudges Caroline with his foot and answers.

“Woof.”

After what seemed like countless considerations in a split second, Caroline makes a dog sound with a resigned expression.

“Woof woof.”

“……….”

As she rolls over and exposes her belly despite her shame-filled expression, Lestrade begins to get serious.

“…Pant pant.”

“See? She’s a dog, just like I said.”

Meanwhile, Adler pats the head of Caroline, who has her hands up like paws and is panting until her face turns bright red, with a slightly shameless expression.

“Have you now resorted to forbidden mind control magic?”

“Carol, go to your room.”

“…Woof.”

As he ignores Lestrade’s words and pats Caroline’s belly, Caroline makes a dog sound in a small voice and scurries off to her assigned room.

“This is grounds for arrest on the spot.”

“No, you cannot arrest me.”

“On what grounds?”

After staring blankly at the scene for a moment, Lestrade erases the image from her mind and asks Adler for his reason.

“Because I haven’t done anything illegal.”

“What nonsense…”

“I didn’t use any mind control magic. Caroline is simply acting as my pet after reaching a compromise through lengthy negotiations and signing a contract with a sound mind.”

“……….”

“I never do anything that the other party dislikes or refuses. Carol is acting as my dog of her own free will right now.”

“How is that possible?”

Lestrade asks with an expression of disbelief after hearing Adler’s explanation.

“Even for you, Adler, how could you turn a blackmail genius and villain of your caliber into that in just a few days?”

“Our interests aligned.”

Adler begins to explain, resting his chin on his hand.

“Caroline, who has fallen from grace after all her blackmail evidence disappeared, needs a place to protect herself from numerous political enemies and those in power.”

“……….”

“And I just needed someone to manage the organization… no, I just needed a pet.”

“Ha.”

“Of course, we didn’t agree from the beginning. It took several days of in-depth ‘education’ to dramatically persuade her.”

He gives a bright smile to Lestrade, who is speechless.

“Anyway, as long as her signature is on the contract…”

“…I don’t know how to deal with you anymore.”

However, Lestrade interrupts his words and begins to speak.

“I’m truly grateful that you repaid my debt and protected my siblings from danger.”

“What?”

“I will remember it as a lifelong debt.”

Her voice was trembling slightly.

“But you are becoming a dangerous entity in London too quickly.”

“Me?”

“The friendly forces you’ve gathered, as identified by our police, are not few.”

At those words, Adler narrows his eyes quietly.

“The Kingdom of Bohemia, the Red Mana Alliance, the Werebeast Union. These are countries and organizations that even ordinary people would recognize by name, and they’re sponsoring you.”

“That’s…”

“Not to mention the funds from Colonel Rose, a figure in the underworld, a landowner family in Raight, and the ladies who dominate London’s social circles.”

He falls silent as he stares at his girlfriend, who is speaking nothing but the truth.

“Do you know how many officers suddenly quit after investigating the flow of underworld forces that have begun to concentrate around you and the professor recently?”

Looking at him with clenched fists, Lestrade takes a deep breath and speaks again.

“Let’s be honest.”

“………”

“Even that professor you supposedly follow is actually just your pawn, isn’t he?”

There was no answer from Adler.

“Just how dangerous of a person am I dating, Mr. Issac Adler?”

Then, with her head bowed, she begins to mutter.

“As someone who upholds justice in London, will I eventually have to confront you?”

“…If that’s your mission, then you should confront me.”

“Yes, that would be the right thing to do.”

She begins to trail off.

“The right thing, but…”

“Is something bothering you?”

Then, Adler quietly asks with gleaming eyes.

“Miss Zia.”

But when she doesn’t answer this time, Adler casually poses a question.

“What exactly is the justice you pursue?”

“That is…”

“Is it rescuing Caroline, who chose to become my pet in order to survive?”

At those words, Lestrade’s eyes begin to waver quietly.

“Is it returning women who, for the first time in their lives, chose of their own free will to mortgage their remaining lives to me, back to their original terrible hell?”

