indianbanksassociation Chapter 180: The Korean Interpreter (4)
Chapter 180: The Korean Interpreter (4)
“What is this woman saying?”
“... Just wait a moment. My memory is a bit foggy, so it’s taking me some time to interpret her words properly.”
Having secretly relayed a message to the woman before me, I made a quick excuse to the men urgently throwing questions at me after gauging the woman’s reaction.
Until just moments ago, she had been enveloped in deep despair. However, my abrupt message had taken her by complete surprise and that slipped out ever so slightly in her expressions.
Yet, seeing that she did not openly showcase it to everyone, she appeared quite sharp-witted.
“I will need to ask some more questions, I believe.”
“... As you wish. However, we will decide what questions to ask.”
Then, there was no reason for me to hesitate any longer.
What exactly do you want?
(Who are you?)
I want nothing.
(I am a bureaucrat from the Empire of Korea. You need not know more.)
It might be good to lie to buy some time.
(Why have you been captured?)
Then, start by untying these ropes.
(I was captured while returning home with documents critical to my nation’s fate.)
Thus, I calmed myself down and started to earnestly probe for her circumstances.
“... The conversation seems to be getting quite lengthy.”
“It’s a characteristic of this language. It’s unnecessarily wordy.”
“So, how far along are we with deciphering her conditions?”
“Well, for starters, I think she’s asking us to untie the ropes?”
As I responded to the man who had interjected with a discontent expression,
- Thwack...!!!
A sharp slap echoed throughout the dim basement the very next moment.
“Ugh...”
“Tell her we agreed to meet their demands, not unreasonable requests.”
A blood-red handprint etched on her face, the man looked at the groaning woman with a frigid glint in his eyes.
Isn’t there a plausible compromise we can reach?
(How long have you been captured for?)
I have no intention of handing over the documents, no matter what.
(I am not sure, but I think it has been more than a fortnight.)
Even if that means they will do unspeakable things to you?
(What is your name?)
My will shall not be broken.
(My name is Kim Cheong-Yeon.)
You’ll regret this.
(Do you have any companions?)
That will never happen.
(I had a fellow official with me, but these bastards killed him.)
As the outline of the events surrounding the woman began to take shape in my head,
- Knock, knock, knock...!
Suddenly, abrupt knocks echoed out from the entrance.
“What...?”
“Has our location been discovered?”
“... No, that doesn’t seem to be it.”
The men’s eyes sharpened with a frigid chill, they stood up with their weapons to investigate the suspicious knocks. At that moment, the quietly observing professor opened her mouth, a smile tugging her lips, ꭆ
“Wouldn’t it be a bit much to say that we’ve been discovered? Especially when the act of hiding itself is meaningless to that person?”
“... What?”
“It’s nothing. I and my assistant will be handling this. Both of you just stay inside.”
Delivering those words, the professor took my hand and leisurely moved towards the entrance.
“W-Why am I...?”
“... I don’t like it when you talk to a woman for too long.”
“Huh?”
“Not to mention... No matter how much I ruminate on it, you are the only weakness of the person who has come knocking at our door.”
“What do you mean, Professor...”
I was practically being dragged along by her, unable to even resist.
“You should already know who’s out there...”
“Oh my~”
“... Could it be because of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance?”
“Oh dear me...”
As I tried to prod at the matter with the hypothesis I had in my mind, Mycrony Holmes’ expression turned unusually frigid. Even the temperature of the room seemed to have dropped with the change in her expression.
“That’s classified information...”
“You really do know a lot, don’t you~?”
Judging by her reaction, it seemed that my guess had indeed been correct.
“... So, it’s a case involving the Empire of Japan.”
“Well, it’s a bit tricky to antagonize a country that could be an ally... especially with Russia’s fierce momentum in East Asia lately...”
“I never imagined that the Great British Empire would have to be concerned about an Eastern island nation.”
“Well, there’s nothing to be gained by provoking them now, is there? International relations are a delicate and complex issue, I swear.”
It also seemed like Mycrony didn’t have any intention of backing down here.
“As it stands, I’m afraid this situation calls for an apology.”
“What do you mean?”
“We have already received a commission. We cannot step back now.”
Of course, I had no intention of stepping back either.
The cries of agony coming from inside were one thing, but abandoning the case would directly lead to an increase in the erosion rate, given that this case was an episode directly from the source material.
“Um... This is really strange...”
But it seemed that Mycrony Holmes might have interpreted my overflowing good intentions somewhat differently.
“It doesn’t seem likely for Mr Adler, who came from hell, to care about the pride of Britain...”
“... Could it possibly be because of the Asian woman inside?”
Instantly, warmth vanished from the professor’s eyes, leaving only an arctic chill.
“Now that I think about it, what country is that woman from...? There should be a report somewhere...”
“That’s definitely not the case here, Miss Mycrony. It’s a matter of upholding the client’s trust in us.”
“And besides, even to produce a satisfactory outcome for the Empire of Japan, my help is necessary, right?”
Noticing the professor’s expression, I was frantically trying to come up with explanations that could justify my involvement and eagerness for this case.
“... Well, if you are still feeling uneasy, I shall ensure that Charlotte doesn’t get involved in this case.”
“Hmm...”
“Let’s just cleanly complete the client’s request and leave, shall we?”
“... Well, if you insist so much, then.”
I could only win over Microny Holmes after making that remark, still unaware of the potential backlash.
“Remember this.”
Relieved that I had somehow managed the situation, a sigh escaped me. In the next moment, however, Mycrony gave me a piece of advice, her back turned towards us.
“The moment my sister gets involved, I will also intervene in the case.”
“..... Yes.”
Hearing her usually languid voice, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine.
“I will... remember.”
Mycroft Holmes, the official instigator of the original episode— The Greek Interpreter.
In this world, she was Mycrony Homes. I couldn’t help but start worrying about the chaos that might ensue if she were to decide to go on a rampage.
.
.
.
.
.
Avant de nous séparer, je vais me lamenter un moment.
(Before we part, I will be complaining for a moment.)
Just when I was engulfed in worries about how to conduct myself in the future, a shadow of concern darkening my face,
Ich glaube, mein Assistent lügt.
(I think my assistant is lying.)
Das ist schade.
(That's a truly unfortunate.)
As if on cue, both Professor Moriarty and Mycroft Holmes started spouting in an alien language, walking side by side as they exited the alleyway.
Где универсальный переводчик, который не знает ни французского, ни немецкого, ни р
(Do you think it makes sense for someone who claims to be an universal interpreter to not know French, German, or Russian?)
Это немного смешно.
(That's quite an amusing farce, yes.)
It almost felt like they had started a spell casting duel to determine the strongest in London right here and now.