Stop trying to control me, Miss Moriarty!

Chapter 34 Sincerity is the Ultimate Weapon

Even earlier?

Erin tentatively asked, "Professor, are you listening in on me?"

"That's right." Jessia admitted without the slightest hesitation.

"So," she looked directly at Erin, "I know everything that happened today."

really.

When Moriarty uttered those words, Erin had a premonition.

But when reality was laid out so abruptly before him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise.

Earrings, communicator, other alchemical items on his body...

Erin checked them all and confirmed that they did not contain any similar magic.

He was quite curious.

"How did you do that?"

"...Why are you asking this? Shouldn't you explain it to me now?"

"Um, Professor, are you angry? So what should I explain to you?" Erin looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"I'm not angry." Jessia's voice gradually turned cold. Although she was sitting motionless in her chair, it felt as if she was getting closer: "You should explain what we just had!"

Erin lowered his head, seemingly deep in thought.

"I still don't understand what you mean."

He looked up, puzzled. "I wasn't lying to you... well, maybe a little. My personal sense of justice did play a part in saving those children. But that doesn't stop us from bringing Lady Burtis and her forces under our control."

Jessia's eyes grew colder, and her voice became even more somber:

"Adler, you've never mentioned the most important point. Why are you hiding the fact that you're dying?"

"?" Erin tilted her head.

His expression was sincere and frank.

"I didn't intend to hide it, but isn't it a bit inappropriate to bring this up during dinner with you? You're enjoying your meal, and if I suddenly said, 'Professor, I'm dying,' how could you possibly finish the meal?"

He blinked innocently: "I still have to complete the follow-up plan, so I'm just going to tell you tomorrow."

"..."

Jessia fell silent, which was unusual for her.

Although she was still looking at Erin, the light in her eyes had completely changed, no longer carrying the coldness and scrutiny.

well.

Erin thought to herself.

After a moment of silence, Jessia finally spoke again, her voice softer than before: "Why don't you feel any fear of death?"

A perfectly timed smile appeared on Erin's lips: "People fear death, often because they still have something to lose in this world, right? But there are always exceptions, like the Duke of Westminster."

"As for my situation."

He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on a patch of twilight outside the window:

"It's probably because of amnesia. My memories are quite fragmented now. The only complete part is the few days after I woke up in the warehouse. I don't really feel much attachment to this world."

He withdrew his gaze and met Moriarty's eyes again:

"In my opinion, ending up as your accomplice is already a pretty good ending. Of course, in the little time I have left, I might change my mind someday..."

Jessia looked at him quietly.

Those red eyes held no sadness or sorrow, nor any accusation against fate; only calmness and something that could almost be called "sincerity."

"..."

She fell into a long silence once again.

The Serenade in the restaurant had ended, and Beethoven's Spring had been replaced, while the light spots from the crystal chandelier were still slowly rotating.

Arlin was very self-aware; he knew that even with some of the advantages of prophecy, he could not bridge the gap between himself and Moriarty.

She's too smart, smart enough to easily see through most lies, and she gets angry when she's been deceived or kept in the dark.

This leads to a situation where, after one lie is exposed, one has to cover it up with an even more perfect lie.

Then——

As long as you tell the truth from beginning to end, that's fine.

Professor, this time it's my turn to checkmate.

"Enjoy your vegetable salad and French-style baked escargots."

A male waiter approached carrying a silver tray and gently placed two dishes on the table.

He clearly recognized Erin as well, and after putting down his plate, his gaze secretly swept back and forth between the two of them a few times.

In the end, he left with a knowing smile between men.

Erin picked up a snail and put it in his mouth.

Butter, garlic, parsley, and the perfectly tender texture of the ingredients. A wonderful explosion of flavor and texture in your mouth.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

Delicious food really does make people happy.

It has to be French food, huh? What kind of stuff is British food? All they know is potatoes, potatoes, potatoes. He's already sick of potatoes at the college after just a few days.

"Adler".

Jessia's voice suddenly rang out.

Clear and slow.

"You won't die."

She seemed to be making some kind of declaration, or prophecy.

Erin's hand holding the fork hung in mid-air.

He couldn't understand why Moriarty, who should have been completely indifferent to the deaths of others, would say such a thing.

"Professor, you should know that even the foremost alchemist in Britain, Mistrald, is helpless against this..."

"No." Jessia shook her head.

"There's only one reason she can be number one—I've never seriously studied alchemy."

At that moment, her eyes shone with a wild confidence.

"Whether it's the 'Dragon's Blood Crystal,' the second revolution in alchemy, or even the legendary 'Philosopher's Stone,' I will make them a reality."

Jessia never doubted her abilities; she could always unravel, master, and trample upon the myriad things of the world.

"Even if the gods of Genesis descend, or the demon king of hell is reborn, if I do not allow it, even they cannot take your life."

She believed from the bottom of her heart that she could never fail, and she put it into practice.

"Adler, you are my 'possession,' and only I am qualified to kill you."

Erin put away her fork, placed her hands flat on the table, and looked into those eyes.

The shimmering light was indistinguishable in color; he didn't know how to describe it, and his feelings were the same...

Moved? Guilty? Sad?

So complicated.

It is so complex that it is hard to describe.

"professor."

Erin knew very well that even Moriarty couldn't have done these things.

This is a little joke he and the other creators played on the world.

But he still smiled, a genuine and unreserved smile: "I'll take this as your blessing."

"No." Jessia gently shook her head. "It's a curse, a curse that prevents you from dying."

She pursed her lips and added, "But perhaps, you will suffer countless pains afterward."

"I will endure it," Erin whispered, "until my last breath..."

Jessia's gaze hardened, her voice soft yet incredibly heavy: "I said, your death will never come before my permission."

"Then I can endure as many years as you wish, and as much pain as you desire."

"That's right."

Jessia smiled slightly, a very subtle curve: "That's what a qualified accomplice should do."