Heroes Return VI: Book One London Chapter 5

 

5. 

 

Sherlock took to the retirement of the night that day. He had refused supper offered by Mrs. Hudson and chose to smoke his pipe then. He needed to think on the event that afternoon.

The visit at the exchequer office was at most a casual visit; he has been there before as their guest, but that evening, it was the scent of blood that permeated the atmosphere there. The local constabulary was kept at the perimeter outside, while Scotland Yard took the interior.

However, Lestrade was exempted.

“By golly, that is the minister. " Lestrade exclaimed in alarm. “I only met him…"

“Restraint yourself, Inspector. Scotland Yard is the authority here.” Mycroft exerted his authority there. “And the Foreign Office is at the helm.”

“Let him be, Mycroft. He is here to assist me.” Sherlock stepped to the victim. “Watson is back at his practice.”

Sherlock stood by the dead body and examined the cause of death.

“The minister was shot here, at twenty feet." Sherlock looked to the corner where the bookshelf was next to the fireplace. “The minister had stepped in and walked to his desk after closing the door on the guards who were stationed outside in the corridor. He approached the desk to write a message for the telegram to be sent to the country home.”

Sherlock motioned to the writing pad, which had the words 'Caution and stay safe.'

“He then saw the assailant, surprised, and stood up to call the guards when the arrow pierced his heart. He fell backward onto the seat and then remained there.”

“An arrow?” Lestrade looked baffled.

“Yes, an arrow. At approximately twenty feet, given the strength of the assailant and in the hands of one who is trained, it often results in complete pass-through penetration due to maximum arrow speed and minimal energy loss at close range.” Sherlock explained. “The arrow was still accelerating or had just reached its maximum velocity, resulting in high kinetic energy and momentum upon impact.”

“Wow! How did you know this?” Lestrade asked.

“Elementary arrived at the deduction. I did spend my time at the archery range when I was in college. It was invigorating at best," Sherlock replied.

“He meant he was busier with his right hand than with his ……" Mycroft has not hissed off his contempt yet.

“The arrow looks…" Sherlock crouched down to examine the arrow. “It was removed from the body. The entry point shows different scaring of the wound.”

“The Oni Society is adept at that. If you noticed the arrow design or ‘ya,' the length or ‘shaft’ is shorter as their preference, and the fletching is of the Japanese sparrow hawk; note the design there. I believed the arrowhead is togari-ya, designed for piercing.”

Sherlock looked up to see Doctor Mitsui Ogata standing by the door. The latter did a short bow and walked towards the body.

“I have been studying the Oni for some years now.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked to the baffled inspector. “The assailant was here before the minister arrived.”

“And he…" Lestrade was cut off.

“The assailant was a lady. The Oni have a pool of assailants that are of that gender. They are more adept at mingling with the crowd.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled. “Or work as a servant.”

“I will get the Yard to check on any foreign ladies working here.” Mycroft walked to the door.

“Good observations, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.” Sherlock stood to face the other. “However, I am to…" "The assailant escaped by the window. There may be marks there of its soles.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata motioned to the window.

“It is a three-level drop from here.” Lestrade stepped to the window. “And concrete below.”

“Climb, Inspector. Not drop. The assailant climbs up with use of the grappling rope.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata walked to the window. “There are sole marks here. Not intangible, but marks are seen.”

“Your observations are remarkable, Doctor.” Sherlock looked at the man.

“I have studied their actions thoroughly. And thank you for your compliments.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata did another low box. “Arigatogozimas.”

“The question remained: why were the minister and his mistress targeted? "Sherlock held a frowned expression.

“Mistress, Sherlock? Surely…" Lestrade looked at the sleuth.

“An admission to the truth does not need to be disguised.” Sherlock moved to leave the chamber.

Back at his chamber, Sherlock was wrapped in the murder case.

It was an uneventful day for him locally; the evening newspaper gave him no news of interest. The news of the minister being killed and his estate news were held back, but his address was the buzz of telegrams arriving from overseas. He relooked at the telegram that made him go to the meeting that early afternoon.

“The Far East requires us to meet Doctor Mitsui Ogata in the Oni Society. I am involved. And so is M. Do come.” That was the length of the message received. It triggered his curiosity when the prefix "M" was there.

That message was from the prime minister.

M to Sherlock at that moment stood for Moriarty, his adversary in the art of crime.

