“Excuse .”
“Yes, what brings you here… Oh?”
To thoroughly verify the details published in the morning newspaper, Charlotte journeyed to the police station in Pennsylvania, where the incident had occurred.
“Could you be… Charlotte Hols?”
“… Do you know ?”
Charlotte asked, directing a puzzled look at the officer who had seemingly recognised her and extended a hand with a pleased expression.
“Of course, A Study in Scarlet and The Adventures of Charlotte Hols are bestsellers that are famous not only in Arica but in France also.”
“… I had no idea that they were that good.”
“It’s an honour to et you. I am Inspector MacDonald. But what brings Miss Hols here…?” 1
At the inspector’s further probing, Charlotte breathed a tired sigh and pulled out a newspaper.
“… What’s this?”
“My business pertains to an incident reported in today’s newspaper. I ca here to gather so information as this police station has jurisdiction over this incident.”
“Oh, have you decided to operate internationally now?”
“Not at the mont.”
She explained, a sombre look in her eyes.
“It’s just that the peculiarities of my situation have left with no choice but to involve myself internationally this ti.”
“Hmm… I see. I’m curious what kind of incident has moved a famous figure like Miss Hols.”
“There’s no need to explain. You can see for yourself.”
With that, the inspector bowed his head and eyed the newspaper Charlotte had laid down.
“Ah… Are you talking about this assault case?”
“That’s right. I want to receive all the possible information regarding this case.”
“Um… It doesn’t seem like a significant enough incident for soone of your stature to handle.”
“Appearances can be deceiving, and what seems trivial might hide a chasm thousands of miles deep.”
“… Well, I understand. Given your reputation, I’m sure you have enough reason to involve yourself in this case.”
Just as the inspector was about to speak further,
“In my personal opinion…”
- Squeak…
Suddenly, the door behind them opened, and soone entered the police station.
“……….”
And with the entrance of the speaker, silence ensued in the police station.
“Well, well, well… who do we have here?”
In the silence, a familiar voice laden with mockery addressed Charlotte, who wore a dark gaze as she looked at the figure.
“At this point, it might as well be regarded as stalking, Hols.”
“… Only it’s you who sought out this ti.”
The owner of the remark was none other than Professor Jane Moriarty, wearing an expression as dark and cold as Charlotte’s.
“Were you anticipating the route I’d take? Quite impressive, if I say so myself.”
“Ha… Nonsense.”
Understanding that they had to see each other’s insufferable faces even in another country, the pair of won’s faces soured into annoyance. Moreover, the atmosphere in the police station grew markedly colder due to the hostile aura they exuded toward each other. řΆΝỐΒËȿ
“Um… Excuse , but who might you be?”
“… I am Professor Moriarty.”
In the tense scenario, the inspector hesitantly asked the professor regarding her identity, not recognising her. Imdiately, her expression changed as she addressed the inspector in question.
“I’m just an ordinary university professor.”
“… Not ntioning this ti that you’re a professor at the August Academy, a celebrity in the world of academia for your papers on asteroid dynamics and the binomial theorem that also gave you imnse fa at a relatively young age?”
Charlotte interjected with a mocking tone before the professor could talk further.
“When have I ever boasted about that?”
“Ah, and while on a teacher’s salary of 700 pounds a year, you also display a 40,000-pound painting in your study. It’s a mystery where that amount of money ca from.”
“I’ve never told you about my salary, nor have I shown you my study.”
“… There are ways for a detective to find out.”
“Such as breaking and entering?”
And their quarrelling resud once more, for what it seed to be the umpteenth ti.
“Well, even if it’s you, I didn’t think you’d go as far as to spout your vain delusions in front of a police officer. There are laws against defamation in both Arica and Britain, for your information.”
“Shall I tell you an interesting story? In the 1750s, there was a woman nad Julia Wild…”
“A real figure who wielded considerable influence among London’s villains, lending them her wisdom and organisation for a 15% commission fee.”
“Oh, you’re quite knowledgeable.”
“Changing the subject won’t save you from defamation. Consider this a final warning.”
“Thank you for the warning, Miss Napoleon of cri who has spent over 6000 pounds on her underlings in the past month alone.”
“It seems to that you’ll be eting a lawyer very soon.”
“Not a lawyer, but ard assassins more likely. Watch your words.”
The officer, watching the confrontation between them with anxious eyes, finally decided to ddle before the situation escalated with a timid tone.
“Please… let’s put off the fight for now. Could you first explain why you’ve co here?”
“… Indeed, I was just thinking about that.”
Only then did Jane Moriarty shift her gaze from Charlotte.
“I wanted to discuss the case reported in today’s newspaper…”
“Ah, so there really was sothing deeper to this case?”
While speaking, the professor pulled out the sa newspaper that Charlotte had shown earlier, prompting the inspector to scratch her head before speaking.
“Well, alright. You do have a certain authority as a professor from the August Detective Academy…”
“…….. Tsk.”
“Then, let continue what I was about to say earlier…”
Just as the inspector’s story was about to resu,
- Screech…
“Excuse !”
