The World Is Mine For The Taking

We all came to the same conclusion—this conversation couldn't happen here. Too many ears. Too many risks.

This was the kind of discussion that could change everything, and speaking about it in the open was an invitation to disaster.

Rose had made her stance clear from the start—she wanted no part of this. But despite that, she was still here. She hadn't walked away. She couldn't.

Because no matter how much she tried to pretend otherwise, she was already too deeply entangled.

Once we found a secluded place, I finally broke the silence.

"Before anything else, I have a question."

I turned to Eris, my gaze sharp and unyielding.

"Who exactly is James Moriarty?"

The name had been gnawing at me. It was too familiar—too specific to be a coincidence. A name ripped straight from fiction, yet somehow woven into reality. The name James Moriarty was actually the rival of Sherlock Holmes.

I also met that man once—during our fight.

I had every intention of killing him that day. But I failed.

Even after I unleashed everything I had, he survived.

That alone told me everything I needed to know.

He was far stronger than I had first believed.

And far, far more dangerous.

If a man like that had orchestrated the creation of the Eclipse simply by planting ideas into Sesillian's mind, then his intellect wasn't just formidable—it was terrifying.

Eris's expression darkened, shadows flickering in her eyes.

"He's an anomaly," she said, voice tight with resentment. "An evil one."

Her hands curled into fists.

"At first, he was nobody. Then, little by little, he carved a path through the underworld, building his influence, securing connections with the most dangerous people alive."

Her jaw clenched. "Not just working with them—controlling them."

She let out a sharp breath, as if forcing herself to stay composed. "He has his hands in everything. Every dark deal, every atrocity. And yet, for all I know about him..."

She hesitated.

For the first time, her confidence wavered.

Then, after a slow inhale, she spoke.

"I don't even know what he looks like."

My eyes narrowed. "And why is that?"

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "Because every time we see him—he has a different face."

A shapeshifter?

I didn't doubt it. Not in this world.

There were abilities that could swap gender—altering one's face wouldn't be a stretch. Hell, I could also change my appearance as well.

"I don't have much more information beyond that," she admitted, frustration simmering beneath her words. "But this much I do know—his reach is everywhere. His influence is insidious. He even planted one of his own in our ranks."

A bitter smile ghosted across her lips. "We were betrayed. Sold out to the authorities."

Then, her fingers tightened—knuckles turning white as she slammed her fist against the table.

"We barely escaped."

She exhaled, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"But many weren't as lucky."

Her eyes darkened.

"Arianne's father was one of them."

Silence settled between us—thick and suffocating.

After a moment, she forced herself to continue. "I saved Arianne just before they could kill her too."

The air felt heavier now.

I remained quiet. Not because I didn't care—but because I didn't know what to say.

Rose was the one to break the silence.

"So this man... he's behind everything?"

I nodded. "Yes. He's the one who created the Eclipse. I've fought him personally, actually."

Eris's reaction was immediate.

Her head snapped toward me. "You... fought him?"

Her pupils dilated, her breath hitching.

"W-Wait..." Her voice wavered. "You're not... the one who defeated him, are you?"

I didn't answer.

I didn't need to.

Her expression shifted—realization creeping in like a slow-burning fire.

Arianne sucked in a sharp breath, her body going rigid. "T-Then, you're..."

She swallowed hard, as if forcing herself to say it aloud.

"You're the Faceless Playwright. The one who took down Norman Amarathea that night."

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"And the one who gravely injured James Moriarty. That was you..."

Her disbelief clung to the air.

I suppose my name had made its rounds in the underworld after all.

Eris's fists clenched at her sides, her teeth grinding together.

"Now it makes sense..." she muttered, her voice dripping with something venomous.

Her gaze bore into me, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place.

"Why you could do what you did earlier."

Her fingers twitched.

Then, through gritted teeth, she spat—

"You're that asshole."

I hadn't done anything to warrant that from her.

But, well—whatever.

