The Elusive Sorcerer

Chapter 152

Her expression became complicated.

Evelina stared blankly at the bottles neatly arranged on the table for several minutes.

She didn't know how to react after learning that the criminal was here!

James Moriarty knew they were talking about him, especially Evelina, and assumed that something troublesome was about to come his way. Despite the indifferent expression on his face, deep down he was actually waiting for an interesting conversation.

The atmosphere inside the bar was a mixture of tension that made the air feel frozen and the murmurs of the five people seated on the left side, bringing life to the room's silence.

Luis didn't know whether bringing James Moriarty here had been the best choice, and more importantly, he had no idea what was going through Evelina's mind now that her gaze and expression were no longer playful as before.

"Luis, could you stand up for a moment?" Evelina said coldly, her dark brown eyes fixed sharply on him.

Luis agreed to the request and stood up. Not long afterward, Evelina sat in his chair while her left hand repeatedly patted the seat where he had been sitting.

With a heavy heart, Luis complied and sat down, slightly unsteady. He realized that Evelina's habit had resurfaced, and it continued to spin through his mind.

Evelina remained silent for several seconds. She glanced to her right to get a clearer look at James Moriarty's face, since the bar room was dominated by a bright red hue while the moonlight was blocked by thick fog, unable to pass through the glass gaps and small vents as it usually did.

'He's a criminal! I don't know whether this meeting is a coincidence or whether he has another purpose for coming to Semilir.'

Evelina was confused about what James Moriarty would do next, considering that Claude Diston had cooperated with him by overshadowing part of the newspaper headlines.

After learning about several major incidents in Chavez that had reached Semilir through the businessman Claude Diston and had been spread through hired individuals to the newspapers, Evelina shook her head after witnessing James Moriarty's eccentric actions, having murdered six unidentified people who were currently under investigation, as well as the influential Chavez-Semilir figure, Joven Hover.

One reason the newspaper coverage of James Moriarty's crimes had not spread quickly throughout Semilir was because the Vesuvius River hindered newspaper distribution, while the only two railway routes that reached Semilir were heavily guarded.

Not just any goods could enter.

Only people.

Knowing this, Evelina understood that picking a fight with 'James Moriarty' was the same as seeking death.

"...James Moriarty," Evelina said after careful consideration. "You're the murderer of six people and the one who killed the businessman named Joven Hover?" Evelina whispered, making sure no one else could hear except James Moriarty himself.

Realizing that news of his crimes had spread farther than he had imagined, Zavi, who was playing the role of 'James Moriarty,' was not intimidated by the statement.

Instead, James Moriarty smiled faintly as if it were not a threat that needed to be feared or avoided.

Even though he knew that Evelina came from a middle-ranking noble family in Penplan, a territory whose influence stretched all the way to the great Vesuvius River that flowed into the Kasnia Sea.

"If I am, what will you do?" James Moriarty replied with boundless calm.

Although he had already thought of three plans in case the situation deteriorated afterward, James Moriarty remained wary of the two men seated not far away on the left side of the room, who radiated a different aura from everyone else.

The moment she heard James Moriarty's answer, Evelina's chest trembled slightly. She carefully considered her next words so as not to offend him while also benefiting herself.

Evelina sighed as she looked at him.

"I apologize for my childish behavior earlier."

Although she was a noblewoman known for her uncontrollable habits and for often drinking alone in bars even when they were crowded, Evelina rarely thought about her drunken state thanks to a man named Luis, who had always helped her through difficult times.

Her family knew about it and frequently forbade behavior they considered inappropriate for a noble. Especially socializing with commoners, something Evelina paid little attention to despite her parents' repeated objections.

Even though they had good intentions regarding their daughter's mental and physical well-being, Evelina once again rejected the idea in pursuit of the freedom she desired as a noble whose life was constantly controlled by the head of the family.

James Moriarty said coldly and sharply, "Just tell me what you want."

'Just like the rumors say, James Moriarty is truly cold and has the eyes of a killer.'

Realizing that, Evelina immediately swallowed nervously, stared at him for several seconds, and said softly, "Just to have fun."

"What did you say?" James Moriarty unconsciously revealed his confusion.

'Damn, that slipped out. This could ruin James Moriarty's image because of my stupidity.'

Luis immediately interrupted the conversation.

"Sorry for interrupting. Evelina is drunk, and Mr. Moriarty shouldn't take that nonsense seriously."

James Moriarty looked at both of them for several seconds while pondering.

'How close are they, or how long have they known each other for him to already understand Evelina's habits so well?'

No longer wanting to remain here any longer, James Moriarty rose from his chair after receiving the agreed-upon payment for the hunt.

However, the attempt was futile because Evelina quickly grabbed the sleeve of James Moriarty's black suit with her cold hand.

