"Isaac Adler is mine to handle."
Charlotte began to speak in a delicate voice breaking the silence that had been permeating the room till now.
"To be precise, so that you don't misunderstand, I mean I will be solely responsible for taking him down."
"Yes, and I'll just borrow him sometimes."
"I didn't know you were so stupid that you wouldn't understand the meaning of taking sole charge of someone."
"I'm beginning to wonder, Charlotte… What is the real problem here?"
Mycrony, for the first time ever, tilted her head with a smile toward her lovely younger sister.
"You know very well that I dislike intervening in anything and just enjoy observing, don't you?"
"Yes, I know."
"There will be no interferences from my side in your detective work. Unless you want me to, no matter what happens in the future, I won't interfere or give advice and I won't influence the outside world either."
Seeing Charlotte's eyebrows increasingly furrow, a quiet smile appeared on her lips.
"I just want to be bitten by a mosquito once a week."
"…Sis."
"You don't love him, you just see him as an enemy that needs to be taken down right?"
When Charlotte didn't respond, Mycrony quietly tilted her head to the other side.
"Shouldn't you be thanking me then?"
"What?"
"At this point, who else but I can provide him with the blood that he requires without any complications?"
"…I can do it too."
"Charlotte, if you periodically feed on the blood of someone who still has symptoms of mana poisoning, it might actually shorten their lifespan."
Mycrony shook her head vigorously and added her next set of words.
"You can't just attack anyone at night like in the old days. Since the foundation of the August Detective Academy, the quality of investigations has been constantly improving."
"...….."
"That's why, I am your nemesis' most stable blood bank, Charlotte."
"But…"
"I'm actually making it more convenient for him to confront you, but it seems our lovely little sister doesn't appreciate that very much."
Seeing a speechless Charlotte glaring at her with a chilling gaze, Mycrony slightly flinched with her eyes closed.
"…What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to recall the sensation from earlier."
Saying so, a faint blush appeared on her delicate face.
"…It doesn't really work out… as expected."
However, Mycrony, whose expression seemed a bit off, soon staggered and stood up from her spot.
"I'll borrow him a bit more for now."
"Wait a moment."
With that, Charlotte blocked Mycrony's path.
"I want to make something clear here."
Even though Mycrony's imposing breasts pressed down on her, Charlotte refused to be cowed and stood her ground.
"Don't interfere in the story between him and me."
"...…"
"He is my destined nemesis, prepared for me by this world. He's both the fate that will undo my curse and the evil that needs to be vanquished by me."
The eyes she had, with great effort, camouflaged in a grey hue were once again turning golden as she spoke those words.
"No one, by any means, is allowed to intervene between us."
"Oh my…"
"If he needs blood, I'll purify mine and give it to him, so just back off."
Spotting the black smoke emanating from Charlotte, Mycrony covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled.
"I had my doubts but you've really fallen in love, haven't you?"
"Think what you will. But I can't allow your hidden perverse desires to complicate my matters with him."
"Hmm…"
"Our conversation is over. Adler and I will look for another hideout. Goodbye…"
"Well, if my little sister says so, what can I do?"
As Charlotte was about to leave with a flustered look, she flinched at Mycrony's words.
"What did you just say?"
"If my lovely little sister dislikes it, there's nothing I can do now, can I?"
Mycrony suddenly changed her attitude and made a sullen face.
"I'll gracefully give in, like an adult."
"...…?"
"You can continue using the club as a hideout. There's no place as safe as the club in the entirety of England."
Confused by Mycrony's sudden change in stance, Charlotte furrowed her brows and asked,
"…What's your game here?"
"Game? Thinking so of your sister, who has devoted her life to looking after you, is a bit much, no?"
With that, Mycrony put on a pitiful expression, as if she was about to cry.
"…It's because your attitude changed so suddenly."
"Seeing that you can't even distinguish a simple tease coming from your sister, who hasn't seen you in so long, I'm genuinely hurt, Charlotte."
"Fine, then."
Charlotte, who had been looking at Mycrony with suspicion, sighed at her playful tone and turned away.
"You should've just done that from the start."
"Go call Adler who's outside."
However, at Mycrony's words, Charlotte turned her head back once again.
"Shouldn't we finish our conversation first?"
"…I have things to do as well."
"No, as your sister, there are things I urgently need to ask your nemesis."
To that, Mycrony made a gesture with her hand as if to say there was no need for concern.
"It'll be over quickly, so just wait a moment."
A quiet smile played on her lips.
