The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"A gunshot rang out in the shop, and I felt a sharp pain in my left arm." Graydon said.
"The broker fired his gun, and the bullet pierced your limb." Van Zieks said.
"Yes, exactly. But unfortunately... ...I'd decided to bring my own gun with me that night. Just in case."
"...!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
*BANG!*
"Before I knew what was happening, I'd fired back. The man had already turned to flee. I hadn't intended to fire in his direction, much less kill him. But unfortunately for both of us...the bullet hit home. It struck him in the middle of his back as he fled through the storeroom door for refuge." Graydon said.
"A sorry, sorry tale…" The Judge said.
"Yeah…" I said, looking down at the floor.
"It all took place in the blink of an eye. I don't imagine Nash and Ringo even realised what had happened at first. I was terrified...so I fled. And that's the whole story. That's everything that happened at Windibank's on that wretched night." Graydon said.
"..." Ryunosuke said.
"..." Van Zieks said.
"..." The Judge said.
.........
"Earlier, you called McGilded a monster. A man who used his wealth and influence to distort the facts and escape justice for the crime of murder. What tragic irony... For what you have done...is exactly the same." Van Zieks said, looking at Graydon.
"..." Graydon said.
"You've become the very monster you saw, and despised so deeply, in McGilded."
"... Yes...I think I have."
My iPhone 16 Pro Max began ringing, I took it out of my sling bag, and I looked at the caller ID to see that it was Sayaka Miki. I answered the call and placed my phone near my ear.
"What is it?" I asked, my phone near my ear.
"Is it over?" Sayaka asked, her voice coming out of my phone's speaker.
"It's over."
"Good. So, when are you going back to Remnant?"
"Soon." I said, happily. "Sayaka? Thank you."
"For what?"
"For you and Maya calling me."
"Don't mention it. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah. Bye." I said, ending the call and placing my phone inside my sling bag. I looked over to see Ashley Graydon had left the courtroom.
"Well...this has been a long and exhausting trial. However, it would seem that at last we have arrived at the truth. Inspector Gregson...what of Mr Ashley Graydon?" The Judge asked.
"He's been restrained, My Lord, and is bein' escorted to the Yard. He'll be charged with the murder of Mr Windibank... ...and the stealin' of government secrets." Gregson said.
"Very good. And you, Inspector. Regrettably, you will have to face charges yourself."
"...Yes, My Lord. Of course."
"It transpires that you were complicit in helping a criminal escape justice. That fact remains, whether or not you were doing so in the line of duty. ...The crime is a serious one, Inspector. And inexcusable." Van Zieks said.
"..." Gregson said.
"Now to the defendant, Miss Gina Lestrade…" The Judge said.
"Ah! ...Yeah?" Gina asked.
"It is time for the final adjudication. Is the jury ready, Mr Foreman?" The Judge asked.
"Yessir! Garrideb Squadron standing by, sir! This is really it now... The last push! The final call! The finishing whistle! My men are ready to deliver their verdicts!" Juror No. 1 cheered.
"Thank you, Mr Foreman. Very well, ladies and gentlemen of the jury... ...you will now declare your final decisions to the court!"
"Not guilty!"
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 2 said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 3 said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 4 said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 5 said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 6 said.
Six fireballs were launched towards the white side of the scale, leaning to not guilty.
"Hahaha!" Gina said, giggling. "That's the stuff! I'm off the 'ook!"
"That you are, Gina." I said, happily. "That took way too long."
"Finally, Runo! You finally managed to do it!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Finally is the word. I really wasn't sure if we'd come out on top for a while there." Ryunosuke said.
"Susie was right. You're the best lawyer in the world!"
"Miss Lestrade. I am not finished with you yet." The Judge said.
"Eh?! Wot, wot are ya lookin' at me like that for?" Gina asked.
"Before you start enjoying your freedom, there are certain other crimes to consider, hm?"
"Eh?"
"Two months ago - in my courtroom, no less - you gave false testimony, did you not? And in relation to the trial today, not only did you unlawfully enter Windibank's pawnbrokery... ...you also attempted to abscond with Mr McGilded's property, it seems."
"EEEH?! I never done nuffin' o' the sort!" Gina said, angrily.
"Gina…" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Of course not. It's not like you were gleefully wearing McGilded's coat in your cell yesterday or anything…'
"Aww... And just when I was getting excited about throwing a party for Ginny this evening…" Iris said, sadly.
"And turning our attention to the defence... Determining that, when played together, the music box disks contained a message in Morse code was... Well, it was certainly a most unexpected revelation, Counsel." The Judge said.
"Quite so, My Lord. The prosecution was caught entirely off guard. In fact, I think we should applaud my learned friend's courage here today. I propose a toast. To demanding that government secrets be disseminated before the entire courtroom!" Van Zieks cheered.
"Ah! V-Very sorry about that. It was the only way that I could get Inspector Gregson to admit to what he'd done, so…" Ryunosuke said.
"If, if I may say something on that point…" Juror No. 5 said.
"Oh." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Isn't that...?'
"It's, um, about the sounds produced by the music box before. I do wonder...if that was really Morse code at all." Juror No. 5 said.
"What...what are you saying, madam?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Oh, well, it's just that I'm really rather fanatical when it comes to Morse code, you see. So much so that the whole world seems to be covered in dots and dashes to me, in fact."
"Goodness, madam. An unhealthy level of obsession, one feels." The Judge said.
"But I must say that in my opinion, the sounds produced by those two disks... ...were nothing more than that. A meaningless serious… …of two different tones." Juror No. 5 said.
"Wha... WHAAAAAAT?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed, and he thought this to himself. 'Can, can that really be? It...wasn't Morse code after all?!'
