29 – Don’t Bring a Chinese Person (5)
Formally registered as Susan Robinson with the British government.
But to her family, including Fu Manchu, she was simply called Sue. Being the only sister to Fu Manchu’s youngest son, the only successor of his sorcerer talents, this 20-year-old woman couldn’t help but be taken aback.
A few days ago, my father had invited Professor James Moriarty and our family had the first negotiation over dinner with him. I was aware of it.
My first impression of him was like a finely honed blade. Though it was more civilized compared to the crime-infested East End, it was somewhat expected considering he had taken hold of the West End in just three years.
However, this evaluation was merely from my perspective, as I had a more acute senses compared to others.
Average people, like my stupid elder brother who had no brains or skills, would have first recognized the surprisingly young, no rather youthful professor’s age and his handsome appearance that anyone would be surprised at.
Of course, even I couldn’t deny the fact that he was a rare handsome man who seemed far from criminality. The unexpected wink that he sent me when we parted was most surprising.
But I soon realized why.
Could Professor Moriarty who has taken over the West End possibly rival the power of the East End? The hand my father had already extended to him was a semi-forced proposal of partnership.
On the surface, it appeared as a symbiotic relationship. But considering the prevailing imbalance between the two organizations, the professor had to naturally fall under my father.
However, I recognized my father, who once ruled the East End, is now getting old. When I was young, my father, referred to as the tyrant, was always ruthless. He never reached out first to a strong enemy. It was either conquering or defeat. Growing alongside, I have learnt such a life.
Part of it was because he calculated that he couldn’t guarantee an easy victory in case of a direct clash with the powers that the professor had. But it also served as proof that my father was growing old.
It was a story known by everyone in the family. Probably, the professor who faced my father directly would have been aware, too.
From noble mtl dot com
The king of the East End was dying and now the time had come to set his successor. I knew that to be my younger brother, a boy who is still young and inferior to me in every aspect except inheriting the gift of the shaman from my father.
It’s because he is the only son who inherited the power of the shaman among his brothers who were all incompetents and his mother, a Russian immigrant who was my father’s most loved concubine.
In addition, my father seemed to assume that I would naturally help my younger brother. I was fine with things like marriage for political convenience. Because, for people of a certain standing, it was normal to marry for the sake of the family, men or women irrespective, and to find love in an extramarital affair.
It was clear that my father felt anxious. After Professor Moriarty left, he immediately called me separately to notify that he will push for a political marriage between the professor and me.
In many ways, it was additional proof that Fu-manchu is weak and can’t afford to relax facing death.
Even though the professor hasn’t given a firm answer yet, he notifies me first about the political marriage as if he has already confirmed and at the same time as if it’s already decided.
I didn’t find it incomprehensible. My father is not a fool even if he is old, and it’s just wishful thinking to believe there won’t be any disruption in the process of the youngest inheriting everything even with a certain degree of confidence.
So he thought of somehow drawing Moriarty as well. That must have been my father’s viewpoint.
Just like Jane Austen’s famous phrase that there are no people who leave a wealthy bachelor alone, it wasn’t strange because he was single, handsome, and a man who had a certain level of wealth and status to begin with.
Perhaps, the vaguely flirting action towards me that day might have been a foreseeing event. I thought so. I don’t know how smart that man is yet. But at least he was certainly exceptional.
Therefore, it was natural for me to be surprised when Moriarty came to the restaurant I often go to, sat at my table, and greeted me while sneaking in while I was having dinner alone.
I couldn’t even dare to imagine what he wanted from the way he spills the terrible plan with my idiotic older brother after having looked around the surroundings and sat on all the people.
He’s going to kill my father, it was a foolish thought that my older brother could have. At least if my older brother was the one who invited him, it was also a fact that it would be difficult to happen.
In that regard, the professor’s judgment was partially correct.
My father thought I was on his youngest side, and if I join, he would certainly accept the invitation.
But why would he let me know that?
“Of course, I came to find you because I want you to cooperate with me, Miss Robinson. You were my target from the start.”
“……Do you think I’ll participate in the murder of my father?”
“Your elder brother will do the killing. However, your older brother won’t be able to kill you, because I will prepare either the poison or the antidote anyway. Instead, you are to execute the rebel who dared to assassinate the father.”
“……What’s your benefit? And what assurance is there that I can trust you, who has already betrayed my brother? Wouldn’t it be most beneficial for me to tell my father everything as it is now, Mr. Moriarty?”