.
.
.
.
.
"Do I need to repeat what I did earlier?"
"Take a seat."
As Adler entered the room, he sat down, slightly tense from Mycrony's changed demeanor.
"Isn't Miss Holmes coming in?"
"I had questions I wanted to ask when my sister wasn't around."
To him, Mycrony asked in a soft voice,
"What is your purpose?"
At that, Adler scratched his head quietly, prompting Mycrony to press further.
"I know very well that you want to establish a small kingdom here in London…"
"...…."
"With that professor of yours, who you have a hard time getting along with due to her eccentric personality."
Her discerning eyes narrowed further.
"But what's your plan after that?"
"After… you say?"
"Will you expand your kingdom to encompass the whole of England and then the world? Or perhaps, will you enslave all the people of London?"
As Mycrony leaned forward after uttering those concerning words, Adler was simultaneously faced with her looming chest and had no choice but to show her an uncomfortable expression.
"I'm not threatening you. It's just pure curiosity."
"....."
"From my seat here, I can see the entirety of the world's workings… but for the life of me, I cannot comprehend why you're going to such lengths."
"I see."
"What, exactly, is the end goal of this peculiar journey of yours?"
Hearing those words, he closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought as he pondered to find the answer to her question.
"I wish…"
A moment later, a soft voice began to flow from Adler's lips.
"I wish to be defeated by Miss Charlotte Holmes."
Upon hearing those words, Mycrony's grey-hued eyes began to shine quietly in the dim room.
"I want to see a single girl bring down the massive empire that the professor has built."
"Ahem…"
"I long to see her stand tall as the hope of London."
To anyone familiar with her true nature, the look she was giving Adler right now would've been a chilling sight. However, Adler merely continued his tale, completely undeterred.
"I wish to witness the birth of an unparalleled hero whose legend persists and is spoken of, even after centuries have passed."
"...…"
"That is all I truly desire."
Having concluded his story, Adler discreetly cleared his throat.
"Please keep this a secret from Miss Charlotte Holmes."
Mycrony began to chuckle softly upon hearing his added comment.
"You turned out to be a more interesting variable than I expected."
"…Is that so?"
"You're always filled with anxiety and fear on the surface, yet you seem to become a different person at crucial moments."
"I tend to think on my feet. By the way, when did you observe my usual demeanor?"
"I thought maybe your soul had changed, but apart from the black hair… the soul inside looks the same, doesn't it?"
Adler, who had been calmly responding to her comments, frowned upon hearing that remark.
"…Since the damn design department copied me without permission."
"Excuse me?"
"How did you come to know of such a thing?"
After murmuring to himself for a while, Adler posed a question to her with a sly smile on his face.
"The ability to see through everything, yet feeling no interest or thrill in any event. That's my curse."
"…Another curse?"
"What are you muttering to yourself this entire time?"
"It's nothing."
With that, Adler, who had been tilting his head thoughtfully, straightened up his posture.
"So, does that satisfy any curiosity you may have for my purpose?"
"For an improvised response mixed with lies, it was somewhat convincing."
"My words were sincere."
"People tend to mix truth with their lies to make it seem sincere, yes."
Mycrony's eyes tinted with amusement as she spoke.
"…From what I can see, it looks like you might have a slight affection for the professor."
"That's unlikely."
"If that reaction isn't an act, it seems that my younger sister is not the only one who is unaware of their own feelings."
"....."
"Hehe… It truly is an intriguing love triangle."
Suddenly, her smile faded and she murmured in a cold voice,
"…Had my physical condition been slightly better, I would've loved to turn it into a square."
"Pardon?"
"It's nothing."
But, as if nothing had happened she reverted to her usual affable smile, taking out a decorative object with a magnet stuck on it, which had been attached under the table till now.
"I'm just curious about the expression my younger sister would have when she hears what you said; right around the time everything comes to an end, of course."
"…It seems that recording without consent has become a trend these days."
"Hehe."
Adler watched her with a resigned expression on his face and then began to rise from his seat.
"I'll be taking my leave now, Miss Mycrony. Of course, if you'd allow me to."
"Just a moment."
Hearing Mycrony's changed tone, he halted in his steps.
"…Give me a parting gift."
"Pardon?"
Mycrony, who had maintained an overwhelming presence up until now, whispered with a slightly fluttered expression on her face.
"Give me a bite."
Seeing Adler's shocked expression, she averted her eyes before pointing to the clock.
"It's not yet 1:05, is it?"
