Chapter 78: Caroline Augustus Milverton (2)


    Its been a while, Holmes?


    Watson.


    A few days after Adler informed Charlotte and Jane about the bet


    What brings you here?


    Finished with her duties at the hospital, thus returning to the boarding house to relieve some of her exhaustion, Watson immediately discovered Charlotte sitting in her armchair, smoking from her favorite pipe. Her eyes opened wide in surprise, she couldnt help but ask the question to her partner.


    Ive been out and about recently, but this is still my home, isnt it?


    Is that so? I thought you had already set up a new household with Adler.


    I was slightly jealous, thinking you were getting married before me.


    As Watson, saying so with clear mirth in her voice, chuckled and hung her coat on the coat rack, Charlottes eyes were now glued to her, her expression nk.


    How are things going on with Neville?


    Not good.


    Hearing her question, Watson couldnt help but grimace.


    We are already engaged, but he is too reserved, conservative even, so I tried to seduce him a few days ago. But something urgent came up and our ns got cancelled.


    I see


    Its a pity but what can I do? I can only look forward to our next date.


    Watching her, Charlotte subtly smiled.


    So, what brings you home, Holmes?


    I have a visitor to meet.


    Could it be a new case?


    At her words, Watson, gloomy as she thought about her rtionship with her fiance, brightened visibly.


    Along those lines, yes. Its more or less the same as receiving a case request.


    Thats good news. Ive been living quite the dull life these days.


    To be precise, I am currently in an upromising bet surrounding the ownership of Isaac Adler.


    What?


    She couldnt help but wear a dumbfounded expression on her face as she heard her words.


    Among the three of us, the one who incapacitates the person who will knock on the door in a few minutes will be the winner.


    Among the three? Incapacitate? Winner?


    If I win, Adler bes my assistant and if the Professor wins, he bes her assistant.


    Ignoring Watsons expression, Charlotte rested her hands on her chin and wore a serious expression.


    And if Isaac Adler wins


    At that very instant, just as she was about to reveal Adlers part of the bet, her eyes shining darkly


    <i> Knock, knock, knock</i>


    Knocks began to resonate from the door of the boarding house.


    Lets talk about itter.


    Hey, by the way


    Watson narrowed her eyes and asked Holmes who immediately stood up and started heading towards the door after hearing the knock.


    I would like to know the identity of the person who ising right now.


    Hearing her words, Charlotte, who was about to grab the doorknob, turned her head slightly and whispered.


    The female Adler.


    I understand.


    At her simple response, Watson merely dipped her head, indicating that she understood immediately. Charlotte, nodding as well, turned the doorknob.


    Come in..


    However, as soon as she opened the door, she was met with a foul smell leaking in from the outside. She stopped mid-sentence, covering her nose and stepping back with a stagger, her eyes opened wide in astonishment.


    Yes?


    For some reason, a woman with a dark expression stood before her, drenched and dripping with muddy water like a drowned rat. Yet, despite her current pitiful state, she retained her natural elegance and beauty.


    Are are you okay Miss


    And then came a maid, who looked like her servant, holding a crumpled note in her hand, her face tinged with a slight blush.


    ..


    The two visitors stood in front of Charlotte, who now donned a dazed look.


    Pleasee in.


    Yes.


    No, wash up first, please.


    Charlotte, who had been quietly staring at the two, as if in a trance, for a while, frowned slightly and began to step back from the drenched woman. Hearing her words, the woman with the dark expression started to tremble.


    Even though hes just a little boy.


    At the same time, she began to recall the event that made her don such an undignified and humiliating look.


    How dare he inflict such humiliation on me!


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    A few dozen minutes before the drenched visitor entered the boarding house on Baker Street


    I always had this thought, arent little boys just adorable?


    Yes?


    A woman, apanied by a rather stern-looking maid, was walking through the streets of London.


    Just give them a slight smile at parties, asionally stroke their heads while praising them, and theyll fawn all over you.


    Hmm


    If you leave them alone for a while, theyll fantasize and offer things to you on a silver tter, and if you leave them alone for a bit more, theyll offer up their everything to you, just to get a chance to meet you again.


    The woman who spoke of such words with a clear arrogance in her tone was none other than Caroline Augustus Milverton.