"God…" I said, looking down at the floor.
"..." Iris said.
"My Lord! The defence would like to listen to the music box again!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Are you off your nut?! How many times do I have to tell you, those disks contain ministerial secrets, sunshine?!" Gregson exclaimed.
"This courtroom is not an appropriate forum to discuss the nature of the government communications. We know McGilded conspired to trade national secrets with our enemies. Secrets acquired from Mr Graydon. Now that the man has admitted to his crimes, we have no need to pursue the matter further." Van Zieks said.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Ugh...but it's really going to bother me!'
"..." Iris said.
"Miss Lestrade…" The Judge said, looking at Gina.
"Yeah...Me Lord?" Gina asked.
"That which you have seen today here in this courtroom has been extremely disturbing."
"Falsified evidence...intimidation...perjury... A grim catalogue of depravity." Van Zieks said.
"An appalling experience to befall any child." The Judge said.
"Come on. It ain't nuffin' I dun't see most days in the back slums." Gina said, scoffing.
"I beg your pardon?" The Judge asked.
"If yer weak, ye pay for it. That's just 'ow life goes."
"Gina…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Not the time." I said, rolling my eyes.
"... But look, I reckon I've worked somefin' out today. The world ain't fair, but if ya want it to change... ...you've gotta start at 'ome. You've gotta change 'ow you are yerself." Gina said.
"..." Ryunosuke said.
"Well, that's a very laudable lesson, I would say. I eagerly look forward to the born-again Miss Lestrade never gracing my courtroom with her presence again." The Judge said.
"..." Gina said.
"Now...with regard to the murder of Mr Pop Windibank, proprietor of a pawnbrokery business on Baker Street... ...I hereby declare the defendant, Miss Gina Lestrade…" The Judge said.
Not Guilty
"That is all. Court is adjourned!" The Judge said, angrily.
"On a personal note, I must say you've surprised me, my Far Eastern friend." Van Zieks said.
"Ah...oh!" Ryunosuke said, looking at Van Zieks.
"Despite being a Nipponese, you saw through the pretence to the malice that festered within that Englishman. And at the same time, saw through the grime to the surprising heart of your English client. You have a curious talent for judging character, especially considering our very different cultures."
"... I don't think there's anything curious about it."
"..."
"Whether we're from the Empire of Great Britain...or the Empire of Japan... ...we're all human beings. We're not so very different on the inside."
"... You know, I took this case for one very simple reason. To lock swords with you once again here in the courtroom." Van Zieks said.
"You did?" Ryunosuke asked.
"When I encountered you for the first time two months ago, it reminded me... ...of toasting friendship and trust with another Nipponese...only to find my trust betrayed. Through you, I hoped to look into the eyes of the man I once knew...and try to understand."
"... You mentioned something similar earlier today - about 'total betrayal' at the hands of the Japanese. What happened exactly?"
"... Well you may ask. And one day, when the time comes, you will learn the answer, whether you like it or not."
"... Alright, then I'll wait for that day, if I must." Ryunosuke said.
"Coming to be known as the Reaper of the Bailey, and my retirement from service five years ago... It gives me cause to wonder...if our meeting has some deeper purpose... So...farewell, my Nipponese fellow. Until we meet again." Van Zieks said.
17th April, 5:24 p.m.
The Old Bailey, Defendants' Antechamber…
'It's done... It's over at last... ... But... ...where's Iris and Jared disappeared to?' Ryunosuke asked, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Ah... Congratulations, Gina! ...I knew it all along. I knew that you were innocent."
"... Well...you did wot ya said, Mr Narra-'Oddo. Ya believed in me. Right up to the end. ...Yer as odd as yer name." Gina said.
"What's odd about it? I told you I had faith in you, didn't I?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... No one ever 'as before, see. Kept a promise, I mean. Properly." Gina said.
"That's awful…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"I've figured somefin' out today. All me life, growin' up in the slums, I've never trusted no one. But that's just cos I've been scared of bein' stabbed in the back. I mean, the more ya trust someone, the more it 'urts when they let ya down." Gina said.
"... Yes...I think I can understand that." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'After all, I had a taste of it in that trial two months ago. I chose to trust someone, and paid for it. That betrayal left a big scar…' He then spoke aloud. "You know, though, Gina, I worked something out quite recently, too. Trusting in someone else is...really an exercise in learning to trust yourself." He then thought this to himself. 'And when your gut tells you it's the right thing to do, and your trust is rewarded... ...there's no better feeling in the world.' He then spoke aloud. "I think I have you to thank for reminding me of that valuable lesson."
"Oh...well...if ya say so. Don't make a fat lot o' sense to me, though." Gina said, frowning.
"I'm trying to say...that putting my faith in you, Gina, has been a real pleasure." Ryunosuke said.
"For cryin' out loud, pack it in!" Gina said, walking up to Ryunosuke for a hug, before letting go. "... But I s'pose... ...I sort of feel the same way. I mean...sometimes trustin' someone else is...ya know... alright."
"...Thanks."
Flashback…
"This is the way I see it, Ryunosuke... A defence lawyer is only as good as his faith in his client. And that comes down to how much faith he has...in himself." Kazuma said.
"..." Ryunosuke said.
The Old Bailey, Defendants' Antechamber…
"After this experience...I'm starting to feel like I understand what you mean. Kazuma... ...am I living up to your expectations? Am I turning out to be the lawyer you believed I could be?" Ryunosuke asked.
Flashback…
"..." Kazuma said.
The Old Bailey, Defendants' Antechamber…
"Pardon the interruption… ...but what the deuce does a man have to do to be noticed around here...my dear fellow?" Holmes asked.
