Chapter 94: CASE 6: The Eduard Scandal (7)

In a way, Walter’s words might have been the logical conclusion.

However…

“If it’s a peace that can be shattered by the existence of a single photo, then it wasn’t that solid to begin with.”

I had no intention of listening to Walter.

“Even an unstable peace can become stronger once it’s established! I cannot stand by and watch any risk factor that threatens this peace!”

“Then keep Young Duke Wilhelm in check. Don’t think about threatening the safety of a powerless woman.”

“What I want is the photo. If you simply hand it over, I can swear that not a single hair on Ms. Christine’s head will be harmed.”

“Didn’t you just say you couldn’t stand by and watch any risk factor?”

“Without the photo, Ms. Christine is no longer a threat. Weren’t you going to cross over to Oswan soon anyway? Together with your beloved fiancé.”

‘Damn it. Information about the boat has already leaked.’

If he was speaking with that much certainty, he must have already figured out that we were waiting for the ship arriving in five days.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

“Mr. Hayes, I am a detective who knows morality. I also have no intention of harming an innocent person.”

“I might trust you, Mr. Walter, but I cannot trust Young Duke Wilhelm. Once you complete your request, how can I be sure that the Young Duke won’t send other subordinates to harm Ms. Christine?”

According to what I had heard from Ms. Christine, that man was more than capable of doing such a thing.

“Let me persuade you instead. Give up, Mr. Walter. The thing you’re worried about won’t happen.”

Christine simply wanted her safety guaranteed through the photo. She had no intention of using it to threaten the Young Duke.

“I’ll have to return those words to you. I might trust you, Mr. Hayes, but I cannot trust Ms. Christine.”

“Then, it seems the negotiations have broken down.”

In truth, this was a result that had been expected since before the conversation even began.

I knew that Walter Bell suffered from war trauma.

His body had been ruined by a horrific war, and filled with self-loathing, he was now hunting a criminal organization led by his former comrades. He was a man who had experienced the calamities of war firsthand. No matter how trivial it seemed, there was no way he would overlook a spark that could lead to war.

However, I also couldn’t give up on Christine’s request.

It wasn’t just for the reasons I mentioned earlier.

Young Duke Wilhelm Eduard. He was the legitimate son of Grand Duchess Catherine Eduard. He was one of the three candidates for Taylor John.

‘In a few days, she’ll be coming up to the Imperial Capital.’

Soon, Taylor John’s killings would begin.

To prevent further victims, I had to catch Taylor John, but the candidates were all such powerful figures that it was difficult even to see their faces. If I successfully completed this request, I would receive the Young Duke’s weakness from Christine. That would be more than enough of an excuse to meet the Grand Duchess.

‘I can tell who someone is the moment I see them.’

If the Grand Duchess was Taylor John, I could confirm the culprit. If not, the candidates would be reduced to only two. And I could even secure the Grand Duchess’s help to narrow those candidates down to one.

Yes, I intended to hold the Young Duke’s weakness and use it to manipulate the situation. I was going to bring about the exact scenario that Young Duke Wilhelm feared the most.

It certainly wasn’t an honorable thing to do.

If Walter, who had just said ‘I trust Mr. Hayes,’ found out about this, he might grab me by the collar and demand I return his trust.

But even if it was a dishonorable path, it might be the only way to catch a serial killer who hadn’t been caught for nearly five years.

‘It might even be a way to find out about my own unpredictable past.’

Therefore, I could never give up on this request. Walter Bell and I had been running on parallel lines from the start.

“By the way, Mr. Walter, where is Balthazar?” I asked, taking a step toward him.

Posha was a former informant for the Herbert Clan who became Walter Bell’s assistant after the last incident. Her alias was Balthazar. If she were nearby, things would get annoying.

“I asked Ms. Posha not to get too deeply involved. I might end up fighting with you, and that would put her in an awkward position, wouldn’t it? Above all, this isn’t something related to the Herbert Clan.”

“Is that so? How gentlemanly of you.”

Another step.

I slowly lowered the hand that had been holding the head of my cane and gripped its shaft.

Perhaps sensing the threatening atmosphere, Walter’s expression hardened.

“I am a pacifist, you know.”

“I am as well. However, sometimes the best way to achieve peace is through a display of force.”

It was exhausting to be constantly chased by Walter’s one-sided attacks. Rather than that, it seemed like a much more attractive option to subdue Walter and keep him confined somewhere until the ship arrived.

“What a coincidence. Actually… I think so, too.”

At that moment, Walter laughed as he raised his right hand, which had been hidden inside his sleeve.

“I figured you wouldn’t be paying attention to this hand.”

In Walter’s scrawny right hand was a pistol.

Wait a minute. Seriously?

“Is that a real gun?”

“Then would it be a fake?”

Walter tilted his head as if the question were even more bewildering.

“The person in charge of the Eastern Front is Grand Duchess Catherine. This is a case concerning her son’s honor; there’s no way the Grand Duchess wouldn’t provide me with a single gun, right?”