"W-Wait, what? Are you telling me that you, Leon, have actually fought this James Moriarty?"

Rose's voice quivered slightly, a mix of shock and disbelief evident in her widened eyes.

I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. "It was a battle that, in hindsight, I barely even considered significant. I've been in countless fights, long before I ever stepped foot in the academy. At the time, I simply assumed he was just another opponent." I exhaled slowly. "But clearly… I was wrong."

There were too many pieces of this puzzle that refused to align. More than anything, James Moriarty was an enigma cloaked in darkness, an evil entity whose reach extended far beyond what I had initially perceived. His name alone gnawed at me. Was it mere coincidence? Or was he, like me, someone from Earth?

I clenched my jaw. If their ultimate goal was to create a bridge between worlds, then was it possible… that they were searching for a way home?

The thought struck a nerve. I wanted that too. But unlike them, I knew that such a method was far from achievable. It was an ambition I had long since buried beneath more pressing matters. For now, my path remained unchanged—my goal was to conquer this world.

But if this revelation held any truth, then I needed to dig deeper. I needed to know more about James Moriarty and his true intentions. Perhaps, in uncovering the depths of his schemes, I would finally have a chance to exact my revenge—revenge for my sister, who had been so cruelly wronged in her workplace.

A sudden movement caught my attention.

Eris abruptly pushed back her chair and stood, her presence towering over me. The air around her grew heavy, thick with something unspoken yet potent. Her sharp gaze bore down on me like a predator sizing up its prey. She was taller than me—by a fair bit, actually—forcing me to tilt my head just to meet her eyes.

"I don't like this," she declared, her voice low and controlled, yet brimming with hostility. "I don't know you, and I feel like I can't trust you. I don't want anything to do with people like you."

Then, she took a deep breath, exhaling sharply through her nose. "However…" Her fingers curled into a fist at her side. "I believe that our chances of taking down James… and Claire… are far greater if we work together."

Claire.

So that's the name of the traitor. The mole who had infiltrated the Silver Blades, only to betray them to authorities and sell them out. It made sense why Eris would want vengeance.

She extended her hand toward me, offering a deal.

"I think it would be in both our interests to join forces. What do you say?"

I didn't move. I simply stared at her outstretched hand, my expression devoid of emotion.

"And what, exactly, would I gain from this alliance?" I asked, my voice calm, yet sharp enough to cut through the tension.

Eris's brow twitched. "Huh?"

"I fail to see any real benefit in accepting this proposal." My gaze darkened. "If anything, it feels as though I would be giving up far more than I would gain. I already have the resources, the manpower, and the strength to confront them. I have no need for you."

Silence.

Eris's expression wavered, her lips parting slightly as if she had misheard me.

"S-Say what?"

She blinked, stunned. It was almost amusing—her sheer disbelief at the fact that her offer had been rejected.

"B-But I have strength too!" she protested, her voice a mix of frustration and confusion.

I let out a small, almost dismissive sigh. "If all you bring to the table is strength, then I've no use for you." My eyes flickered with something unreadable. "As I said, I already possess it in abundance. Furthermore, I have several women under me who surpass either of you in proficiency. There is nothing that particularly sets you apart."

I tilted my head slightly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "However, if you are willing to offer me something in return—something of actual value—then I might consider your proposition."

A heavy silence filled the room.

And then—

"L-Leon, you're disgusting," Rose suddenly interjected, her voice dripping with disdain.

I frowned. "What? What exactly did I say wrong?"

Her expression twisted in disgust. "Are you seriously implying that if they want to join, they need to offer their bodies to you?"

I blinked. Wait. What?

I exhaled through my nose, pinching the bridge of it slightly. "That is not what I meant."

"Oh, please. You're always thinking about women, Leon. I know exactly what was going through your mind," Rose shot back, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Eris's expression darkened even further, her lips curling in sheer contempt. "You're repulsive."

…Well.

It seemed I had unintentionally gotten myself into a rather unfortunate misunderstanding.