"Ah! Th-That voice!" Ryunosuke cried.
"It's too late for 'th-that voice' now...Mr Naruhodo! I've been standing here patiently in the corner of the room for an eternity! 'Ah ha ha! Yes, it was me all along!' I would have said when finally you noticed me." Holmes said, looking between Gina and Ryunosuke. "But you people! With your incessant babbling!"
"Aah! M-Mr Holmes!" Gina said, terrified.
"'Ah ha ha! Yes, it was me all along!' ...You see?" Holmes asked.
"I'd, I'd assumed you'd been taken back to the hospital, to be honest." Ryunosuke said.
"Indeed I was. ...But I managed to escape again!"
"Oh."
"I happen to be aware of one or two...foibles of the doctor who was tending to me. I merely made my knowledge of them known to the man, and he happily issued me with a leave of absence." Holmes said, happily.
"...How very above board." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"But enough of my adventures. That was a fine victory, Mr Naruhodo. Your tireless efforts justly rewarded, I feel. Congratulations are in order! As a close friend, I tip my hat at you."
"Oh...um... Thank you."
"Hmph! Some great detective you are! Great at bein' cold as ice maybe!" Gina said, scoffing.
"...Have I irked you in some way, Miss Lestrade?" Holmes asked.
"While you've been 'avin' a snooze in yer nice soft bed, some of us 'ave been fightin' for our lives!"
"Ah well...that bullet did cause me to lose a substantial amount of blood, it's true. So I have indeed been feeling somewhat cold. Not perhaps as cold as ice, but... Well, have a feel."
"...Could you take your hands off my neck please, Mr Holmes?" Ryunosuke asked.
"And...in some way, I suppose...congratulations are in order for you, too, Miss Lestrade." Holmes said.
"Wot's that s'posed to mean? Why so 'alf-'earted?" Gina asked.
"Well, naturally it isn't my intention to alarm you, but... ...an acquittal in a trial with that particular prosecutor is perhaps a little...precarious."
'Well done, Mr Holmes. Not alarming in the slightest.' Ryunosuke said, thinking this to himself.
"Oh... The Reaper, ya mean? Cos anyone who's found not guilty in a trial 'e was workin' on winds up dead anyway? Is that it?" Gina asked.
"The very point I was trying to make! As exemplified by the fate of Mr McGilded, in fact. Ah, but of course...I pay no attention to such irrational drivel myself." Holmes said.
"... Yeah, well...it don't bother me."
"Oh really?"
"'Course not. The way I see it, the Reaper's a bit like 'Im upstairs."
"Him upstairs? You mean...like God?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yeah, 'Im upstairs knows wot's wot, right? 'E knows wot people are like on the inside. 'E won't 'ave got the wrong end o' the stick. There are some coves like that bogtrotter, wot are rotten to the core. At the end o' the day, 'Im upstairs makes sure they get wot they deserve." Gina said, smiling.
"I...suppose that's one way of looking at it. Divine justice is one thing, though. The Reaper taking matters into his own hands and claiming lives is another."
"Well, I ain't like the McGildeds o' this world. So I ain't scared. ...I got principles, see."
"... A trait in you which is to be admired, Miss Lestrade." Holmes said.
"Oi! Just give a rest, alright?" Gina asked.
"As I was saying, congratulations are in order. The news of your acquittal...was very welcome news to me indeed. Let me express my heartfelt congratulations...Gina."
"... Well, um...erm…"
"THERE you are! Hurley! How long have you been here?" Iris asked, holding my hand. "Honestly! Jared and I went to the main entrance especially to meet you there!"
"Yup, couldn't leave Iris alone." I said, squeezing Iris' hand. "Plus I didn't want to ruin your moment with Ryunosuke and Gina."
"Ah, Iris, Jared, my dears, I do apologise. But wait until I tell you what happened! This pair made utter fools of themselves!" Holmes said, excitedly.
"What happened?" Iris asked.
"I'll explain later." I said, happily. "I promise."
"Aren't you going back to Remnant?"
"Time machine. Remember? I'm in no rush, Iris."
"As you know, I have a penchant for disguise. I was hiding in this room dressed as a bailiff. But these dolts didn't notice my presence at all! Ah ha ha ha hah! They had no idea! Can you imagine, Iris, Jared? Would either of you credit it?" Holmes asked.
"Hm...I'm not sure, really." Iris said, letting go of my hand.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm sorry, Hurley, but you just don't have the weighty presence you seem to think you have. In fact, you really ought to be careful about that. It's going to land you in trouble one day."
"...I'll be careful."
"Yeah. Highly doubt it. You're a trouble magnet, Sherlock." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ouch.'
"Anyway, it's such a shame. I was so hoping to throw a party for Ginny tonight. But...you won't be able to come, will you?" Iris asked.
"Don't look like I'm gonna be goin' nowhere for a while. You 'eard the judge's patter. I got stuff to make amends for, apparently. All them 'offences'. Wot was it again? Breakin' an' enterin', takin' the bogtrotter's stuff wot was in lug, blah, blah, blah…" Gina said, annoyed.
"Yes, I think you'll find that basically, being a pickpocket is the main offence." Ryunosuke said.
"But divin' ain't an offence! It's a job, innit?"
"It isn't, Gina. You know who you would get along with. A friend of mine from the future. Kyoko Sakura is her name. Redhead. She loves eating food. Into a rhythm game. And she's a hero. Love her." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I don't think so!'
"Kyoko Sakura, 'uh. You should 'ell me mawe abou' 'er, Jared. Still, it 'as got me thinkin', all this. Maybe I should start lookin' for another line o' work. I mean, you didn't start off as a lawyer, did ya, 'Oddo?" Gina asked.
