25 – Don’t Bring a Chinese Man on Stage (1)
A sudden bet brought tension into the diplomatic room. Even Porlock, flustered, was about to dissuade the professor, yet she had no choice but to watch the outcome of the bet in silence.
It was the professor’s affair. Sometimes arbitrary and sometimes, to a criminal’s perspective, a series of incomprehensible actions, but it was the professor, and he was always on the winning side. Therefore, Porlock waited for the result to appear, maintaining her silence.
As if her fate was being decided, the wolf-girl beside Porlock also watched everything in silence.
As the girl was also under Fu Manchu’s gang, she knew well how brutal Fu Manchu was. From the moment she got caught pickpocketing, she was doomed.
Being a girl who was scorned for nicking a half- penny, the minute the bet ended, she intuitively knew her neck would be on the line.
Perhaps that’s why? Although the girl didn’t show it, she prayed fervently for her survival. For that unsophisticated man who didn’t seem strong to win. For the first time in her life, she prayed genuinely.
Of course, if Moriarty could have read their hearts, he would have probably laughed. It was a naive thing to do because betting primarily doesn’t depend on luck.
At least that’s how it went with a bet he made.
Here, the strength of a man alone determined everything, with it being Moriarty himself who determined the outcome of his bet with Fu Manchu.
The card game itself was rather dull.
It simply had to be.
The game of Whist, beloved by British gentlemen to the point of gambling their souls away, and often enjoyed by Moriarty at social clubs or universities for social engagement, required four players. Unfortunately, those involved in the bet were only Moriarty and Fu Manchu; two people.
There was no third party daring enough to interfere in the bet of these two men.
Naturally, there weren’t many card games for only two players, and a quick game of Piquet was played.
Speedily, without conversation, the cards were exchanged between them, and the bet finally concluded with Moriarty’s victory. Fu Manchu, looking down at the deck, remained silent for a moment.
But soon, he broke into a small smile and began to talk.
“The professor’s victory.”
“So it seems.”
Once the outcome was determined, a sense of acceptance from both men diffused in the room, relieving the tension. But amongst the relaxed atmosphere, Moriarty could hear the sigh of relief from the wolf cub.
Fu Manchu opened his mouth towards Moriarty.
“Will you be fine with that little runt of a wolf? I’m not joking, it’s the one I was planning to dispose of eventually. Its father was a close and cherished friend of mine who left this world before me.”
“A werewolf, right?”
“Of course. That’s why I paired bloody many women with him, out of which two other siblings turned out to be werewolves, but this one turned out to be a failure, not either nor. I thought of passing him into a whorehouse just for his looks, but unfortunately, people were terrified merely by the sight of him. He’s of no use, even as a tramp.”
“It was just a casual bet, anyway. I’m fine with it.”
“Does the professor have a unique taste? Not that it’s any of my business. But we have a saying in China, those who are neither human nor wolf, tend to be human wearing a wolf’s skin, often eating their own masters. It’s the symbol of ingratitude. Caution is recommended. I, and the one to succeed me, would like to work with the professor for a long time.”
The moment Fu Manchu’s gaze, a cold one, deviated towards the cub, she instinctively hid behind the back of Holmes, who was standing beside her.
Fortunately, he lost interest quickly, and his gaze returned to Moriarty.
“You showed such a broad mind … I will positively consider the proposal you made. I hope I can extend an invitation with some good news soon.”
“I’m glad, a person who returns the favor is a good person.”
Holmes felt something amiss in their conversation but chose to remain silent. Fortunately, Moriarty was making a brief farewell to Fu Manchu and his family.
He shook hands, exchanged pleasantries, and chatted casually with Fu Manchu’s family, keeping up a pleasant facade.
Three people stood out.
Fu Manchu’s elder son, whose name didn’t particularly stick, but was a former client. Moriarty kept his interaction brief as he was certain he would seek his consultation soon.
Fu Manchu’s youngest, a child of his concubine and the only one who, as far as Moriarty knew, inherited Fu Manchu’s talent as a sorcerer. His only flaw was his tender age of thirteen or maybe fourteen years.
Lastly, Fu Manchu’s daughter, who had the same mother as the youngest son. She was a young woman, who just turned of age, and was a beauty, resembling her mother. Of mixed Eastern and Western descent, she was exactly the kind of Oriental beauty often fantasized by uncultured men.
Normally it wouldn’t matter much, but Moriarty saw a spark of intrigue in her eyes.
From noble mtl dot com
Unimpressive, of course, compared to Sherlock, but still quite rare. He could sense ambition within her, and she seemed to be making a conscious effort to observe him.
Quite interesting indeed.
He winked at her playfully, so that only she would notice. Although undecipherable how she interpreted his action, she responded with a faint smile. A positive reaction indeed.
