Becoming Professor Moriarty's Probability

0% - Swoooosh...

“Strange...? I’m certain I got the proportions right...?”

My plan to swiftly regain strength and break into the academy had gone awry, and London was now shrouded in the tense atmosphere of impending war.

Every single one of her agents, save for the ever-loyal Moran – who had been instrumental in crafting my escape plan – and the inexplicably tagging-along Princess Clay and Silver Blaze, would now begin their hunt for me.

In short, I needed to get on a ship and escape Britain, no matter what.

“This... is going to be a real problem...”

The cool breeze from Dover Harbour caressed my face, but my head only seemed to grow hotter with every passing moment.

France, with that conniving thief Lupin lurking and waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn the tables, was obviously out of the question. The German Empire, soon to be engulfed in chaos, was equally unappealing.

Heading towards the Italian Peninsula or Russia wasn’t a great option either, considering the professor’s influence had already spread across the entirety of Europe.

And even if it wasn’t the professor herself, my infamy was enough to attract countless factions who’d want to kidnap the suddenly resurfaced me.

But doubling back to London for a counterattack? That would be nothing short of suicide.

“Ugh...”

No matter how much I racked my brain, no brilliant solution presented itself. If I’d known things would turn out like this, I should’ve seduced the Queen in advance...

... Wait, a queen?

Now that I thought about it, there was a way. Why hadn’t I considered this before?

“If she still likes me... it could serve as a perfect temporary refuge. But...”

“Master.”

“... Ack!”

As I was mulling over this unexpectedly brilliant idea, Moran, who had been silently carrying my belongings beside me, suddenly jabbed me in the side.

Damn it, after years of enduring all kinds of abuse, my body had become far too sensitive to even the slightest stimuli.

“Hngh, ah, ngh...”

“Are you alright?”

“... Y-Yeah. But why did you call me?”

Not wanting to show any weakness in front of Moran, my final and only remaining hope, I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay composed as I asked her. Moran simply pointed off into the distance and whispered.

“Shall I shoot them?”

Her words sent an instant chill down my spine.

“... They’re already here. So the professor didn’t trust us from the start, huh.”

“Rrrrr...”

As expected, both Princess Clay and Silver Blaze, standing beside me, were already on high alert, their senses sharpened.

Could the professor have already tracked us all the way here? If that were the case, escape would be nearly impossible.

“Let me shoot, Master.”

“... Even if you shoot, can you hit me?”

But, fortunately, or unfortunately, the voice that echoed from beyond the foggy harbour wasn’t hers. It wasn’t the professor’s.

“Someone like you? Only one shot is more than enough.”

“A brat who couldn’t even squeak in front of me has grown quite bold.”

With her characteristically cold and matter-of-fact tone, the figure who emerged from the fog was none other than Gia Lestrade.

“... Ah, how unfortunate. It seems certain parts haven’t grown at all, though.”

- BANG! BANG! BANG!

Before Lestrade could even finish her snide remark, Moran’s gun spat fire, unleashing a flurry of shots.

For someone like Moran, who usually preferred to conserve her mana and optimise her energy for precision sniping, the sheer amount of mana she expended was telling. Clearly, Lestrade’s taunt had struck a nerve.

“You fucking bitch...”

‘Though, to be fair... she is still a kid.’

Moran had shot up in height over the years, now matching mine, and her appearance had matured significantly.

But for some reason, her chest hadn’t developed at all, which routinely made her a target of mockery whenever they saw her.

Honestly, why were they all so desperate to antagonise Moran? She’s still just a kid.

... Wait, how old is Moran now?

That thought suddenly hit me, and as I tried to piece together the year and calculate her age, a dizzying wave of vertigo overwhelmed me.

Come to think of it, what year was it again? How old was Moran? And how many years had passed since I returned to this world?

“Ugh...”

“... Are you alright?”

Hearing me groan, Moran, who had been firing her gun rapidly, asked in a low voice, her concern evident.

“Your skills have improved, but nothing I can’t handle.”

“Tch...”

I wanted to ask her what year it was, but judging by the situation, it clearly wasn’t the time for such questions.

No matter how competent Moran and the other two subordinates were, Gia Lestrade was officially recognised as one of the strongest in the game’s lore.

While an older, more experienced Moran might have also reached the pinnacle of power, that didn’t make Lestrade any less formidable.

And wasn’t her ability something absurd like the nullification of all supernatural powers?

If she had decided to block our escape to the ship, it could easily lead to a catastrophe— one where the professor herself would arrive with reinforcements.

In that case, the only way to overcome this predicament is...

It seemed like there was only one option left.

... But is this really the right move?

Normally, I’d have sobered up from the alcohol within five minutes. Something about the mix seemed a little off.

No, it must just be in my head. It had been so long since I had a drink that my tolerance must have plummeted.

- Click...

Thinking that, I pulled a flask from my coat and, this time, carefully calculated the dose before taking a measured sip.

“... Hah.”

“.......?”

For a moment, I thought I heard a strange chuckle escape Moran’s lips, but it was probably just my imagination, right?

