A Study in Gray · Chapter 6
At the Black Market
Professor M
I've learned that Director Stapleton frequently visits the black market in the back alleys.
Our final step today is to ask the merchants what he's been buying.
Gwen
Public Security kept beating us to every case, but now we're finally doing some real detective work! Let's go!
Lily
That said, this doesn't seem like an ordinary black market.
I can smell magic reagents everywhere.
Professor M
Not surprising. This is where House Baskerville acquires the magic materials it needs.
Gwen
You really do know everything, Professor.
Professor M
Of course. I am about to send you two in there, after all. I should know what I'm sending you into.
Gwen
Huh?
Lily
What about you, Professor?
Professor M
Baskerville's black market is rather famous in the underworld.
There was a time when you could get anything Hugo Baskerville wanted...
From all kinds of magical materials to even live monsters. A truly magical place.
Gwen and Lily gave the Professor uneasy looks.
Professor M
It isn't what it was in its prime, but it still has plenty of customers.
And some old acquaintances among them may be very pleased to see me.
Gwen
I'm guessing by "pleased," you don't mean in a friendly way.
Professor M
Let's just say, "I'll kill you next time we meet," was one of the warmer farewells.
Lily
Ah, I knew you didn't seem like someone with many friends, Professor.
Professor M
Fufu. Was that Mr. Rabbit speaking?
Lily
That was me. But Mr. Rabbit agrees.
The Professor gave a short, amused laugh.
Professor M
Very well. Show me your resolve. You said you wanted to save Rachel, didn't you?
Gwen
You don't have to tell us twice.
Lily
What should we do once we're inside?
Professor M
I'll leave that to you.
Lily
What about you, Professor?
Gwen
Come on, tell us. Are you sulking because Lily said you have no friends?
Professor M
Well, that remark was rather hurtful.
Humans are social creatures. Isn't saying someone looks friendless rather harsh?
Lily
...
Gwen
...
Professor M
Fufu. I'm joking. No need to frown.
I'm not being difficult. I simply don't think my advice would be particularly helpful.
Personally, I wouldn't care if a few criminals living in these shadows died...
But you two don't want these alleys running red with blood just for some information, do you?
Gwen
Yeah, that'd be a problem.
Professor M
Right? The only realistic option I can think of is Miss Lily using her feminine charms.
Lily
*Cough!* *Cough!*
The Professor's completely unexpected suggestion made Lily choke.
Lily finally managed to recover.
Lily
What are you talking about?! Why would I use my feminine charms?!
Professor M
There's a good chance it'd work. You're cute, after all, Miss Lily.
Gwen
Makes sense. Do your best for Rachel.
Lily
Not you too, Boss! It's not funny!
Professor M
What a shame. I thought it would make for an entertaining sight.
Lily
Absolutely not!
Professor M
Fufu. From here on, I'll leave things to you.
But be careful. Baskerville likely has eyes and ears throughout this black market.
Good luck.
Lily and Gwen headed deeper into the back alleys as the Professor saw them off.
Lily
It's bigger than I thought. We can't canvas this whole place in just one day.
Gwen
This is where a sting operation comes in handy. Make them come to us.
Lily
What, you want us to advertise ourselves?
Gwen
Argh! Look, I'm just frustrated and tossing out ideas, okay?
Lily
...Actually, that might not be a bad idea, Boss.
Gwen
Huh?
Lily
There's a way to make them come looking for us instead of the other way around.
Gwen
...Don't tell me you're actually going to use your feminine charms.
Lily
Yeah. She may not look it, but she's actually very—
Mr. Rabbit, what do you mean?!
Lily's ears turned red as she smacked the stuffed rabbit.
Gwen
So what's the plan?
Lily
The Professor said Baskerville has eyes and ears everywhere here!
If we openly go around digging into the Baskerville Research Institute...
Gwen
Then word will reach them.
And if they think we're getting in the way of whatever they're planning...
Lily
Director Stapleton or one of his lackeys will try to stop us!
Gwen
And then we can interrogate them and get our answers!
Lily
The Professor probably would've handled this completely differently.
But we're not her. We'll do this our way.
Gwen
Heh. We're on the same wavelength. Shall we go listen to some criminals wail?
Lily
Enough nonsense. Let's get started!
Some time later, at a pub in the Baskerville black market...
Smuggler A
Didn't you make good money supplying the Baskerville Research Institute this month?
Smuggler B
Sure did... Wait, you're not making me pay for the drinks, are you? You said you were buying!
Smuggler A
Of course I'm buying. I just want in on the action too.
Looks like there's plenty to go around. Mind letting me in on it?
Smuggler B
Plenty of room. If anything, we need more goods.
That director keeps hounding us to gather more. He's running us ragged.
Gwen
What kind of stuff? Mind telling me too?
Smuggler B
Mostly monster parts and mandra—Huh? Who are you?
The smugglers jumped when they noticed Gwen sitting casually across from them.
Smuggler A
W-who're you?
Gwen
Gwen Lestrade, investigator with Lampadis Investigations.
I'm looking into what Director Stapleton's been buying lately. Care to cooperate?
Smuggler B
You've got the wrong guys. Why are you asking us?
Gwen
Well, you mentioned the Baskerville Research Institute, so the "director" can only mean Jack Stapleton.