Unknown to many besides those who live and breathe in the underworld of crime, Moriarty's full name was James Moriarty, the mastermind of crimes in all the isles except for certain seaports; he holds joint dominion with one named Emperor Fu Manchu. Moriarty's other profession was the academic role as the professor of mathematics in one of the revered universities. Moriarty was said to command the thousands of members, including the elites and nobles to the vagabonds on the street. His criminal empire rivaled the king of the isle in influence. The nature of this criminal mind was so brilliant that the local constabulary does not have any concrete link of crimes to the professor, but the Home Office held huge filings of the possible links without evidence. The other archive of the crimes was in the personal bedroom of Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock sent out mail to the network of contacts that he knew on the two keywords: "Doctor Mitsui Ogata" and "Oni Society." He got his replies soon enough. Doctor Mitsui Ogata is a criminologist like Holmes, in the employ of the emperor there in the far east. The emperor had expressed concerns on the emergence of "triads" as a term there and their influence on the nation’s administration. The emperor maintained a section of the enforcement to deal with that group, but of late the new group called the Ono Clan had taken hold of the nation with its drastic and killing acts.

More information, unverified, came in on the Oni Society, which had then spread to Hong Kong and Singapore. The clan could not be verified as to their origin but were stated to be the works of diplomats and nobles with the support of the influential traders. The Oni Society does not partake in the actual crime operations but remains as the shadow leadership behind them. In some reports, the emperor himself was allegedly linked as the leader, but it was only cast as rumors.

The question in Sherlock’s mind was why Moriarty surfaced the allegations here in London. Did he fear the Oni Society, which had supposedly evenly placed it as the powerful?

“What is your game, Moriarty?” Sherlock had the violin close to his chest with the wand by the side while he ponders in the dim-lighted parlor of his. He was in deep thoughts then.

Two things saved his life that night.

The violin and the dim light.

 

Heroes Return VI: Book One London Chapter 4

 

4 

 

Watson leaned on the leather seat on the train coach. He preferred the train to the uncomfortable carriage ride, although the latter will be more private. He did not book the whole cabin, but the late trip was more for the solitary passenger.

That was not the case that night.

Watson looked up from the evening papers to see the other passenger who had joined him at the cabin. It was a lady who was dressed in the dark suit with the skirt reaching below her knees, and her legs were covered with the dark leggings and flat shoes. She had won a heart with the dark veil that hid her upper face. He moved his body to look outside the window. It was a gesture of displaying his need to be private. The ride was to take two hours, and a late hour with hypnotic movement on the tracks will make any passenger doze off.

Watson was not in his prime, but his instinct kicked in.

The dagger was aimed at the throat, but Watson had moved his bowler from the forehead to intercept it. The hard material of the bowler held by both his hands stuck the dagger within inches of the flesh. He moved his left shoulder to move the dagger in the bowler hat to the side. He then used his body strength to move the thrust there, and with his right shoulder, he used his body to push the attacker off.

The next blow came at Watson on the left side of the head. It was a hard chop with the right hand of the attacker, striking the head. His survival instinct kicked in, and his left knee came up to hit the attacker. That blow knocked the attacker back, and Watson moved his body to clear the seat. He fell on his knees and crouched to see the attacker was standing in front. The attacker was the lady, and she was poised to attack with her fighting stance. She went with her front kick at Watson.

Watson rolled to the left and grabbed the leg to topple the attacker. He pushed her towards the window and slammed her hard on it. The windowpane did not break, but there were signs of cracks. It was then Watson got up to his feet and faced the attacker. She had recovered and turned to face Watson. It was then he saw the face of the lady with the veil off.

The lady was Oriental, and there was a wound on her left cheek.

“I can assure you, Madam. We can talk if I have hurt you in any way.” Watson voiced out.

The lady pulled out a set of daggers from the pocket of the dress she had on.

“Seriously?” Watson had seen his share of assassins, and ladies were no exception. It was soon to be described as the tanto; the katana blade was double-edged with short length. It was designed as a stabbing weapon, but the edge can be used for slashing. The one carried by the lady was a smaller tanto called the kaiken. The dagger was used in self-defense where the long katana blade was inconvenient.

“Lady, I don’t know what your intention is, but I am not keen to be killed today.” Watson had since removed the dagger from his hat and looked at the lady. The lady pushed on the attack, and Watson was ready for it. She lunged with the right-handed dagger, and Watson had anticipated the move. He stepped aside, and his right hand went down in the hard chop. The blow knocked the dagger off, but the lady had her left dagger aimed at Watson. The double-sharp-edged katana blade cut into Watson’s right shoulder. It was a nick on the suit, for the train had turned the corner and imbalanced the attacker.