    Among the many things they send you, there would always be countless meticulously written letters for you.


    .


    They send such scandalous letters without any thought. Makes you wonder what they will do when its time for them to get married, doesnt it?


    She was a woman with a tall stature, mature appearance and figure, and a beautiful smile that anyone would fall for the perfect woman with all the qualities of an exceptional beauty. The maid walking beside her couldnt help but tilt her head in confusion after hearing her mistress soft and pleased murmurs.


    I thought you hated men, mydy.


    Its not just mere dislike its disgust. If we were to name the person who hates men the most in London, it would be either me or the self-proimed genius girl were about to meet.


    But why little boys?


    Oh, you dont have much knowledge about this, do you?


    When the maid tilted her head and asked, Caroline, covering her mouth with her hand and chuckling, replied,


    Men and little boys arepletely different creatures.


    Really?


    Little boys are still cute and innocent. When you hold them in your arms, theyugh bashfully. Do you know how just how angelic that is?


    ..


    The maid looked at her mistress with a look that clearly spoke of her iprehension of this matter.


    Is that your taste, mydy?


    Its not exactly a taste. Just a personal preference, if you will.


    So, thats why youre targeting Isaac Adler this time, I presume.


    At those words, Caroline gingerly took a picture out of her bosom.


    Isaac Adler. Hes pretty much the king of all the boys in London.


    Thats true. Theres also that saying, isnt there? If half the men in London are your property, then half the women are


    Ive heard that joke so many times, its getting quite old already.


    Her dignified voice interrupted the maids words, and in her eyes, the picture of Isaac Adler reflected with a gleam.


    His age is a bit off, I admit, but he looks much younger because of his youthful appearance. And since he had been a child actor for a long time, that image ingrained itself in him already.


    Hes shorter than you, mydy.


    Yes, hes just the perfect little boy


    Carolines eyes shone like stars.


    Should I meet an old man like Count Winston, leaving such a wonderful little boy like this?


    But Im worried, mydy.


    Why?


    Hes a person who could potentially harm you. Hes not someone to be underestimated.


    Looking at her mistress, the maid started talking with a cold expression.


    Its dangerous if you keep behaving like that. Ive felt that the surveince on you has doubled recently.


    Thats why I have you with me, isnt it?


    To her advice, Caroline merely responded with a rxed expression.


    Who in the world would guess that the strongest assassin, recognized even in the back alleys of London as the fiercest predator, would be disguising herself as a maid while wearing a maid uniform?


    If only she were capable of fixing her cold and blunt expression and personality, there would be nothing left to criticize.


    To be honest, I am already at my limit from just wearing the maid uniform.


    Hehehe


    At the maidsints, reeking with her tiredness, Caroline couldnt help but chuckle softly and then began walking once more.


    Anyway, Im starting to see


    Just as her gaze began to reach far off, towards the most famous boarding house of Baker Street


    <i> Screeeech!!!</i>


    Eh?


    Abruptly, a carriage drawn by an agitated horse turned up from an alleyway, heading straight towards Caroline as she walked down the street.


    Its dangerous, mydy!


    The maid, who had, for reasons that alluded her, unable to notice the sudden emergence of therge carriage even though she had been on high alert, couldnt help but shout with a panicked expression on her face.


    But Caroline, whose body had already frozen from the abruptness of the situation, just stood there dumbly, watching the carriage boring down on her.


    .. Ah.


    Then, in the corner of her eyes, a boy could be seen rushing urgently towards her from across the street.


    Hehe.


    Was it coincidence or fate?


    This is a bit surprising.


    Caroline began to smile faintly, realizing that the boy looked exactly like the person she had just seen in the photograph tucked away in her hands.


    This obvious y might be a little fun. Ill y along.


    Muttering so to herself, she reached out her hand towards Isaac Adler, who had already reached her side and was stretching out his hand.


    <i> p!</i>


    .?


    But when Isaac Adler knocked away the hand she had stretched out with a brisk p instead of grabbing it, her eyes blinked in clear surprise.


    <i> Bang!!!</i>


    The next moment, she was hit squarely by the carriage that came rushing at her with a terrifying speed, her waist bending as she was thrown into the air.


    Cough Ack Ugh


    Carolines body hit the ground and bounced roughly three times, each time a different scream leaking out of her mouth.


