Professor Moriarty started showing signs of anxiety once her subordinates didn't reply no matter how much she tried to contact them. Reaching the limit of her patience, she rose from her armchair... about to head to the pub where Adler was reported to be drowning in alcohol when...

"I'm a bit late, aren't I?"

".........."

With a sly voice, someone entered the hideout.

"It seems that you were speaking with my assistant, huh?"

"... Assistant?"

The client, puzzled by his words, couldn't help but pose the question to the boy. The very same boy who had just picked her up from the pub, now in obvious disguise.

"Aren't you the assistant and she's the criminal consultant?"

"Ah, my mischievous assistant tends to be quite playful, you see..."

Adler then answered with a dim smile stretching his lips.

"My beloved assistant likes to indulge in such jokes in my absence."

"... Mr. Adler?"

"Shh~! Stay still, lest you get into some trouble."

Soon, he sat beside the befuddled Moriarty, stroking her head while whispering to her ears.

"You have to deal with the client seriously."

"........"

"You still lack experience, so observe carefully and learn from my actions."

The professor, rendered speechless by this sudden treatment, could only stare blankly at Adler.

"So, what task does our client wish to entrust to us?"

"... Is this really alright?"

"If you're feeling uncomfortable, feel free to leave."

Despite her concerns, the conversation between Adler and the client began in earnest.

"Honestly, I wouldn't engage in such a foolish act if I were you."

"Why is that?"

"If you were to leave now, only we stand to gain by acquiring the identity of a future criminal. Isn't that right?"

"... Haa."

Once those words left Adler's lips, a tired sigh escaped from the client as she muttered with clear weariness in her tone.

"You mean... we're already in the same boat, right...?"

"We haven't set sail yet, so whether you want to get off now is ultimately up to you. But, you must be willing to accept some risk."

"... Well, it can't be helped. I was planning to entrust this to you anyway."

"Then, please express your request to us."

The client straightened her posture and then looked at Adler, his eyes shining with anticipation, and the quietly seating Moriarty for a moment... Soon, she began her tale...

"It's a simple request."

With a nervous countenance, the client pulled out a photograph from her pocket and whispered in a dark voice.

"Please kill this person."

And for a brief moment, silence ushered in the hideout.

"... Who is this person exactly?"

"Do you really need explanations when killing someone? Isn't knowing the face and address enough?"

In the midst of the silence, Adler posed a question to the client. In response, the client replied in a slightly agitated voice.

"It's not strictly necessary. However, we do like to hear the details from the client to prevent any mishaps during the job, but if you prefer not to disclose, we can still manage."

"Then, please proceed with the job."

With that, the client calmed her breathing and continued, guided by Adler's composed voice.

"The address is written on the back of the photo, so there shouldn't be a problem. Now, let's move on to the matter of compensation..."

"But, I'm getting a bit curious."

"... About what?"

However, Adler interrupted the client mid-sentence, whispering in a soft tone; a frosty smile curling his lips.

"Why would Nathan Garrideb, a renowned London lawyer who's been on the rise in recent times, go so far as to crossdress and request us to murder his own younger sister?"

"........!"

The client's face was immediately painted with horror at the question.

"What on earth..."

"You seem to be quite a unique lawyer who actively seeks evidence yourself... You also have quite the disguise skill, making full use of that pretty face of yours."

"Listen here!"

"Well, in an era overflown with foolish detectives indiscriminately bred due to the abundance of bizarre cases, one at least has to be at that level to become London's most popular lawyer."

Seeing the client's face began to turn paler by the second, Adler added in a soft voice,

"But you still have a long way to go if you want to deceive experts of our caliber. Choosing to wear bulky men's clothing, instead of a woman's, to hide your physique was a wise decision. However, it was still quite obvious to us."

"........."

"Even my assistant had already deduced your identity and name."

Ending his statement, Adler stroked Jane Moriarty's hair once more.

"That's why I told you earlier, you'd regret it if you simply left."

"Uh, huh..."

"Now that you've been caught, would you care to explain why you're trying to kill your own younger sister?"

As Adler spoke, the professor, who had been about to say something, closed her mouth and quietly accepted his stroking. On the other hand, the client, drenched in cold sweat, started to sigh as if he had already resigned to his fate.

"That child needs to die."

The man, who had changed his voice to sound like a woman, spoke lethargically in his original male voice.

"A demon, that's what that child is."

"Why do you think so?"

"My sister periodically transforms into a monster. A truly horrific one at that."

"Hmm..."

The already exhausted-looking client's face grew even more haggard as he explained his circumstances.

"Normally docile, once she transforms into that monster... she goes on a rampage, losing all sense of reason. No doctor or medical specialist has been able to cure that madness of hers."

"To the extent of being unrecognizable even by family?"

"My father was infected by a wound he got while trying to stop her and soon passed away. My mother, a doctor of medicine, developed paranoia and alcohol addiction soon after."

"That's... quite serious."

"All I am left with is that damned sister and my half-mad mother. Oh, and if I were to be more precise, there's also the tiny inheritance my father left for me and the crumbling house."

The client showed them a detached smile amid his harrowing storytelling.

"Fortunately, after much laborious effort, I managed to escape the clutches of dire poverty. But my sister's seizures only grew worse with each passing day."

"That wound..."

"It happened just yesterday. Suddenly, my sister started having a severe seizure, and not even all the servants combined were capable of restraining her. When I went to help, I was soon attacked."

The deep wound on his outstretched arm was reflected in the eyes of Isaac Adler and Professor Moriarty.

"At that moment, her form seemed to have overlapped with the figure that attacked and killed my father."

"Hmm..."

"It was only then that I realized that if things continued this way, I would end up dead at her hands or wither away. Only those options left for me."

The client murmured this with a gaze that couldn't have darkened any further.

"... I don't want that. I've devoted half my life to my sister. Now, I want to be free."

As he spoke with increasing fervor, Isaac Adler nodded in silence.

"Please, kill the monster that lives in my house."

"".........""

"I no longer want any association with her. If possible, I'd prefer it if you dealt with her outside the house, luring that monster to a quiet place and finishing it off once and for all. Of course, she's pathologically obsessed with staying inside, which might be challenging..."

"Do you want it to be treated as a disappearance?"

"The cleaner, the better. Just make sure it doesn't trace back to me."

"... Very well."

Adler nodded quietly in response.

"I will take on your request."

"Ah..."

At the same time, a sigh mixed with a myriad of emotions burst forth from the client.

"But first, I have a few questions."

"... Ask away."

As Adler leaned in and asked, the man nodded with a gesture that showed the weariness he felt.

"When do the seizures usually occur?"

"... It's unclear. They frequently happen at night, but there have been a few times in the early morning as well."

"The wound on your arm that you showed me earlier, could you show it to me in more detail?"

"By all means."

Adler and Professor Moriarty observed the arm he extended from the mist with rapt attention.

"... Last question. What is the composition of the household staff?"

"Mostly strong men hired to subdue my sister. Apart from them, a few maids, a secretary to assist with my legal work, and a personal doctor."

"I see."

"Um, but..."

The man, having finished speaking, posed a question to them with a faint sense of anxiety in his voice.

"As for the payment... I'm not quite sure how to proceed..."

"...Well, it shouldn't be too much of a burden for you."

Adler replied with a relaxed voice.

"I'll take just one thing of my choosing from your house as payment for the request. How about that?"

"... What?"

"If you have no objections, then I shall take my leave."

As he rose to leave, the client's eyes were instantly flooded with anxiety and apprehension.

"Are you starting already?"

"Why? Do you wish to bid your sister one last farewell?"

However, the client quietly shakes his head at that remark.

"... Then, is it guilt?"

When Garrideb said nothing in response, a brief chuckle escaped Adler as he swiftly left the smoke-drenched room; a quiet muttering leaked out of his lips.

"For a lawyer, that emotion is as good as poison, isn't it?"

"........."

Hearing the soft mutter, the client simply bowed his head in response. Soon after, he also followed Adler out of the hideout, leaving only silence to fill up the room.

"... Haahh~!"

The only sound in the silence was a faint moan escaping Professor Moriarty, who had been tickled by Adler's hands, sneaking inside her clothes throughout their conversation with the client and ravaging her body.

.

.

.

.

.

