Chapter 52

◈ Chapter 52: James Moriarty (2)

The air lingering in the back alleys of Leiderbeck is so cold it makes the skin tingle.

In that dark, deep indigo space, Hans leaned against the wall and lifted his head.

'So damn high.'

Hans, who prided himself on having seen many things while traveling through various cities, found Leiderbeck, the capital of the empire, to be taller than any city he had ever seen.

Even this shabby back alley was no exception.

It felt like a prison made of bricks and brass.

'Maybe I should get one of those wire hooks like my brother.'

Having one of those would make it easier to escape dangerous moments in Leiderbeck.

Of course, the biggest reason was that it looked cool when Rudger used it to chase werewolves.

At that moment, the darkness beyond the alley flickered, and shadows began to stir.

It was a startling sight, as if a ghost had appeared, but Hans, who had already seen this several times, straightened his collar and greeted the shadow.

"Have you arrived?"

Swish.

The shadow soon took on a human form.

A pitch-black Inverness coat with a cloak over the shoulders.

A cane made of gold and black, and a black leather glove on the hand holding it.

His hair, usually tied back, was now neatly combed back in an all-back style, and he wore a silk hat.

This alone made Rudger look very different.

"Situation?"

"Hmm. Let me tell you what I found out first. Our hideout is in a back alley, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, as you might expect, there are several underworld organizations dividing the territory around here."

Hans organized the information he had confirmed and relayed it.

He had been diligently exploring the area for the past few days to verify this.

"The scoundrels are divided into four major organizations. Among them, one large-scale organization is the strongest and largest, and the other three are of medium size."

"Four in total. Quite a few for a big city."

"Let me start with the medium-sized ones. First, there's a circus troupe made up of people with disabilities or those who are marginalized."

"A circus troupe?"

"In a city like this, it's essential to have some talent to make a living. This circus troupe is a kind of labor union and gang, where such people gather."

Rudger nodded in understanding.

"Kirkus. Good. Next?"

"Next is a place made up entirely of women. A place that's always present in the underworld of any city."

"A brothel."

Without any hints, Rudger guessed correctly.

While a normal person might feel uncomfortable or offended by the word, in the back alleys, it was a place that couldn't be avoided.

This was that kind of world.

Even in 21st-century Earth, such places always existed.

"Still, they're not entirely weak. They have their own expertise and make a living as an organization. They are quite capable of gathering information and have their hands in various city businesses. They share a small black rose emblem to confirm their members, hence the name 'Women of the Black Rose.'"

The Women of the Black Rose.

Rudger murmured the name softly.

"Last one?"

"The last one is a union of children and the elderly. Old people who can't work properly but have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and young children who jump into the workforce to earn money."

Rudger nodded.

In this world, it was common to see children treated as laborers.

Just walking around the streets, you'd see plenty of children selling newspapers.

There were also child pickpockets and those who did odd jobs in mansions.

The worst cases were those who did hard labor in factories or mines without proper rest.

"This place, where the elderly and children gather, is called the Old Kids. They also focus on gathering information and are said to rival the Women of the Black Rose."

"Children hear a lot."

To summarize the information Hans provided:

Circus Troupe Kirkus.

Brothel Women of the Black Rose.

Labor Union of the Elderly and Children, the Old Kids.

These three are the medium-sized organizations in the underworld.

"Now, there's one big one left."

"The Red Society, the back alley gang."

"The Red Society. I think I've heard the name before."

"They dominate the back alleys of Leiderbeck. Kidnapping, extortion, drug and narcotics distribution, alcohol industry, and any job that requires muscle. There's almost nothing dirty they haven't touched."

While the first three organizations formed out of necessity to survive, the Red Society was a necessary evil, a congregation of vermin drawn to the stench of the world's shadow.

"This back alley is maintained in a state of balance of power between the Red Society and the other three organizations. The Red Society wreaks havoc, and the other three unite against them."

