Stop trying to control me, Miss Moriarty!

Chapter 19: Work is on the way, Professor

Erin stood in front of the oak door of the research lab.

It was during class time, and this place was deep inside the teaching building, so it was deserted and quiet, with only the sound of the morning breeze rustling through the leaves in the background.

He was a little dazed.

The scene and my feelings right now are strangely similar to my first time going to the office.

He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"You're back so soon?"

Jessia, who was behind the desk, looked up at Erin, a playful smile curving her lips:

"I thought you would be spending a blissful night with your lively and beautiful girlfriend in some love hotel."

Erin ignored her teasing and sat down in the chair opposite the desk: "Professor, you knew from the beginning, didn't you? Irina Schulto was never my girlfriend."

Looking back now, it's clear that this was the reason Moriarty displayed such unusual indulgence.

"Hmm...it's obvious, isn't it?" Jessia said. "That's probably the simplest reasoning in the world."

Sure enough.

To be fair, Schulte's acting was quite good. Even if Erin scrutinized her with a critical eye, she didn't find any obvious flaws in her behavior.

"Where exactly is the problem with Schulto's behavior?" he couldn't help but ask.

Jessia raised her right hand and pointed to her temple: "Adler, you can't always rely on me. You should think for yourself sometimes."

Clearly, Moriarty's Riddler Syndrome has struck again.

The best way to deal with this disease is to ignore her topic.

Erin got straight to the point: "Professor, the next crime consultation has come knocking."

"Hmm?" Jessia tilted her head, seemingly surprised. "Is it Miss Schulte?"

"That's right."

Erin nodded and began to speak.

From their identities, their conversation in the art studio, to the details of the subsequent commission.

He only selected the most crucial parts and did not elaborate further.

Jessia rested her fingertips on her chin, listening quietly the whole time.

Only after Erin finished speaking did she smile softly: "Our client seems to be hiding many things. However, a key that concerns the survival of London... that alone is enough to pique our interest."

She touched her chest: "Even my heart is beating a little faster."

Moriarty's reaction was pretty much what Erin had expected.

Even with extremely limited information, she could still tell that Schulte was deliberately hiding something.

The mystery and danger inherent in this commission undoubtedly piqued her interest.

However, in the next second, those purple eyes that had just been sparkling with the joy of a child seeing a beloved toy turned gloomy again, like dark clouds gathering outside the window.

"Adler," Jescia's gaze fell on Erin, "before we begin this crime consultation, you have one unanswered question."

Still here.

Thanks to the precious time bought by Holmes and Schulte, Erin had devised a perfect plan to pass the test.

He took a deep breath, then lowered his head: "I'm sorry, Professor, I lied to you."

"Hmm?" Jessia became intrigued by this unexpected opening and pressed for details, "In which aspect specifically?"

Erin raised his head and slowly said, "My amnesia has nothing to do with you. Perhaps because of my near-death experience, I also gained 'Apocalypse,' which allows me to see fragments and information about the future. As for the price—"

He pointed to his forehead: "It's the permanent loss of my memory."

Rather than admitting that he was a time traveler, he might as well use the ready-made excuse of "Apocalypse".

Life is unpredictable; those few idiot screenwriters in the company actually turned out to be a great help one day.

Moreover, in a sense, this is not a lie.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Jessia nodded slightly, a faint smile on her face.

Just like tilting her head when she's curious, this is a little habit she has when she's thinking seriously. "So, everything, including the thesis, is a fragment of the future you saw through 'revelation'?"

"That's right," Erin replied confidently.

"The ability to foresee the future," Jessia said softly, her eyes gleaming. "It's completely comparable to mine."

She gave a soft "hmm," then sighed.

"So, I really do prefer you to be my destined rival. As for that detective, she can just stay a graduate student. After all, you've completely outmaneuvered her."

Arryn retorted, "That's not it, Professor. I was able to beat Holmes entirely because of my prophetic abilities."

His voice was filled with certainty: "Although she is still somewhat immature, in the near future, she will be a formidable opponent who can rival you, and even pose a challenge to you at times. I can guarantee that."

"Okay," Jessia replied casually, as if she had already lost interest in the topic.

She tilted her head, her gaze refocusing on Erin: "Can you decide what you want to see and what you want to forget?"

Erin shook his head and said helplessly, "It's all completely random."

"I see..." Jessia looked thoughtful, and after a few seconds of silence, she said, "Then don't use it anymore."

"...Why?"

"Because predicting the future is just as boring as committing the perfect crime," Jessia said with a sweet smile. "Besides, if you accidentally forget about me too..."

Her smile grew even brighter and more captivating: "But I might kill you, you know."

A chill ran down Ailin's spine.

How can a human being use such a gentle smile to say such terrible things?

The thought popped into his head without his noticing.

Even more incredibly, I've actually started to get used to dealing with this situation.

Just then, the familiar words reappeared at the edge of my field of vision.

[The Napoleon and Lannes of the Criminal World: Giving Meaning to Jessia Moriarty's Existence]

[Progress: 20% → 25%]

Main Quest: Assist Jessia Moriarty in building a criminal empire

[Progress: 1.37% → 1.94%]

Erin's gaze lingered on those lines of text for a few seconds.

"Adler," Jessia's voice suddenly rang out, "What are you looking at?"

"Huh?" Erin's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away. "No."

Jessia narrowed her eyes slightly. "Your pupils contracted rhythmically several times just now, something that only happens when reading. But there's absolutely nothing in front of the left side of your gaze."

"..." Erin felt cold sweat about to break out again.

How could such a tiny, insignificant detail be discovered?

He quickly adjusted his expression, feigning sudden realization: "Oh, so that's what you're talking about. This is an ability that comes with my 'Apocalypse,' allowing me to see fragments of the future in written form, like a record."

"Okay." Jessia seemed to accept this explanation.

Then, those deep purple eyes locked onto Erin again, filled with a hint of inquiry and anticipation: "So, have you seen my future?"

Erin was slightly taken aback.

Would Moriarty really care about something like this?

Her future...

Of course I know.

Reichenbach Falls: The final, fateful showdown between the detective and the criminal, as they both plunge into the abyss.

But only Moriarty died.

"I saw it."

Erin met Moriarty's gaze and said slowly and clearly, "You will become the creator of a criminal empire, the future underground queen of Britain, and rule the fate of all Britain in the shadows."

Jessia's expression froze.

Then, a smile gradually bloomed on her face, more radiant than the irises in the academy courtyard.

"Well then, you'd better keep it up, my dear accomplice."

"You are too, Professor."