⦗Mr. Adler.⦘

"Ah, is that you, Professor?"

Several hours later... In the vicinity of the mansion that Garrideb had noted, located in an ancient area...

"When exactly did you implant a telepathic magic circuit in my head? It's starting to get frightening."

⦗What is the meaning behind that behavior you just showed?⦘

Arriving at the mansion, Adler strolled down the hallway as he unpacked everything he brought with him. He was utterly unfazed by the abrupt phenomenon of Professor Moriarty's voice suddenly echoing inside his head, indicating his nonchalance and foreknowledge about this arrangement, and merely replied to her in a sly voice.

"The Professor is like the king in chess. And I'm the queen."

⦗What are you talking about?⦘

"If I pretend to be a mere advisor while actively moving around like this, I can protect and hide the king – which is you, Professor – to the greatest extent. Isn't that right?"

Then, after a brief silence, the Professor's voice resounded in his head once more.

⦗Not that... I'm talking about what you did with your hand inside my clothes.⦘

"Oh, that...?"

Narrowing his eyes, Adler responded in a shaky tone; his body reeking of alcohol.

"Am I not allowed to touch the Professor?"

⦗That's not...⦘

"I really, reallllyyyy like you, Professor. Why is it that you can freely touch me, yet I can't touch you?"

Following that, Professor Moriarty became utterly silent.

⦗I never said you couldn't touch...⦘

"So, there's no problem then, right?"

⦗But, I have read this in a book. The place you touched...⦘

"Ah, that's a different matter."

Ignoring the Professor's hesitant voice, Adler swiftly changed the subject.

"What do you think about this case?"

⦗It's quite an interesting yet familiar case.⦘

The Professor's reply came back swiftly, sharp and astute as ever.

⦗It's very similar to our very first case, The Red Mana League. ⦘

"What exactly is similar?"

⦗For the case to be solved, we have to bring a sickly girl, who's cooped up inside a room, out into the open.⦘

"I see. So that's the commonality you see?"

Adler's voice carried a hint of intrigue as the Professor continued her explanation.

⦗Miss Diana Wilson was a vampire. Not just any vampire, but the last remaining pureblooded vampire in the entire world.⦘

"... And what about it?"

⦗Think about it. The sudden madness, the superhuman strength that's difficult to handle even when all the servants cling on, and the abrupt seizures that occur mostly at night.⦘

The more she explained, the broader the smile stretching Adler's lips became as he conversed with her.

⦗It's too early to jump to conclusions due to the lack of evidence and information, but there's one prominent symptom that keeps coming to mind.⦘

"What might that be?"

⦗Lycanthropy Syndrome— a werewolf, so to speak.⦘

The moment the professor finished explaining, Adler quickened his pace with a twinkle in his eye.

"... That's an interesting conjecture."

⦗So, what will you do now? Even for you, dealing with a werewolf devoid of reason will be a challenge.⦘

All of a sudden, Adler started scratching his arm with his fingernails.

"To become friends with a wolf, you have to let it taste blood."

Soon, he was able to confirm the appearance of fresh blood on the spot he had just scratched; his preparations were now complete. At the end of his steps, he stopped in front of a door covered in nail marks, tightly bound with chains and locks.

Warning!

– Probability of Death — 52%

Please do not proceed as it is dangerous ahead.

A bright red warning message appeared before his eyes.

"... If devoured slowly, you won't die... probably..."

However, he merely muttered calmly and began to slowly unlock the chains with the key he had been given in advance.

Are you out of your goddamn mind?

"As long as I am not digested whole, it should be fine... right?"

.

.

.

.

.

Just a few dozen minutes later...

"... Gurrrr?"

The girl, crouched forward in her seat as she made low animalistic noises, wiped her damp mouth with her sleeve as she slowly regained her senses.

"........"

And with that, the room was enveloped in an eerie silence...

"Have you finally started regaining your senses?"

In front of her, there was Adler, lying on the ground while being covered in blood all over. The bloodied boy greeted the girl with a bright smile— a girl bound tightly with heavy chains.

"Could you please stop chewing on my fingers?"

"... Uh."

"I'd like to reattach them before they get digested."

The girl, who had pounced on the smiling boy in a frenzy and savored the taste of blood for the first time in a long while, started turning paler by the second at the horrific sight...

==Chapter 95: The Three Garridebs (2)==

"I'm, I'm sorry..."

"Oh no, it doesn't even hurt that much."

As the girl with the haggard expression bowed her head in apology, Adler responded with a kind smile.

"It seems you were famished. You ended up swallowing my fingers without even chewing them."

"Ah..."

Her expression morphed into faint astonishment at his incredulous words.

"It's okay, growing back a finger or two is as easy as pie for me."

"I'm, I'm really, really sorry..."

"It's fine; as long as you're no longer hungry."

However, as she saw Adler wrap his mangled hands with a bandage, the girl's eyes darkened ever so slightly.

– Buzzzzzzzt...

"I was attacked and almost half-eaten by you as soon as I entered this room. But, as you can see clearly, I'm still quite alive, am I not?"

"Yes, yes...?"

"I have a unique constitution. As long as I'm not swallowed whole and digested till nothing of me is left, I am essentially immortal."

"........."

Pointing to the numerous teeth marks marring his body, he assured her of his survival and started administering first aid to his severed fingers. Meanwhile, the girl merely bowed her head in silence once she heard his piece.

"Ooh, uuugh..."

Tears slowly began welling up in her eyes.

"Huu, Uggghhh..."

"... Why are you crying again?"

Adler couldn't help but scratch his head awkwardly, frowning as he saw her crying while making odd crying noises.

"I... almost... killed someone again..."

"Hmm."

"I... I am... a monster."

His gaze shifted, silently taking in the layout of the desolate room, but soon turned back to her and he smiled as he spoke.

"For a monster, you're quite beautiful."

"Don't say things you don't mean."

However, the girl, a somber expression on her face, was quick to deny Adler's words.

"How can a terrible monster who eats people be considered beautiful?"

Wiping away the tears brimming in the corner of her eyes, she murmured with an expression drenched in endless guilt; her lips still able to taste the bitter, metallic tang of Adler's fresh blood.

"Please reveal why you came to this place."

"........"

"If you don't wish to respond, you can just leave. You wouldn't want to go through that terrible experience again now, would you?"

Unknowingly, she bared her fangs at him and growled with a threatening voice.

"By the way, if you're a doctor or a psychiatrist or something of the sort, I'll just tear you to shreds. Even more so if you're a hunter here to catch me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you think I know nothing?"

Her expression grew more and more sullen as more words leaked out of her mouth.

"You've been sent by my brother, haven't you?"

"........."

"I already know everything. Even though you approached me with a smile at the start, you will eventually run away without lasting even a few days. So please, don't even bother and just leave."

Isaac Adler gazed at the girl with a serene calmness in his eyes.

"Sorry, but I'm neither a doctor nor a psychiatrist, or even this hunter of the occult, you speak of."

"... Then?"

"Kuhumm..."

He cleared his throat for a moment, and then, abruptly, spread his arms wide and opened his mouth with a cheerful expression.

"... Congratulations!"

Caught off guard by his sudden demeanor, the girl widened her eyes and tilted her head in utter confusion.

"What is this all of a sudden...?"

"It may be sudden, but you are the rightful heir to a fortune left by a wealthy magnate."

"... What did you say?"

"To be precise, you have inherited a grand sum of 15 million dollars."

At those words, momentarily, a dazed look washed over her face.

"... You're joking right now, aren't you?"

"No, this is not a joke, young lady. I am only informing you of the absolute truth."

Adler, with narrowed eyes, began whispering to her in a soft tone.

"Do you know of Alicia Hamilton Garrideb, the American magnate?"

"No, I haven't heard that name before..."

"Well, you haven't been out of the house much, so it's perfectly understandable."

With a leisurely smile tugging his lips, he began the tale of the wealthy magnate.

"That eccentric lady took great pride in her unusual name. So when she passed away last year, a single woman till her last breath, she left a will to pass her fortune on to a woman with the same last name."

"Ah..."

"After searching the American continent for over a year, I, acting as her agent, couldn't find anyone with such a last name. But I thought maybe there were chances of finding someone in the historical depths of England. And a few months after arriving in this country, I found your family."