At that very mont, the door opened once more before another familiar voice echoed out from behind.
“My na is Gia Lestrade, Inspector of the London tropolitan Police Departnt. I’m here to ask for cooperation on a ca…”
With a brisk voice, Lestrade was requesting cooperation from the inspector but froze on her spot when she spotted two won already inside. Alongside her appearance, another long, eerie silence settled inside the police station for so ti.
.
.
.
.
.
“Guys… Ya sure no one else is coming?”
“………”
“Hmm, should we finally start then?”
Observing the expressionless won, turned pointedly away from each other with their arms crossed, made the inspector nervous and sweat ever so slightly. But latching onto her resolve, she steeled herself before clearing her throat, ready to finally explain the situation to the trio of dangerous won.
“So, continuing with the story I was about to tell… my personal guess is that this case seems to be related to a violent gang.”
“A violent gang?”
Charlotte responded with a slightly intrigued look at that statent.
“There’s a vicious gang that has been active around this place recently.”
“Exactly where are you referring to?”
“Well… it’s a place called Vermissa Valley…”
As the Inspector absentmindedly answered the follow-up question,
“Thank you!”
“Eh.”
“Have a good day!”
Gia Lestrade, who suddenly got up from her seat, opened the door in a flash and ran out of the police station.
“That, that person…”
A baffled look crossed the inspector’s face as she looked at the unstable door that was constantly being opened and shut throughout the day.
“… The explanation keeps getting interrupted, oh well, then…..”
“………”
“Excuse ? Are you both alright?”
She asked with a puzzled look as she watched Professor Moriarty and Charlotte fidget in their seat. Even though they hadn’t darted off like Lestrade, they seed to be feeling impatient and uncertain keeping still.
“… It’s fine, please continue.”
“But please, make it quick.”
“Um…”
With an uncertain expression, she stared at them briefly before shaking her head and continuing with her story.
“… I’ll continue then. Anyway, I believe that the organisation recently active in that area is linked to this assault case.”
“On what grounds?”
“The fact that all the perpetrators were won. The mbers of the organisation, known as The Scowrers, are also all won.”
Upon hearing her response, both the professor and Charlotte’s eyes lit up ominously.
“However, one thing I don’t understand is… why they would commit such an act…”
“… Thank you for the information.”
“Much appreciated.”
The two won rose from their seats, leaving the inspector absolutely bewildered at their sudden action.
“Are you leaving? Then you must be careful.”
Inspector MacDonald, looking slightly worried, cautioned them and offered her advice.
“The Vermissa Valley is currently known by the locals as the Valley of Fear. The gang residing there is violent and savage, and even the police can’t exert their full force at that place.”
“”………””
Charlotte Hols and Professor Moriarty paused for a mont, then slowly turned around.
“Thanks for the advice.”
“But it was completely unnecessary, to be honest.”
“…….!”
At the brief display of hostility that abruptly surged out of the pair of won, the inspector, without even realizing it, almost drew the pistol she carried.
- Squeak…
“Phew…”
As the two won quietly left the police station, she exhaled softly and murmured under her breath.
“… I’m not sure what’s going on here, but it seems to that the na of the valley will probably change back to Vermissa Valley very soon.”
.
.
.
.
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anwhile,
“… Is it just my imagination?”
Adler, feeling a sudden surge of anxiety, had taken off his wig and placed it beside the bed to scratch his head.
“I suddenly feel an ominous chill crawling all over…”
Just as he was reaching out to transform back into Irene Adler.
- Clatter…!
“Rookie, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Dear Irene, feeling worn out?”
“That bastard, we’ve already beaten him thoroughly but maybe…”
“…….!”
Suddenly, the door of the boarding house he was staying in began opening abruptly,
… They’re ripping off the door with force alone?
Adler was utterly astonished by the strength of the mbers who sohow managed to break the door despite it being securely locked. With that realisation, he hastily scrambled to put the wig back on his head to impersonate a woman again, lest they find out about his secret.
“O-Oh, you’ve arrived…?”
He greeted the leader and the mbers who had co to find him with a forced calm smile, but,
“””………….”””
For so reason, the bright smiles that had been plastered on everyone’s faces just monts ago were now gone, an ominous foreboding.
“Why, why are you looking like that…?”
Sweating at the sudden change, Adler looked at the won with a pitying look and asked in a bare whisper.
“… You’ve put the wig on backwards.”
“Ah.”
Carelessly, he spun the misaligned wig back to its original position at the leader’s comnt, only realising what he did after he was done with the deed.
“””……..”””
Silence filled the room after the stunt.
“… You were a man?”
“See, I told you he slled like a man…”
“Hmm…”
In that silence, the mbers locked the door behind them with a sinister smile while inching toward Adler. He, in turn, inched away from them as much as he could while his whole being trembled in fright.
“Ah, but I’m a woman…”
Of course, he had walked himself into a dead-end with no way out.
Footnotes
1. Since most of the major or minor nad characters in the novel had their genders changed, I am assuming MacDonald is also a woman and keep it as such unless I find evidence /genesisforsaken
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