"Well no...but I was never a pickpocket." Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"Well anyway, I reckon I could make a change. I'm gonna do somefin' for all them lot like me from the slums! Somefin' that makes a difference for 'em!" Gina said, excitedly.
"That's a wonderful idea, Ginny! And I'm sure you can do it!" Iris cheered.
"...Heh heh heh… So, Jared, you really 'hink i'll be like kyoko in 'he fu'ure."
"Definitely." I said, happily. "Wait till I tell her and Sayaka about this. They'll be laughing their asses off to no tomorrow."
"Really?" Gina asked.
"Yup."
"What is it?" Iris asked.
"Nuffin'..." Gina said.
"Miss Gina Lestrade!" The bailiff said, walking up to us. "The prison carriage has arrived, ma'am. Come with me to the rear gate at once."
"Right, well...looks like I'm off then." Gina said.
"Yes. Goodbye, Gina. And good luck." Ryunosuke said.
"... Um...erm...'Oddo...?"
"Yes?"
"..." Gina said, launching a smoke bomb out of her gun at Ryunosuke.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! What, what was that for?!"
"I, um...I dunno... I mean... ...I dunno wot to say, so…"
"Ah, indeed... ...perhaps the situation calls for a phrase hitherto missing from your vocabulary, Miss Lestrade." Holmes said.
"Eh?" Gina asked.
"On occasions such as this... ...I would recommend a simple 'thank you'."
"Oh…"
"Oh yes! It's good advice, Ginny!" Iris said, excitedly.
"It really is good advice, Gina." I said, smiling.
"Right, I see. Well... ... ...... Tha... Thanks...'Oddo. Thank you for everyfin' wot you've done! For believin' in me!" Gina cheered.
"... Not at all. In fact, that should be my line. ...Thank you, Gina." Ryunosuke said.
"Jared, you should brin your friends from 'he fu'ure 'ere a' some poin'. They sound nice. See you la'er. An' 'hank you." Gina said, walking up to me for a hug. "Thank you faw every'hin so far, Jared. Will you stay around? in 'his 'ime period?"
"I will. I promise. I'm not leaving for Vacuo immediately. I have all the time in the world. Maybe we should find you a stray dog at some point."
"Tha' sounds nice." Gina said, walking away from us.
"See ya, Gina." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Well, there she goes. I wonder if I'll ever see her again…'
"Well well, quite the indomitable pickpurse…" Holmes said.
"Might make a wonderful detective inspector someday. In the future, Greg Lestrade is a detective inspector. And he's a good friend of mine. Gina might be this time's version of that." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Miss Lestrade? A detective inspector?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, I nearly forgot! Jared and I bought a paper outside. It's a special edition, and this trial is all over the front page! 'Pickpocket's Innocence Proven!' ...Isn't it wonderful?" Iris asked, taking out a newspaper out of her bag pocket.
"You should have shown it to Gina, Iris. She would have been thrilled." Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"Oh no! How silly of me... Ah, but anyway...would you like the good news or the bad news?" Iris asked.
"Ugh, not again."
"Well, what do you say, Runo, Jared? Hurley?"
"As usual, I think I'd rather get the bad news out of the way first."
"After this long journey of spending a lot of time in Victorian London." I said, looking down at the floor. "And these five cases, I want to hear the good news."
"Absolutely not! I agree with Jared! I have no intention of listening to anything but good news!" Holmes yelled.
"And there you have it. ...How people answer that question says a lot about them, doesn't it?" Iris asked.
"...Let's not go there." Ryunosuke said.
"Alright then...maybe let's start with the good news this time. The rain hash finally stopped! It was a record level of rainfall, apparently."
"Well, that is good news indeed. We can journey back in greater comfort." Holmes said.
"Alright then...what's the bad news?" Ryunosuke asked.
"The huge storm has left the seas very choppy. The Channel in particular is awful, so sailings out of Dover have been delayed by a day or more." Iris said.
"Wait…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'Dover?'
"Dover's about an hour away by train." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"That's right! If we head to the station immediately... ...we may still make it in time to wave Susie off!" Iris said, excitedly.
"... But, but... ...there won't be a train, surely? We couldn't be that lucky." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Who do you think I am, Mr Naruhodo?" Holmes asked.
"Mr...Holmes?"
"I rushed to Victoria station earlier and made arrangements for a special express! And that is what you asked me to do, Jared. If we hurry now, we shall be there in time for dinner! And I know of a fine restaurant that serves the most delicious baked sole."
"I don't... The great detective does it again!" Ryunosuke cheered.
"Indeed he does! I happen to be aware of a number of the rail transport director's foibles." Holmes said.
"What?"
"I merely made my knowledge of them known to the man, and he happily laid on the locomotive. Elementary!"
"Elementary, my dear, Watson!" I said, laughing a lot.
"... Just an idea, but it might be wise to stop manipulating people that way…" Ryunosuke said, looking at Holmes.
"What are we waiting for, then! To London Victoria!" Iris chirped.
18th April, 5:32 a.m.
Port of Dover, Quayside…
"That took somewhat longer than I had anticipated." Holmes said.
"Susie's boat must be about to leave now." Iris said.
"Miss Susato... Where are you...? Over there! Look!" Ryunosuke said, and he spotted Susato. 'It looks like she's reading something.'
"Susato! Wait!" I said, running over to Susato.
"Hold it!" Ryunosuke said, doing the hold it pose. "Miss Susato! Wait! What are you doing?"