A silence began to fill inside the room.
"This time, please bite the front of my neck."
"...…."
"Do it with the intent to kill— with all your might."
Adler, after glancing briefly at the agents outside, slowly turned toward her once more. Mycrony, with a hint of fervor in her voice, requested him in a quivering voice.
"That area is densely packed with blood vessels; it's risky. Perhaps…"
Upon hearing that, Adler made a troubled face.
"The lower part lacks sensation due to the flesh."
At her subsequent words, he momentarily lost his words and, avoiding Mycrony's dark gaze, he suggested in a quiet tone,
"…Then, how about a bit lower?"
"You mean the belly?"
"No, on second thought, that was a rather foolish remark…"
Realizing his blunder, Adler tried to correct himself.
– Swoosh…
However, before his very eyes, Mycrony slightly lifted her top, revealing a soft, pale patch of skin.
"Bite me."
"...…"
Cold sweat began to form in the shape of small beads on Adler's forehead.
.
.
.
.
.
A few minutes later.
"Sis, you finished your talk yet?"
"Huh?"
As Charlotte, who had been lingering outside the reception room, suddenly opened the door and entered— Mycrony, who was sitting at the desk with a dazed expression on her face, had her eyes flutter ever so slightly.
"…What's wrong?"
"You know, big sis has had a weak heart since birth. If you just barge in without warning, of course, I'd be startled."
After hearing that Charlotte tilted her head scanned the room, and asked
"Where's Adler?"
"He went to the restroom for a bit."
"I didn't see him leave."
"He must have left through the back door, so you didn't see him go out."
Sensing a somewhat suspicious atmosphere, Charlotte, about to step further into the room, changed her direction after hearing Mycrony's subsequent words.
"Well, I'll know for sure when I check myself."
Leaving that comment behind, she headed toward the restroom.
"...Phew."
As Charlotte's footsteps faded away, the sound of a suppressed breath being released came from under Mycrony's desk.
"Are you satisfied now?"
From inside the desk, Adler, who was kneeling and wiping off the saliva connected from the spot he had bitten, looked up at Mycrony and posed the question.
– Rustle…
Staring down at him, Mycrony reached into her breasts and handed something to him.
"What is this?"
"It's my home address."
"Pardon?"
Adler, who had taken it without much thought, soon looked puzzled and asked in a shocked tone,
"Isn't this a state secret?"
"...…"
"What if I lead my subordinates to raid your place?"
Mycrony replied with a playful glint in her eyes,
"I suppose I'd be captured by a cute vampire, feeling the sharp bite he'd inflict on my neck, and die slowly."
"....."
"Come to think of it, that might not be such a bad way to go."
To Adler's puzzled expression, Mycrony whispered in a soft voice.
"Visit that address every week from now on."
"Pardon?"
"You need a blood bag, don't you?"
Her eyes were shining brighter than ever.
"I need a personal Adler too."
At her words, Adler unconsciously swallowed and tried to muster a smile.
"…And if I refuse?"
"I have hundreds of ways to destroy you, Mr. Adler."
She quickly replied to his teasing query.
"You can make the choice on your own, without me forcibly taking ownership of your body or your autonomy."
Adler's smile faded slightly at her simple yet terrifying threat— a message that was so clear that one would not have to give much thought to interpret it.
"Having awakened the eyes of a pitiful anhedonic who has been searching for stimulation her entire life, you should take responsibility, don't you think?"
Mycrony, who had returned the gaze to him, tilted her head and asked in a playful tone.
"Didn't you approach me with that intention from the very beginning?"
Naturally, there was only one answer Adler could give.
"…I will see you in a week."
"Take care."
Thus concluded the breathtaking conversation between London's main figures in the light and the shadows.
– Why are you coming out from there?
– Pardon?
– I guess that's the restroom for Mr. Adler.
Charlotte, visible through the slightly opened door, sharply commented while grabbing onto Adler's sleeve. Mycrony's lips began to quiver at the sight.
– It's okay, let's go.
"…I'm truly sorry, Charlotte."
Soon after, Mycrony gently caressed the vivid bite marks that were visible on her abdomen, where an odd mix of fiery red and majestic golden mana was radiating out even now.
"Sister, I've realized something."
Her expression was now tinged with a mischievous delight.
"Having a secret relationship is more stimulating than one that's already out in the open."
In her monotonous life, surrounded only by England and her younger sister, an irresistible thrill was etched on this day.
"…I'll borrow him for a bit; secretly, of course…"