190 – Five Orange Seeds (5)
“There must be a rat hiding, Professor. “I know the habits of those mean-spirited squeaks, but it’s clear that there are some out there working quietly for a quick buck!”
James Moriarty, who was savoring tea after summoning several people and giving them brief instructions, briefly glanced at his old ‘comrade’, Fred Forrock, who was giving him a headache with his ignorant behavior as always.
The wizard unconsciously trembled for a moment, but fortunately no one felt anything was wrong. This was thanks to his usual behavior.
He always cursed, and even when he stood in front of the professor saying something he wanted to secretly say, he would tremble without realizing it whenever he made eye contact.
Of course, this was not simply Fred Forrock’s problem. There were few people who did not tremble when faced with the man in front of them who went by various names such as James Moriarty, M, or Professor.
The only exception was the peony that immediately filled the owner’s empty glass next to him.
With the small question of why he was staying in his place resolved, Moriarty opened his mouth to Porok as if he was annoyed.
“Porok, I wonder since when you have been working so diligently. Now that I think about it, it looks like my forehead is wider than last time. Why don’t I just shave it off?”
“Ha, hey, professor! I’m already upset, so don’t be so unlucky! I don’t think the professor knows because he’s still young, but could he go in an instant? Yes? Some people think there were no prosperous times. Like shedding-“
– Clap!
However, Porok’s protest was blocked because Moran secretly pulled the trigger, pretending to look at the pistol he had pulled out. Of course, without her bullets, only her cacophony rang out, but Porok glared at her for interrupting her own words.
“Be polite to your master.”
“Sigh, this is a conversation between men, you damn furball! Come to think of it… “Does your b*tch shed her hair too?”
“So what is the main point? “Seeing you spin around like this, it must be an awkward story.”
When Moran was about to show his teeth in response, Moriarty intervened. At his intervention, the two immediately stopped their dispute like trained people, and Porok cautiously opened his mouth while observing the professor’s notice.
“No, well…” …. I mean, so… …. Inspection to find some rats? Anyway, you have a noble saying, I thought maybe we should do something like that, Professor. If you give me permission, I will personally investigate all the suspicious people. “Things are secretly going awry these days. I guess some rat is screwing with me.”
“… That’s amazing, Porok. It looks like there is an enemy within our organization that you would like to send away. “Amazing, Porok, I never knew you could do that kind of politics.”
“No, sir—don’t think of someone as a thoughtless person, professor! Anyway, I look stupid in the eyes of the professor, and I… Anyway, when I was young, I heard that I was smart!”
At the same time, Porok sighed in relief. Because the professor didn’t seem suspicious of his attitude.
In order to walk a slightly more dangerous tightrope, I had to somehow fool this possibly picky professor or keep him from suspecting me even for a moment.
Moran intervened as if to interrupt Porok.
“Now that I think about it, we received a report from our espionage agent in Pinkerton, master.”
“… In America? Not long ago, southern country bumpkins came here, and these days they come here often. “What about the documents?”
Porok briefly glanced at Moran, who had interrupted his conversation, but he only pursed his lips and maintained an uncomfortable silence as he stood in front of the professor who was reviewing the documents handed to him by Moran.
Meanwhile, James Moriarty quickly confirmed the internal information sent by the person he had recruited from the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
In order to run a business, it was essential to create insiders. Perhaps, as Porok said, a rat that has not yet been found within his organization, and who may become fatal, may have infiltrated at any time.
First of all, as the largest detective agency in existence in this era, or as mercenaries who often work for high-ranking people in the United States on behalf of the military, Pinkerton was huge in scale, and it was used by American customers and in the process of business expansion. It was inevitable that they would clash often.
After checking the names of those who had been dispatched to London on a certain mission, Moriarty smiled slightly at the familiarity. Of course, Porok and Moran, who saw this, could not understand the exact intention of the smile, but they remained silent as usual and waited for him to open his mouth.
“First of all… Porok, I give you permission. You can do whatever research you want. However, on the premise that it is reported properly. Of course, you will have to write the report properly.”
“Damn it, you know I’m an ignorant bastard, Professor. Just look at it in words-“
“Anyway, friends from across the Atlantic… …. Should we at least throw a simple welcome party? “It would be a matter of respect for me if I stayed still when I came to London.”