Watson snapped out with his right elbow into the attacker’s chest; courtesy was not in the move. His knee impacted the lady’s chest and threw her back. He followed on with the fist into the throat of the attacker. He held back his punch on contact. It would have killed her, and his diversion of the fist went for the jaw. The attacker fell backward, dropping the dagger, but she also lashed out with a low kick at Watson's left knee. It bucked him off balance.

Watson went down on the kick, but the lady had recovered earlier and rushed at him. He saw her coming, and she landed on his back and went for him with punches into his waist from the rear. He intensely pushed her up over his back and slammed her once more on the window. That push was more forceful and shattered the window glass.

Watson pushed himself forward into a crouched position and then turned to look at the lady. She had landed awkwardly on the windowsill, and the shards of the window glass pierced her chest. She pushed herself to get up and then faced Watson, who had stood up then. She was bleeding at the upper chest and the throat, but her killer instinct was still there. She lurched at Watson weakly but fell short to land on the flooring.

Watson carried the lady to the seat and tried to treat the wounds then, but it was too late.

“I am telling you, Sergeant. I tried to help her, but the wounds were deep, and it was late night.” Watson sat at the desk at the local station at his train stop. He had tried to get the train stopped, but they had reached the last stop. The local constabulary was called to the scene, and the doctor had to endure the hours of questioning.

“Call Scotland Yard and ask for Sherlock Holmes, please. He may unravel this for me.” It was a simple request, but the other was busy that night too.

Soon after the tray of tea was cleared by the housekeeper, alongside that was Mycroft.

“Shelly, look, I was on the grump today. I was dragged out of my comfort zone to ……"

“Comfort zone, Mycroft. Surely, your morning tea with the lady that had ravished you the evening before was ……"

“Hold that tone, Shelly. She could hear us.” Mycroft proceeded to the door to check if the housekeeper was listening in. “I can assure you that my sojourn of pleasure was……. May I say, over by morning? I was to … be rested, and then the message came for me to meet the minister and the foreign dignitary.”

“It is your task, Mycroft.” Shelly took hold of his violin again. Watson once said that Sherlock's use of the violin reflects his intimacy with the instrument, which could be described as a sensual experience that mirrors human intimacy through touch and sound. “Do not play that infernal toll on me now.” Mycroft glared at Sherlock. “I am here for two reasons. One was my lack of empathy to forgive you as my brother who appeared in the meeting unannounced to me. I am the head of the section, or at the least the senior operative, and there you were, seated there expressionless, and not even a greeting from you.”

“I was invited by the prime minister. Or rather the office of the PM. And the other issue?” Sherlock placed the violin between his knees. “And I was curious as treasury was not my expertise.”

“Two, after you left, the minister took off to his office and was then murdered by a …. An antique weapon… God, who shoots an arrow nowadays?" Mycroft sank his head onto his lap.

“Hunters do. In fact, many others still do, for guns are noisy and sometimes rare to get hold of." Sherlock made the point of deduction.

“I presumed like your violin. And extension of your……" Mycroft motioned to the toll between the knees of his brother.

“An unfounded assumption. You must have had a bad night with whoever that was with you.” Sherlock looked at Mycroft. “Performance at times is…. Can be distracted by many factors like……"

“Oh, spare me your deductions, Shelly. As it stands, I hold more deductions than you. Yours could be overflowing through your nose, as we speak.”

“A wrongful deduction. My nasal passages are fine. Even the pollen brought over by Watson from the countryside did not inflict any allergies on me.” Sherlock instantly brushed his nose.

“Okay …… I am here to say I am sorry, and your assistance is needed. Soon after you left alongside the Minister, Doctor Mitsui Ogata felt that your ……. Elementary skills will be of use.”

“And why are we waiting for?” Sherlock got up from his seat. “I will get ready.”

“And Mycroft, be a nicer chap. Offer Lestrade the use of the privy.”  

Heroes Return VI: Book One London Chapter 3

 

3.  

 

“Tea will be fine, Mrs. Hudson. I did not see you this evening when I arrived.” Watson lowered the evening news he was reading. He had been seated there for the evening, and then came Sherlock into the parlor, followed by the housekeeper. Mrs. Hudson offered some tea and scones, which were gladly accepted by the doctor. She took the request and left the two gentlemen to their talks.