He decided to find out more about her whereabouts on returning. With that thought, Moriarty left with Holmes and the wolf cub he acquired from the bet.
Since Fu Manchu had arranged for a carriage, he accepted it. Silence ensued during the carriage ride exiting Chinatown to the entrance of the East End.
Holmes carefully checked to see if the carriage’s coachman was properly blocked out before opening his mouth.
“How could you casually bet like that, professor? What would you have done if you lost?”
“Whether I won or lost, there would not have been any losses.”
“But we would have ended up under those Chinese!”
“Then we would have gotten the chance to eat them up from within. Not a loss, just a bit of a detour.”
“You know… I’d tell anyone else spouting this nonsense to shut up, but …”
“And don’t worry, I had to win the bet from the start.”
“Of course, everyone knows that you, professor, are smarter than anyone and are good even in a trivial card game. But there’s always a chance in gambling, it’s luck-based, you know.”
“I cheated. Oh, don’t worry, Poomanchoo knew I rigged the cards and let it slide.”
“Sometimes, I worry that you, sir, might go mad.”
“We ended it on good terms, and he vaguely agreed to positively review our collaboration in the end. Above all, the result of the bet wasn’t even a loss from his perspective. Right? Thanks to that, I gained this loot—”
“Grrr!”
“Oh dear, her training is not complete yet. I will have to start with that once we get home.”
Moriarty tried to subtly pat the girl’s head, but remembering the soreness from the threat of the growling wolf, slowly withdrew his hand.
Watching Moriarty do so, Pollock let out a sigh.
“If the little one knew that you cheated, sir.”
“I deliberately let him know.”
“But that’s important, isn’t it? What were you planning to do if he used it as an excuse to threaten or demand something further, professor?”
“But he didn’t, Pollock. That’s the important part. I was doubtful from the moment we started the conversation, but our Chinese friend doesn’t have the power to swallow us whole. If he did, there would’ve been no need to entertain conversation or bets from the start.”
“Ah.”
Pollock groaned. Of course, he didn’t understand half of what the professor said, but pretended as if he did. Because if not, the professor would be watching him as if he was a deficient ape again.
However, the following question was inevitable.
“Fine, fine, got it, I truly understand. But why on earth did you bring this runt?”
“I told you, I need to raise her.”
“Grrr!”
The growling sound indicated dissatisfaction at being talked about, but Moriarty and Pollock continued their conversation, ignoring her indignantly.
The girl, also, soon closed her mouth and quietly focused on the conversation that would decide her fate.
“No, isn’t it a cursed little kid? If you want a werewolf, I’d rather search the whole of England!”
“Most of them are fully grown, Pollock. Usually, you have to raise beasts from a young age to tame them.”
“A wolf cub?”
“If you tame a wolf, it becomes a dog.”
“Even if I’m ignorant, professor, if you keep trying to fool me, I’ll really get upset. You’ve been joking with me since last time, are you still at it? How on earth are a good dog and a wolf the same?”
“Pollock, even if I’ve simplified it for you to understand, anyone not an idiot should agree that evolution is a fact, just by looking at Charles Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’.”
“I can’t believe it. How do humans come from monkeys, and dogs from wolves!”
“… All right, if you want to believe that, go ahead.”
As such, Moriarty ignored the pathetic Pollock, who seemed not completely evolved from a monkey yet, and lightly sorted out his thoughts.
He had a lot to do. He had personal tasks like taming the wolf, but he also had to engage in social activities to make London a slightly better place.
Suddenly, Moriarty remembered a saying he’d once heard. It must’ve originated from his previous life’s memories. He doesn’t know why he knows such a thing.
He was living only as James Moriarty, any memories of his previous life didn’t matter.
Of course, occasionally, it was helpful. He was preparing appropriate businesses considering the likely defeat of France and the Paris Commune in a few years. Above all, thanks to the memories of his past life, he was able to meet his adorable child Sherlock at a young age and teach him.
Moriarty smiled.
“Do you know that saying, Pollock?”
“What now? Do you think someone as ignorant as me could know something you do?”
“I don’t remember who said it, but there’s a saying, ‘Never use a Chinese character in a detective novel’.”
“No way! Isn’t he a complete son of a b*tch, practicing such blatant racial discrimination?”
“What?”
Porlock was stupid, but occasionally, such stupidity gave even someone like Moriarty a moment of bafflement, and now was one of those times.
Caught off guard by the unexpected statement of the foolish man, Moriarty had no choice but to ask again, and Porlock yelled back in anger.
“Damn it, the things I hate most in this world are black slaves, the squint-eyed Chinese, the pesky Italians, French frogs, Turkish eunuchs, and racists, Professor. Those bastards are really like dogs! God, what a horrible thing to say!”
“Uh… I see.”
Ignoring Porlock, Moriarty concluded his plans to expel the Chinese.