After Adler finished speaking, he quietly observed the girl, whose expression had already begun trembling.

"Oh, no..."

"Yes?"

"I, I'm a monster, not a person. An inheritance? I couldn't possibly receive such a thing."

Hearing her words, Adler gently took hold of the girl's trembling hands.

"You look very much like a human to me, miss."

"Stop it, please!"

The girl, looking at Adler with frightened eyes as he approached her, began shivering violently as she pushed him away from her.

"Don't touch my body..."

"........"

"Do you want to lose your other fingers too?"

But Adler, nonetheless, did not back down.

"There's still my mother, for your information. Her surname is also Garrideb, and she's a woman. Let her receive the inheritance instead."

"Your mother suffers from extreme paranoia and delusional disorder. She would not look favorable in the eyes of the strict inheritance managers who assess the legitimacy of the heirs in person. Even you might lose your chance at the inheritance if your mother were to be presented."

"But still..."

"Miss Neria Garideb."

He began whispering to the frightened girl in front of him with a firm voice.

"The sole rightful owner of the 15 million dollars is none other than you."

"........."

"I, too, have been employed with the sole goal of making this mission a success. I cannot back down until you receive the compensation in America."

The girl's complexion started to turn even paler at those words.

"But, I don't want to go outside. Not even if I die."

"Why?"

"It's been 10 years since I have stopped going outside. I'm scared of it now..."

"Hmm..."

"And I'm a monster. If I go out, I'll be hunted."

At her somber voice, Adler scratched his head, lost in thought for a moment.

"... But still."

Watching him, the girl whispered in a hesitant voice— a voice that almost seemed to be crawling out of her throat with utmost difficulty.

"I don't want to give up like this."

Tears started welling up and eventually spilled out of her moist eyes.

"I can finally repay my brother for everything... I don't want it to end in vain."

"You must like your brother very much, I assume?"

"... He's the one who raised me without ever abandoning me."

At those words, Adler couldn't help but smirk bitterly in his mind.

"If I do receive the inheritance, I'll give all the money to my brother."

"........."

"I desperately want to repay him for all those years he lost while accommodating me."

The faint smile that formed on the girl's tearful face was flawlessly reflected in his eyes.

"But, but..."

"I understand your circumstances."

And then, in the very next moment, Isaac Adler slowly opened his mouth.

"To go outside, you need to control that frenzied state of yours, right?"

"Wait, just a moment...!"

Before the girl could stop him, Adler began to scratch his arm with his nails, drawing out blood.

"I will help you, Miss Garideb."

"Ah, ah..."

Then the girl, drooling uncontrollably, started to tremble violently throughout her body.

"Feed on me as many times as you need, and let yourself run wild, unfettered, for once."

The moment those words ended, the girl, having lost her reason, pounced on Adler's body once more.

.

.

.

.

.

"Ah, ah..."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Several hours later...

"I'll come again tomorrow, so digest what you've already eaten."

"There..."

Leaving the girl, who was drenched in blood and had eyes quivering with intensity, reaching out her hand toward him, Adler staggered out of the room.

"... How do you feel, Professor?"

Exhaustion was evident on his face as he straightened his clothes and murmured under his breath in a low voice.

⦗What do you mean?⦘

"Do you think I haven't noticed your leering eyes all this time?"

⦗Mr. Adler, that is...⦘

As soon as the question was finished, Professor Moriarty hurriedly tried to explain...

"... Pervert."

However, as Adler condemned her with a cold smile, the voice of the professor that resonated inside his head fell into a state of silence.

"So, how did you find watching the scene of me being devoured?"

⦗A vicious and unruly wolf, I see.⦘

A slightly disappointed look took over Adler's face once he heard the answer resonating inside his head.

⦗However, it feels a bit different from the werewolves I know.⦘

"... Hmm."

But as the professor murmured her doubts, a smile promptly returned to his face.

⦗And the house is suspicious too. The structure of the mansion, the appearances of the servants... there seems to be something hidden there.⦘

"Indeed, you are a queen worthy of my selection."

⦗But, Mr. Adler... Such things are not for us to uncover.⦘

A slightly shy yet disgruntled voice echoed in his head.

⦗Digging into the hidden backstories and secrets of a case is the job of a detective, not a criminal consultant. Aren't we supposed to be concealing them?⦘

"You're right, my adorable Miss Moriarty."

⦗So what is your true nature? Your usual self, or when you're drunk?⦘

"But it would be too dull to just kidnap and murder that poor girl outside, wouldn't it?"

Ignoring the professor's disgruntled voice, Adler's eyes quietly shone.

"So, it's about time for our nemesis to appear."

⦗You don't mean...⦘

"I've always preferred a stimulating love triangle over a bland and straightforward relationship, Professor."

Along with a message that shone golden in his hand, containing words that were all too familiar to them both.

⦗When you sober up, let's have a serious conversation.⦘

"I'm looking forward to it."

Despite the icy coldness in the voice that came through telepathy, Adler responded with a playful tone and unilaterally cut off the communication.

"... Until then, I guess I'll have to go on a detective date with Miss Holmes."

– Probability of being Shared — 5% → 10%

Please take care of yourself.

"Hehe."

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at that same moment, at the lodging house at 221B Baker Street...

"Holmes, please, come to your senses."

Charlotte Holmes' roommate, Rachel Watson, was arguing with her, sweating profusely throughout their verbal back and forth.

"The book you've been reading is filled with sexual fantasies and delusions, inflated in a dangerous and provocative fashion."

".........."

"Real love between a man and a woman isn't like that. It's not about lewd, pleasure-seeking acts; it's about sharing pure love..."

"Just get to the point, Watson."

Charlotte, unfazed by her roommate's earnest voice, continued to flip through the coverless book as she asked the question.

"... Anyway, according to this, such acts could result in pregnancy, right?"

"That, well, yes, but... that's not the point, is it?"

In her hand, a message quietly glowed in golden.

｢A new mystery is upon us!｣

"That's an erotic novel banned as obscenity, Holmes!"

Watson's plaintive voice echoed fruitlessly within the walls of the lodging house.

==Chapter 96: The Three Garridebs (3)==

– Knock knock knock...

A few days after Charlotte Holmes received a message from Adler...

"Who is it?"

"Excuse me."

"Oh..."

Nathan Garrideb, who opened the door to the mansion at the knocking sounds, started speaking with a puzzled look on his face as a girl abruptly pushed her way inside the house.

"Excuse me, but who might you be...?"

"A colleague."

"What?"

Stopping in her tracks, she spoke with an air of authority in her voice.

"Didn't you already receive a prior message?"

"Ah..."

"Don't waste any more time, and take me to him."

"... Then, please follow me."

Garrideb, wearing an uncertain expression, finally nodded his head and began leading the girl toward her destination.

"You know, I asked for this matter to be handled with the utmost discretion..."

"Two is still a small number."

"Yes, but you see, given the nature of the work, if the police or a detective were to catch wind of this by any chan..."

"You talk a lot, don't you?"

While he continued to express his dissatisfaction, the girl stopped walking and narrowed her eyes.

"Do you want to handle it alone then?"

"No, that's not what I meant..."

"I have no desire to quarrel needlessly with you. Just get. Me. To him..."

With her icy demeanor silencing any semblance of nagging he had left in him, Nathan Garrideb frowned before obediently resuming the walk.

"This way."

An uncertain period of time passed as they walked through the meandering hallways of the mansion. They eventually stopped in front of a room still marked with nail scratches, and the girl's eyes sparkled in silence at the sight.

"... Your colleague hasn't arrived yet, so you should go in first."

"You may leave now."

As she spoke without even looking at him and proceeded to unlock the chains with the key she was given, Garrideb gazed at the girl with unconcealed apprehension. However, he soon turned away, shaking his head as he decided to leave her to her devices and withdraw himself from this dangerous place.

"Be careful. It has become somewhat tame recently, but a monster will always be a monster."

His parting words of caution echoed down the hallway and reached the girl's ears, but she just entered the room without even batting an eye.

"You're early, Mr. Adle..."

"Look here."

An instant later, she started walking forward, her gaze locked on Neria Garrideb, who was mumbling to herself in a low voice with her head bowed down. Having already anticipated Neria's reaction, she was unfazed by Neria's words, misinterpretating her as Adler.

"Wh-Who are you?"