Watson was dressed in the grey three-piece suit, and his bowler hat was on the hat stand by the door. He had aged naturally with a slight paunch at the waist, but his suit fitted him snugly. His hairline had receded, but his fingers held the papers firm as if he were slicing the flesh with the scalpel in surgery. He had grown a wad above his upper lip with the slight curl on the ends to add to his country physician outlook. He had taken off his shoes, as in previous habit, to wear the comfortable carpet slippers. He was seated in his old seat with his legs crossed, facing the door.

Sherlock’s seat was by the fireplace and looked to the window, where his hawklike eyes would scan the rooftops. Watson did wonder why they had curtains there when they were hardly drawn except for that time when Sherlock was under the impression that someone was going to blow his brain off with a bullet. Since then, he had placed an upper-body mannequin there to be shot.

“Do tell me, Sherlock. I got your message and took the late afternoon train here, and having read your weekly Demons of newspapers with the missing sections, I presumed they were snipped off for your personal collection. Watson saw the missing sections. Minuscule omissions that he put up with being the friend to the sleuth despite past misgivings at work.

“I do have schedules, and tomorrow, I have got……" Sherlock had stepped in from the bedroom and changed into his living robe and then chose to light the pipe after he replaced the stale tobacco.

“I would not mind the smoke, but you could do it with the window opened.” Watson expressed his view. He was not against pipe smoking; he does it himself at times, but living in the countryside, he found the air there breathable compared to London's smog.

Sherlock proceeded to the fireplace and tapped off the tobacco there. He replaced the pipe onto the side table by his seat and took up the violin. He was not an acclaimed violinist, but the shrills and screeches of the strings on it gave him mind-paths to his thoughts. He also had the unlit lamp stand there for his night reading.

“Oh, my dear. Surely you can play Auld Lang Syne?” Watson cut in when he saw Sherlock raise the violin to the left shoulder. “Or a country lullaby like A la Nanita Nana? I may think it is Christmas Eve, and I am doing the good deed of being here like a new present.”

“Watson, I am asking you to join me one more time to…" Sherlock lowered the violin. “Please shun the sarcastic remarks. I had my share of it with Mycroft today.”

“Mycroft? What did you do?” Watson smiled. It was of recent weeks that Sherlock was on a clashing attitude with Mycroft. Siblings they are, and with many others, the love and care between them does lead to the occasional battle of wits or, at times, rants on who is better.

“Did you or he get off the bedding on the wrong side this morning?” Watson smiled. “I may know of you getting off yours well. You have a peculiar habit of getting off the right side.”

“I do get off from that side for my preference to avoid staring at the mirror placed on my left. Do you know the most ingrained appearance of ours when we get up after a long sleep? I much preferred to be proper and refreshed before I examined myself in the mirror.”

“Oh, bless me, Father. I did not know you are so vain in the morning.” Watson laughed. “I do get up on the right side, for my bedding is by the wall, and……. Why am I explaining to you this?”

“Elementary deductions on our habits, I will say.” Sherlock proceeded to his seat. “As you prefer that seat and I here. We do not intermix our seating positions.”

“Gracious me, I must be loony to have come here so often that you have etched me as a regular," Watson sighed. “So, why am I here? Another spin in adventure and perhaps to lose my life, or for worse, my patients who need my care?”

“My dear Holmes, I am retired. I am past chasing out-of-this-world dwellers and seeking treasures. I am contented…"“And you came when I sent for you? You sat there for two hours till I arrived. "Sherlock cut in. “You removed your shoes and placed them on the rack as you did when you were staying here. You were relaxed when I came in. You showed no signs…"

“Holmes, I placed the shoes there because the rugs looked clean, and Mrs. Hudson gets all clammy when she must pick up the ashes of your tobacco. I was relaxed and fell asleep seated here; it is my old chair. And I came here because I was in London to pick up supplies… for my patients too.” Watson looked at Sherlock. “Shelly, you are getting…. Complacent if I may diagnose.”

Shelly was the nickname of Sherlock from Mycroft.

“And more to that, I came because Mrs. Hudson asked me to come up. I do pay my share of the rent here. The……"“A convenient mode. I told Mrs. Hudson to do it for me.” Sherlock took the credit from Mrs. Hudson. “She may be a…" "So, she is now you, a part of the Baker’s Boys, or rather lady.” Watson smiled.

"Boys, or rather, I will call you, darnedest of the males. Both of you are the au pairs in this world." It was the fortunate timing of the housekeeper, who had arrived with the tray of tea and scones. She had changed from her formal attire of the dark suit and boots into the drab white frock and apron with the deep pockets.