“You won’t, because you’re a clever and ambitious person.”
Moriarty paused for a moment, a smile lingering on his face. I stumbled and pondered, savoring his praise. I cautiously glanced at the man in front of me, attempting to gauge his psychology, but it wasn’t easy to read his expression.
Moriarty considered the woman in front of him beautiful, much like a person born of a much-adored mistress of Fu-man-chu.
However, beyond her beauty, Moriarty could sense a certain ambition. It was no oddity.
Just as a more talented younger sibling might envy a stupid older brother who assumes the family heritance, it’s a recurring tale anywhere, and Miss Robinson in front of my eyes was no different.
Although it was a shame to compare her with Sherlock, she looked similar to Sherlock in some aspects from afar, hence she was a decent temporary collaboration partner in many ways.
“If you tell everything to Dr. Fu Manchu, it won’t harm me at all, you won’t misunderstand that, will you?”
You’re smart enough to understand this, Moriarty implied implicitly in his words.
“Of course, for Miss Robinson, it would be the end. He’s already preparing to transfer everything to the youngest brother and he will be able to execute a large purge with this as an excuse. I simply have to deny it. There are many ways. I can say that Miss Robinson, from the beginning, did not specify a target and merely sought advice on murder. Dr. Fu Manchu already proposed negotiation to me instead of violence. You can’t lead a gang all the way to the West End for this matter, can you?”
Su did not respond. But she gave a small nod as if she was listening carefully, and Moriarty continued his explanation with an irresistibly genial smile.
“Of course, there will be some benefits for you as well. An appropriate reward for your father’s praise and proof of devotion. But that’s all. Why? You are a woman. Well, it’s similar anywhere, but weren’t you supposed to just help your younger brother? I would hate that. Why can’t you, Su, inherit the throne of Fu Manchu?”
“…That would be to my advantage, but what about yours?”
“You’re quite perceptive, Miss Robinson. We all dislike fools. I really hate a fool trying to dominate me. I have no intention of lying pretentiously, I just want a momentary collaboration. In fact, I chose you because, if you inherit East End, your power would weaken compare to now.”
“…Weaken?”
“Don’t play dumb, Miss Robinson. Of course, if you’re capable and can prove it, you can overcome the chaos and recover. Would the Chinese in East End follow you just because you are Fu Manchu’s daughter? You know that’s not the case, Miss Robinson. Weren’t you unable to challenge due to that weakness, and had to help your brother?”
“Ha, you’re quite eloquent, indeed a professor, Mr. Moriarty.”
“That’s what I’m getting paid for. But you can’t deny it, can you? As you take control of East End, it is the most profitable for me. Whether it’s Dr. Fu Manchu, your older brother, or younger brother, I must ‘cooperate’ with East End anyways. So I’m trying to collaborate with you. I don’t want to talk nonsense about eternal collaboration, just think of it as a temporary collaboration, or a collaboration with someone who might become an enemy someday.”
Su Robinson could sense the sincerity in Moriarty’s words. Still, she couldn’t help but hesitate.
“But… still…why me…”
Yet the same question with a different meaning. Moriarty confessed heartily, reminding him of old memories.
“Well, I have a personal reason too. It reminded me of my first student, a little lady. But as far as I know, she was the smartest kid.”
“…She must have been an unusual lady.”
“Truly a talented and smart kid. But, she was similar to you. She was the youngest daughter of a rural lord. Each child of a rural lord has a predetermined fate. It was heart-breaking to teach her. If she had grown up in a different environment, she could have pursued her dreams the way she wanted. But what can I do, the child has distinct parents after all.”
Listening to the professor’s words, Su couldn’t help but concentrate. It was a story where she could feel a sense of identity, and she had no choice but to listen to the handsome professor’s calmly reviving memories.
A made-up story? But Su sensed that the man wasn’t making up a lie. Hence, she had no choice but to concentrate more.
“So, what happened?”
“Thankfully, or unfortunately, and surely unfortunate for the child, there was an accident, a minor one. From that accident … both of the child’s parents ended up leaving the world.”
“Oh no…”
“Well, it was a tragedy. I also had to console her a lot. Because of that unfortunate accident, we had to finish our jobs earlier than expected and part, but, ironically, the kid is now preparing to pursue her dream. It’s tragic, and could be a wrong thought, but I think it might actually be a good thing for the child. Miss Robinson, what do you think?”
Su Robinson, who was silently staring at the professor’s gentle face, unknowingly slightly nodded.