.

.

.

.

.

The moment news broke that Adler had finally broken the “agreement” and staged his escape, Gia Lestrade had made a solemn vow to herself.

Before the women of London – who had only just regained their peace, safety, and virtue – could fall back into despair, she would bring him back.

For her, who had even gone so far as to marry that brazen scoundrel for the sake of public welfare, it was the natural thing to do.

Of course, her decision wasn’t influenced in the slightest by any personal feelings, such as not wanting the child now growing within her to grow up without a father. No, it was purely for the greater good.

“My, my, Gia.”

“... Urgh.”

“Isn’t that temper of yours a bit too fiery?”

However, that noble(?) resolve of Lestrade was, for perhaps the first time in her life, being seriously tested today.

“I think you’re the most beautiful when you smile.”

“S-Shut up... you bastard.”

“Though I’ll admit, you’re adorable even when you’re angry.”

“I said shut it!”

Adler, having dismissed his guards and now fully returned to the infuriating rogue she knew all too well, had begun flirting shamelessly with her after he pulled something from his coat and consumed it.

“Do you think I’ll fall for that again?”

However, Lestrade wasn’t one to be easily swayed.

“You already married me once, made me yours, and then divorced me just like that, leaving me with nothing but... pathetic, pitiful excuses!”

Though his smile and silver tongue had once captivated the hearts of women across Europe, Lestrade’s own heart had been thoroughly trampled underfoot, even if it had been for the greater good.

“Yes, I once vowed to dedicate my entire life to you. But what can I do? Circumstances weren’t ideal.”

“What?”

Lestrade’s words faltered as Adler, in his typical audacious manner, met her accusations with shameless nonchalance.

“You know, despite meeting countless women in my life...”

“Oh, don’t even start—!”

“... You were the first and only one I ever married.”

Adler did not miss a beat, taking full advantage of the moment.

“Am I wrong? Even with Holmes, even with the professor herself— I never married them, did I?”

“......”

“I had genuinely made up my mind to settle down with you.”

It was a statement that would have caused Rachel Watson, who was likely cleaning her ears at the hospital built with the dowry she had saved up to marry the scoundrel, to faint on the spot with giddiness.

But, regardless of the absurdity of the context, the words themselves were true, and Lestrade’s breathing began to slow.

“But in the end, you betrayed me.”

“Yes, it was due to unavoidable external pressures. I deeply regret it. That’s why I’m trying so hard to set everything right now.”

“Your words flow smoothly, as always.”

“So, won’t you lend me your strength?”

“Go to hell.”

Lestrade’s expression remained as icy as ever.

“If you help me...”

“I’d sooner trust a stray dog on the street than you...”

“... I’ll tell you my true name.”

But then, Adler had closed the distance between them without her realising and now held her shoulder, his voice a low, intimate whisper. For a moment, the frost in Lestrade’s expression wavered.

“You already know why the professor, who has conquered all of Europe, and Charlotte’s fight hasn’t escalated to its conclusion yet, don’t you?”

“That’s...”

“It’s because Charlotte is the only one who knows my true name, isn’t it?”

And that was the truth.

Through his pact with the System, Adler had regained the full powers of an Archdevil, enough to directly challenge not only Professor Moriarty but the infamous James Moriarty himself.

The only thing holding him back was Charlotte Holmes, who knew his singular weakness— his true name.

With her father sealed away, the current strongest force in existence, Professor Jane Moriarty, had no choice but to enter into a grand pact with Charlotte Holmes and the other delegates, sharing control over Adler as a focal point.

“I’ll offer you my true name— something even the great professor doesn’t know.”

“........”

“So please, just this once, help me.”

It was an offer so monumental that even Lestrade, who prided herself on her unwavering commitment to the greater good, couldn’t help but falter.

“T-Then...”

“Hmm?”

“What about marriage?”

Lestrade, who had been staring blankly at him all this time, finally managed to ask in a small, hesitant voice. Adler, catching her off guard, let out a soft chuckle as though amused by her question.

“What are you even saying?”

Carefully, he pulled her into an embrace, leaning in close to whisper against her ear.

“You’ve always been my only wife.”

The police baton in Lestrade’s hand, which had been deftly deflecting Moran’s mana-infused bullets just moments ago, slipped from her grasp.

“... Honestly, I’ve been thinking lately that maybe Adler’s just pitiful.”

“Yeah, should’ve just kept my mouth shut and stuck to raping him.”

Meanwhile, the mutterings of Princess Clay and Silver Blaze drifted in from the background, but it was already too late— the matter had been decided.

.

.

.

.

.

“... What?”

A few hours later,

“What did you just say?”

The Queen of Bohemia, seemingly weary from the ongoing preparations for the royal wedding – or perhaps burdened by some other reason – held her teacup with an air of melancholy as she stared wistfully out of the window. It was then that an unbelievable piece of news reached her ears.

“That boy is coming to me?”

The report was none other than this— Isaac Adler was heading for the Austro-Hungarian Empire.