Chapter 82: Trophy


    Is it true?


    Is it really true, Master?


    Moran and Silver ze, attached to the copsed Adler, opened their eyes wide and spoke simultaneously.


    Is it really true that your life isnt in danger?


    Yes.


    I dont understand.


    Adler, having given up on pretending to be mortally wounded, tilted his head to the side in response to Morans baffled reaction.


    People die when they are shot, right?


    Usually, yes.


    Children, the elderly, its always been that way. Everyone Ive shot has died one way or the other.


    Adlers eyes flickered surreptitiously at her slightly chilling statement.


    But why isnt Mr. Adler dying then?


    Miss Moran.


    Adler gazed deeply at Moran  her eyes filled with the innocence of the little girl she was, a stark contrast to the brutality of her previous statement  for a moment before extending his hand to the front.


    Look at that person over there.


    Uh, uhhh


    She was shot by Miss Morans gunfire, did she not? But, as you can see, she didnt die.


    And then, Adler, still speaking in a gentle tone, pointed his outstretched hand to the groaning Caroline who remained sprawled on the ground even now.


    I was told not to kill that person, so I deliberately avoided vital points when shooting her. But Mr. Adler, you were shot through the heart. Theres a distinct difference here.


    Do you think Im dying because of that?


    Yes, I believe the essence of a person is the heart. Mana umtes in that organ, and its the heart that moves a person, so


    Are you certain about that?


    Gasp.


    Moran, muttering uncertainly, soon gasped in fear.


    Could it be wrong?


    Then, she asked in a crawling voice, filled to the brim with apprehension.


    The essence of a person is actually the brain. Of course, the heart is also a critical spot, but in this strange era where all sorts ofws are twisted due to the influence of mana, targeting the heart is not as definite a weakness as attacking the head.


    Then, could all the people Ive shote back to life ande after me?


    Thats not the case. The people Miss Moran has sniped until now are certainly dead.


    Phew.


    She, who had been trembling quietly with those thoughts that paralleled that of a naive child, let out a sigh of relief at Adlers firm answer.


    But I am different. I will not die unless my head is blown off. And as a bonus, I dont feel pain either.


    Why?


    Because I am a terrifying vampire.


    Eek.


    As Adler made a hissing sound and showed his fangs, Moran, once again frightened, clung to Silver ze seated beside her.


    And, Ive already died once at the hands of my dearest professor.


    ..?


    Anyway, except for my head, physical attacks dont harm me, so please dont worry.


    Upon hearing Adlers exnation, tears welled up in her eyes.


    I, Im so relieved


    Haha.


    But Master.


    Adler then reached out a little further to gently stroke Morans head.


    Why did you even do that in the first ce?


    Ha.


    However, as Silver ze asked the question  head tilted to the side, eyes flickering with confusion  Adlers expression couldnt help but stiffen.


    No matter how I think about this, it really seemed like you were trying to leave ast will, kind of like a testament, before your inevitable death to someone other than us


    That cant be.


    By the way, Master, theres something strange.


    Silver ze, pressing her head against Adlers neck, ears perked up, began to sniff him heavily.


    Your physical condition seems to be several times worse than before.


    On what principle are you even saying that, really?


    Master.


    Though Adler tried tough off her words, Silver ze, her buried head in his neck, asked in a whisper; her eyes narrowed into thin slits.


    Is it really true that nothing affects your body, even if youre injured?


    ..


    Could it be that you are overexerting your body because you resigned yourself to a predetermined fate?


    Silently, a cold sweat began trickling down Adlers forehead at the continuous questioning.


    Not a chance.


    Thats a relief then.


    However, as Adler denied her words with an astonishingly brazen expression, Silver ze finally smiled with relief and whispered.


    Had it been the case, I might have lost all hope in life and died.


    If the leader of the Demi-Humans and the icon of London dies with her eyes dyed golden, then Ill be cursed for centuries.


    Hehe, thats right.


    Upon Adlers calm response, her eyes narrowed with delight, showing her unique and characteristic charm.


    If you die, then Ill just die alongside you.


    At that bold threat, Adler nodded with an enlightened expression.


    Then its my turn.


    As Silver ze lookedpletely reassured and Celestia Moran cocked her head, a chilling voice began to emanate from Adler.


    I never gave you such an order.


    Faced with his stern look for the first time, cold sweat began trickling down the girls foreheads.


    Then whose orders were you following?


    Adler began to press them down with a voice mirroring frigid ice.


    I have no need for hounds that wag their tails for others.


    At that moment, as Adler slowly rose from his position


    <i> Meow.</i>


    ..?


    The sounds of a small cat could be heard from their side.


    What


    Oh, no!


    When Adler, surveying his surroundings, saw a familiar cat in front of him holding something in its mouth, immediately, a piercing scream leaked out from behind them.


    That letter!


    Caroline, who had been dazed and unable to grasp the situation until then, began rising up from the ground, her face pale as a sheet.


    <i> Click</i>


    Stay still.


    However, as Moran, who had been sobbing sorrowfully just moments before, pointed her gun at Caroline while whispering in a cold voice, she had no choice but to stop her advance.


    <i> Rustle</i>


    Ah


    The next moment, as the cat ced the letter on Adlersp, Carolines gaze was filled with true despair.


    Hmph.


    ..?


    I never wagged my tail for anyone, you buffoon.


    Looking at her with clear disdain in its feline red eyes, the cat, to her surprise, began speaking in a human voice.


    Princess?


    Im quite clever too, you know?


    The fourth smartest cat in London turned its head away from Adler and muttered in a low voice.