“Mrs. Hudson, you are a delightful sight.” Watson quipped up. “And thank you for the tea.”

Watson took the tea offered and saw Sherlock had not moved from his seat despite the cup of tea served onto his side table. It was typical behavior of Sherlock when he was in sleuth mode.

Watson then decided on the matter, but Sherlock read his mind.

“An hour ago, the minister of the Exchequer country retreat was intruded on, and the household with the guards was killed—all six of them in a ghastly mode—but the personal assistant, Mindy Kewala, was not found. Perhaps kidnapped or, at worse, killed somewhere else. They are still looking after her. Do you know her?” Sherlock held the telegram he held.

“No, I do not know her. I may know her…" Watson fretted in his seat. “For Pete’s sake, I do not know every other lady here in London.”

“Mindy Kewala is the niece of King Kewala of the Jahunder family, who was from your old hunting ground and lately owned a huge business in the Dark Continent."

“I was never there. And I am at the Afghanistan war, or rather the Frontier War.” Watson felt the prickly pain on his wound on the leg. He was a medical officer, but that involved excursions with the troops to the hills, involvement in the skirmishes, and attending to the wounded before he was wounded himself. His wound was bad, but as the surgeon, he could not treat himself. His wound went from fatal to manifesting into a dangerous one. Since his recovery, he has been walking with a limp.

“Sirs, Mr. Lestrade had just arrived. He asked…" Mrs. Hudson told the two gentlemen.

“Oui, send Lestrade in. He is the shepherd for the missing sheep." Watson mimicked the tone of the French. He saw the frown on Mrs. Hudson.

“Sorry, I have a gendarme recruit near my place. Pointy behavior with a peculiar attitude for details.” Watson looked at Sherlock. “I am leaving now. I am not locating any missing dame.”

“Six officers with a dozen household staff were killed in the foul matter, and somehow Moriarty was involved.”

“And I am a physician and not a soothsayer. I would not know how to read tea leaves or investigate glass orbs. Get real, Shelly. I am leaving. And Moriarty does not interest me at all. He is your"

“Nemesis, my dear Watson, as indicated by my peers, but we are not. I am his Achilles' heel to his actions.” Sherlock affirmed his privileged position. “Or rather, Michael the angel towards that one named Lucifer the fallen."

“Biblical notations do not impress me anymore, Holmes. It does not tempt me more than a regular appendicitis in my surgery chamber.” Watson shrugged his shoulders. “I am..."

“Again?” Sherlock mocked the other. “One more thing, Watson. There are other assassins involved here.”

John Watson, aka Doctor John Watson, was a trained killer with daggers, though he had forfeited his skill to that of surgery.

“Shelly, I am not an assassin anymore. I have not tossed a dagger for some years now. I do use them to remove bad organs. Why am I telling you all of this?” Watson turned to remove his slippers. He was adamant about leaving then.

“Watson, do be good…" Mrs. Hudson was arranging the teapot when the door was knocked. She smiled and proceeded to attend to the one knocking. She admitted the one person she knew was at the door

.“Come in, Mycroft. I could smell you a mile away.” Mrs. Hudson smiled at the one she considered her beau. The man rushed past her and into Sherlock’s parlor. He removed his top hat and approached Sherlock.

“Shelly, we got another murder. Ah, tea being served. I would not mind one.” Mycroft then helped himself to the tea on the side table. “The exchequer minister was killed just now in his office chamber. He was with three guards, but they still reached him. He was shot with an arrow. They may have got to him, but we could not find the lady.”

“And I am leaving. Good night. The Holmes.” Watson took his coat and walked to the door. Mycroft was still in his coat and holding the tea cup.

“What is with John? Is he still upset with you? A long vendetta there.” Mycroft took another sip of the tea. “Lovely tea, Mrs. Hudson. Oh, I met Lestrade downstairs. He seems to need the privy. One too many cups of tea, I think.”

“Martha will suffice, Mycroft.” The lady smiled. “And no, I have not served tea to the Inspector yet.” 

 

Heroes Return VI: Book One London Chapter 1-2

 

Team Seven

London

Oni Society Revolt

1.       Sherlock Holmes

2.       Mycroft Holmes

3.       Doctor John Watson

4.       Lord Greystokes

5.       Nayland Smith

6.       Professor James Moriarty

7.       Mitsui ‘Ronin’ Ogata

 

016 9274530

 

Jimmy Loong

Nov 20th 2021

“A day of boredom to begin with…”

March 16, 2026

“A desire to resume on my affairs here.”

