Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 261: The Assembly of Greed (2)

Casey Selmore scanned the ballroom.

A wide hall glittering with light, like stars scattered across the night sky.

Sparkling rays shimmered from the dazzling chandeliers, and sweet music swirled gently through the space.

People gathered in clusters, smiling and chatting away.

Their extravagant attire left no doubt—they were the elites of society.

“The outside world is in chaos, and here they are, laughing and sipping wine.”

From a corner of the hall, Casey frowned inwardly, displeased by the sight.

Outside, the atmosphere was in upheaval because of James Moriarty’s crimes.

Citizens marched in protest with placards, only to be suppressed with violence by the police.

Newspapers screamed anti-Moriarty headlines every single day.

And yet, everyone here acted as if they had nothing to do with any of it.

As if they lived in an entirely different world.

A sudden thought struck Casey.

“Maybe some of them are involved in all this.”

Hadn’t a high-ranking police official just been arrested recently?

There was no guarantee that such people weren’t here as well.

“Ohh, Lady Casey Selmore! What an honor to meet you. I am Baron Gareth, and—”

“Sorry, but I’d rather be alone.”

What irritated her most were the people constantly trying to approach her and build some kind of connection.

The looks she got from young noblemen were particularly uncomfortable—drawn by her fame and appearance.

She felt a flash of annoyance.

“At least he never did this.”

She recalled the playful banter she’d once shared with James Moriarty in his office.

Realizing what she was thinking, Casey clenched her fist.

“Pull yourself together, Casey Selmore. What the hell are you doing? That man is the criminal of the century. He’s the one I must bring to justice.”

And that very criminal... might have snuck into this ballroom tonight.

Because his next target was here.

Ooooooh.

A stir broke out on one side of the ballroom.

Casey’s instincts flared—it was beginning.

A striking young man descended from the second-floor balcony, moving down the staircase in style.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I bid you all welcome. I am Ludwig Benkanto, your host for tonight’s gathering.”

Duke Ludwig Benkanto.

He had inherited his title at a young age and was one of the most prominent nobles in the Kingdom of Delica.

As he appeared, every gaze in the ballroom turned to him.

“Tragically, Delica has been stricken with great misfortune as of late. Crime is on the rise. The royal family has lost public trust.”

Ludwig raised the glass in his hand high.

“But the Kingdom of Delica will not fall—not even in the face of such adversity. Just as steel becomes stronger the more it is tempered, so too shall we emerge stronger. We will never bow to evil.”

Ooooooh.

Admiring murmurs rose from all around the hall.

“To honor the fallen, and to help us forget our sorrows—thank you all once more for attending tonight. Please, enjoy the evening.”

The nobles applauded.

Only Casey glared at Ludwig with a cold expression.

“If this is how they ‘honor’ the dead, with wine and laughter, then what a joke.”

If they had gone to visit the graves and offered a moment of silence, perhaps she could accept it.

But this wasn’t a memorial. It was just another excuse for nobles to mingle and network.

So her gaze toward Ludwig remained frosty.

Still, Casey had come here tonight because of him.

James Moriarty.

He was targeting Ludwig Benkanto.

“Still no sign of James Moriarty...”

Of course, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to openly show himself among so many people.

Besides, Moriarty was the kind of man who stood out no matter where he went—he couldn’t just blend in.

“Even so... I’m sure he’s lurking somewhere, waiting for the right moment.”

First things first—she needed to speak with Ludwig.

“Would you like a glass, miss?”

“No, thank you.”

Casey brushed past the waiter offering champagne on a silver tray and made her way toward Ludwig.

Ludwig, who was engaged in conversation with other guests, noticed her approaching and politely excused himself.

“If you’ll excuse me a moment.”

The nobles, sensing the cue, withdrew.

With no one else in earshot, Ludwig greeted Casey with a charming smile.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Selmore.”

“Please call me Detective Casey. I didn’t come here as a daughter of House Selmore, Duke Benkanto.”

“My apologies. I must’ve spoken out of turn. Would you grant me the chance to make up for that mistake?”

Instead of answering, Casey looked around.

Even with distance between them, far too many eyes were on their exchange.

“This isn’t the place for this. Let’s talk somewhere quieter.”

“If that’s your wish, then I’ll gladly oblige.”

Ludwig accepted without hesitation.

They moved °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° to a drawing room away from the ballroom. Without preamble, Casey got straight to the point.

“Your life is in danger.”

Ludwig blinked.

“Lady Selmore... if I heard you correctly, you’re saying I’m in danger?”

“You heard right. I’m telling you that your life is at risk.”

“Well, that’s even more curious. Who exactly is trying to kill me?”

“Professor James Moriarty. He’s targeting you.”

Ludwig let out an amused chuckle.

“How curious. I’ve never met this James Moriarty, and yet he wants to kill me? There’s no reason for it, is there?”

“Then by that logic, the six generals who were killed must have had close ties with him too.”

“And what makes you so sure?”

Ludwig couldn’t understand.

Why would Moriarty target him? And how could Casey possibly know?

“I followed his actions and predicted his next target.”

“And that target is me.”

“Duke Benkanto. You might fool others, but not me. You had connections with the dead generals—whether you admit it or not.”

At her blunt accusation, Ludwig shrugged, feigning ignorance.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. As a noble, I’ve had some dealings with the military. That’s all.”

“Don’t play dumb. Everyone knows—even if they don’t say it aloud.”

When Casey refused to back down, Ludwig crossed his arms and leaned slightly forward.

“Very well. Let’s say you’re right. If James Moriarty really is after my life—what would you suggest I do?”

“Run. Find the safest place you can and stay there.”

“Ha. That’s an amusing proposal. Have you forgotten where we are?”

Tonight’s party was being held at the Benkanto duchy estate.