"Never mind that, answer my question."

Neria Garrideb, finally realizing that the person in front of her was not Isaac Adler, whom she had been visited by persistently over the past few days, but an unknown girl instead... merely nodded her head in confusion as a response.

"What is your relationship with Isaac Adler?"

"Pardon?"

"Did you pledge your love to him? Agree to date or have a secret marriage?"

Then the girl, peering down at her with a sinister look in her eyes, began barraging her with incredulous questions.

"If not that, have both of you been physically intimate? How far did you go? I hope you're not going to tell me you've been sexually involved or something along those lines."

"Uh...!?"

"Do you even love Isaac Adler? That's the most important part. Perhaps you're just being used..."

It was at that very moment – hearing the girl's clingy questions dripping with clear obsession and madness, as cold sweat began forming in small beads on the pale face of Neria Garrideb – when,

"Miss Holmes, you shouldn't torment the patient like that."

From behind them, a familiar voice laced with mischievous laughter was heard.

"Adler."

"She is not involved with me in the way past acquaintances have been."

"... Past being the operative word here."

"I'm not shameless enough to deny what I've been involved in."

"That brazen look on your face certainly doesn't inspire confidence."

"... Um, excuse me. He's speaking the truth."

As Charlotte Holmes turned her head, her sharp gaze met by Adler's relaxed expression, Neria Garrideb, from behind them, timidly added her voice to the conversation.

"Are you his lover by any chance? I'm not sure what misunderstanding you might be having here, but Adler and I are not in the sort of relationship you're thinking of."

"So you say..."

Charlotte, not outright denying the inquiry about being lovers, scanned her with a slightly suspicious look before turning her gaze back to Adler.

"Eventually, the investigation will reveal everything, so if you're honest n..."

"It's just... I've eaten up Mr. Adler a few times. That's all."

She stopped speaking as a timid voice came from behind, leaving her with a stunned expression.

"It's a misunderstanding, Miss Holmes..."

"I didn't eat because I wanted to; I had no choice if I wanted to get paid..."

"... Really now."

A heavy silence began to fill the room at the end.

.

.

.

.

.

"... So, you mean to say that she literally ate you?"

"Have you finally figured out what she meant by those words?"

"It's the worst in a different sense, indeed."

A few minutes earlier, in the mansion's drawing room to accommodate guests...

"I had no choice but to follow through with my plan, Miss Holmes."

"What is your purpose?"

Leaving Neria Garrideb, who showed signs of another fit, Isaac Adler and Charlotte began to converse while gazing intently at each other.

"To deceive that naive girl with the peculiar surname into believing that she would be receiving an inheritance, giving her the courage to venture outside, and then discreetly eliminating her as per her brother's, who is our client, request. That was my current objective."

"... You should have known that such lies are not going to work out on me, right?"

"No, I am speaking the truth. I am positive that I will succeed in this endeavor."

Charlotte couldn't help but smirk while muttering those words. However, she soon frowned when she observed Adler's unchanging expression at her words.

"If that were your true goal, you wouldn't have summoned me and spilled your entire plan."

"Miss Holmes. This has just been the kind of bet we've been making all along. Whether to solve a case, or let it remain unsolved forever. Thus, making it a mystery"

"... But now, you've gambled on a living person's life."

"Did you think I was just always going to engage in love affairs?"

With that said, Adler took out a small bottle and took a swig of it with relish.

"That's... alcohol..."

"We're not playing house anymore, Miss Holmes."

"........."

"It's a death race that won't end until one of us disappears forever from London."

Charlotte opened her mouth with a slightly darkened look in her eyes as she observed him and his actions.

"What if there's a way to end this without one of us disappearing?"

"Miss Holmes, I can assure you that there is no such way."

Adler, with a leisurely expression, emptied the bottle and plucked a strand of his hair to hand over to her.

"Sadly, no matter how much you try to exploit my genes, Miss Holmes, what you want will not happen."

"..........."

"Even if you sneak into my hideout again and rummage through my trash, like last time, it's futile. Your approach is fundamentally flawed, and even if you did find out, you would instinctively reject it."

A fleeting smile appeared on Charlotte's lips, but as the tipsiness began to spread throughout Adler's body again, he swayed and failed to notice her expression.

That kid, she just smiled at your words.

"... Mr. Adler."

As he looked puzzled at the system message that suddenly appeared before hiss eyes...

"Have you forgotten that I love you?"

Suddenly sighing, Charlotte murmured while staring into Adler's eyes.

"... I genuinely love you, Mr. Adler."

As Charlotte, resting her chin in her hand, whispered those words in a soft and gentle voice, Adler's previously confident eyes started wavering ever so slightly...

"And I know it's the same for you."

"........."

"It's not common, even in a marriage, for two people's eyes to be dyed in each other's colors as they are for us."

Charlotte, catching that small change, whispered with even more emotion in her voice.

"In this London, where we love each other more than anyone else, must we ultimately fight one another?"

"... That is."

"Isn't that such a sad tragedy?"

As Adler quietly bowed his head, Charlotte carefully caressed the back of his hand and spoke.

"Why don't we just end this nonsense and move down to a quiet countryside to live together?"

Though she threw the words out casually, her eyes were filled with sincerity as they observed Adler.

"... How about we take up beekeeping as a hobby and live happily ever after?"

"........."

"For children, we could have a son and a daughter, what do you say?"

A rather long silence began to flow between the two...

"... Let's focus on the case, Miss Holmes."

"Is that your answer?"

"The reason I called you here is quite simple. There's a secret in this case that is... difficult to investigate as a mere assistant of a criminal consultant."

Eventually, Adler, having expelled the alcohol that had spread through his body, spoke with a slightly grave voice.

"So, let me be your assistant for some time..."

"... Don't regret it later."

Charlotte, who had been looking at Adler with a frosty stare, stood up from her seat and, as usual, connected Adler's arm to her own with black handcuffs as she whispered in a dark voice,

"This was your last chance."

"... What chance?"

At her words, Adler couldn't help but tilt his head.

"The chance to agree on a consensual child-making scenario."

Turning her head, Charlotte murmured quietly as she moved towards the door.

"Do you still think that I don't know?"

"Know what..."

"... How to make babies."

That brief phrase was enough to dye Isaac Adler's mind, which had been inebriated with alcohol for the past few days, with terror.

.

.

.

.

.

Hey...

".........?"

But that wasn't the end of it.

You're now facing a crisis that will lead to a potential Game Over scenario.

"... Yes?"

Adler, who was being dragged away by Charlotte with a stiff expression, saw a sentence that was several times more terrifying before his eyes.

Warning!

– Probability of Retiring in this Case in place of the protagonist, Isaac Adler —

"... Gasp?"

Adler's face turned pale in an instant, and he immediately grabbed the arm of Charlotte, who was leading him to who knows where, and pulled her towards him.

"What are you doing?"

"Just stay still."

"What, what's the matter? All of a sudden..."

As a dismal number had appeared before his eyes.

95%

"Did you think I'd get excited if you suddenly played hard to get?"

Be sure to protect what you desire to keep.

Adler, looking down at Charlotte, who murmured with a voice that seemed to be growing increasingly ominous, began to sweat profusely.

"... Shall we go now, to the countryside?"

"What?"

==Chapter 97: The Three Garridebs (4)==

"What on earth are you doing?"

Charlotte, walking quietly down the corridor after slipping out of the drawing room with Adler in tow, couldn't help but furrow her brows and speak...

"Look here, Mr. Adler. Don't pretend like you didn't hear me."

".........."

"No matter how you look at it, isn't this a bit too much?"

Muttering to herself, Charlotte looked up at Adler, who was moving forward in silence while holding her in his arms; her body bound tightly in the vestiges of his outer coat.

"It's suffocating, really..."

– Kooo-oogh...

"Ugh..."

But Adler, paying no heed to her words, held her even tighter, and Charlotte, pretending to be defeated, closed her eyes and spat out in a sulky voice.

"You usually act so nonchalant, why are you suddenly being so assertive today?"

".........."

"Just act as you normally do. It's annoying..."

Despite her words, Isaac Adler said nothing, not a single thing. Simply, he gazed down at Charlotte with an intense light in his eyes as she stood there, tucked inside his tight embrace.

"Why are you really doing this?"