Porock’s eyes lit up as he heard Moriarty’s next words. Of course, this also applied to peonies.
“For the Yankee talking cowboys… “Who can I dip, Professor?”
“…… Porok, you should focus on catching the rats. The welcoming ceremony for our American friends…… So, was it Jack? I guess I’ll have to ask that friend to do it. “I hope you can focus on your work and submit your report as quickly as possible.”
“Oh, did I mention it for no reason? This feels like more work, professor? Okay, anyway, let’s sort out the rats quickly.”
With that said, Porok greeted Moriarty in his usual irritating manner and left the study.
The sound of Fred Forrock’s footsteps disappeared from Moriarty’s ears, but he remained silent a little longer and observed the still steaming teacup slowly cooling down.
Moran loyally stood next to him, silent and motionless. Anyone could see that it looked like a well-trained hunting dog.
And finally, the owner opened his mouth quietly.
“Are you completely gone, Moran?”
“… Yes, I’m gone, master. “Is there something you would like me to do?”
“Not Jack, tell Mac to handle it.”
Peony would normally have quietly followed any of her master’s orders, but at that moment, she had no choice but to ask back.
Of course, she had been by her master’s side for a long time, had been properly educated as Moriarty wanted, and was able to read her master’s thoughts, so she was the one who asked questions that Moriarty felt were stupid. Didn’t
“… Fred Forlock, are you suspicious of him?”
“No, not really. Yes, not yet.”
Moriarty responded coldly. As she spoke, she put sugar in a teacup and slowly stirred it with a spoon.
“Really, Peony? It just so happened that it was my first time with Porok, and every time I got the chance, I tried similar tests on others… I guess I’ll have to do it repeatedly for a while. “It may be a needless worry, but as Porok said, there could be a rat hiding.”
“… All right.”
Moriarty didn’t spare Moran a glance, but Moran could barely suppress the smile that threatened to break out on her face.
She knew instinctively. The fact that she did not bother to hide these tests from her Moran meant that her own master was giving her the trust that even that Porok could not fully earn from her.
After gently bowing her head to her master, Moran stepped out with her heart pounding to follow her master’s orders.
She will always follow her master’s orders and protect her master in order to repay his trust. Even if it means going against her master’s will.
Meanwhile, Holmes and his party were talking with two Pinkerton agents from the United States in a small hotel room.
“Looks like Pinkerton is making better money than I thought.”
“Even if I go on an overseas business trip, the income is relatively tight. “I send my kids to school, and there are a lot of places to go.”
“Huck, don’t talk nonsense.”
“Hey, Tom, don’t be so hard on yourself. “You’re a collaborator, right?”
“I’m not a collaborator yet.”
When Holmes said half-sarcastically as usual, the man named Huckleberry Finn calmly responded. Of course, his colleague Thomas Sawyer was reticent, so he pointed out his colleague’s attitude, and nodded his head as if he agreed with Holmes’ following point.
A light war of nerves broke out, but for now, a consensus was formed on exchanging information about the dead and the KKK.
Of course, most of this was due to Huckleberry Finn’s almost arbitrary actions. Watching Mr. Sawyer sigh at his colleague’s actions, Watson could not help but feel as if he was seeing himself caught up in Holmes’s antics.
“… “If you don’t want to be interfered with by public authorities since you are Pinkerton in the first place, it would be more efficient to cooperate.”
“If you think about it that way, miss, aren’t you a civilian too? “Our office also employs female detectives, but isn’t it common sense for the UK, or even Scotland Yard, to work with civilian women?”
“Because I am special.”
“… “You are a good-looking lady.”
“At least two people can find it faster than tracking down the secret society from the southern part of the Demon Country. “There are quite a few helpers in London that I can use.”
In the end, the two men from Pinkerton revealed that, as Holmes had suspected, this incident was related to the disbanded KKK and that they had come to London to catch those who had come.
In the case of the dead young man, Tom Sawyer’s speculation was added that the relative was a member of the KKK and was probably killed after being mistaken for having information related to the secret society.
“… Cooperation is not an empty word, so let me help too.”
From noble mtl dot com
Watson could see that his friend was trying to use various connections, including the Baker Street Commandos.
Similar to when they actually found Jefferson Hope, on the third day, two Americans were able to find the whereabouts of the person they were looking for in crowded London, surprising the Americans.
But what they found was a body that had already cooled down.
