Academy’s Undercover Professor

C112: Rain and City (2)

Sorry for the lack of updates but I had 3 crazy days. To make up Ill release 2 chapters today and tomorrow.

The rain poured as if there was a hole in the sky and a hazy mist of water engulfed the entire city.

The boundary between the dull sky and the city collapsed. Even beyond the far horizon, it was crushed into one, as if the sky and the ground were united by rain.

Casey walked through the center of the water-covered world.

Casey, is that true?

Casey turned her head halfway at Bettys question, who had been following her in the rain thanks to her magic.

What?

That James Moriarty is alive, and that he is now in this city.

Yes, according to my reasoning. The timing of the activities of the people I told you about is oddly right.

But that doesnt make sense. Why is a man of such skill walking around the world hiding his identity?

I dont know that.

What? You dont know but you were so sure?

Betty, theres one thing my grandfather told me.

Whats that?

After you exclude the impossible, all that is left is the truth, no matter how absurd it may be.

Thats what Serocion Selmore, a famous detective of his time, always said to Casey.

Casey, you are a smart kid, smarter than me. One day you will surely become a great person.

Her grandfather, who sat in her rocking chair and smoked his pipe, warmly stroked her hair when she was a child with his wrinkled hands.

So please. Make this world a better place to live.

Rumbling.

Casey, who was recalling those memories, woke up from her imagination to the sound of thunder ringing in the sky.

Anyway, its like that. Thats why I was tracking him. The famous hunter, the big criminal of the back world, the mercenary who ended the civil war and the worst thief. I cant let such a man run amok.

Who is he?

Well, even the name James Moriarty is a pseudonym. He might have been active before that. That was the first time Id ever met.

Casey was also curious about the mans identity but its not his identity that matters.

The man who drove the Kingdom of Delica into chaos, the evil man who almost started a war, could not be left alone, she had to arrest him.

So lets go. I have a reservation for a hotel.

Wait! Can we take a carriage?

What kind of carriage can we get in this rain? Dont you know that carriages drawn by golems cant get into water? And in this day and age, its hard to find a real horse-drawn carriage.

Ugh. Annoying.

Dont worry, the hotel is not far away.

Where is it?

Kunst.

Casey glanced up at the heavy raindrops falling from the sky. The rain has weakened so it will probably stop raining by the time they reach their destination.

Theres a big auction coming up, and Ive been invited.

Is Casey interested in the auction?

Im not interested in the auction itself. Originally, I needed a suitable place to stay, but they just sent me an invitation. Well, they needed the name value of a famous guest.

Kunst, run by Luke, did not attract Caseys attention. She chose it because she wouldnt have to go through the cumbersome process of checking in at another hotel.

Of course, she had another purpose.

And theres that.

Casey smiled playfully. It was the mischievous smile she put on whenever she thought of an event to come.

Betty, you know what? Every time theres a big event like an auction, theres always an incident.

Looking at her, who had already enjoyed the idea of an incident and solving it, Betty replied with a slight pout.

At this point, isnt Casey just bringing the case? Im a little suspicious.

Oh, Im going to go to the hotel and rest.

Ah! Now, wait a minute! Rain! Its raining! You did it on purpose, right? Casey!

Casey lightly ignored her.

* * *

The rain, which seemed to sweep the world away, soon stopped and the dark-clouded sky gradually began to regain its original light.

Sunlight poured down through the cracks in the clouds while I stood on the spire on the roof of the building and stared at the sight of Leathervelk.

The golden light emitted by the dying sun touches the clouds and spreads around and the water of the Ramsey River, where the rough current flows, sprayed the broken light.

Watching the magnificent appearance of the sky and the contrast of the silent city suddenly reminded me of the old days when I first met my teacher and learned about the world and he brought me around the continent and showed me the wide world.

Even then, such a beautiful sunset was falling.

I reached out my hand in the air, its the same sky as then, but the touch is different. I was younger in the past, and I wasnt as tall as I am now. Above all, it was a vast meadow, not a city.

Where the wind ran like a wild horse and cast its footprints on the grass, where the endless Milky Way unfolded like silk at night and The sound of insects and the smell of grass that stimulated the tip of the nose. At my fingertips, the touch of silver grass still lingered in the wind.

What are you thinking?

Then a voice was heard.

I turned my head and Alex was coming up through an iron ladder leading up to the spire.

I was just looking at the sky.

Sky?

Alex stood next to me and whistled as he watched the golden sunset over the clouds.

Its a rare sight in a city like this. Is it because its after the rain?

Maybe.

You were looking at the sky alone in such a difficult place to climb up? Leader is more emotional than I thought.

It sounds like you have something to tell me.

Is it because I hit the nail on the head right away? Alex looked foolish for a moment and smiled despondently.

I just wanted to say thank you.

What are you talking about?

You trusted me and didnt let me out of this operation.

Have you not given up on her yet?

I dont deserve to have regrets.

Alex is usually being frivolous, but he wasnt like this from the beginning. There was a time when he also had a dream and tried to do it and Enya was the lover Alex met at that time.

Have you calmed down?

Roughly.

It should be enough not to cause a setback on the day of the operation.

Dont worry about it. Well, thats enough of my story. I thought Id talk about my colleagues first.

