Stop trying to control me, Miss Moriarty!

Chapter 32 Fanatic Fan

From the moment he learned that he was about to die, Erin had been thinking about how he should end his life.

He turned around.

The square was still bustling with people, the pigeons were still foraging for food, and the newsboys were still hawking their wares; everything was exactly the same as before.

But the figure in the brown trench coat and deerstalker hat had already disappeared into the twilight.

Holmes left.

--Feel sorry.

He thought silently.

It was all because of me, this butterfly that wandered in recklessly, that Professor Moriarty had the idea of ​​establishing a criminal kingdom ahead of time.

According to the game's storyline, their first indirect confrontation will take place ten years later, and the final battle at Reichenbach Falls will be a full twenty years away.

Twenty years.

Enough to make a sixteen-year-old genius female detective grow into a legend of the times.

But now... there's not enough time.

Erin had seen what was hidden in Moriarty's purple eyes.

After his death, Moriarty, now without brakes, will probably go on a rampage, dragging the whole world into the abyss.

There wasn't much time left for Holmes to grow up slowly.

She must become London's "savior" as soon as possible.

Even if it's done in the most brutal way.

Even if it means playing the villain herself, becoming an obstacle she must overcome.

The Red and the Black: Becoming "That Man" for Sherlock Holmes

[Progress: 15% → 42%]

[Main Quest Unlocked: Join Charlotte Holmes in Maintaining Order in Britain]

Progress: -4.27%

[Interim Reward: 10% (Not yet achieved)]

well.

Imitating Moriarty's nature in his performance was the right choice.

Obsession. Competitive spirit. Sense of humiliation...

Whatever it is, plus Holmes' final expression, that should be enough; she already has enough motivation.

and.

Erin looked again at the few chimneys in the distance that were still belching black smoke.

Compared to struggling and dying in agony under the influence of poison, being killed by Sherlock Holmes would be such a luxurious way to end one's life.

After all, this was a privilege that only Moriarty was entitled to.

Erin's face almost wore a smile.

However, the text in front of him was still increasing.

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

[Progress: 25% → 58%]

Main Quest: Assist Jessia Moriarty in building a criminal empire

[Progress: 1.94% → 4.27%]

?

Why is the professor's task progress also increasing?

Immediately afterwards, two lines of striking scarlet text appeared.

【warn! 】

Being single-minded is an essential lesson for a qualified gentleman.

? ?

What does this mean?

—Could it be?

Erin suddenly felt a chill run through her body and quickly looked around.

There were no abnormalities.

She could recognize Moriarty's highly distinctive face at a glance, and she disdained to disguise it.

But Erin still frowned and spoke to the air, "You were there, weren't you? Peeping is a very bad thing to do."

Then, a handsome young man with blond hair, about six feet tall and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuding an air of nobility, squeezed through the crowd and walked towards Erin.

He made no attempt to conceal his magical energy fluctuations and activated the "secret" magic that Holmes had just used.

The blond man removed his top hat and gave a greeting: "First of all, I must apologize. I overheard your conversation with Miss Holmes out of personal curiosity."

He took off his glasses again, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with a silk handkerchief, and finally raised his hands out to the sides.

Snap, snap, snap—

A steady and powerful round of applause came from his hands.

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!" His voice was filled with passion and excitement, yet trembled with emotion. "I have never heard such an inspiring speech! I feel truly fortunate to live in the same era as you!"

His brown eyes stared straight at Erin.

That fervent gaze reminded him of people who would stare at the Mona Lisa in a museum all day long.

Finally, the blond man bowed deeply: "Mr. Erin Adler, please allow me to offer you my sincerest respects."

???

Erin now had only one thought in his mind.

—And who are you?

The mysterious blond man with glasses seemed to sense his confusion, so he stood up again, cleared his throat, and said, "I am Rogers Cahillland von Zaxmeieringen. You should have heard of me."

Erin did recognize the name; he was the older brother of that stupid pig prince.

But how did he end up here, and even eavesdrop on my conversation with Holmes?

What was the meaning behind that strange statement just now?

However, before Erin could speak, Rogers continued, "You do recognize me, it's truly an honor."

"Excuse me—" His voice was filled with cautious anticipation, almost like confessing to a long-desired lover, "May I participate in your great cause?"