Charlotte, staring at his eyes – which were dyed a dull black, the same shade as her hair color – soon averted her gaze and started murmuring under her breath.

"Do you think I'd be pleased if you suddenly act like this...?"

".........."

"I'm not like those foolish women bewitched by you, whose hearts flutter at your merest touch."

The faint blush coloring her cheeks was a direct contrast to her blunt words, however.

"So let go of me..."

– Kooo-oogh...

"It's interfering with the investigation, Mr. Prospective Criminal."

An uncredible claim, considering her own eyes were dyed in the same hue as Adler's golden blonde hair.

"Let me go..."

– Badump, badump...

Add to that Charlotte's rapidly beating heart that could be easily felt by Adler as she struggled against him, and what little credibility she had left was shattered in its entirety.

"....... Ugh."

Knowing these facts all too well herself, Charlotte eventually gave up resisting and quietly surrendered her body to him.

"Why did I end up falling in love with this odd man?"

She sighed quietly and murmured under her breath, her voice low.

"Somehow, it feels like I am far crazier than when I was living buried under the side effects of drugs and magic stones 24/7..."

"... Miss Holmes."

Finally, Isaac Adler started speaking, his voice... low, heavy, and utterly solemn.

"Shall we pretend this case never happened?"

"What?"

"If you get hurt, I think my heart won't be able to take it."

Hearing his voice filled with sincerity, Charlotte looked into Adler's eyes, which were now trained at her with an unusually possessive gaze; a gaze far different than the usual one he would direct at her.

"What's your ulterior motive? Weren't you the one who called me here?"

"That's true. However, upon some introspection, I realized that this case is just too dangerous. It was a misjudgment on my part."

"What do you mean..."

"I don't want to see Miss Holmes get hurt. So, let's just step back this time."

Caught by his intense gaze, Charlotte unknowingly swallowed hard.

"If you turn away in the face of danger, can you even call yourself a detective any longer?"

"... I may not die even if I'm slashed to pieces, but you aren't like that, Charlotte."

"Now you're even speaking informally?"

As he stroked the small scar on Charlotte's cheek, a remnant from her last encounter with Jill the Ripper, she couldn't help but twist her body in discomfort, feeling ticklish inside. Soon, Charlotte posed a question with an oddly calm expression, different from the one she had been showing.

"Do I mean something to you?"

"Of course, I love you."

"Your professor would be quite upset if she were to hear that."

"You're not as strong as her."

"I can tolerate a lot of things, but I can't let that remark slide..."

"Charlotte!"

Abruptly, she looked at Adler with a slight shock on her face as he subconsciously raised his voice and pushed her against the wall of the corridor.

"Listen. To. Me."

Adler, holding Charlotte's arms and leaning in close, whispered in a low and dangerous voice, his breath ragged and emotional.

"This case is too dangerous...!"

And with that remark, total silence ensued.

"... I'm sorry."

After seeing Charlotte's wavering eyes staring blankly at his face, Adler regained his composure, returning to his usual demeanor, and loosened his grip on her arms.

"I've been unable to control my emotions lately, might be due to all the stress catching up. I apologize if I startled you."

"It almost felt like a playful dog, always wagging its tail excitedly, suddenly bared its fangs and jumped to bite my neck for a second there..."

"That's quite the extreme analogy..."

"Is that your true nature?"

Quietly observing the handprints on her arms, she tilted her head as she posed the question.

"Quite the opposite actually."

"Opposite?"

"Only with you or the professor... no, only when I look at you, do I become like this. It's quite odd."

Charlotte gave Adler a frosty stare for a second, prompting him to correct his statement. Soon, she narrowed her eyes and whispered in his ears.

"Do you prefer me, or the professor?"

"... It's you, Miss Holmes."

"Why did you pause at the start?"

"You must be mistaken... Probably."

Even though Adler was quick to explain, Charlotte's eyes remained narrowed as she nodded her head in understanding.

"Looking at you now, your right iris seems to have become a bit pale somehow?"

"........."

"It appears to be slowly turning grey, doesn't it?"

At that very moment, as her voice grew ominously dark while speaking to Adler and caressing his iris with her hands...

"Is this also a figment of my imagination, Mr. Adler..."

"Of course, it's not a figment of your imagination."

From behind the duo, came a voice laced with mockery.

"... Oh, really."

"That eye of his is being tainted in color."

Charlotte Holmes, turning around, frowned heavily and muttered as she saw the person coming in through the end of the corridor.

"Isn't that so, Isaac Adler?"

Professor Moriarty, hands clasped behind her back and her head bobbing from side to side, had finally revealed herself... Her eyes shone with a mysterious gleam as she watched the scene unfold.

.

.

.

.

.

"I've been smelling the scent of an old maid around here for a while now..."

"No matter how much you spread false information, the fact remains that the color of Adler's eyes is gradually changing to my color."

"... Mr. Adler, let's just leave. If we're not careful, the smell will cling to us too."

Charlotte Holmes, looking at the newly appeared Professor Moriarty with a sickened gaze, quietly grasped Adler's sleeve and stepped forward.

"......"

"Mr. Adler?"

However, for some reason, Isaac Adler stood there motionless... no matter how much she pulled.

"What are you doing?"

"Miss Holmes."

As Charlotte Holmes looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, Isaac Adler, still motionless, opened his mouth and spoke in a whispery voice.

"In fact, the one who called Professor Moriarty here is me."

"What?"

"Isn't that right, Professor?"

Jane Moriarty, who was looking at her assistant with a puzzled look on her face, quickly agreed with his words.

"... That's right."

"And do you know why?"

As she nodded quietly in affirmation, Adler threw another question.

"I'm not entirely sure about that."

"Come here, then."

Taking her hand, Adler pulled her to where he was standing.

"Hold hands and do a handshake."

""........?""

As he grabbed the hands of Charlotte and the professor and made them do a handshake, both women couldn't help but look at Adler with unconcealed incredulity in their eyes.

"This is a temporary alliance."

"What do you mean..."

"This mansion is really, really dangerous."

However, Isaac Adler, ignoring their gazes, continued to speak with a grin on his face.

"There are many hidden secrets. So, since it's come to this, let's not fight among ourselves and instead uncover the secrets hidden within the case together..."

"Mr. Adler..."

"Adler, that's..."

"Shh~"

He covered the mouths of Charlotte and the professor with his hand, smiling slyly with his eyes.

"... Won't you do it? For me?"

""...........""

For a moment, both of them gazed at each other, a frigid, hostile look in their eyes, before eventually muttering in a cold voice.

"Sorry, but I don't see how a greenhorn way below my level would be of any help in uncovering secrets."

"I'm also reluctant to have the smell of an old maid cling to my coat..."

"Rather than an accursed body that can't even nurse a baby properly, a slight age difference is preferable, I would say."

"A baby would want fresher milk rather than that from someone 'slightly' older, don't you think?"

Just as their verbal fight was about to intensify...

"I was going to offer you both a wish each if you helped. though"

Isaac Adler suddenly mumbled to himself, twirling his foot on the ground, eyes cast downward.

""............""

About a minute later, the two women dramatically came to a temporary agreement and started walking down the corridor of the mansion. With Adler in the middle, they walked side by side, coursing through the winding mansion.

"... Ladies?"

And soon, Adler found himself being wrapped in chains of grey and black... even as they continued their silent march.

.

.

.

.

.

"Pardon me, bu..."

"Endure it. Given the abrupt actions you've taken thus far, this is an extremely lenient treatment in comparison."

"Be thankful I have not incapacitated you yet and carried you around in a bag."

Even though I had been stripped of my physical freedom, bound by these magical chains as I am, and flanked on both sides by these dangerous women, I still believed the situation had improved, even if a little.

With Charlotte and me, it might have been uncertain, but with Professor Moriarty joining us, I was sure that literally nothing could threaten us.

Hey... You may want to take a look at this.

However, I came to learn that... it was just my delusion.

Warning!

– Probability of a Sacrifice instead of the Protagonist, Isaac Adler — 99.99%

The terrible probability –which had, by some unknown and incredulous means, increased further – appeared before my eyes, starkly visible amidst the mana of the two women binding me tightly. An absolute sense of dread surged through my whole body at such a sight.

– Creeeak...

"... Huh?"

