dmims Chapter 164: The Devil's Foot (2)
Chapter 164: The Devil's Foot (2)
Chapter 164: The Devil's Foot (2)About an hour after arriving in Cornwall, Professor Jane Moriarty and Isaac Adler encountered a rather bizarre incident.
"Excuse me, there will be a brief inspection."
"".........""
"Please present something to verify your identity."
Having received a report, a police officer had arrived at the scene. The police officer directed suspicious glances toward Professor Moriarty and Isaac Adler who stood outside the mansion.
"It seems there's some misunderstanding. We reported the incident here and also are the only witnesses.”
"Yes, I understand that. But from my perspective, you are also unidentified suspects."
"... Hmm."
As Adler's expression slightly crumpled at the officer's blunt response, Professor Moriarty, watching quietly from the sidelines till then, started searching through her belongings.
"Will this suffice?"
"What is this?"
"I am a professor at August Academy. This gentleman is my assistant."
"... Is that so?"
As the professor handed over her credentials while explaining in a calm voice, the confused officer finally offered them a salute.
"My apologies, ma’am. I did not recognise you."
"... No need for that. I'm not exactly your superior now, am I?"
"I believe that professors at August Academy are treated with the same protocol as police officers."
"It's merely a formality. Regardless, cooperation with onsite police is necessary for any investigation."
Despite the professor's modest tone, the officer, sweat dotting her forehead, started speaking in an even more subdued voice.
"Oh no... I’d be honoured if you could assist me with the case."
"All right. I look forward to working together."
"But how did you both end up at the crime scene...?"
"... We were hired."
At the officer's question laced with a hint of confusion, Adler responded in a low voice.
"By whom, if I may ask...?"
"It’s an anonymous request; we don't know either. But we were certain that an incident would occur here."
Having finished explaining, Adler looked at the officer with a brusque expression.
"So, may we enter now?"
"Y-Yes. I'll be sure to speak well of you to the upper management."
Finally stepping aside, the officer allowed their entry.
"Excuse me, just a moment."
"........?"
"I think it's important that you know."
Before he could walk past her, she grabbed Isaac Adler's arm and began whispering to him with narrowed eyes.
"... You are now public enemy number one for the British police."
"Huh?"
"You've essentially stolen someone who was nothing less than an idol to most officers, inspectors, and cadets."
An incredulous look almost overtaking him, Adler could not help but ask,
"Did you already know who I am from the beginning?"
"... There are formalities, you know."
The officer leaned in close to Adler and whispered again, her voice even lower than before.
"If Inspector Lestrade shows even a hint of sadness, police officers across the entire country – no, her fan club – will become active to take you down."
"......."
"Please take this to heart."
Looking incredulously at her, Adler leaked out a long sigh before speaking,
"You speak so harshly for someone with such a fair face."
"......?"
"You might be as pretty as Lestrade if you just dressed up a bit..."
Adler's calm muttering, having discerned that the person in front of him was a woman despite the baggy police uniform, made the officer step back with a guarded expression.
"Half the women in London might like you, but please remember the other half feel the exact opposite."
"... Why don’t you grow out your hair a bit?
"Please stop. Just stop."
At her stern response, Adler scratched his head and moved on.
"Well, the short hair is quite pretty as well."
"........"
"Shall we stop by the restroom for a moment to investigate?"
Then, a muffled voice emerged from Adler's lips.
"... If that's what you want."
At that moment, a sly, sinister smile appeared on Moriarty's lips, lust hazing her eyes.
- Swish...
"........?"
Suddenly, someone approached behind Adler.
- Squish...
"Ah, you startled me."
When he felt a soft touch on his back and jerked his head back in surprise, Adler's eyes immediately widened.
- Rub, rub...
It was because the mansion's maid, whose screams had kickstarted this whole investigation about an hour or so ago, was now clinging to his back and rubbing against him.
"... Tsk."
A fleeting look of killing intent flitted across the professor's face... her face which had been constantly giving shy and girlish expressions till then. However, it did not last long, vanishing just as fast as it had appeared.
.
.
.
.
.
"He-He-Heyy, what are you suddenly doing..."
"... Please help."
"What?"
Caught in an abrupt scenario that would usually occur on public transport, a bewildered expression overtook me. As I gazed back at the maid, she began whispering in my ear in a tiny voice, filled with heat,
"My body is too hot..."
"Why are you telling me that...?"
At that moment, as I started sweating coldly at the madness in her eyes,
- Screech...
Suddenly, the door of the mansion opened and the stern-looking officer, we met moments ago, entered the mansion.
"Ah, you've come at the right time."
"......."
"I'm sorry, but could you please take care of this maid..."
Thinking that she had already finished reporting to the upper management and had come back, I was about to ask her to take the maid away from me when,
"A-About what you said earlier..."
Looking at the officer, who seemed to have a similar madness in her eyes that mirrored the maid’s, I felt a chill run down my spine.
"... You’ve got to be kidding me...”
Just a moment ago, she belonged to the half of London's women who disliked me. But now she was fiddling with her fingers, acting all shy, as she spoke to me in a whispery voice.
"I-It-It's nothing special. It's just been a while since I've heard someone call me pretty, just out of personal curiosity..."
"... So hot.”
I didn’t know just what in hell was going on here, but there was one thing I knew clearly,
"Shall we get out of here?"
"... Fucking worthless vermin."
Staying around this scene any longer would surely be dangerous.
.
.
.
.
.
"... Professor?"
Didn’t the professor say something just now?1
"Since we've looked around enough, let's get out of here, Adler..."
"........"
"I also think this place is rather dangerous..."
I must have heard wrong.
1. Adler is referring to this line - "... Fucking worthless vermin."