I had solved many cases until now, but this was the first time I had seen a gun.

‘Is this the Eastern style? How tough.’

I was flustered at first, but I soon regained my composure.

“…Do you think you can beat me with that?”

“Well, I’m not sure. What do you think?”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure either. The distance between us was too close. If I was hit by a pistol at this distance, I would probably die.

However, what Walter held was a double-action revolver. The trigger was already heavy on such guns, and that one looked like an even earlier model than what I knew. The trigger weight was at least 4-5 kg.

Could he even pull the trigger with that scrawny arm? Even if he could, wouldn’t I be faster at subduing Walter than the gun could fire?

‘Even so, a gun is still a gun.’

Walter spoke while maintaining the smile on his face.

“If neither of us can guess the outcome, wouldn’t it be better for both of us to stop here?”

“…”

Without a word, I adjusted my grip on my cane and took two steps back. Walter also lowered the muzzle toward the floor. *Sshhh.* Following gravity, his long sleeve slid down, and the muzzle was swallowed back into his sleeve just as it had been.

“Ah, I feel like I can breathe now. My arm was killing me because it was so heavy.”

“If it’s that heavy, you could just put it down entirely.”

“The doctor told me that I need to exercise occasionally to help with my rehabilitation.”

After a few moments of trivial banter, I spoke.

“Well then, I’ll see you next time.”

“Yes, until next time.”

Walter also responded with a bright smile.

“At that time, let’s meet your client as well.”

I turned around and walked away without answering. Once I turned the corner and Walter was no longer in sight, my pace began to quicken.

‘This is bad.’

It was a fact that Walter probably couldn’t even dream of. Just now, without knowing it, he had dealt me a fatal blow.

‘I never expected him to reveal his identity like that.’

Walter had shown his face before me and openly stated his purpose. There was no longer any need to deduce the culprit’s identity. Everything had been clearly revealed, and the culprit was no longer hiding in the shadows. The black shadow cast over him was gone.

‘I won’t be able to distinguish Walter’s disguises anymore.’

Based on what I had experienced so far, Walter was a master of disguise. His appearance, voice, tone, and atmosphere were all under his control. Until now, I could detect Walter’s approach through my ability, but from now on, that was impossible. He would appear wearing a different mask instead of a black shadow!

I wouldn’t be able to tell if the coachman next to me was Walter or if the sailor at the port was Walter.

‘Since it’s come to this…’

I made a certain decision.

When I returned to the Everton Villa, Lure and Christine jumped up to greet me.

“Mr. Hayes!”

“Did you catch Janus?”

“I couldn’t catch him. I did meet him and talked, though.”

I quickly conveyed the information I had learned to the two of them—that Janus’s identity was actually Walter Bell and that he had shown a firm determination to retrieve the photo, even going as far as carrying a gun.

“Oh, no…”

Christine’s face turned pale. Lure spoke in a lively voice, as if trying to soothe the client.

“You don’t have to worry too much. Master Hayes has overcome situations much worse than this. We’ve already held out for five days, so we can certainly endure another five. Right, Master?”

“No.”

I was sorry, but I couldn’t do it.

“Ten days. I don’t think we can make it.”

“What?” Lure shouted in surprise.

Christine looked at me with tearful eyes.

“Are you… going to give up on the request like this?”

“Of course not.”

I smiled to reassure the client.

“We don’t necessarily need to fill the whole ten days, do we?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Let’s rent a small boat and go out to sea. We’ll go out to meet the ship coming to pick you up ourselves.”

Waiting for the ship to come to me was too passive. I would go to the ship.

***

Lure, Christine, and I had a strategy meeting late into the night. Finally, after designing the entire operation…

*Creeeeak.*

I stepped out of the villa under the cover of night.

‘There won’t be anyone monitoring this place right now.’

I had a contingency plan ready if there were, but that was my guess for now. Until now, Walter had used various people to harass us. However, because of that, I was certain that Walter was currently the only one moving proactively.

The people Walter had hired were all vagrants. By nature, these were people whose involvement ended with short-term contracts. If Walter had other accomplices, there was no reason to hire vagrants. There was also no reason for him to pose as a left-handed coachman himself.

Therefore, Walter was the only one moving proactively. Occasionally, Balthazar might lend a hand, or he would hire vagrants whenever necessary.

‘There’s no way he’d continue monitoring until this time of the morning.’

We hadn’t shown any movement for the past five days. Of course, we had planned to keep it that way for the next five days as well. Walter also seemed to know that we were just waiting for the ship to arrive.

‘He’ll be feeling relieved. But we’re leaving.’

I let out a smirk and disappeared into the darkness.

Three hours later, as the dawn broke.

A sleek, two-wheeled carriage stopped in front of the Everton Villa.

“Now!”

Two women who had been waiting for the right moment immediately climbed into the carriage. The carriage departed at once and soon vanished from any pursuer’s sight.

“Well then…” Walter muttered. “I suppose I should go catch them now.”

It was the start of a game of hide-and-seek.