With a faint creaking noise, the door of the room, which we had been informed of being unoccupied, had opened. And from within the room, I was able to see a faint glow leaking out.

"Wait a minute..."

The unidentifiable glow seemed to be visible only to me, which only added to the dread and uncertainty I felt.

Warning!

– Probability of being Devoured — 100%

I'll try to figure something out, so just hang on till I do.

"... Eeek."

It was good that I called up the system every night for entertainment.

==Chapter 98: The Three Garridebs (5)==

Moments after Isaac Adler lost his freedom of movement at the hands of the two women...

– Creeeak...

"... M, Mr. Adler?"

Isaac Adler entered the room, bound tightly in chains conjured by the mana of the dangerous duo. And seeing Adler in such a state, Neria Garrideb, who had been sitting sullenly on the bed, couldn't help but stumble back in surprise and shock.

"That child is the wicked wolf that has been devouring Mr. Adler every night."

"Seems like you've been watching again, haven't you? How impressive."

Charlotte Holmes and Professor Moriarty began their conversation, gazing intently at the shocked woman.

"Unfortunately, it seems like my assistant can't go a day without getting stabbed or kidnapped. So, some special management is bound to be employed to prevent them."

"Using Romanian rebels like your private soldiers and surveilling someone's every move 24/7 isn't management; it's a serious crime, Professor."

"But thanks to those precautions, we've prevented crimes that could have happened to Mr. Adler— crimes that already number in the double digits, mind you."

"That's..."

"Of course, that's something you detectives can't do. Detectives are the sort who cheerfully chase after incidents that have already happened, rather than preventing them."

The voices of the two women grew colder and colder the more they conversed. Meanwhile, Adler, realizing that a silent war was unfolding behind him, was slowly turning paler by the minute.

"... You might think I'm not making any effort, but that's, in fact, a great misconception of yours. If that's what you think, I have no desire to converse further."

"You mean the so-called Baker Street Special Forces? Really? Those beggar brats? Sigh. Don't be mistaken. They're not worth keeping in check, so I've simply ignored them."

"No matter how weak those children might be individually, when united, they still form a strong group. Moreover, they have a complete understanding of the complex back alleys of London, which are like a different world, so don't you dare look down on them."

With the last exchange, the glares Charlotte and the Professor directed at each other became increasingly intense, rising to a dangerous level.

"As I said before, you've got a knack for crime. You've already taken the lead in exploiting children, something even I haven't done."

"Simply surveilling one person allows them to earn enough for a month's meals and a warm blanket to keep them comfy; I fail to see how that's considered exploitation. Perhaps it's more akin to child welfare? Yeah, that seems right."

"What it seems to me is that... you're not really in a position to criticize me now, are you?"

"I'm not like you, employing those scums with impure intentions. My aim is purely for the safety of London..."

"Um, excuse me...?"

Just when the two women, still fiercely glaring at each other, started emitting the faintest trickles of grey and black mana from their bodies.

"Why have you come to my room?"

"".........""

"Why is Mr. Adler tied up...?"

Neria Garrideb, sweating profusely and apprehensive of this whole situation, mustered the courage to interrupt their conversation with a question.

"I came to check on something."

"... It'll only take a moment."

Only then did the two women cease their argument and turn their attention back to the apprehensive girl.

"What, what is it..."

"Before that, I have a question for you."

Professor Moriarty stepped forward, casting a frosty smile at the girl as she posed her question.

"...Have you ever heard of the legends of the werewolves?"

"...... !!!"

The moment she heard those words, the girl's body froze in place.

"What, wha... what's that?"

"A monster that transforms into a wolf under the moonlight, a creature that vanished after the Great Demon Purge of the early 1700s."

"... I, I don't really know."

As she spoke with obvious terror in her voice, a look of intrigue appeared on the professor's face.

"Have you been taught to deny anything related to the word wolf outright?"

"........."

"Indeed, it would be quite the predicament for the rest of the family if it were discovered that there has been a werewolf among them for the past century who never showed their face."

The professor then circled her, murmuring with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Perhaps, they could even be eradicated by the ruling body."

"When they commissioned us, they deliberately avoided using the term werewolf to minimize information leaks, didn't they?"

"Look here."

As Adler joined in, Charlotte Holmes frowned and interjected into their conversation.

"Excuse me, werewolf?"

"Indeed. Didn't you hear the stories before coming here?"

"Sporadic madness. The sight of blood inciting a frenzied leap. Strength that becomes several times greater than usual. Don't these clues give you a hint?"

Then, Moriarty and Adler, both with a wry smile, spoke.

"Have you both ingested something wrong? Or did I perhaps overestimate you both?"

Charlotte, her eyes half-closed, soon began to mutter in a frosty voice.

"Werewolf? That's utterly nonsensical."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's illogical for a werewolf to still exist in Britain."

Then Adler, with a slight smile, gestured to himself.

"If vampires exist, why not werewolves?"

"That was an exceptional case. This is different."

"How can you be so certain? Do you have any evidence?"

"Of course."

Charlotte firmly countered his point and began to rummage through her belongings.

"Here, this should confirm it..."

"... Eek."

Just as she pulled a shiny, silvery object from her pocket,

"... Adler?"

– Trembletrembletrembletremble...

Suddenly pale, Adler quickly clung to Moriarty, trembling violently from head to toe.

"Why are you acting like this? Like a mouse soaked in the rain."

"That's scary..."

"The silver cross?"

"... Hold me right, Professor."

"Hmm..."

The professor, tilting her head in curiosity, patted his back with a slightly satisfied expression on her face. Meanwhile, Charlotte, holding the silver cross in her hands, momentarily looked on at the scene with a dazed expression.

"I failed to take Mr. Adler into consideration."

"It's alright, continue what you were doing."

"... I'll be quick."

Murmuring in a slightly darkened voice, Charlotte brought the cross close to Neria Garrideb.

"How does it feel?"

"........?"

"Does it sting or cause any sort of discomfort?"

Garrideb shook her head as she intensely gazed at the cross held against her flesh. And Charlotte, as though expecting such a reaction already, soon put the cross away.

– Swoosh...

"Sorry, sorry, I was wrong, Miss Holmes."

As she extended the cross slightly towards Adler, he started crying out in a fit... Even his black tail which he always hid had now revealed itself.

"Stop this nasty joke right this instant."

"... This could come in handy, hmm."

"What's the intention behind that action?"

The professor, stroking Adler's head to calm him down, asked in a monotone voice.

"Silver has been known since ancient times as a deadly weakness to vampires and werewolves. Indeed, there are records that the Hunters in the early 1700s carried bullets or blades made of silver."

"Put, put that away..."

"As you can see, Mr. Adler, being a pureblood vampire, has such an intense reaction to silver."

Charlotte continued her explanation in a low voice.

"And yet, a werewolf came into direct contact with a cross and remained completely unaffected? Odd, isn't it?"

"Ah..."

"There's only one conclusion. That person is not a werewolf."

The girl, sitting on the bed, opened her mouth in a daze, looking like she had been hit with a hammer to the head.

"That can't be... I, I am..."

"Sporadic frenzy. Seizures that occur at the sight of blood."

However, Charlotte naturally interrupted her words and proceeded with her own explanation.

"While it's not the Lycanthropy Syndrome, there's another disease that can cause nearly identical symptoms."

"... What?"

"Well, you, who've lived your entire life confined to your home, wouldn't know about this. The name of that disease is..."

Just as she was about to explain in a rare kind tone,

"Hydrophobia. A disease with a 100 percent fatality rate for which no vaccine has been developed yet."

"Also known as rabies. According to recent reports, Dr. Louis Pasteur is working on developing a vaccine as we speak..."

"... Is that so? That's the first time I have heard of that term, but somehow it does fit."

This time, Professor Moriarty and Adler chimed in, cutting off Charlotte's words.

"Hydrophobia...? Rabies...?"

"See, you both knew about it already."

"Your know-it-all attitude is always amusing, isn't it?"

"What, what are you all talking about?"

Charlotte Holmes muttered in a subdued voice, as if she had already expected such a scenario. Meanwhile, Neria Garrideb couldn't help but ask them with a panicked voice.

"Confusion, delirium, seizures. To use Mr. Adler's term, these are the primary symptoms of Rabies."

"But..."

