Chapter 274: Cracking the Code 2
"I know, I know. We have a magic performance the day after tomorrow, but the spotlight has been completely stolen," Lynette said, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Big brother, it's eating at you, isn't it? There's no need to act tough in front of me."
Lyney waved his hands, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. "It's not that serious."
"Right, speaking of the performance..." To Apollo's amazement, Lyney produced several tickets from thin air with a theatrical flourish, as if by magic. He handed them to the boy. "These are for my magic show. If you're free the day after tomorrow, you and your family are more than welcome to come."
He then turned to Ran, explaining why he hadn't offered her any. "I heard that you and your group are leaving London tomorrow night, so I figured you wouldn't be able to make it to our performance. That's why I didn't give you any tickets yesterday."
"It's alright," Ran replied, clearly not offended. "It's just a shame we won't get to see another one of your and Lynette's wonderful magic shows."
"By the way, Lyney, you arrived earlier than us," she said, steering the conversation back to the pressing matter. "Have you found any clues related to Sherlock Holmes?"
Lyney shook his head and was just about to speak.
Suddenly, a woman in a wide-brimmed hat who had been standing a short distance away approached them. Without a word, she handed Ran a thick piece of pink paper sealed in a plastic bag.
Ran accepted it, watching in a daze as the woman turned on her heel and walked away, her retreating back quickly disappearing into the London crowds.
"Who was that strange woman?" Kogoro Mouri grumbled, his brow furrowed in suspicion.
"I'm not sure," Lyney murmured, stroking his chin in thought. "But it seems she knows Ran."
The question was quickly set aside. Right now, cracking the code was their top priority.
Following the clue on the thick paper—a reference to 'A Scandal in Bohemia'—Lyney, Ran, and the others swiftly located the hidden letter 'S' inscribed on the designated landmark.
Since their paths had crossed, Lyney and Lynette decided to officially join forces with Ran's group.
Only the second and seventh lines of the cryptic message remained unsolved.
The sixth line read: The bell that rings again, stirs my hatred.
This was another clear reference to Big Ben, so they moved on.
Perhaps there truly was strength in numbers. Despite a few twists and turns, they managed to decipher the second line, which pointed them toward the Elephant & Castle Station. The seventh line—Finish everything, pierce the white back with two swords—led them to a quaint pottery shop.
At those two locations, they found the letters 'U'and'R' respectively.
At last, all the letters were accounted for. When they pieced them together, the word became clear: SATURN.
Saturn, the planet. But also, Saturday.
The culprit was planning to make his move tomorrow. Time was running out.
Just as the weight of this discovery settled over them, a car pulled up to the curb. Inside were Apollo's mother and Ares, the coach of his older sister, Minerva.
While Apollo was speaking with his mother, Lyney's head snapped up. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, darted toward the corner of the pottery shop's wall. He had sensed something—a flicker of presence, a watcher in the shadows.
He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but his instincts screamed otherwise. He shot Lynette a subtle, knowing look.
Lynette gave a nearly imperceptible nod. In a blink, before anyone could even register the movement, she vanished from her spot.
The person hiding at that corner was indeed Hades, the very man who had orchestrated the code and was now plotting his revenge.
He had seen the magician's sudden reaction and had ducked back behind the wall just in time.
A sneer twisted his lips. That magician's senses are sharp, I'll give him that. But not sharp enough. He scoffed inwardly. Besides, you haven't even cracked the entire code yet.
Don't say I didn't give you a chance. If you want to hate someone, hate your own incompetence.
Hades held a deep contempt for their abilities. He cast a disdainful glance back toward the street, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold, self-satisfied smile. He was about to turn and melt into the deeper recesses of the alley, eager to make his escape.
But in that exact moment, he felt a strange, chilling presence directly in front of him.
His head whipped around. His breath caught in his throat. A girl had appeared from nowhere, standing silently in his path. It was the same girl he had just seen with Apollo and the others at the entrance of the pottery shop.
His heart hammered against his ribs, and his entire body went rigid, coiling like a spring as he prepared for an attack.
A moment later, however, he realized she was alone. She hadn't alerted the others. It was just her.
Hades let out a quiet sigh of relief, the tension slowly bleeding from his shoulders. His nerves, once stretched taut, began to relax.
"Little girl," he purred, a malicious, predatory smile stretching across his face. He looked down at her with a sick sense of amusement, anticipating her fear. "You're blocking my path."
But Lynette, standing before him with an unnervingly calm expression, did not react as he had hoped.
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