"You want me to investigate a criminal named 'Jack the Ripper'?"
Lorien nearly lost control of his expression.
Sitting across from him in his apartment's front room were two stern-looking police captains, watching him intently.
He took a slow sip of tea, pressing the cup lightly to his lips to hide his reaction.
Because if anyone in this city knew who Jack the Ripper was—
It was him.
Jack the Ripper…
Was Jack Arnold.
His own creation.
A moniker he had invented on a whim.
And now they wanted him to investigate the very man he had created?
Oh, the irony.
He cleared his throat, putting on a mask of genuine curiosity.
"Jack the Ripper?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow.
The taller, gaunt-looking officer, Captain Glev, took the lead in answering.
"Jack the Ripper is a notorious criminal who recently appeared in Whitechapel. He infiltrated a police station and brutally executed a convicted murderer. Since then, he has committed multiple killings—primarily in the districts of Hackney and Newham. His activities span a dangerously large area."
The shorter, stockier captain, Captain Ward, slid a newspaper across the table.
"Take a look at this, Mr. Lorien."
Lorien picked it up.
[MIDNIGHT TERROR STALKS LONDON: A CRIMINAL DEFIES THE POLICE]
A bolded headline jumped out at him.
Beneath it were several grainy, black-and-white photographs, depicting gruesome crime scenes.
In the top right corner, he spotted the newspaper's publisher—
The Penny Press.
"Hmm."
Lorien set the newspaper down with a carefully neutral expression.
"I see. I believe I now understand this case."
Yes, better than anyone else in the city.
Glev let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the dark bags under his eyes.
"The media storm is getting worse. Even newspapers from other boroughs are capitalizing on this scandal to attack the police force. The pressure is mounting—both from the public and from Parliament itself."
Lorien could already guess the chain of events.
Pressure from Parliament fell on the Commissioner of Police.
The Commissioner passed it down to the East London Police Chief, Douglas.
And Douglas, in turn, dumped it onto his subordinates.
Which was how these two exhausted officers ended up at his door, trying to recruit a private detective to fix their problem.
"To solve this case quickly, Douglas has personally assigned a Special Task Force led by a seasoned inspector. The team includes over a dozen elite officers from East London's precincts."
"Additionally, we have invited two detectives—including yourself—to assist in the investigation."
Lorien raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Who's the other detective?"
"Detective Hermann."
"He runs a well-respected private agency in West London. A rather famous figure in our field."
Lorien nodded absently, filing that information away.
At the moment, he had zero interest in accepting this case.
If anything, he wanted to put as much distance between himself and 'Jack the Ripper' as possible.
He exhaled lightly, shaking his head.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
The two captains visibly stiffened.
Ward's mustache twitched, and Glev immediately leaned forward.
"Mr. Lorien, please reconsider—"
"My apologies," Lorien interrupted smoothly, setting his teacup down.
"I have already taken on multiple commissions and won't have the time."
"Surely there are many other capable detectives in London who could assist you."
Glev and Ward exchanged worried glances.
They couldn't force him to comply,
But Douglas himself had specifically chosen this man—
And refusing the Chief of Police's request was not something they wanted to explain.
Ward hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly pulled a sealed folder from his coat.
"At the very least, Mr. Lorien… please review this case file."
"If nothing else, it will prove we did our due diligence."
Lorien eyed them for a moment—
Then sighed, taking the folder.
He flipped through the first few pages.
A summary of 'Jack the Ripper's' crime spree.
Initial Cases:September 11, 1888 – Whitechapel police station break-in. Murder of convicted killer Evans. September 14, 1888 – Mass execution of over ten gang members in one night. Subsequent Murders: Serial killings continued every other night, each victim's chest cavity torn open.
All of this checked out.
Jack Arnold had personally reported these details to him after every operation.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Until he turned the page.
His eyes froze.
September 17, 1888 – A shift in the killer's pattern.
For the first time, the victims were not criminals.
Two women—Whitechapel prostitutes—had been found murdered.
Lorien's grip on the papers tightened slightly.
That wasn't Jack Arnold's doing.
He was certain of it.
He flipped further.
More victims.
More murdered women, all working in Whitechapel's red-light district.
Someone was using Jack the Ripper's name.
And eight innocent women were now dead.
He took a slow breath, then closed the file.
"Actually—"
"I've changed my mind."
Glev blinked in surprise.
"You… you'll take the case?"
Lorien nodded, feigning a grave expression.
"I believe a detective has a duty to seek justice."
"A criminal as ruthless as Jack the Ripper must be brought to law."
The two captains exhaled in relief.
"Excellent!"
"And, of course, the 250-pound consultant fee remains unchanged."
"Naturally," Lorien said with a modest smile.
"One must be properly compensated for their efforts."
The officers laughed, standing to shake his hand.
Shortly after, Lorien watched from his window as the black police car drove away.
Once the vehicle disappeared down the foggy streets,
He closed the curtains.
He turned back to his chair, sinking into the cushions with a low chuckle.
"Well, Jack…"
"It seems someone has been borrowing your name."
A shadow stirred in the empty room.
The darkness pooled together, coiling into a single shape—
Until a towering figure emerged from the gloom.
Jack Arnold stood at his back, his wide-brimmed hat tilted downward, obscuring his glowing crimson eyes.
The ends of his black coat dripped fresh blood onto the floor.
And he listened silently, waiting for his master's next command.
TO BE CONTINUED…