    <i> Ssh!</i>


    Then she rolled for a while before crashing into a dirty puddle at the end of the street a puddle that had formed due to the heavy snowfall that pelted the grounds not long before.


    ..


    Soon, silence ensued for a while


    You should be careful.


    Huh?


    In the silence, Isaac Adler, who had picked up the maid next to Caroline in a princess carry, whispered to her in a gentle voice much to the embarrassment of the greatly flustered maid.


    You could have been in quite a bit of trouble if you got hit there.


    Um, well..


    Beautiful sister.


    Hearing him speak, the maids always blunt face started to melt into a crimson blush, perhaps for the very first time in her life.


    Dearest sister.


    Huh? No, what?


    As Adler gently held her by the waist and helped her stand, squinting his eyes as he leaned in, the maid began babbling with visible confusion and embarrassment.


    You do look quite cute now that I see you from up close.


    M, me?


    What can I say? I fell for you at first sight.


    Avoiding his gaze, stroking the scar that ran along her eye, the maid lost her voice once she heard Adlers melting voice.


    This is my contact.


    .


    Would you like to have dinner with me sometime tonight?


    With a shy expression on his face, Adler gingerly handed the maid a note with his contact information written above.


    Uh, umm.


    Just when the maid, whose face had been shaded crimson, even up to her ears, was extending her hand with a small groan


    Thanks for giving me your contact.


    ..!


    Caroline, dripping with muddy water, appeared beside them with a dark smile hanging on her lips.


    Oh, mydy! Are you okay?


    Was that protective magic you cast on me earlier?


    Caroline, who had finallye to her senses after being tossed like a ragdoll and lifted her hand to the maid, her head already turned to her mistress, spoke to Adler in front of her with a rxed smile on her face.


    Saving both me and my servant. Its quite remarkable.


    .


    I want to repay you, although it may be insignificant. If you would just give me your contact


    However, Adler stepped back, avoiding her outstretched hand for reasons that alluded Caroline.


    You reek.


    Pardon?


    When he looked at her with a slightly scornful look and spoke those words, Caroline couldnt help but doubt her ears, craning her hand to listen once more.


    You reek, auntie.


    However, at Adlers cold voice that followed, her mind began to nk out.


    Step aside please.


    Auntie?


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Operation failed.


    Meanwhile, at the same time


    The n itself was perfect, but I didnt expect Isaac Adler to intervene so boldly.


    .


    Well, Adler himself is participating in the bet you mentioned. Disrupting our operation is an obvious strategy.


    On the rooftop of a nearby building, the princess, Joanne y, was quietly watching the scene unfold.


    Should we just snipe them?


    No, Adler already warned. Killing is not included in neutralization.


    Oh!


    So, what are we going to do now?


    Lightly ruffling Morans hair as she mumbled with an expressionless face, she asked the woman standing beside her with a sigh.


    As long as Adler is interfering, it wont be easy to incapacitate the target


    ..


    However, for some reason, Professor Jane Moriarty ignored her words, her eyes quietly looking down at the scene.


    Do you have any knowledge regarding cosmetics?


    Huh? Suddenly?


    Yes or no?


    Look, I was a princess, okay? Im somewhat of an expert if I say so myself.


    In response to her blunt question, Princess y answered with a puzzled expression.


    So, do you know about any makeup that would make you look younger?


    What?


    Then she heard the faint voice of Professor Moriarty in her ear.


    You know, some kind of makeup that makes you look like youre still in your 20s, even after a few years from now.


    Are you joking right now?


    Do I look like Im joking to you?


    Excuse me?


    Even though Princess y strained to smile at her joke, the professor only mumbled the same words with slightly flushed cheeks.


    Isnt there any makeup that would permanently make you look like a teenager?


    .


    From the forehead of the princess, who gained an understanding of cosmic horror even before Lovecrafts novels stirred up the world in a storm, cold sweat began pouring out incessantly.<hr>


    <strong><em>Trantors Note</em></strong><em>: I wonder if anyone was able to pick up on the massive foreshadowing in this chapter. I forgot to mention it at first and in the announcements, but let me know if you guys can pick it up. Of course, the ones who have already read the raws doesnt count here, I myself was only able to get the foreshadowing in my second read so it is super discreet.</em>


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