"Moreover, more than half of the patients exhibit an extreme fear of water. Even on the brink of dying from thirst, they convulse and suffer terribly at the sight of water."

She fell silent once she heard Professor Moriarty and Charlotte's detailed explanation.

"... And the same goes for the sight of blood flowing out of a human body."

"You speak as if you have experienced it?"

Meanwhile, Isaac Adler, subtly posed a question to Charlotte as she muttered to herself with clear exhaustion in her eyes.

"Howling Cemetary and Reconstructed Wolf. The culprits of these two low-level cases I recently solved both had hydrophobia."

"Ah..."

"They were so trivial and boring that even Watson gave up writing about them. Still, the knowledge gained from investigating the came comes in handy at times like this."

Isaac Adler nodded in understanding, and behind him, Neria Garrideb, with a ghastly pale face, spoke up while trembling violently.

"Then I..."

"You've been deceived all your life into thinking you were a werewolf when you were actually just a patient of Hydrophobia."

"........."

"I don't know what reason your family had for deceiving you, but It's truly regrettable."

Having finished her words, Charlotte Holmes quietly turned to walk away.

"Then, it's about time to hear the reason from the two Garridebs who have been lying for more than 10 years..."

"Stop right there."

However, Professor Moriarty, with a gleam in her eye, stopped her mid-sentence.

"What's the matter?"

"It's too early to jump to conclusions."

At those words, Charlotte tilted her head as though asking for an explanation.

"As I said before, rabies is a disease with a 100 percent fatality rate."

"........"

"Most patients die within a week of showing symptoms. Yet, Miss Neria Garrideb has survived for over 10 years."

But as the professor continued her words, Charlotte's expression slowly distorted into a grimace.

"Moreover, even if the disease makes one exhibit violent behavior, the aggression that the girl showed towards Adler is extremely excessive."

"That could vary from patient to patient..."

"In the two cases you encountered, the patients attacked bloodied individuals to escape their pain, but they didn't bite and tear their flesh, did they?"

Professor Moriarty, looking at her with a leisurely gaze, softly whispered.

"And what about the unreasonably increased strength with each fit? You skipped over that without explaining the phenomenon properly."

"........."

"Can you explain these three points of doubt I have, Charlotte Holmes?"

"What's your angle?"

"I feel a certain kinship with you."

"... That's positively horrifying."

Feeling an inexplicable disgust from her words, Charlotte Holmes, with a nauseated expression, took a step back.

"And like Adler, I've become interested in seeing how far you, still a raw and unrefined gem, can grow."

"Spare me the bullshit."

"Oh dear, was my lie that obvious?"

Professor Moriarty's gaze turned slightly cold as the curse leaked out of Charlotte's mouth.

"Adler wants that."

"........"

"He wants you to become my arch-enemy, so I'm sincerely offering you my help."

Professor Moriarty moved toward her and whispered into Charlotte's ear; her voice dark and ominous.

"Do you understand, little girl?"

Hearing those words, Charlotte quietly bit her lip and clenched her hands hard.

"The reason why Neria Garrideb has survived a disease with a 100 percent fatality rate for over 10 years, the reason she harbors this unknown brutality within her, and the reason she can exhibit such tremendous strength."

"............"

"Look them up."

The professor, provoking her, quietly shifted her gaze from her.

"Personally, I doubt it whether you'll be able to find out the reasons by the end of the day."

And then, with a smile in her eyes, she spoke to Adler.

"Don't you think the same, Adler?"

And the room was drenched in utter silence...

.

.

.

.

.

"Ahaha..."

"What's with the sudden laugh?"

I, who had been asked the question by the professor, flashed her a slightly awkward smile.

"... Excuse me."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Do you often meet with your mother these days?"

Dragging my uncomfortable body, bound in chains, I sat down quietly next to Miss Garrideb and began to ask her some questions of my own.

"Yes, yes... She sometimes comes into my room before I go to sleep."

"I see..."

"Somehow, every time she does, my eyes automatically close and I quickly fall into slumber. But I distinctly remember the touch of her hand stroking my forehead..."

It was all to derive the one answer that could explain the points of doubt Professor Moriarty had raised just now.

"By any chance, what is your mother's name?"

"Vi, Victoria Garrideb... Why do you ask?"

"Do you know her maiden name as well?"

"What? That is... Oh, I remember."

After hearing my question, she pondered for a moment before looking up at my eyes as she answered.

"My mother comes from a noble family in Switzerland. Thanks to that, she has a rather unique surname, if I recall."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, as far as I remember, it's..."

Gulping hard in tension, I watched her as she slowly revealed the information I desired.

"... Frankenstein."

Upon hearing the name that slipped out of her lips, which eventually confirmed my hypothesis, I involuntarily clenched my eyes shut.

"Mother's former name was Victoria Frankenstein."

'... Damn it all!!'

The beings whose very existence was a paradox were slowly revealing themselves, having established their foothold on London.

Warning!

Erosion Rate — 33% → 40%

==Chapter 99: The Three Garridebs (6)==

'... I'm so screwed.'

The moment I realized the crux of this whole case, my mind was filled with that thought.

'I should have noticed sooner.'

There had been more than just a few chances to reach this conclusion.

The abnormally low body temperature of Neria Garrideb that I could feel the moment she pounced on me.The terrifying strength that her frail body should have never possessed.And, more than anything else, the strange wound on Nathan Garrideb's arm.

There were quite a few similar clues scattered all over, suggesting that Neria Garrideb was an artificially created being.

Only, they were obscured by the keyword of a rabies patient, rather than a werewolf.

By the time I realized the truth, it was already too late.

Professor Jane Moriarty, Charlotte Holmes, and I were already too deeply involved in this bizarre case.

'If both sides clash, the situation will surely spiral out of control...'

Considering the cases of Jill the Ripper and the phantom thief Lupin, I was able to grasp the conditions that led to an increase in the erosion rate.

Every time characters from other popular 19th-century works, or real people with no ties to the Sherlock Holmes series got entangled in a case, the erosion rate would jump dramatically.

Even in this case, the moment Frankenstein was mentioned, the erosion rate shot up by a whopping 7 percent.

What if Charlotte Holmes or Professor Moriarty got more deeply involved in the case?

The erosion rate might skyrocket uncontrollably. Rather, at the rate things were going, that was bound to happen.

'... I have to stop it.'

Then, there was only one way to overcome this predicament.

As the probability of this world, the one designated with the duty to uphold this world's balance, I must fight against those alien beings in place of Charlotte Holmes.

'I must twist the conclusion of the case before Charlotte Holmes arrives at the truth.'

Therefore, I have no time to waste.

Before Charlotte discovered the identity of Neria Garrideb and the existence of Dr. Frankenstein behind her, I had to carve out and discard the inconsistencies present in the case. The points which deviated the case from its natural course.

And then, I needed to manipulate the truth and reconstruct the case from the ground up.

To accomplish that, it was a must to eliminate Dr. Frankenstein, who should be hiding somewhere in this mansion, as soon as possible.

Honestly, I doubted that I would be able to accomplish that with this body, akin to a glass cannon, I possess. However, this wasn't the time to debate whether it was feasible or not.

If I didn't succeed, the end of the world was imminent. I had no choice but to accomplish the task at any and all costs, whether I like it or not.

"... Hmm."

Then, what was the first agenda that I needed to tackle?

"Time is ticking, Miss Holmes. At this rate, the truth will be buried in darkness."

"... Shut up."

"Ohhh. So, even the most genius girl in the world is capable of getting nervous, huh? Quite an unusual sight, I must say."

It was simple.

I had to shake off Professor Moriarty and Charlotte Holmes, who were currently exchanging icy looks as they argued with each other.

That was the only way to deal with Dr. Frankenstein without anyone noticing.

– Click, click...

However, there was a problem. I had already lost my freedom of movement due to these two women.

The mana chains conjured by the strongest being of this world and the mana chains of the only person who can rival this being were binding me tight.

This superimposed binding would be unbreakable by anyone except Gia Lestrade, who could nullify any and all magic.

'Well, then there's no other choice left.'

There was only one option left for me.

'... I really wanted to keep this as a last resort.'

It was quite possibly an action unworthy of the probability of this world, but it was the only method left for me at the moment.

"Excuse me for interrupting your delightful deductions for a moment."

"........?"