While it was far from the city center, it was heavily fortified.

“This estate is the safest place in the entire kingdom. Do you know how many guards are stationed here right now?”

“You’re underestimating your opponent.”

“Even if I weren’t, it wouldn’t change anything. James Moriarty uses magic, correct? Then he’s a mage. What can a lone mage possibly do?”

“He’s not just a mage.”

“I appreciate your concern, but that alone won’t make me leave.”

And Casey realized it.

No matter what she said, Ludwig wasn’t going to budge.

“This man...”

He was hiding something.

She could sense it—but lacked the evidence to prove it.

“Still, I won’t ignore your advice. I’ll keep guards close. Will that satisfy you?”

“...Fine.”

Knowing it was pointless to argue further, Casey stood.

She walked back toward the ballroom, her footsteps tinged with irritation.

“There’s something about Duke Ludwig. And he’s clearly trying to keep me at a distance. If he won’t listen—then I’ll have to act on my own.”

Casey planned to return and change clothes first.

Though her current outfit had been chosen specifically to match the dress code, the trailing frills were constantly tripping her up.

If James Moriarty were to show up now, she’d never be able to chase him down dressed like this.

“Damn it. Things are hectic enough already—what’s with this damned skirt snagging every step?”

Grumbling, Casey stomped her way down the corridor.

* * *

Left alone in the drawing room, Ludwig stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window.

The twilight garden was bathed in a bluish moonlight.

Between the shadows, he could spot the patrols of his household guards.

“James Moriarty...”

The atmosphere around Ludwig was completely different from earlier, when he had been speaking with Casey Selmore.

His expression had sunk into a cold, dark stillness, clearly showing that he was displeased by the situation.

“The death of General Geto’s faction is unfortunate. Rotten old men, sure—but they weren’t incompetent. I never thought they’d all be wiped out.”

For someone who had secretly engineered the entire project from behind the scenes, it was a significant loss.

Still, things weren’t beyond repair.

There were plenty of replacement parts left in this country.

“This is all unfolding exactly as he wished.”

As he murmured those words, a knock came at the drawing room door.

The person who entered was a waiter holding a silver tray in one hand.

“What is it? I told them not to let anyone in here.”

The waiter didn’t reply.

Ludwig narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not a waiter, are you.”

“Sharp.”

The man reached up and gripped his face—then ripped something off.

At first, it looked as if he were peeling off skin, but that wasn’t it.

It stretched and tore unnaturally—it was artificial skin, not a mask.

As dark black hair emerged beneath it, Ludwig smiled in interest.

“So, you’re Professor James Moriarty.”

“Pleased to meet you, Duke Ludwig Benkanto.”

Whirr.

A dark shadow surged across the floor and cloaked the waiter’s uniform—transforming it.

“I didn’t expect you to show up so soon.”

“Judging from your reaction, I assume you already know why I’m here.”

“So, you’ve come to kill me? Well, you’ve taken out everyone else connected to the project. I suppose it’s my turn.”

“Then you’ve made your peace with it?”

“My peace?”

Ludwig laughed at Ludger’s words.

“Listen, Professor James Moriarty. I’ll admit it—you’re an impressive man. You blew up all of my operations, smashed every critical chess piece I had in place.”

Ludger waited silently, letting Ludwig continue.

“But don’t you think you’ve grown a bit overconfident? To come here alone? You really trust your own skills that much?”

“Every other one of them said the same thing before they died.”

“Let me ask in return—do you really think I’m the same as those fools?”

With a snap of Ludwig’s fingers, a translucent wall sprang up between them.

It was a barrier formed of magic.

“Truth is, I’ve been waiting for this moment—for you to come after my head.”

At that moment, the doors to the drawing room burst open, and the Benkanto estate’s guards stepped in.

They were all knights and mages, and they swiftly encircled Ludger.

Gazing past the barrier at Ludwig, Ludger spoke.

“A trap, then.”

“Obviously. You didn’t think I’d be unaware of someone trying to kill me, did you?”

This entire ball was nothing more than bait meant to lure Ludger in.

Everything had been orchestrated to give him a false opening.

“That sharp little lady came in earlier, offering her help. Honestly, I had to laugh. She didn’t even realize the real enemy was standing right in front of her.”

“......”

“But I was genuinely surprised,” Ludwig said, his tone gleeful. “I didn’t think you’d leave the laboratory running the Steel Choir Project intact.”

That was the first time Ludger reacted.

He twitched an eyebrow and stared at Ludwig, as if to ask how he knew.

“There are ways,” Ludwig said smoothly. “So I started to wonder—why leave that place alone, when you erased all the others without a trace?”

He stroked his chin with a finger, then gave his own answer.

“You said children were abducted and used as test subjects. That must mean... one is still alive, isn’t it?”

“......”

“Tsk. You really shouldn’t be so careless with your leftovers. Don’t worry—I sent someone over there just in case. Professionals who know how to clean up everything.”

Ludwig beamed.

It was the smile of someone utterly convinced of his victory.

“I don’t know what your relationship with that child was, but don’t grieve too much. After I deal with you here, I’ll send you along right after. That way you won’t be lonely.”

Schring.

The knights surrounding Ludger drew their swords.

The mages began to chant, preparing their spells.

“Still, before you go, I wouldn’t mind hearing your last words. Got anything to say?”

Provoked, Ludger opened his mouth.

“There are two things I’d like to tell you.”

“Oh? Two? Bit excessive for a last will, but I’ll be generous.”

“First. That child’s name wasn’t ‘test subject.’ Her name was Arte. She was a girl who dreamed of becoming a great scholar.”

“Really? Hm. Whatever her name was, it doesn’t matter to me. And the second?”

“The second is...”

Ludger's blue eyes began to glow a deep crimson.

“I’m really, really angry right now.”