……and many more.

Etc., etc!

Erin was completely confused. What on earth was this person talking about?

"...Your Highness, what great undertaking are you referring to?"

"No."

Rogers reacted strongly by shaking his head:

"Please do not address me as Your Highness. Before you, I am but a foolish soul awed by your ideas, a faithful follower yearning to follow in your footsteps."

"As for the great cause—"

Like a fanatical fan seeing their idol, he reached out and grabbed Erin's hand: "Of course, it's about building a criminal empire and overthrowing the old, corrupt order! Let those damned vampires taste what it's like to be overthrown!"

He paused briefly and took a deep sniff.

"You're absolutely right. This country is terminally ill, but not just Britain, Scandinavia is too. My father, my family, all the nobles—they are the very core of this cancer. From childhood, I watched how they used grand rhetoric to cover up the dirtiest deals, how they squeezed every commoner's marrow dry. I…"

His eyes reddened again.

"I always thought I was alone. I always thought I was the only one in the world who saw all of this, yet was powerless to change it. Until today, until I heard what you said to Miss Holmes!"

He raised his other hand and placed it on his chest, where his heart was.

"You know what? When you said, 'The Empire State Building will one day collapse,' I couldn't stop crying, and my heart almost stopped. And when you said, 'Fireworks will be more spectacular than a supernova explosion!' I—I—"

His tears finally streamed down his cheeks, and he cried uncontrollably, like a baby less than a month old.

"I've lived for twenty-four years and have never heard such beautiful sentences."

"……what?"

Erin almost lost his composure.

Let's not even talk about how I was just fooling Sherlock Holmes.

Your Highness, why do you have such thoughts?

The Scandinavian king had only two sons, and given that the wild dog was dead, Rogix was destined to receive the crown.

Why has Your Majesty rebelled?

He tentatively began, "Given your status, perhaps it's inappropriate for you to say such a thing?"

Rogers wiped away his tears, his tone incredibly sincere: "People cannot choose their birth, but they can decide their future."

He gripped Erin's hand even tighter: "Please let me join your ranks and contribute to our great cause."

Erin: "..."

How did we begin our great undertaking?

He refused with a serious and distant expression: "I'm sorry, I can't trust you."

However, even in the face of such a cold rejection, Rogers simply nodded: "I understand. If I were in your shoes, I would make the same choice. But one day, I will prove it to you."

He reluctantly released his grip and bowed again: "I'm so sorry for coming empty-handed today. I'll bring a gift for a formal visit next time."

With that, Rogers dispelled the magic and turned to walk into the crowd.

Erin was left alone, bewildered in the evening breeze.

He tilted his head.

His eyes were unfocused.

It seems, probably, as if?

Did you encounter a lunatic?

Erin shook his head, and shook it vigorously.

He tried to shake the image of that neurotic future king, who was crying his eyes out and saying he wanted to join the great cause, out of his mind.

...I couldn't shake them off.

Forget it...

He raised his right hand, ready to send a message to Moriarty.

But as if it had been expected, the screen flickered with a ghostly light first.

"Moriarty: I'm at Whitehall, table 07."

Erin stared at the line of text for three seconds, then sighed.

so.

Was she really spying on us too...?

Thinking about all this, Erin suddenly felt a sense of despair and mechanically started walking towards the restaurant.

.

As darkness fell, the fog spread once again with the arrival of night.

Among the crowd in the square.

A hooded woman was standing there.

She's always been here.

From Sherlock Holmes to Rogers, and now to staring intently at Erin's departing figure.

"...That was close, Mary."

Her voice was very soft.

"I thought we'd been discovered."

She was all alone, and no one responded to her.

"...Yes, Ellie."

She continued, her tone and voice changing as if she were being answered by a completely different person.

"We almost got out!"

She was clearly talking to herself, but no one around her noticed anything unusual.

"That Adler."

"That Erin!"

"He actually said something like that."

"He is indeed very dangerous!"

The two voices spoke in unison.

"so."

"so!"

"Let us maintain the peace of London, Mary."

"That's right, Ellie! Let's kill Erin Adler together!"

"Ee-hee-hee—"

"Hehehe—"

Amidst the overlapping laughter, a dark shadow enveloped her body.

She disappeared.

It seemed to disappear into the gradually spreading mist.