"Mr...Mr Naruhodo? Jared? What are you doing here?" Susato asked, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"We came as soon as we could after the trial. I mean... ...we heard that sailings were being delayed due to the bad weather, you see." Ryunosuke said.
"Oh, I... I see... Then! Then tell me! How did Gina's trial go?" Susato asked, holding her law book.
"It...it went well. She was acquitted."
"... That's wonderful. Really wonderful news."
"Didn't want to leave for Remnant yet." I said, happily. "Not without saying goodbye, Susato."
"I see." Susato said, her eyes widening.
"The book you were about to throw into the sea... It was your Encyclopaedia of British Law, wasn't it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Oh dear... I was hoping you hadn't seen that. ... I'm not worthy of practising law in any way now. So...I was saying my final farewell."
"You were saying goodbye to law?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'You? Susato-san?'
"Would I be correct in assuming... ...it's because of the peephole, Miss Susato?" Holmes asked.
"... I deliberately altered the scene of a crime. And...then I tried to hide the fact. What I did is utterly unforgivable!" Susato cried.
"It's not as bad as forging evidence." I said, laughing a lot.
"Forging evidence? You?"
"It is Ryunosuke's descendant. And probably me in the future. We might forge evidence someday. And we'll lose everything. And I do mean everything."
"I see. Fair point."
"My descendant forging evidence in court?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I'll explain later." I said, smiling.
"That reminds me... ...how did you even come to have this, Susie?" Iris asked.
"On the evening of the incident... ...Mr Holmes had invited Gina to dinner, if you remember." Susato said.
"Oh yes! We had a wonderful time!"
"Well, Gina gave us a little introductory lesson, didn't she? To the art of pickpocketing, I mean."
"Oh, that was so much fun! I stole Runo's armband!"
"I stole Karuma!" I said, laughing a lot.
"Yes, please don't do that again, Iris, Jared. That band and that katana are very important to me." Ryunosuke said, looking between Iris and I.
"Well if they're so important, you should pay more attention to them! You didn't notice for ages!" Iris said, excitedly.
"On a whim, I thought it would be fun to see if I could take the Cat-Flapomat. Since I saw Jared take Karuma. So I put it up my sleeve." Susato said.
"Really?!" Iris exclaimed.
"And then I rather forgot about it...until I found myself in Mr Windibank's shop with it later that night."
"I, I see…" Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"And then…" Susato said.
Flashback…
*BANG!*
"AAAAAAAH!!! Mr Holmes! Mr Shooolmes!!!" Susato cried.
"Leave me, Mr Naruhodo!" Holmes yelled.
"Don't worry, I've got him." I said, my hand still over Holmes' injury. "Help Gina! If it is her!"
"Right!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
Port of Dover, Quayside…
"After Mr Naruhodo had left the shop, I started to think... That door started to play on my mind." Susato said.
"The storeroom door, you mean?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes. If Gina was anywhere in the shop, I realised it could only be behind that door. And at that moment, the little device that I had up my sleeve sprang to mind. I was so worried about Gina, I simply had to know."
"So...you used the Cat-Flapomat to make the peephole in the door."
"As captured in a photographic print of the shop... ...by one of Hurley's Red-Handed Recorders." Iris said.
"Also known as a security camera in the future." I said, looking down at the floor. "They're able to record audio and video in real time."
"Indeed, it was of the first importance, that point. Precisely when the peephole was made. That information would prove to be Mr Naruhodo's greatest weapon. Though naturally without proof, it would have amounted to nothing." Holmes said.
"But when I looked through the hole in the door... ...the sight that met my eyes made my blood run cold. Thoughts started to run through my mind. I remembered that trial two months earlier." Susato said.
"The trial of Magnus McGilded." Ryunosuke said.
"I thought about how he had manipulated the evidence and arranged false testimony to secure his freedom. It made the British justice system feel very dark and sinister to me. And then a terrible thought occurred to me. What if... What if some wicked criminal was planning to do the same thing now?"
"...!"
"Because from the appearance of the crime scene, it looked exactly as though Gina had shot Mr Windibank. Even though I was sure she would never have done such a thing…"
"...You were worried that the true culprit would try to frame her for the crime?" Ryunosuke asked.
"That's right. But then I realised... It would be very difficult for anyone to give false testimony in this case." Susato said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the crime appeared to have happened behind the door of a locked room. For someone to claim falsely to have witnessed it, there would have to be a way to see beyond the door."
"Ah!"
"For which a peephole would be the very thing!" Holmes yelled.
"Only the peephole I had made wasn't actually there until after the crime had been committed, of course. And the criminal would know that, so it wouldn't make any difference." Susato said.
"But the possibility of a rather ingenious trap was there, was it not?"
"A, a trap?" Ryunosuke asked, while he thought this to himself. 'Is that why she did it?'
"So...is that why you kept it a secret, Susie, Jared? Neither of you never mentioned that you made the peephole to anyone. ...Not even to the police." Iris said.
"I knew about the peephole for ages." I said, sadly. "That's why I played dumb. Or had to make the trial play along as I remembered it. To the best of my ability."
"I know. And I knew at the time what I was doing was wrong. A criminal offence, even. That's why I decided to confide in Mr Holmes and Jared. If Mr Naruhodo was completely backed into a corner, with no other possible means of escape... ...the truth about the peephole could save him! That was my plan." Susato said.
"And my plan was to pass the evidence to Ryunosuke and tell him what decisions he should make." I said, happily. "Just so the people that should be innocent are innocent. Yes, it makes me suspicious of being an accomplice. But if it means those people are safe and sound. Then I'm happy."
'They really do think of everything…' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "But, but then... ...why didn't the both of you just tell me everything before the trial began?"
