Unfortunately, Hayes’s plan to attack the professor could not be carried out immediately.
“Do you really think that makes sense?!”
Lure had practically screamed the words as soon as he heard the plan.
“Why wouldn’t it? If anything, isn’t this the most certain way?”
A fierce debate continued for nearly one hour after that.
Lure argued against Hayes by pointing out every single flaw in the plan. Each time, Hayes filled those gaps by citing his physical abilities, proposing new safeguards, or emphasizing Lure’s cooperation.
Through their collaboration, the plan gradually began to take a more plausible shape.
It remained an undeniably reckless plan, however.
“Seriously… this is insane,” Lure muttered, his voice now hoarse.
He was already more than 90% convinced, but he uttered those words because he could not quite let go of his final lingering doubts.
“It’s just too reckless.”
“I know it’s reckless,” Hayes said calmly.
“But something I’ve realized in my life is that if you sit around hesitating because something is reckless, too many things just end right there. In reality, if you just close your eyes and charge forward, things often get solved surprisingly easily.”
“That’s…”
Lure was at a loss for words.
Looking back, it was true.
When he was overwhelmed by the fear that he might have stolen the exam papers, Lure had shrunk back, imagining only the worst-case scenarios. Instead of honestly confessing the catastrophe he might have caused, he couldn’t even find the courage to check the inside of the envelope and face the situation.
What if he had confessed honestly back then instead of telling various lies?
Considering how Ursula and his classmates reacted when he finally did confess, the result might not have been as terrible as Lure had feared. At the very least, they would have trusted his words more than they did after he changed his story so late.
Tophus’s trap would have still existed, so things wouldn’t have been solved easily, but he would have been able to identify and deal with such a trap much faster.
In the end, keeping silent out of fear of reckless action had turned into a poison that came back to haunt him.
‘Even now, isn’t it better to just do something?’
Wasn’t it better to do something rather than sit still and wait for his expulsion to be processed?
“…Fine.”
Lure finally made a decision.
“I’ll trust your plan, Mister Hayes.”
As if he had been waiting for that answer, Hayes grinned, showing his teeth.
“You won’t regret it.”
***
Early the next morning.
Professor Tophus visited his research lab early as usual, only to stop in his tracks, startled.
An unexpected, uninvited guest was standing in front of his door.
“You are… the detective from yesterday.”
Fortunately, he was able to recall the name without delay.
“Hayes, was it?”
“That is correct, Professor.”
Hayes bowed politely, wearing a fawning, sycophantic smile.
“But you…”
The professor couldn’t finish his sentence as he looked the man up and down. His appearance was completely different from yesterday.
A crisp, ironed white linen shirt. Over it, a thick brown checkered vest.
A neatly knotted tie, a frock coat, and even a cane in his hand.
Though he seemed to have failed to acquire a hat, his slicked-back hair looked quite tidy.
“You’ve dressed up quite formally.”
Tophus spoke with the dignified tone of a professor.
To be honest, he wanted to ask why the man had been walking around looking like a beggar when he actually knew how to dress like that.
“Ah, I put some effort into it because it seemed you didn’t quite like my attire yesterday, Professor.”
Hayes said, bowing his waist obsequiously like a man with no pride.
“After all, isn’t catering to the employer’s taste the most important thing?”
“…Employer?”
“Yes! Didn’t you say you would hire me if I caught the culprit?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Professor Tophus nodded.
‘I didn’t think he’d actually catch the person.’
He had assigned the task with half-doubt, but the result was better than expected. Lure Poiren was an excellent student, so he had expected the student to clear the charges somehow.
If Lure had been proven innocent, Tophus had planned to use appropriate words of intimidation to bring the student into his ‘cage.’
‘Well… this just means this detective is competent, so it doesn’t really matter.’
What Professor Tophus needed was competent talent.
It didn’t matter if they were a student from the Department of Criminology or a novice detective who had just started working. If they were a talented person who had proven their ability, they were qualified to enter his ‘cage.’
Having finished his thoughts, Tophus changed his expression and laughed heartily.