Smuggler A
Ah, playing detective, are we? Since when do detectives get information for free?
Gwen
Well, I'm broke right now. Want to stop by our office later?
We're at 221B Baker Street! If you change your mind, come tell me anytime.
After Gwen left, the smugglers whispered to a nearby customer.
Smuggler B
You saw that, right? Tell the boss.
One of the Baker Street rats the family head called in is sniffing around the Baskerville Research Institute.
Meanwhile, at another establishment...
Lily
Hello. I'm investigating what the Baskerville Research Institute has been purchasing.
Owner
Miss, what do you think this place is?
Lily
A popular pub?
Owner
Then order some food or a drink. Don't come here looking for information.
Lily
But I need that information to find out what's happening to a girl named Rachel.
Owner
This is just a pub! We've got nothing to do with Baskerville! Stop bothering us and get out!
Lily
...Sorry to bother you.
Lily bowed and left the pub.
Once Lily was gone, the owner whispered into the shadows.
Owner
Tell the boss. Baskerville's got a snoop on its tail.
After making inquiries at several shops, Lily and Gwen regrouped at the alley entrance.
Gwen
Think that did it?
Lily
Yeah. Mr. Rabbit says we're being followed too.
The two exchanged knowing looks as they continued walking.
Lily
This could be dangerous, Boss.
Gwen
Inspector or PI, our job's dangerous either way.
The two continued walking, pretending not to notice the tail.
Eventually, they reached a deserted alley.
Gwen
This should be far enough.
Lily
Yeah. I think they've got people lying in wait too.
As Lily finished, armed Baskerville mercenaries emerged from around the alley.
Baskerville Mercenary
...What the? Weren't we told Public Security was investigating?
Baskerville Researcher
Find out who's behind them. We need to know why they've been snooping around our Research Institute.
Baskerville Mercenary
Don't take it too personally, ladies.
We get free meals and a salary to take care of problems like this.
Gwen
Really? Too bad hospital food isn't free.
Hey, Lily. Can you fight? I was pretty good in a fight back in my Public Security days.
Lily
I'll do my best, Boss.
Gwen
*Huff...* *Huff...* Been a while since I worked up a sweat like that.
Mercenaries with broken bones lay groaning on the ground.
Gwen
Now then, how about you tell us who's behind all this?
Baskerville Researcher
Y-you think you'll get away with this?!
Gwen
And if we don't? What exactly are you gonna do about it?
Baskerville Researcher
Kehehe. I heard you were from the famous Baker Street Detective Agency.
I wondered what kind of people you were, but you're just a couple of greenhorns.
Gwen
It's Lampadis Investigations! We changed the sign!
Baskerville Researcher
Whatever! You think these stooges are the only mercenaries the Baskerville Research Institute has at its disposal?!
The real elite squad, the Jackdaw Team, will be here soon.
Their captain, Butcher Gamson, is an underworld legend.
Once Gamson and the Jackdaw Team get here, you're all—
Lily
Sorry I'm late, Boss. These guys took a bit of time to deal with.
Lily appeared dragging a mercenary whose helmet looked as though it had been caved in by a sledgehammer.
Lily
The others ran off after their leader went down.
I think it'll take him a while to wake up.
Baskerville Researcher
That armor, that build... Is that Gamson?
Gwen
Oh, nice work. Let's wait for him to wake up.
Guess we don't need this guy anymore. Take care of him, Lily.
Lily
Okay. It's nothing personal, but this is gonna hurt...
As Lily approached with her doll, the researcher quickly dropped to his knees.
Baskerville Researcher
...Wait, detectives.
I'm a researcher. I know far more about what the Research Institute buys and sells.
Give me a little time and I'll go back to the Institute and get the ledger for you...
Lily
Boss. I think he's trying to pull a fast one on us. We should just—
Baskerville Researcher
Detective, hear me out! I'll take you to one of the places we trade with most often. I'll show you the records there.
Gwen
Should've said so from the start. Try anything funny and you'll regret it.
Baskerville Researcher
Yes, ma'am... I won't mess with the Baker Street Detective Agency again...
As the researcher stood up, Gwen raised her whip.
Baskerville Researcher
W-why?! I haven't even tried anything yet—
Gwen
Like I said, it's not the Baker Street Detective Agency! It's Lampadis Investigations!
Baskerville Researcher
W-why change an easy name to something harder to remember?
Gwen
Because I'm the one running 221B Baker Street now, not the missing detective! Now move!
Baskerville Researcher
C-Coming!
Meanwhile, in the basement of the Baskerville mansion...
Henry
I hear my guests were attacked at the black market.
Jack
Those fake detectives from the Baker Street agency? They must've been bored.
Henry
The attackers were thugs hired by the Baskerville Research Institute.
I won't ask you to respect me.
But if you're a member of House Baskerville, please respect the family head's authority.
Jack
My deepest apologies, "sir."
Henry frowned at Jack's sarcasm.
But he didn't lose his temper.
Henry
I'm simply informing you. You seem quite busy with Rachel these days.
Jack
Much appreciated. Now, my next experiment is already behind schedule.
Henry
Wait. How long do you intend to keep Rachel with you?
Jack
Until everything is over, of course.
Henry
...If you're up to something, you know you can't hide it forever, right?
Jack
Yes, yes. I know, "sir."
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