"?"
Oh, damn. That's a new angle.
Yes, yes, exactly like that.
Russell's eyes lit up, as if he had been suddenly enlightened.
"If that's the case, then it makes sense. As expected of you, Mary."
He revealed a trace of realization just right, his eyes looking at Mary filled with approval and admiration.
Spot on, girl. Keep spinning it just like that.
In a couple of days, I'll go steal something from Mycroft's nemesis to make this theory watertight.
Seeing Russell's reaction, the corners of Mary's mouth lifted slightly higher.
Evidently, she enjoyed this feeling—this sense of superiority.
Thus, her thinking continued to diverge.
"Mycroft isn't trying to distance himself; he is using this method to hint at Charlotte, to transmit information to her.
"He is telling Charlotte that Moriarty is his own hidden asset, so she shouldn't meddle in Moriarty's affairs."
"But what if Charlotte didn't understand?" Russell asked tentatively.
"Charlotte would definitely understand, because she is Charlotte Holmes," Mary said with certainty.
"Of course, even if Charlotte didn't understand, it actually doesn't matter.
"Mycroft had thought of a solution from the very beginning—a method that guarantees maximum safety regardless of whether Charlotte understood or not."
"And what is that, Teacher Mary?"
"Naturally, it is that set of bureaucratic rhetoric, Student Russell."
Mary clearly ate this up. She gave a light chuckle and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
"That rhetoric itself is an impeccable closed loop."
She held up a finger.
"First, let us assume the first conjecture is correct, that Mycroft wanted to pull a [There Is No Money Here].
"He found Charlotte and commissioned her to investigate Moriarty. Essentially, he wanted to prove one thing—that Ethan Roy's downfall had nothing to do with him."
"Uh-huh." Russell nodded cooperatively.
"In this scenario, Charlotte would refuse him. This is a matter of course, because Mycroft's bureaucratic spiel steps precisely on her landmines.
"Based on his understanding of Charlotte, he knew exactly what to say to generate disgust in her, thereby triggering her rebellious psychology.
"And evidently, Mycroft succeeded," Mary said.
"So that's how it is..." Russell revealed a look of sudden realization.
The first layer of logic is a perfect closed loop.
You really are something.
"Now, let us assume the second interpretation—that Charlotte understood Mycroft's hint."
Mary held up another finger, the smile on her lips deepening.
"If Charlotte understood Mycroft's words, then due to her understanding of him, she would choose to ignore this case.
"In fact, her attitude from the beginning was very obvious—she has absolutely no interest in Moriarty."
"Then what if Charlotte's rebellious psychology was triggered again?" Russell asked, following her lead like a perfect comedic foil.
"Then it circles back to the initial bureaucratic rhetoric," Mary's voice carried a hint of playfulness.
"Remember the label Mycroft pinned on Moriarty?"
"Attempting to interfere with national political security."
"Uh-huh. So, if Charlotte really caught Moriarty, what do you think this would imply for Mycroft, Student Russell?"
Russell's brain spun rapidly.
It implies my academic career ends early, and my legs will participate in a durability contest against some kind of metal object.
"It implies that Mycroft could use this opportunity to publicly announce he eradicated a criminal endangering national security?"
"Full marks."
Mary snapped her fingers crisply.
"You see, regardless of whether Charlotte understood or not, accepted or refused.
"For Mycroft, he is always the winning party.
"Either he successfully protects Moriarty and uses him to eradicate his political enemies.
"Or he obtains the beautiful reputation of striking down criminals and protecting national political security.
"Even if Moriarty decided to burn bridges at the end and rat Mycroft out, no one would believe his words by then.
"I have to admit, Mycroft Holmes is indeed a smart man."
"Hiss—"
Russell sucked in a breath of cold air.
"How can this Mycroft be so evil?"
Next time, I'm definitely stealing from his house.
"Those who play politics all have dirty hearts." Mary shrugged, looking as if this were nothing strange.
Having said all this, she cast her gaze once again toward the blackboard, focusing her attention on the professor's lecture and the writing on the board.
Ethan Roy, Mycroft Holmes, and the Phantom Thief Moriarty.
These three originally unrelated names were strung together under Mary's brainstorming and deduction, forming a thread filled with conspiracy and interest.
This feeling was like a puzzle being gradually filled in, revealing the outline it was meant to have.
"But in this way, doesn't it circle back to the very first question?"
Russell asked.
"What question?" Mary's attention was drawn away again.
"Motive," Russell said. "Moriarty's motive."
"For money... obviously unlikely. Moriarty has never stolen jewelry.
"Even if he stole it, he would return it to the original owner in the end." Mary frowned, asking and answering herself.
"Then, is it for fame?" Russell reminded her.
"If it were for fame, it seems not working with Mycroft wouldn't affect anything either.
"He could even turn around and expose Mycroft, couldn't he?"
Mary shook her head, denying this guess.
"Unless..."
Unless?
Russell's heart leaped to his throat.
"Unless what?"
"Unless he knew Mycroft from the very beginning."
Mary said.
"Although this guess is somewhat absurd, it would explain everything."
"What do you mean?" Russell asked.
"Did you know, Russell?"
This time, Mary did not answer directly but started telling Russell a piece of trivia regarding the nobility.
"Actually, there are some nobles who, every so often, will go to orphanages to adopt some children.
"They provide these children with food, clothes, education, and shelter, making them feel gratitude and view the nobles as their benefactors.
"Then, when these children grow up, they become the eyes and ears that the nobles plant in every corner of society."
Mary's voice was very soft, as if discussing an incredibly ordinary matter.
"Some good-looking girls might be groomed into young ladies, used as tools for political or commercial marriage alliances.
"Because the adoption process is private, no one knows if they are the noble's own flesh and blood or not.
"And some boys will be groomed into existences such as reporters, lawyers, or merchants.
"Their identities are clean, their resumes are perfect, and no one would associate them with the nobles."
"Doesn't that make them their shadows?" Russell followed her words, his tone carrying just the right amount of amazement.
"Correct. Shadows, and also tools." Mary nodded.
"Compared to profit, emotion is a much firmer, yet much cheaper chain.
"It can make people willingly offer up everything, including their freedom and lives."
She paused, her gaze refocusing on Russell's face.
"What if Moriarty is one of them, too?"
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