“Of course, a promise must be kept! Come, come in. Let’s talk about the terms of the contract. Of course, I’ll make sure you’re well compensated for yesterday’s work, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
The professor opened the locked door of the lab with the man standing behind him.
And that was the last action Tophus was able to perform of his own free will. Thwack—!!
“Ack?!”
A massive impact struck the back of his head.
Tophus let out a single scream and rolled onto the floor.
“Ah, it broke.”
A nonchalant voice came from behind him.
When he looked back, the detective was muttering indifferently while looking at the cane, which had snapped in half.
“Maybe it would’ve been better to prepare something like a wooden club instead of a cane after all?”
“If you were standing there with a wooden club, Mister Hayes, the professor would’ve run away long ago.”
Tophus’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
The detective’s mutterings, which he thought were a monologue, had received a response. Furthermore, that voice was somewhat familiar.
“Besides, from a legal perspective, a cane is much more advantageous for claiming self-defense. If you needed a blunt weapon that doesn’t break, why don’t you try filling a cane with lead instead?”
Someone opened the door to the stairwell next to the lab and stepped inside.
The identity of that person was…
“Lu—Lure?!”
“Hello, Professor.”
Lure smiled coldly while holding a rope.
“By the way, you’re quite carefree, Professor. After doing something like that to me yesterday, to come to work so defenselessly. I suppose that’s how much of a pushover I looked like to you?”
Beads of cold sweat began to form on Tophus’s shiny bald head.
“Lu—Lure! There seems to be some misunderstanding. Were you very upset because of the expulsion? Don’t worry, the paperwork hasn’t been finalized yet, so it can still be reversed. Let’s have a calm conversation—. Eek!”
The professor couldn’t speak any further.
As he was trying to get up while making excuses, a booted foot crushed down on his chest.
“Don’t bother struggling. What will we do if someone of your age breaks a bone?”
Thanks to the weight pressing down on him, Tophus could vividly feel the shape of his own ribs. The threat from this madman of a detective didn’t feel like a joke in the slightest.
“And don’t even think about making a loud noise. You know there are no people in the school at this hour, right?”
Lure spoke cheerfully as he closed the lab door and handed the rope in his hand to Hayes.
“P-please, don’t do this.”
The professor quickly decided who to plead with.
It was a losing battle to even attempt a conversation with the lunatic who had bashed the back of his head hard enough to break a cane and was now crushing his chest with all his strength.
However, Lure—his obedient and soft-hearted student—might still be open to persuasion, wouldn’t he?
“Lure! You aren’t usually this kind of person. If there’s something you want, let’s talk about it! I’ll give you anything! The expulsion is canceled, obviously. I’ll even prove your innocence in front of the students. Oh, right! I’ll provide you with a scholarship too!”
“Will you really give me anything?”
“Yes! Anything, as long as you let me go!”
Lure’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Then, could you start by telling me who sent the SOS signal written on the exam paper?”
“…! How did you know about that!”
“So, what’s the answer?”
“……”
“You’re not going to say, are you? I knew it.”
Lure gave a short laugh.
In the meantime, Hayes had succeeded in completely binding the professor’s hands and feet. Even though the foot was removed from his chest, the professor could only wriggle like a bug and could not stand up.
Hayes then pulled a bundle of cloth from his coat.
“Now, open your mouth.”
‘N-no…!’
Tophus made one last plea.
“Lure, please! Aren’t you my most cherished disciple!”
“Disciple? Me?”
Lure looked down at the professor and scoffed.
“There’s no way a person like you could be my teacher. I’ve learned more from Mister Hayes in this half a day than I did from you in the last three years. I’d rather take Mister Hayes as my teacher.”
“No! Do— Mmph! Mmgh! Mmmph!”
That was the end of it.
The bundle of cloth was stuffed into Tophus’s mouth, and the professor was completely suppressed. The professor’s muffled groans would not leak out of the lab.
“…It’s quite refreshing, but is it really okay to go on like this?”
Lure asked with an expression that still held a hint of anxiety.