Talk about his colleagues? Rudger already expected that. Each of them was a talented person full of personality and strange abilities that he gathered through his personal connections.

They say they get along well with him, but theres no guarantee theyll get along with each other.

Especially the big one.

Do you mean Pantos?

Whats wrong with him? He almost messed up!

But didnt it work out well?

It was barely enough because I used leaders name. If I hadnt acted properly there, I would have already been caught.

It cant be helped, Im the only one he decided to swear allegiance to. He doesnt care about others.

Damn. There is no such thing as comradeship. Hes a troublesome character.

But Pantos is so candid and sincere. If you dig into it well, he will be a good companion.

Oh, I dont like such a hard guy.

I dont really hate it after saying that. What about the other people you saw?

Alex pondered my question with his arms crossed and came up with an answer.

Everyone is first class in their field but their personalities are a little weird.

Does it include you?

Its the same for leader.

Alex responded to my mischief with a joke.

And you know that guy named Hans.

Yes.

His ability to gather information is first class, but I feel a bit disappointed.

There would be no regrets for doing more than the role he was given.

That peculiar constitution, the power to turn into a beast will surely be of great help in battle.

I was wondering what he was talking about, but was it because of that?

As you know, Hans avoids fighting. Thats his nature.

You mean hes a coward?

Are you a coward?

I nodded, brooding Alexs retort.

He wasnt wrong.

Yes, hes a coward. He has that kind of power and he prefers to avoid fights. So he kept running away until he met me.

Well, I thought hes pretty strong when I saw him turning into a beast.

Alexs senses were keen.

In fact, when Hans transforms into a beast the strength of the body is close to the level of a hard-trained knight. If he uses the teeth of a more special beast, he will become even stronger.

Even if he doesnt fight, Hans is doing his part well enough. Its none of your business.

Well, thats not a big complaint, Im just a little disappointed. Its a pity to rot with that power.

You dont have to look too negative. One day, there will be a time when Hans will be determined.

Really?

Maybe.

I stared over the horizon at the sun that was gradually fading.

Maybe soon.

Is that just a hunch? Or is that reasonable reasoning?

Which side do you think it is?

Well, if I had to say it, Id say its a hunch. Oh and the kid named Arpa.

When Alex thought of Arpa he was confused.

Something is strange.

What do you mean?

Its just. Should I say its his actions, or should I say he gives off a heterogeneous energy? Well, its obvious that leader brought him in, but hes a little.

Alex glanced at me and asked.

What was he doing?

I didnt answer the question and turned my back.

Lets go down. We have to prepare for the operation.

Ha. Youre not going to tell me until the end?

Its a way to figure it out on your own.

Thats too much, really.

Isnt it boring if I tell you everything? Dont be impatient. Youll find out gradually when you work together. Thats the fun of life.

Alex shook his head as if he had lost.

* * *

Time went by quickly, and the day of the auction that will make Leathervelk noisy has come.

People dressed in colorful clothes head to the Kunst auction house one by one while the employees bow down to greet the guests.

Even under the dark night sky, the Kunst auction house was filled with colorful lights beyond the light of the streetlights to the point where its brilliance flows out from the outside.

This was an auction to mark the 20th anniversary of Kunst. The auction, which will last for as long as three days, was of unprecedented interest to the rich and authoritative.

Even the first days eve people were paying a lot of attention but they were more focused on the second day.

Famous actors, aristocrats, wizards, entrepreneurs, merchants, etc. Wherever you go, there are many people who dont have a single name.

There are a lot of people.

Erendir, who came to the Kunst auction house under the guidance of a retainer, seemed to be drawn to the splendid scenery inside.

Oh, my God, how much is that? If I sell that one, how many ordinary people can I save?

Someone approached her as she thought of such nonsense.

Third Princess Erendir von Exilion, thank you for visiting this Kunst. My name is Ivan Luke, the general manager of todays auction. Please feel free to call me Luke.

Ah yes.

Erendir replied lightly to Ivan because she had only made a formal visit. She didnt really like people that pretended to be fancy.

However, without knowing Erendirs true feelings, Ivan Luke reached out to escort her. Erendir couldnt refuse coldly, but she decided to respond appropriately for now.

Ha ha. Thank you for allowing me this precious time.

Its nothing.

I will guide you to your seat. Would you like to watch the auction right away?

No. Im a little tired today, so I want to rest in my room for now.

Our Kunst auction house also serves as a hotel, so Ill take you to a room dedicated to VVIP.

Erendir, who followed Ivan Luke, stopped as if she had found a familiar face among a myriad of people.

Whats wrong, Your Highness?

No, its nothing.

Erendir replied, but could not take her eyes off the crowd.

Did I just see something wrong?

She was sure she had seen someone familiar in the crowd but it happened so momentarily that Erendir was not sure if it was real.

* * *

Rudger, who entered the Kunst auction house, communicated to the other members through a micro-communicator worn on his ear.

This is {Unknown}. Can you hear me?

Soon after, other members replied that they could hear well.

Rudger, who last confirmed that the silent Pantos answered yes, gave instructions while looking inside the auction house filled with colorful lights and entertainment.

{U.N. Owen}, lets start the operation.

Operation Rudgers 8 has begun.