230 – Catastrophe (13)
“Po… Explosive hit – oops! Woo-woo!”
“The sound… …. “Don’t raise your voice, Watson.”
What interrupted the conversation between teacher and student was Jane Watson’s surprised cry. However, as if he had already expected it, Holmes quickly covered his friend’s mouth with his palm, and Watson’s shout ended in vain, except for the strange looks he received from those around him.
Watson reflected on the fact that he was so surprised that he almost screamed without realizing it. However, he couldn’t help but feel sad at his friend’s reaction as he covered his mouth and spat out coldly, while looking only at Professor James Moriarty.
Jane Watson felt unfair. She was so wronged that she had tears in her eyes without realizing it.
In fact, she thought, the reason she was so surprised and almost made a fuss was because Holmes kept everything a secret!
No matter how dull she is, she will be surprised if the bomb is suddenly mentioned. And what if that bomb might explode under their feet!
Of course, Holmes didn’t say that much. Maybe Watson was just guessing. But Watson, who had already gotten used to her friend, was able to reason that much. Above all, Watson was not wrong.
However, after secretly lowering the hand covering Watson’s mouth and glancing at her with a sly look as if telling him to listen quietly, Holmes turned his gaze back to Mr. Moriarty, who was still silent.
On the outside, there was a handsome man who looked no different from usual, but who gave a strong cold impression to anyone who saw him. But Holmes could tell. Perhaps only Holmes himself could clearly understand this.
I was so happy about that fact. And I was glad that the teacher was embarrassed.
Although he maintained his calmness on the outside, James Moriarty was clearly quite embarrassed by his student’s lightly thrown punch. He was raising the corners of his mouth as usual, like someone who is always relaxed and has the upper hand, but there was something clearly artificial about that smile.
“… It seems like you’re treating Watson too roughly. No matter what, we are still friends-“
“You’re not like a teacher, you’re trying so hard to talk back.”
A moment of silence again.
However, Holmes smiled leisurely and savored the teacher’s expression, where even the ridicule had disappeared. Seeing that, Watson unconsciously tensed and crossed his neck.
Because they were momentarily afraid of Professor James Moriarty’s expression looking at them.
In fact, except for the fact that he was very tall, he was a person who did not give the impression of being ‘strong’. Watson always thought so. Of course, considering his face alone, he was a handsome man who would attract attention in any social circle, and even Watson was still deceived by his beauty, but Professor James Moriarty clearly gave the impression of a sickly handsome man.
More than anything, it was actually like that. On the outside, Holmes and Watson appeared to be beautiful ladies, but both of them were far from ordinary. It wasn’t normal for two people to be walking around the back alleys of London and reigning terror in the streets.
But even Watson was a little overwhelmed by the other person’s atmosphere at that moment. Of course, only Holmes seemed to be having fun, sipping his glass and waiting for the other person to open his mouth.
James Moriarty finally opened his mouth. He opened his mouth quietly, like a child who did not want to acknowledge the outcome of the game, and at the same time as if he was an adult, not a child.
“That’s an impressive story.”
“Well, I don’t know. By the way, you don’t want to admit it until the end, sir? No matter how much you check your watch, what you expect never happens? Oh, but don’t get up from your seat. “I told you, I wanted to talk to you a little more.”
“… Don’t worry, it won’t happen. More than anything…. No, yes. If it’s true, I should praise it. “If it were a boxing match, it might have been a light blow.”
“Ha, lighten up…” …. Well, sir. You could expect a little more. A little more of the teacher’s beloved student… “You trust me, right?”
Moriarty’s eyebrows trembled slightly at Holmes’ provocation.
But he was calm. It was true that it was unexpected. And he didn’t think his disciple was lying.
Then it was true. He had no intention of denying the facts. He couldn’t do such an ugly thing. Of course, not yet.
But at the same time, I was able to find some relaxation again. It was one of the possibilities that could happen. As the disciple said, it was possible for a beloved disciple.
Apart from being a little surprised, there was no need to react further than that.
“Is this a declaration of war?” …. Then it’s a little… “It might be too late.”