"The one we need to deal with is the Red Society, then."

"Right. The other three won't react unless directly threatened. They're not really dangerous. But... the Red Society is different."

"Of course. The smaller ones can be suppressed or eliminated."

"Be careful. They have considerable power, making them hard to suppress. Recently, they've started keeping an eye on our hideout. So, let's start by gradually taking out their tails..."

Hans suggested his plan, but Rudger shook his head, cutting him off.

"No, that's fine. There's no need to start with the tails. It's a waste of time."

"Excuse me?"

"Go for the head. The others will fall in line."

"Ah, but how...?"

Rudger chuckled at Hans's bewildered expression.

"Of course, a frontal assault."

That's why he dressed this way.

Hans was about to tell him not to be ridiculous, but then realized Rudger was serious and gave up.

No matter what he said, Rudger would do what he said.

And he would succeed. He always had.

"Indeed. Your attire and all. Are you going to use that identity? The self-proclaimed crime consultant, the big shot in the underworld."

"Right."

Rudger answered and put on a gold monocle from his pocket.

His usual sharp, cold soldier-like appearance vanished instantly.

Instead, he looked intellectual, proper, and somewhat sinister, like a man who might harbor a venomous snake.

James Moriarty.

This was one of the past identities Rudger would use this time.

"Are you really going to go in head-on?"

"Why not?"

"The Red Society's atmosphere is quite tense right now. The members are banded together, more aggressive than usual."

"Tense. I think I know why."

"How do you know that?"

Hans was curious, as he hadn't figured it out yet.

"The Red Society is likely in turmoil because of this: the death of the wealthy Belbort Rikson."

"Belbort Rikson's death and the scoundrels... Ah!"

"You caught on."

Hans's face became more serious as his doubts were resolved.

"Belbort Rikson and the Red Society had some connection."

"Right. Belbort Rikson was notorious for his dirty deeds, like the mysterious deaths of rival businessmen or the fires in shantytowns opposing factory construction. Could he have done all that alone?"

"He had his own henchmen."

"That's the Red Society."

"Indeed. A wealthy person like him would need someone to handle dirty work."

"Hans, with Belbort Rikson dead, the Red Society has lost their biggest source of funding and is likely very agitated. They might stay quiet for now, but they'll soon move to make up for the lost money."

"...That's why they're banded together. Wait, then aren't you their enemy and the cause of their anger?"

"Right."

Rudger's straightforward answer left Hans speechless.

Since Rudger had killed Belbort Rikson, the Red Society was furious.

Of course, they didn't know it was Rudger, so calling him an enemy was a bit much.

"And now is the perfect time. The scoundrels who are usually scattered are gathered in one place."

"...Are you really going to do it?"

"Why not?"

"Well, you're a wizard, so a few gang members won't be a problem, but the Red Society isn't just any gang."

"Not just any gang?"

"Armed with all sorts of weapons... well, bullets don't matter to a wizard, but there are quite a few seasoned knife fighters among them."

"Hmm."

"That's why. There are former knights who failed to become knights due to money or character issues, and seasoned mercenaries. The Red Society has many such people. That's why they're the top here."

"Knight-level forces, huh."

If there were knights, it would be troublesome.

In this world, knights are superhumans.

They can deflect bullets with their bare hands and have extraordinary physical abilities.

Wizards and knights have been long-time rivals, making knights the most difficult opponents for wizards.

Those who can manipulate aura can cut through or pierce even magic.

That's why Hans wanted to take a safer route, even if it took longer.

No matter what, entering the enemy's territory recklessly was too dangerous.

"That's interesting."

But Rudger smiled, finding it amusing.

Hans thought he must have misheard.

"Brother, are you really going to do this?"

"Is there a reason not to?"

"Knight-level forces!"

"Knight-level is just that, not a real knight. Hans, you don't know, but there's a big difference between a knight-level and a full knight. The difference between a knight and a commander is even greater."

"No, that's not what I'm