"My dear fellow, you're not thinking straight. If they had done that, it would have rendered you complicit in the whole escapade." Holmes said.
"Ah…" Ryunosuke said, his eyes widening.
"You could have been disbarred if you had been seen to have knowingly tampered with a crime scene. Like how Jared will be disbarred for presenting forged evidence in court with your descendant. So Miss Susato and Jared decided to shoulder the burden of responsibility alone. For your sake...and Miss Lestrade's." Holmes said, letting out a sigh.
"Miss Susato… Jared…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Susato and I.
"... The truth is, when it happened...I did it because... ...I'd lost a little of my faith in the law." Susato said.
"I did it because I ended up in this position years ago." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "But instead of it being the United Kingdom, it was the United States. The enemy hidden in the United States government."
"Oh…" Ryunosuke said.
"We were worried that the right person wouldn't be convicted of the crime. But the moment I allowed myself to think that... and Jared allowed himself to think that… ...is the moment I lost my right to call myself a judicial assistant. ..." Susato said.
"I lost my right to call myself a hero of justice a long time ago. Way before I decided to come here." I said, sadly. "What HYDRA will do to SHIELD and the concept of Project Insight. It's unforgivable. It's horrible. And it's scary. It's not right. It's not…"
"It's okay." Susato said, walking up to me for a hug. "Trenzalore too, I assume."
"Yeah…"
"... What you did...the both of you did…isn't comparable to what he did. Graydon is the one who lied in the witness stand, using that peephole as a way to implicate Gina!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"...!" Susato said, at a loss for words.
"Um…" I said, letting go of Susato. "What?"
"And besides... ...if the peephole inconsistency hadn't existed... ...I'm not at all sure that she would have been acquitted in the end. Miss Susato, Jared, what you two did...saved Gina's life!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"... Well, with your kind words, Mr Naruhodo...you've saved me, too, from my regrets." Susato said, happily.
"Same. You've saved me from mine, Ryunosuke." I said, smiling. "Thank you."
"Well, we must all be thankful that Miss Lestrade's freedom has been assured." Holmes said.
"Yes, exactly. Although some of the loose ends in that trial will continue to play on my mind, I'm sure." Ryunosuke said.
"But the revelation that the music box disk contained secret messages, Mr Naruhodo! What a triumph to work that out! I'm full of admiration!" Susato cooed.
"Well actually...that argument wasn't quite as compelling as I thought it was." Ryunosuke said.
"Oh! It wasn't?"
"There was a communications officer among the jury members, you see. A telegraph operator. And she said that the majority of the sounds on the disk were just meaningless tones."
"As one would expect. After all, we are talking about secret government communications. No doubt they were written in cipher to avoid being readily understood should they have been intercepted." Holmes said.
"In cipher? I, I see... So then we could never have hoped to understand the message anyway." Ryunosuke said.
"Nonsense, my dear fellow! It's quite a zero pipe problem, I assure you!"
"......... ...A... ...so...gi...?" Iris asked.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. '...What?'
"Well...that can't be a real word, can it? How funny." Iris said, sadly.
"Wait! Iris, what did you just say?" Susato asked.
"Oh! Um...I just said, 'Asogi'. Does...that word mean something to you?"
"Mean something? Asogi...was the name of my best friend!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
"What?!"
"But how?! How do you know that name, Iris?" Susato asked.
"I wrote it down during the trial before. When the message was playing on the music box." Iris said.
"And I recorded the message on my phone." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'She transcribed it on the fly? She really is a genius! And Jared recorded it on his phone. That's smart.'
"I thought the message probably wouldn't be written out in plain Morse code, so I tried various ways to interpret it. But whatever I tried, the words just didn't seem to make any sense. That is...in English at least." Iris said.
"And the TARDIS translates everything in my head back to English. Through her translation matrix. It lingers around." I said, happily. "I know I couldn't translate it on the fly from its native language. But I know Iris could."
"Yeah." Iris said, while I took out my iPhone 16 Pro Max out of my sling bag. "Did you save the message of the Morse code on your phone?"
"Through the Voice Memos app. Yeah." I said, opening the Voice Memos app on my iPhone 16 Pro Max. "I did."
"Oh!" Susato said, her eyes widening.
"It suddenly occurred to me, you see... There's more than one Morse code. Not just the English variety. Various countries around the world have altered and added to Morse code to use it in their own languages." Iris said.
"I, I don't believe it! Are you saying...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"That's right. I've only actually seen a chart of Japanese Morse code once before. And Jared must have seen it while with his friends in Japan. But I think it's based on the i-ro-ha pangram, isn't it?"
"Yeah. It is." I said, happily. "And the foundation of it is Wabun."
"And you mean to say that in Japanese Morse code, the message says 'Asogi'?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes, I think so. ...Sorry, but I don't remember all of the Japanese Morse code." Iris said, holding the piece of paper with the Japanese Morse code message.
"Iris, Jared, would you let me see that?" Susato asked. "Jared, does your phone have a photo of Japanese Morse Code? Along with the Morse code message?"
"Yeah." I said, handing Susato my phone with the Voice Memos app loaded up on the Japanese Morse code message. "Here you go."
"Miss Susato! Do you know it? Do you know Japanese Morse code?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes! I spent some time studying it. Because I'm quite sure Morse code will become ever more important for international communications!" Susato chirped.
"It does." I said, smiling. "When World War II happens."
"Then might I recommend, my dear madam, that you focus your efforts on the English version?" Holmes asked.
"Be that as it may! Iris, show me the message, please!" Susato cried.
"Of course!" Iris said, handing Susato the Japanese Morse code message.
"..." Susato said, looking down at my phone with the audio playing and the paper with the message. " ...... But, but what can this possibly mean...?"