"Don't run away," she said weakly, as though there were a hidden motive behind stopping him from leaving.

"Why?" Luis glanced at her in shock, his voice nearly rising.

The bartender and the five people on the left side of the hidden room turned their attention toward the three of them.

'What exactly are you doing, Evelina?'

Quetheylia began considering whether she should interfere in their affairs, but the thought never materialized because her attention shifted to a conversation with the two people seated to her right.

"Don't mind Miss Evelina, Miss Quetheylia," one of her bodyguards said calmly.

"..."

Quetheylia did not react for several seconds before finally instructing the two men seated side by side on her right to continue their previous discussion.

....

Silence fell over the room. The bartender cleared his throat while tapping the table with the tip of his index finger.

James Moriarty was forced to play along after realizing that leaving now would be pointless, especially since the grip on his arm was growing stronger.

Luis immediately stepped in, genuinely uncomfortable with Evelina's behavior.

"Once again, I sincerely apologize, sir, I..."

The sentence never finished as James Moriarty placed a faint, warm smile on his otherwise cold face.

"Don't worry about it."

After saying that, James Moriarty sat back down in his previous seat and allowed the two of them to continue the conversation.

Evelina smiled faintly after realizing that her plan had worked.

'Looking at him more carefully, Moriarty is quite unique.'

She noticed that his clothing was commonly worn by men because it was simple and comfortable. What interested her most was the bamboo hat he wore, something often seen among people from Nature Province.

'I'm not very good at small talk, but I don't have much choice since this situation is important, and I'm not going to let it slip away.'

"Would you like to become my bodyguard?" Evelina finally revealed her true objective.

'Bodyguard?'

At first, James Moriarty wanted to refuse, but he considered that acting as a bodyguard for a few days could allow information to flow to him more easily. More importantly, the person he would be guarding was a noble with access to communication networks far beyond those of an ordinary person like him.

"...I will consider it carefully."

"Eh? Why that answer? Wouldn't Moriarty receive proper payment for becoming my bodyguard?"

The bartender turned away with a weary expression, unwilling to involve himself in other people's affairs as he walked through a thin green curtain before disappearing completely.

Luis noticed this, and he too felt uncomfortable, as though he had become a mosquito buzzing in the background. Still, to keep Evelina's behavior under control, he decided to remain silent and listen carefully.

"Ten Pace a day?" Evelina offered, hoping James Moriarty would agree.

"No," James Moriarty answered somewhat apathetically.

"Twenty Pace an hour?"

"No."

"Fifty Pace for thirty minutes?"

"No."

"One hundred Pace for one minute?"

"...No."

"Two hundred Pace an hour?"

"No..."

"Two hundred eighty Pace for half an hour?"

"Agreed..."

"Eh..."

Evelina had originally intended to offer an even higher payment, but after hearing his acceptance, she imagined that 'James Moriarty' was actually only interested in money.

Hearing this, Luis knew that James Moriarty would accept as long as the payment matched the risk and difficulty of the job.

Looking at the two attendants escorting Quetheylia, a maid in a simple green dress and a formally dressed bodyguard, both maintaining expressionless and stern faces, Luis shook his head briefly as he thought about their work before turning his attention back to the conversation.

"So, does Moriarty accept the offer?" Evelina asked, making sure there was no deception behind this arrangement.

"..."

James Moriarty remained silent and unresponsive, as though he were having second thoughts about his earlier statement.

'Being a noble lady's bodyguard isn't as simple as it sounds. I know I can earn more money without working harder, and I can build an information network far more easily than what I've been doing, paying for trivial information and stealing it.'

After careful consideration, James Moriarty finally spoke in his slightly heavy voice:

"I withdraw my previous statement."

'Well then, what are you going to do now?'

Zavi finally returned to being himself, a cunning man who would take advantage of this conversation because the situation favored him.

"Eh, I'm not entirely sure how to put it. However, considering that, I'll try to hire you as a hunter who protects disabled people on the outskirts of Ource and liberates those outskirts from a group of men."

"The payment remains the same," Evelina continued calmly, convinced that this plan would not fail.

Zavi was intrigued by the job before once again properly slipping back into the role of James Moriarty.

"So, in short, they pay taxes twice; once to the government, where the money is managed for city development, and once to a group of lazy men who don't want to work?"

"Yes," Evelina nodded, realizing that her plan was proceeding smoothly.

"Meanwhile..." She glanced at Luis and stretched out her hand toward him, wiggling her fingers as though asking for something.

Luis knew there was no way Evelina would forget about it.

With a heavy heart and a long sigh, Luis reached into his suit pocket and took out the item she wanted.

"Thank you." Evelina accepted the blazing red ring and the skull necklace with a faint smile.

The role of James Moriarty began to crumble once Zavi learned that the person who had actually hired him was Evelina Kalderan.