As I resolved myself quietly and began to speak, the eyes of the quarreling women simultaneously focused on me.

"There has been a slight error in the case."

"What?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm afraid I will need to make a minor correction. It won't take long, I promise."

Nigh instantaneously, the expressions on their puzzled faces turned icy at my words.

"Are you planning to disappear again, only to be found half-butchered to death?"

"Perhaps you secretly harbor a penchant for bloodshed? If not, it would be wise to cease this foolishness while you still can."

The remarks leaving their mouth soon after were not different from what I had anticipated from them.

"... I knew both of you would respond that way."

As I gazed at them with a smirk, knowing how well they complemented each other only in moments like these, I quietly raised my hand and allowed my eyes to shine.

– Snap...!

A crisp snapping sound echoed in the room.

– Bzzzzzz...

"".........!?""

And soon after, the anomaly occurred.

.

.

.

.

.

"... Hnng."

"Hmm?"

The chains that had been tightly coiling around my body began to loosen, and simultaneously, both Charlotte Holmes and Professor Moriarty groaned out loud, their bodies beginning to twitch.

– Zzzing...

At the same time, the golden seal I had engraved in their lower abdomen began to shine with a golden hue.

"What are you doing right now?"

"Mr. Adler. Since when do I have such a thing engraved on my stomach?"

Clutching her lower abdomen with a visible tremble, Charlotte glared at me with a look that seemed to be saying that she could kill me if she could. On the other hand, Professor Moriarty merely posed a question with eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"It was engraved when I first made the slave... I mean, graduate student contract with you, Professor, and in the case of Miss Holmes, it happened during our contract at Reigate... Probably."

"I don't recall consenting to such an inscription."

"Don't feel too upset, Professor. Unlike the other women's contracts, your seal is also engraved on my stomach..."

With those words, spoken in a somewhat menacing tone, I smiled and revealed my lower abdomen.

"..... Ah."

I found two seals overlapping each other, alternating between shades of grey and black, battling for dominance, and briefly trailed off.

"The seals are so strong-willed, just like their owners~"

"Enough, why is my mana suddenly sealed?"

"Now that you mention it, I can't seem to use my mana either."

I tried to speak in a cheerful tone, only to be met with the cold voices of Charlotte and the Professor.

"The reason you can't use your mana is because... I'm using the mana of all the women I've engraved with seals on their lower belly to suppress both of your mana."

"Does that even make sense?"

"Well, it seems to be working though, doesn't it?"

As I shrugged my shoulders and retorted, Holmes and Professor looked at me with an incredulous gaze. Their reactions told me that they too were unaware of this phenomenon.

In this world, mana was in reality a shared resource.

The phenomenon of mana discoloration, where one's eye color changes due to the influence of another's mana, was commonplace precisely due to reason. Since the mana a person held was far more fluid than one might think, it could easily flow between individuals.

Therefore, if one was lacking in mana, it was inherently possible to receive it from another person or, conversely, to transfer it.

And it seemed that the original Isaac Adler, even before my possession, was the only one who had realized such a fact.

He had been carving mana conduits under the guise of slave contracts onto the lower abdomens of women all across London.

His research was slightly flawed, so it never manifested in practice. But if the theory had worked as it was intended, all of London could have been his potential mana reserve; just waiting for him to tap into a near-infinite supply.

'... And I, I finally completed it.'

Perfecting the incomplete mana conduction magic was simpler than I thought it would be.

After weeks of revising the poorly written syntax, written with incorrect and clunky logic with the know-how of an active developer, I successfully reproduced Isaac Adler's unfinished magic in my own original form.

In other words, I had successfully turned half of London's women into my mana channels.

Of course, the vessel itself was still painfully small, so I wasn't even able to unleash intermediate spells without employing some sort of trickery. Let's not even mention the top-tier magic that Charlotte or Professor Moriarty are able to cast.

But if the mana reserve was infinite, and there were enough channels to direct it in their lower abdomens, there was a very simple method of suppression that I was able to employ.

"So, how does it feel to be unable to use magic?"

That was... a DDoS attack.

It involved pouring the mana of half of London's women population into their seals over a prolonged period of time.

"... Really, just what on earth is your true identity..."

"You always exceed my expectations, Adler."

Naturally, their bodies, overloaded by the continuous onslaught of infinite mana, became incapable of manipulating any mana for a while.

And unless their capacity to hold mana was as vast as the entirety of London itself, it was unlikely for them to have any means to escape this attack.

"Let's see..."

""............""

"Hmmm."

I summoned golden chains with a flick of my hand, binding the dazed Charlotte and the professor tightly, for good measure.

"This should be good enough..."

"Look here, Adler."

Just as I was about to step away after ensuring multiple times that the chains were securely fastened, an even-toned voice came from behind me.

"Heh..."

Viewing the professor, utterly restrained by my mana, I felt the urge to tease her arise within me, unexpectedly.

"No, you look, Miss Moriarty."

"... Mr. Adler?"

"It seems you might be under a misconception here."

How could I not harbor dark desires when such a being, who always helplessly subdued me under her might and control, was now subdued so helplessly?

"Now I am your master."

"....."

"So call me master instead of Adler."

Instantly, the professor's eyes grew cold as frigid ice as I whispered to her in a husky voice.

"Oh. Your eyes seem rather defiant, hmm? Not quite grasping the situation now, are you?"

"............."

"Do you wish for me to pet you and train you as I did that one time?"

But as I poked her lower abdomen with my finger while whispering, the professor's eyes started to waver.

"A professor with a nasty temper, hiding her thesis papers.

"A pervert who salivates after someone who doesn't even consent to your advances.

"You even have a whole ten-year age gap with Charlotte..."

That moment, as her response amusingly fueled me, I found myself engrossed in continuing the provocation.

– Gooooo...

However, abruptly, a chilling coldness emanated from her very being at my continuous provocation.

"... Does it feel good, to sexually harass a student who hasn't even graduated yet?"

A shiver ran down my spine momentarily, but I had already said my piece.

Having successfully executed the theoretical and highly prone to failure distributed mana rejection attack, I was now able to control the professor however I wished.

I had no reason to fear her anymore.

"... Anyway, both of you stay still."

""..........""

"I'll be back shortly after fixing this mess."

I patted the professor and Charlotte's heads once more and headed out of the room with a small smile on my face.

"... Miss Garrideb, you come along too."

"M, Me?"

"You'll be my bodyguard for the day."

I should have taken a tougher stance from the very start.

.

.

.

.

.

A few minutes later...

"Where does Franken... no, Mrs. Garrideb usually stay?"

"On the first floor, in the master bedroom. Except for the time she's eating... she spends nearly all day there."

As Isaac Adler exited into the hallway with Neria Garrideb, he asked her in a friendly voice, prompting her to respond. Her expression was unusually tense as she spoke to Adler.

"Relax."

"But... it's been so long since I've been out of the room..."

"How long has it been?"

Adler tilted his head and asked, and Neria Garrideb quietly bowed her head and muttered in a low voice.

"I'm not sure, but... ever since father passed away, it's been..."

"It must have been lonely."

Adler looked at her with a slightly dark gaze, then began to gently stroke her hair.

"I've had my own times of loneliness."

"Really?"

"I was so depressed that I lost interest in life. That's why..."

Just as he was about to flaunt his eloquence, as usual...

"I feel the same way, Adler."

Right next to Adler, who was walking leisurely, came that even-toned voice he often heard.

"A professor feeling lonely, that's quite unexpected..."

He chuckled and responded by nature, however, he soon trailed off...

"Huh."

Then, Adler glanced slightly to the side, and Moriarty, with her hands clasped behind her back and bobbing her head from side to side, came into his view.

"Is this a dream?"

"............."

"It is a dream, hehe."

He grabbed her cheek and stretched it, then pinched his own cheek and let out a relieved laugh as he didn't feel any pain from that action.

"... But I usually can't feel pain."

Coming to that realization, his complexion grew paler by the moment.

"Oh, didn't know about that..."

Professor Moriarty, whose mana vessel was revealed to be larger than at least half the women of London combined, was smiling broadly with her arm on Adler's shoulder.

GG1So, the system is basically saying that he played well, but it was now time for game over. Basically, she's saying Adler's fucked, lol. Trolling 100.

"... Eeek."