“………”

“Or is it disrupting and permanently ruining the unity of Vampires and Werebeasts who have been discriminated against and ostracized, as they work toward their future?”

Her lips quiver as if to say something, but she eventually lowers her gaze without opening her mouth.

“Your justice might be wrong.”

“…The same could be said about you.”

“I admit it. You might be right, and my actions might be wrong.”

Issac Adler whispers softly to her.

“But then, why are you hesitating, Miss Lestrade?”

“………”

“Honestly, if you just attached a reason, you could arrest me forcibly.”

Just as his gaze penetrates deep into Lestrade’s eyes.

“So if you think you’re right, then hurry and…”

“Don’t try to sway me.”

Closing her eyes, Lestrade begins to speak with a determined expression.

“My sense of justice remains firm regardless.”

“…Hmm.”

“As per our contract that day, I still love you, but I cannot love your actions.”

Her voice, which had been wavering, becomes clear.

“So as an officer, I will confront you.”

“That’s not good news.”

“…I will strictly separate public and private matters. Please distinguish between Lestrade the girlfriend and Lestrade the police officer from now on.”

At those words, Adler begins to show a smile that seems closer to genuine than ever before.

“You’re truly a difficult woman, Miss Lestrade.”

“……..”

“And that’s why I like you.”

After staring blankly at him for a moment, Lestrade turns her head abruptly and heads toward the entrance, speaking in a cold voice.

“Let’s see who wins.”

“We have a date tomorrow evening.”

But at Adler’s reply, she stops in her tracks.

“…I know.”

“Don’t you mind? Dating someone you have to ideologically oppose?”

At his slightly mischievous voice, Lestrade slowly turns her head.

“That’s fine.”

Finally, looking at Adler with a rather peculiar gaze, she opens her mouth.

“…Because I like you.”

With those barely audible words, Zia Lestrade turns her head again and quietly leaves the hideout.

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.

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“…..Hmm.”

Several minutes have passed since Lestrade left through the front door, but the lingering feeling still hasn’t faded.

“Impressive, as expected.”

But given the situation at hand, I organized the lingering emotions with that brief mutter.

“…You can come in now.”

Then, with a smile, I called out to the presence that had been waiting at the back door.

– Creeeeak…

“Hehe.”

The client of this case, now somewhat familiar with her veil and elegant smile, enters the mansion.

“As you requested, I’ve kept all my subordinates away. Even Charlotte Holmes and the professor don’t know what’s happening here right now.”

“Your girlfriend seems quite prickly.”

“…If you’ll excuse me, let’s get straight to the point.”

Looking directly at the veil covering her face, I gently posed a question.

“What is this story that your proxy couldn’t finish telling me this morning, important enough for you to visit my hideout in person?”

“My goodness. Aren’t you being too hasty?”

“Pardon?”

“I’d like to have some tea first and talk slowly.”

She says this as she naturally sits down on the sofa in front, the royal representative who didn’t even bring escorts.

“…I see.”

After observing her for a moment—clearly a member of the British royal family—I eventually stood up with a smile.

“Alright.”

“As expected, you know how to treat a lady.”

And as I headed toward the kitchen where teacups and tea leaves were prepared, my eyes clearly saw:

[Gil the Reaper is interested in you.]

[Probability of being murdered: 99.99%]

The system, which had miraculously been restored just now, was sending bright red warnings.

[Be careful.]

[Corruption rate: 25% -> 33%]

It was not an easy task to calmly ask about tea preferences to history’s worst serial killer sitting behind me with a smile.

“…Do you have any particular tea preference?”

If it weren’t for the subordinates I had stationed in advance in the alley outside the hideout, I might have made a slip of the tongue long ago.

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“Oh, by the way, I’ve taken the liberty of putting your guards outside to sleep for a while.”

“…What?”

“Now it’s finally just the two of us. Hehe.”

Oh, shit.