"Spoilers." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Whatever is in that long sequence of supposedly meaningless dots and dashes... ...it's made the colour drain from Susato-san's face. And it's why Jared doesn't want to tell us anything.'
"... There's no doubt that this message is written in Japanese Morse code." Susato said.
"So the British Empire has been using Japanese for its secret communications?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I don't understand the reason why, but... ...the message appears to be a list of four people's names."
"Four names?"
"The first...is 'K. Asogi'."
"Kazuma Asogi…" Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Why? Why was his name on that disk?'
"The second...is 'A. Shin'." Susato said.
"Shin? I don't recognise that name."
"The third...is 'T. Gureguson'."
"Guregu... Gregson?!"
"Ah, it would seem Tobias Gregson is the third man on the list." Holmes said.
"Yeah." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'And what's HIS name doing in a secret government communication as well?'
"And the last name…" Susato said, looking between the paper and my phone. "..."
"What's the matter, Miss Susato?" Ryunosuke asked.
"It's...it's just so strange... So unexpected…" Susato said.
"Oh! What is it, Susie! Don't keep us in suspense!" Iris said, worried.
"... The last name...is 'J. Watson'."
"What?!"
"Watson?" Ryunosuke asked.
"John H. Watson? You mean...Daddy?" Iris asked.
"Shit. One of my friends from the future. Things haven't changed." I said, looking down at the ground.
"..." Holmes said.
"It says only 'J. Watson', so I'm afraid I can't be sure. Then, after the four names, it reads and it is what I am hearing from the audio on Jared's phone - if I translate from Japanese - 'That is all four...' And that's the end of the message. Or rather, the end of what you noted down, Iris." Susato said, looking between Iris and I. "And it lines up with what Jared recorded on his phone."
"Yup." I said, grabbing my iPhone 16 Pro Max from Susato and placing it back inside my sling bag. "I hate this. I really do. Nothing has changed with my influence."
"..." Iris said.
"I just can't believe it. Who would ever have thought... ...that those disks contained Japanese Morse code?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'Not to mention a strange list of some disturbingly familiar names…'
"It would appear that this particular message... ...is a communication of some kind between Great Britain and the Empire of Japan." Holmes said.
"So...Daddy could be in Japan then. Where Susie and Runo come from!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Oh! Well…" Susato said, sadly.
"Hm, no... It's not very likely really, is it? I mean, there are thousands of people with the surname Watson, and there must be lots of 'J's among them."
"..." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Professor John H. Watson, one of Jared's friends in the future, visiting professor of medicine at the Imperial Yumei University... But we can't tell Iris about that now. We just can't.' He then spoke aloud. "This is so strange. Somehow, in solving the case of Mr Windibank's murder today... ...I feel like I've rolled back a boulder at the mouth of a very dark cave…"
"... I do wonder... ...if perhaps it's a dark cave that we shouldn't go wandering inside." Susato said.
"..." Ryunosuke said.
"I haven't felt like this since Trenzalore." I said, sadly. "And before that, it was the Fall of Beacon."
*HOOOOOONK*
"Oh dear...the ship is going to set sail soon." Susato said.
"Yeah." I said, smiling.
"Yes...it seems so." Ryunosuke said.
"I'll sail on that steamship first to the Port of Dunkirk in France. Then I'll change onto a larger passenger vessel bound for Japan." Susato said.
"If only planes were around." I said, laughing a lot. "It would have taken you around 14 hours instead of six months."
"Yes. I agree."
"You're really going then, Susie…" Iris said, letting out a lot of tears.
"We wish you a safe passage, Miss Susato." Holmes said.
"Thank you so much. I wish all of you the very best." Susato said.
"Miss Susato! I, I had hoped to have you and Jared always at my side...to guide me and support me." Ryunosuke said.
"Mr Naruhodo! Jared!" Susato said, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"Please...come back soon. As far as I'm concerned...you really are the very best judicial assistant in the world!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"...! ... I'm...I'm quite sure... I'll be back before you know it!"
"Really, Susie?" Iris asked.
"Oh, now don't forget, Iris, I made you a promise I've yet to fulfil." Susato said.
"A promise...?"
"About your manuscript."
"Ah…" Iris said, her eyes widening.
"She's talking about 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', Iris." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Oh yes... 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'...'
"... Well I'll be waiting for you then, Susie! A promise is a promise!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Definitely, Iris! ... Mr Naruhodo…Jared…" Susato said, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"Yes?" Ryunosuke asked.
"What's up?" I asked, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Do you remember the first time the three of us met?" Susato asked.
"Yes, of course. On the SS Burya, when I was dragged out from that wardrobe, still half asleep. If I remember rightly, you threw me halfway across the cabin with a Susato Takedown." Ryunosuke said.
"And before that, I was teaching you how my phone worked, Susato." I said, happily. "You were so confused at first but quickly got the hang of it."
"You both know very well that I'm talking about after that! It's strange, but being thrown together as we were in that case, I somehow felt straight away... ...that you, Mr Naruhodo, were the perfect person to continue Kazuma-sama's great legacy." Susato said.
"Miss Susato…" Ryunosuke said.
"And my instincts were right! I really want to believe... No... I'm sure that... ...I'll be back soon. Farewell until then!" Susato said, walking over to the ship.
"Somehow we seem to have come to the end of the Adventures of Ryunosuke Naruhodo. Or the first volume, at least. Looking back now, it feels as though fate has led me on this journey. Fate led me to becoming a lawyer. To travelling halfway around the world. To meeting the great detective. I'm sure there'll be trials and tribulations ahead. Of course there will. But whatever happens I know I'll be able to turn my fortunes around. After all, I have the greatest friends in the world on my side." Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
"Ah, yes. Mr Naruhodo…" Holmes said.