    So, from now on, dont pretend like I dont exist after getting your hands on me, is that clear..?.


    Quietly, Adler, his gaze still locked onto her feline form, reached his hand forward.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Eek!


    Thank you for your hard work, Princess.


    Ugh eek let go


    A few minutester


    Im so impressed, Ill pet you a little longer.


    Stop.


    Princess y struggled and squirmed in his hands in vain, while Adler held the sealed letter with a luxurious stamp with an expression of unbridled contentment.


    <i> Chomp</i>


    Mm.


    When the enraged cat bit Adlers finger with all her might, her patience running thin, Adler stopped petting her soft belly and inquired, a smirk on his face.


    Does it taste that good?


    Mmm Shut up.


    Princess y, savoring the taste of Adlers blood on her feline lips, muttered to him in a voiceced with frigid ice.


    So, what exactly happened?


    Its quite simple.


    As Adler asked her with a face full of curiosity, Lady y, wiping her mouth with her paw, began the exnation, an uncanny sly expression on her feline face.


    That mysterious professor tried to manipte us, but I turned that to our advantage.


    You exploited the professor?


    I pretended to follow her orders, but Ive been making my own moves on the side.


    Adler, looking at her with newfound amazement and appreciation, couldnt help but ask.


    When you appeared in Lestrades garden, were those also one of those voluntary actions of yours?


    Yes. Thanks to that, I was able to eavesdrop on what the three of you were betting on.


    The princess nodded quietly and looked past him. At the end of her sight was Caroline, bound and trembling as shey behind Adler. ncing at the bounddy, Princess y whispered in a subdued voice.


    I even found out that Charlotte Holmes was nning to break into the new safe bought by the house owner.


    What?


    I secretly tipped off the professor about it, and she was ecstatic to learn about Charlottes ploys.


    Despite the cute appearance of her feline form, a faint sinister smirk surfaced on the princess lips.


    She even made a n to ambush Holmes by hiding inside first and knocking her out the moment she entered.


    Wait, then the vault I had been trying to crack


    There must have been a fierce fight between the two lunatics going on inside.


    Adlers eyes zed over in utter confusion and bewilderment.


    Anyway, from that moment on, everything was essentially over. My only task was to infiltrate the mansion as a cat andce the dinner of the servants with sleeping drugs.


    Then, by the time night fell, I re-entered the mansion with those guys and fully sealed the safe delivered this morning with multipleyers of locking spells. That locked up those two mad women inside.


    The princess, continuing her smug exnation, narrowed her eyes and began scolding Adler.


    You almost managed to break the seal I so painstakingly enacted, you buffoon.


    Ah, that was


    What on earth are you, to so easily breach the security system I spent weeks devising? Its good that the gunshot rang out timely, or you might havepletely ruined the n altogether by now.


    Adler scratched his head with a lost expression.


    Anyway, after sealing those two monstrous women inside, we split up and moved.


    They tortured and threatened the mansions owner in case of any unforeseen circumstances, and I searched for the letter hidden in the mansion.


    The princess sprang onto Adlers knee, still looking as prim and proper as ever, and continued.


    And in the end, I found it. This letter.


    Aaah


    There was a secret door in the middle of the library that looked like a bookshelf. When I touched it, a room that was not present on the mansions blueprints appeared in ce, and there, on the desk,y this very letter.


    A triumphant smile yed on her feline face.


    Well, how is it? The fruits of the operation I devised.


    Will you still call me the fourth in London?


    As the princess unconsciously began flicking her tail in excitement and asked the question, Adler directed a nk gaze toward her.


    <i> Swish</i>


    Stop it. I did this to avoid being treated like a pet, how could you


    Youre the best, my little princess.


    The princess, growling fiercely as Adler began gently stroking her head again, fell silent and murmured while turning her gaze away from him.


    Youre only realizing that now?


    Simultaneously, her tail quietly touched Adlers arm, winding around it in a tight grip.


    Alright, shall we get up now?


    Eek.


    But as Adler grinned and promptly stood up, the princess who had been sitting on his knee lost her bnce and fell to the floor with a thud.


    Lets wrap this up and get out of here.


    Leaving her behind, Adler, with a dark smile, started approaching the seated Caroline, who was tied to a chair.


    Even the notorious Miss Caroline would be nothing without this letter as evidence


    But as he was checking the contents of the letter he held in his hand, his words suddenly trailed off and his expression turned rigid.


    ..


    Master?


    Whats wrong?


    His subordinates began showing puzzled expressions at his unusual demeanor.


    Shit.


    But before he could even reply to them, Adler, staring nkly at the letter, soon let out an all too familiar curse.


    <em><b>Is it toote to join the bet?</b></em>


    Instead of the letter, there was a note inside the envelope with a doodle of a woman wearing a silk hat and a monocle on her right eye, sticking out her tongue.


    <em><b>Ill use the letter that was in the envelope as my stake.</b></em>


    Fucking self-insert characters.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile, at that moment


    Looks like Adler is definitively out of the race.


    So far, everything is going ording to n.


    Charlotte Holmes and Professor Moriarty  with Watson, who had the appearance of a person whose soul had left their body  walked down the darkened hallway of the mansion, conversing withposed expressions.


    Im not so sure about that.


    What?


    You know why, right?


    Suddenly, the two women stopped walking and began eyeing each other.


    A thieving cat has entered the wager.


    Do you find that to be a threatening variable, Professor?


    Chilling smiles began emerging on their faces.


    Youre bing just as entertaining as Adler, little girl.


    I feel the same, Professor


    It was the beginning of a real fight for the greatest trophy in all of Britain.