47. Mother-Daughter Bureau
After tossing and turning all night, still at a loss regarding her current troubles, Letty decided to uphold the Rosian Empire’s consistent excellent tradition—just go ahead with the original plan. After all, if that white-haired girl’s research project encountered obstacles, her big brother would surely come over and honestly confess, right?
Hmph!
A few days later, Rasputin had a response: that pig-raising professor Moriarty was willing to meet her secretly. Since it was a secret meeting, it couldn’t take place in her office at Lubyanka Academy, so they decided on a certain location within the capital, and everyone would disguise themselves and go separately.
Indeed, what she had to do could not be known by her older brother and the others. With this thought in mind, Letty agreed to the request and happily kept the appointment.
On that day, in a certain location within the capital, outside one of the many open-air vodka taverns in the Rosian Empire, after driving away that bumbling Rasputin, who couldn’t even manage to disguise himself, Letty skillfully altered her appearance and appeared very discreetly at the agreed-upon spot. She ordered a Molotov cocktail, something even a Rosian child could drink, and sat at the table, exhaling in boredom as she waited.
“Hmph, foreigners just love to be late. Don’t they realize who’s paying their salary? Making me wait like this.”
This Professor Moriarty, although Letty regarded her as merely a “pig farmer,” had earned herself a “nickname” in Letty’s mind, indicating that she had already surpassed those experts and scholars whose names Letty could hardly remember.
The reason for this was a brief encounter from a few years ago. At that time, the teleportation array directly leading to Siberia was still just an idea in Letty’s mind. However, the professors at Lubyanka Academy, most of whom were not skilled in such delicate magic, could only respond to her request with a dismissive “I can’t, goodbye.”
Letty knew that Rosians weren’t particularly adept at this kind of fine work, but were they really that incompetent? In the end, it was Moriarty, a former professor from the Great Yeng Empire who had moved to the Rosian Empire, who volunteered and indeed demonstrated a remarkable ability to manipulate delicate magic, successfully collaborating with Letty to construct the magic array.
Even Letty had to admit: she had contributed only thirty percent, while the remaining seventy percent was Moriarty’s achievement. This Yeng person truly excelled at this. After the magic array was completed, Letty awarded her a medal as an overseas friend and offered to take her on as an aide. However, Moriarty stated that she had come to Rosia merely to enjoy her retirement, so Letty accommodated her wish by arranging a leisurely position for her at Lubyanka Academy, where pig farming became her personal hobby.
Thus, Letty felt no fear towards this acquaintance she could barely call a friend.
After downing a drink, just as Letty was about to grow impatient, a figure suddenly appeared before her.
“Empress Letty.”
“Hey, you’re slow. Do you want to get shot?”
With a hint of flush on her face, Moriarty, who stood at about the same height as Letty, responded with dissatisfaction.
It was indeed Professor Moriarty, the pig farmer from the academy. However, although it hadn’t snowed yet, she was draped in a white cloak, which made Letty feel somewhat “uncomfortable.”
“Apologies, the ground is slippery with snow, and as an elderly person, I walk a bit slower. Empress Letty, I have come as per the invitation passed on by Mentor Rasputin. I’m curious why the Empress insists on such a secretive meeting?”
Letty directly ignored the “elderly person” comment. It was rumored that in the Great Yeng Empire, if one practiced magic properly, even at the seventh or eighth tier, it could “extend one’s life,” and even preserve one’s appearance, so Letty did not doubt her age. Rather, she was more curious about Moriarty’s abilities.
“I’ll be straightforward. I acknowledge the project you’re working on for the competition. You can proceed with your experiments or seek other benefits, as long as they are within my acceptance range, I can grant them.”
Letty intended to trip up the white-haired woman, but given that her idea was indeed useful, she didn’t want to go too far.
“No reward without merit, Empress.”
“Hmph… Yeng people are always so clever. In exchange, delay your project experiment. Do not let your two students continue.”
Moriarty’s expression suddenly turned serious. After a moment of silence, she toyed with her cane and finally looked up slowly.
“May I ask for the reason?”
“My word is reason enough. I have plenty of ways to ensure your experiment doesn’t proceed, but I’m giving you a choice now; that’s generous enough, pig farmer.”
This statement was not just directed at Moriarty; it was also Letty silently addressing her older brother!
Clearly, she had plenty of ways to pry out who the spy was from him, yet she was mercifully giving him a chance! If he remained ungrateful, she would feed him bullets until full! How dare he oppose her in the Rosian Empire!
Finally, after a period of silence, Moriarty responded.
“I’ll consider it; after all, it’s not yet time for the experiment to continue.”
Moriarty’s compliance pleased Letty greatly. Look, this should be the attitude when facing the commands of the Empress! In contrast, her older brother refused this and that every day; she wouldn’t be so kind in the future! This little mischief would serve as a warning!
Satisfied, Letty planned to rise and leave, but…
At the moment she stood up, her hand was suddenly held down by Moriarty’s gloved hand!
There was clearly nothing wrong, but for some reason, Letty felt a sudden pang of fear in her heart. Immediately afterward, she felt puzzled by her earlier uncharacteristic fear and began to raise her voice loudly.
—
“What do you want to do now!?”
“I just wanted to ask the Emperor, today… about our meeting, does anyone else know?”
“Hmph! How could anyone else know? It’s just the two of us; I came alone.”
“I see, just the two of us…”
What’s up with this pig farmer? Could it be that after raising so many pigs, his brain has turned as dull as theirs?
In the next moment, Moriarty tapped the table, as if she had made a decision, and stood up, making an inviting gesture towards Letty.
“Emperor, since we’ve finished our discussion, would you mind joining me for a drink? I’ve met all the professors at the academy, and I’d like to take this opportunity to see how well you can hold your liquor. “
“!”
A drinking challenge!? In the Rosia Empire, this is a contest of “real men”—whoever backs down is a coward! How interesting, a girl from the Ying country daring to challenge me!?
“Boss, bring me 99 shots of life’s elixir!”
Letty immediately sat down, slamming her hand on the table and shouting, completely unaware that just moments ago, Moriarty had secretly consumed something.
—