"Yes, Mr Holmes?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I have some rather...awkward news. The railway company has decided to sue over the special express train, apparently."
"Huh?"
"It caused such a commotion on the line. All the other trains had to wait at stations." Iris said, frowning.
"But really, we would never have made it to Dover in time otherwise. Anyway, I explained everything, and how it was all your fault." Holmes said.
"It really was your fault, Ryunosuke." I said, happily.
"Huh? Huh?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I believe a formal complaint should be delivered to your office tomorrow. But not to worry, my dear fellow. According to Miss Susato and Jared…" Holmes said.
"...You love defending yourself in court!" Iris chirped.
"Huh? Huh? Huh?" Ryunosuke asked.
"It's alright, I'm perfectly happy to testify! 'He really didn't look like the sort of man who'd do something so outrageous.' ...See?" Iris asked.
"I'm also perfectly happy to testify! 'Ryunosuke Naruhodo is the sort of man to cause a wreck of 'a key strategic weakness in metropolitan living'." I said, happily. "'He never liked a tunnel!'"
"... Um...Mr Holmes…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Yes?" Holmes asked.
"A word, if you don't mind…" Ryunosuke said, pulling Holmes away.
"Why certainly! Any word you like. Bellow it out, my dear fellow!"
"Oh yes! I love Runo's 'words'. And I know just the one he'll use here!" Iris cheered.
"Same! Say it, Ryunosuke." I said, laughing a lot.
"Then I really must say…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Holmes, Iris, and I. "Objection!"
London…
"In the following weeks, hundreds of music boxes arrived at Baker Street from all over Europe. Something was afoot! ...Though it transpired I had ordered them all myself. So I advertised them for sale with: 'Used by Mr Holmes to solve an important case!' And the money I've earnt! Consulting detective work pays a pittance by comparison!" Holmes said.
"Aaah...I haven't slept a wink. This manuscript is due tomorrow now! When I'm this busy, Hurley usually cooks me breakfast. Well, 'cooks' is an overstatement...for some dry toast and insipid coffee. And Jared has been giving me fast food and convenience store food from the future. I do miss Susie and her lovely Japanese breakfasts!" Iris cooed.
Japan…
"Witness! Your testimony is riddled with contradictions!" Auchi yelled.
"Exactly! Rarely do rare koban coins hide under rare steaks themselves!" Korekuta said.
"Well Aido Nosa knows his father is an innocent man! ...Or are you calling my son a liar?!" Nosa exclaimed.
"Witnesses! My courtroom is no place for your petty arguments!" The Judge said, angrily.
SS Burya…
"Having delivered the Russian dancer to shore in Shanghai, I laid low on the steamship for a while. But last night I apprehended an extremely suspicious Japanese national on board." Hosonaga said.
"I've done NOTHING WRONG! All I did was give Wagahai's offspring refuge in my pocket! A man brings some kittens on board, and suddenly he's a hardened criminal! IT'S NOT FAIR!" Soseki cried.
London…
"Scientific investigation will be the gold standard for policing in the new age. I dream of a world governed by the tenets of order and discipline. Like a great clock, in fact, whose hundreds of parts mesh together in perfect unison. Now...if you'll excuse me. I have but two minutes and thirty-seven seconds until my next appointment." Stronghart said.
"The latest Strand Magazine is out. And I'm in it again! Whenever I say that one line she wrote now, I get a standin' ovation! Wanna hear it? 'Hmph. Not bad, I suppose...for an amateur.' *Glug glug glug* Haah...Her Ladyship puts me to shame." Gregson said.
"Been visiting the old girl on a daily basis, of course. Joanie, my old jailbird! Must say, battling with those bally stairs every day has done wonders for the dicky peg. Managing rather well with the housework, too. Got this maid business taped up, I'd say. Hope the gossiping neighbours don't realise the man of the house is his own maid!" Garrideb said, worried.
"My Roly is back on the beat again! All thanks to the Reaper!" Patricia said, excitedly.
"There's nothing I enjoy more these days than hunting out small change in the gutter. I'm a better bobby now. Looking out for Londoners, their dropped ha'pennies and my lovely wife!" Roly cheered. "Oh, Pat…"
"Oh, Roly…" Pat said.
"Looks like I'm gonna be doin' time for a bit now. But Iris and Jared come every day for a natter, so it ain't too borin'. She's always goin' on about all them cases wot Holmes is lookin' into. Crim'nal investigations are kind of int'restin' when ya get into 'em." Gina said. "An' Jared brough' over 'is friends from 'he fu'ure. 'e is righ'. Tha' redheaded girl is jus' like me. Bu' our circumstances are a bi' differen'. Wha' Sakura does sounds as cool as wha' 'olmes does."
"Yes, I renounced my upbringing and chose a life of sophisticated crime. But regrets? ...Please." Graydon said.
"Give over, bruv! That ain't the Ash we used to know!" Nash said, angrily.
"We got time in 'ere to plan the comeback of Milverton & Skulkin's Milk Run, right?" Ringo asked.
"The Three Muske-wotsits, milkin' the neighbourhood for all it's werf!" Nash and Ringo said, at the same time.
"...This past six months has been a time I shall remember for evermore. Painful goodbyes...and wonderful encounters... I've come to realise that's what life is all about. Naruhodo-san, I promise... Your assistant will return to you one day. And Jared, I promise… Your friend will return to you one day. But for now, I leave you two with many memories, and a heartfelt wish...that life will treat you both well." Susato said, as a voiceover.