"?"
Holy hell—so that's a theory too.
Yes, yes. That's exactly it.
Russell's eyes lit up, as if he'd just been enlightened.
"If that's the case, then it all makes sense. Not bad, Mary."
He showed just the right hint of realization, looking at her with praise and admiration.
That's it, sis—keep that story airtight.
In a couple days I'll go steal something from Mycroft's enemy's place and make this theory 'true.'
Seeing Russell react like that, Mary's lips curved higher.
Clearly, she enjoyed the feeling—this sense of superiority.
So her train of thought kept expanding.
"Mycroft isn't trying to distance himself," Mary said. "He's using that approach to hint to Charlotte—to pass her information.
He's telling Charlotte that Moriarty is his own covert asset, so Charlotte shouldn't meddle in Moriarty's affairs."
"But what if Charlotte doesn't get it?" Russell asked, testing the waters.
"She'll get it," Mary said with certainty. "Because she's Charlotte Holmes."
"Of course, even if she doesn't get it, it doesn't really matter. Mycroft would have planned a method from the start—a method that keeps things as safe as possible whether Charlotte understands or not."
"And what method would that be, Teacher Mary?" Russell prompted.
"Obviously, that whole office line," Mary replied, smiling. "Classmate Russell."
Mary was clearly eating this up. She chuckled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"That line is a perfect closed loop."
She raised one finger.
"First, let's assume the first guess is correct—Mycroft is doing the 'there's no silver here' act.
He goes to Charlotte and commissions her to investigate Moriarty. In essence, he wants to prove one thing: Ethan Roy's downfall had nothing to do with him."
"Mm-hm." Russell nodded along.
"In that case, Charlotte refusing him is only natural—because Mycroft's office rhetoric hits her exact trigger point.
Based on how well he understands Charlotte, he knows exactly what to say to make her disgusted, and thus provoke her rebellious streak.
And clearly, Mycroft succeeded," Mary concluded.
"I see…" Russell put on an expression of sudden understanding.
That's a flawless loop for layer one.
Not bad at all.
"Now," Mary continued, raising a second finger, her smile deepening, "let's assume the second explanation—Charlotte understood Mycroft's hint."
"If she understood, then because she understands Mycroft, she would choose to ignore the case.
In fact, her attitude was obvious from the start—she has no real interest in Moriarty."
"And what if Charlotte's rebellious streak gets triggered anyway?" Russell asked, a perfect straight man feeding her setup.
"Then we circle back to the office rhetoric again." Mary's voice carried a hint of amusement.
"Do you remember the label Mycroft slapped onto Moriarty?"
"Attempting to interfere with national political security," Russell replied.
"Mm-hm. Then if Charlotte really does catch Moriarty, what do you think that means—for Mycroft, Classmate Russell?"
Russell's mind raced.
It means my school life ends early and my legs have to compete for durability with some kind of metal object.
"Meaning… Mycroft can use the opportunity to publicly declare that he eliminated a criminal who threatened national security?" Russell said.
"Full marks." Mary snapped her fingers with a crisp click.
"See? No matter whether Charlotte understood or didn't—whether she accepts or refuses—Mycroft always wins.
Either he successfully protects Moriarty and uses him to eliminate his political enemies…
or he earns a shining reputation for fighting crime and safeguarding national political security."
"Even if Moriarty decides to go down swinging and name Mycroft, no one will believe him by then.
You have to admit—Mycroft Holmes really is a smart man."
"Damn…" Russell sucked in a breath.
"How can this Mycroft be so villainous?"
Next time I'm stealing from his house.
"Politics makes people filthy," Mary shrugged, as if it was nothing new.
After saying all that, she turned her attention back to the lecture and the writing on the blackboard.
Ethan Roy. Mycroft Holmes. The gentleman thief Moriarty.
Three names that originally had nothing to do with each other—now linked together by Mary's deductions into a thread of conspiracy and interests.
It felt like a puzzle being filled in, its true outline gradually emerging.
"But then doesn't that bring us back to the original question?" Russell asked.
"What question?" Mary's attention got pulled back again.
"The motive," Russell said. "Moriarty's motive."
"For money… doesn't seem likely." Mary frowned, answering herself. "Moriarty has never stolen jewels.
Even if he takes something, he returns it in the end."
"Then is it for fame?" Russell suggested.
"If it's for fame, he doesn't need to cooperate with Mycroft either. In fact, he could expose Mycroft instead, couldn't he?"
Mary shook her head, rejecting that guess.
"Unless…"
Another 'unless'?
Russell's heart climbed into his throat.
"Unless what?" he pressed.
"Unless he knew Mycroft from the start," Mary said.
"It sounds absurd—but it would explain everything."
"What do you mean?" Russell asked.
"You know, Russell…" This time Mary didn't answer directly. Instead, she told him a cold piece of aristocratic trivia.
"Some aristocrats—every so often—go to orphanages and adopt children.
They provide food, clothes, education, and shelter, so the children feel gratitude and treat them as benefactors.
Then, when the children grow up, they become eyes and ears planted across every corner of society."
Mary's voice was light, as if discussing something ordinary.
"Some pretty girls might be raised as 'young ladies'—tools for political or commercial marriages.
Because the adoption process is private, nobody knows whether they're actually blood-related.
And some boys are raised into roles like journalists, lawyers, merchants…
Their identities are clean. Their histories are perfect. No one would ever connect them to the aristocracy."
"So they become… shadows," Russell followed her lead, with just the right amount of awe in his tone.
"Exactly. Shadows—and tools." Mary nodded.
"Compared to利益, emotion is a stronger chain—and cheaper.
It can make people willingly give everything, including freedom and life."
She paused, her gaze refocusing on Russell's face.
"What if… Moriarty is one of those too?"
....
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