“No, sir. “This time it’s different because I’m almost done with everything and I’m reporting to you.”
Moriarty did not answer. He had to worry for a moment.
Is this a bluff of a disciple? Or is there something that even he didn’t expect? No, it’s clearly a bluff.
He could know. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Holmes’ abilities. But time is fair to everyone.
He sent an invitation to Holmes only after he had already begun his work. Considering the time that had passed since then, it was as if the detective’s counterattack had just begun. Given more time, the counterattack will become a little more threatening.
But as Moriarty assured John Clay, it was already time to end everything for those plotting the crime.
So it was a bluff. It had to be a bluff.
Moriarty passed the neckline without realizing it. It was a strange feeling. Although he came to the right conclusion rationally, he was still confident and it was unusual for his disciple to look at him as if he was going to eat him.
As if to break the mood, Watson cautiously opened his mouth. She was prepared to be called oblivious, but she couldn’t overcome her curiosity.
“I… Holmes… …. “I don’t know anything?”
“Ha, Watson… …. Well, okay, the teacher is with us too. “What are you curious about?”
“I told you, I don’t know anything…” ….”
Watson muttered, avoiding Holmes’ gaze. Fortunately, aside from a small sigh, Holmes opened his mouth as if he were lecturing Moriarty.
“Where should I start… …. Okay, but let’s start later on the most important thing for you, Watson. “Let’s talk about bombs first, you were curious about that, right?”
“Huh? Eww… huh… ….”
Moriarty just looked at Holmes quietly, and Watson looked around and answered carefully. Holmes lowered his voice and began to speak. Don’t let people around you come in and cause unnecessary commotion.
“It’s simple, Watson. Let’s start with the pawn shop of Javert Wilson, the ‘owner’ of this red-haired club. Oh, sir, you may not know, but Javert Wilson was actually Count Dracula. He’s a vampire. Of course, thanks to Watson, half of it turned into charcoal.”
“… I see “That’s amazing.”
Moriarty answered briefly as if he was not surprised at all. Holmes shrugged his shoulders as if even that reaction was cute.
“Javert Wilson is a person who should never exist. But why did he go through the trouble of actually creating his ‘store’? Of course, there is a possibility that a suspicious person might actually visit the store, so they might answer that way. “You were going to do that, Watson?”
“Ah… no… !”
Watson responded as if he had hit the nail on the head, but Holmes ignored him.
“The important thing is why he disguised himself as someone who ran a ‘pawn shop’ and disguised an actual store very close to this club. “Watson, think about the time you visited the store. There were several workers working very noisily right next to you.”
“Uh… …. “Do you think that was the case?”
“Ha, such little things are important. I looked into it with Mycroft’s help, and it turns out that the two buildings are owned by the same person. It may be in someone’s name. So think about it this way, Watson. In fact, wasn’t the reason Clay was guarding the pawn shop to supervise the construction taking place right next door? “Then what are the workers carrying the piles of dirt doing during the construction project?”
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“Uh… …. West… Are you saying they were digging a tunnel?”
Holmes nodded, and Watson’s expression turned a little pale.
“The purpose of raising a large amount of money through suspicious investments in the first place… First of all, it’s creating confusion. Whether they use it to manipulate stock prices or aim for something else, putting aside the details, the important thing is to create confusion. Watson, think about it. What if a sudden explosion causes a part of the floor to collapse, resulting in a man-made accident that injures or kills a significant number of people? Oh, there’s no need to disguise it as an accident.”
Watson could not answer. He got nervous without even realizing it and passed the neckline.
Holmes smiled again at the teacher who remained calm and silent.
“Of course, the explosion is just a secondary means to escalate things a little, sir. No matter how Javert Wilson is caught and the plot fails…… “There is a considerable amount of wealth that has already been secured.”
“… So?”
Instead of answering Moriarty’s question, Holmes began listing words that Watson found strange. They were all addresses pointing to a certain place.
However, the more James Moriarty heard, the more his expression hardened, and he began to bite his dry lips without realizing it.
All of them were places where the wealth secured by the Red Head Club that Holmes mentioned was stored.
“I told you, sir. “There will be many surprises.”