“Borrowed a couple of characters to spice up the tale. Charlie Song is one; adapted from Charlie Chen of that era.”

March 26th 2026

Still at it. I am going to explore in deeper into some characters here. \

May 11^th 2026

Still at it after some briefs moments of doing  something else.

July 15^th 2026

Concluded Book 1: London at 53,433 words. I did not reckon the tale will spin further than one book. So it moving it to Africa next then.

Cheers

 

1. 

 

“The oni (鬼(おに))…" The man, namely referred to as the professor, was seated there and smiled after removing the cigar from his lips.

“The—" "It is oni, Professor. I do not like to imply, but the correct name must be applied.” The one who spoke was an oriental figure in the western white-shaded three-piece suit and short-cropped hairstyle with the thin upper mustache above the upper lip. The oriental-looking figure was standing next to the seated figure identified as the professor.

There was a foursome discussion facing the fireplace on that late evening with the city of London covered with smog courtesy of the industrialization era. The discussion was held over a few glasses of whiskey, the single malt blend courtesy of the host.

“Yes, Doctor Mitsui Ogata. I am aware.” The man then known as Mycroft smiled. “Whatever, the oni is a yōkai in Japanese folklore. The ones before you tend to name it as a demon or ogre, by some. A reference to their beliefs, I am afraid it was.”

“However, it is the devil if you must ask me to compare the two entities.” Mycroft took a puff with the cigar. “Bloody resemblances there.”

The seated audience was four gentlemen formally dressed for an evening in town. The group was clustered in the plainly furnished office of the Foreign Office at London, facing the fireplace. The center for the empire's finest in the art of diplomacy and with an inducement towards intelligence, namely, political views.

“Mr. Holmes, I am…" One of the three gentlemen seated there with the well-tailored dark blue three-piece suit flicked the loose hair from his forehead. He maintained a short style, combed backward to reveal his forehead. He was a tall figure with a huge frame and polished shoes.

“Mycroft will suffice, my dear sir. My esteemed guest here is the minister of exchequer, Sir Frank Leeson, who is placed within the Parliament and would be honored if addressed as Sir Leeson.” The one attested to for his rank to be affirmed. “For me, Mycroft may suffice. Am I correct to state that is correct, Minister Leeson?”

The one named the minister was an elderly man in the dark tweed suit; he was summoned from his holiday in the countryside where he was on vacation, alongside his so-called mistress.

“I say, Mycroft. Why are we here?” The minister was getting agitated to be brought there to London after a grueling ride on the train. The only redemption of the works there was the train, which was efficient and, to some extent, comfortable to sit in, but at three hours, it was a darn tiring ride.

“I do apologize, Minister, but we do have to hear it all before I can comment.” Mycroft replied. He is the only one without a public designation but a rather hidden one as the agent of the government, only to report to one minister in the Parliament: the foreign affairs minister.

“Please proceed, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.” Mycroft put on the weak smile.

“I am to divert from the agenda and tell you of the Oni Society, which is mostly known for their fierce and evil nature manifested in their propensity for murder and cannibalism. Notwithstanding their evil reputation, oni possess intriguingly complex aspects that cannot be brushed away simply as evil. They are typically portrayed as hulking figures with one or more horns growing out of their heads. Stereotypically, they are conceived of as red, blue, black, yellow, or white-colored, wearing loincloths of tiger pelts and carrying iron kanabō clubs. A creature that instilled fear and danger from their grotesque outward appearance to their wild and strange behaviors and dangerous powers.”

“Most remarkable details, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.” Mycroft snapped out.

“A part of my academic training, to be precise and informative in my presentation.” The doctor smiled. “Pardon me for having diverted the topic of our meeting.”

“And our precise pointer to the purpose of his meeting.” The minister interjected once more. “Our main agenda, I meant.”

“I was advised that there was an urgent matter to discuss, which involved the few of us.” Mycroft shifted his seating position to cut in. “The Japanese empire raised a concern with us. The Empire is… rather known to all of you; we are in a precarious position in the Far East. To be exact, I am referring to the Japanese Empire.”

“The allies of ours have been……. Have a vested interest there, with our allies like the United States of America, Germany, and ..." Mycroft stopped to take a puff on his cigar.

“Spare us the historical lessons, Mycroft," Minister Leeson snapped. “Please get to the main matter.”

“The Empire is under threat there. As stipulated by the minister of foreign affairs and reported to me." Mycroft looked at the Minister. “The Empire's interest is……. Pardon me for the repetitious reference. The Foreign Affairs was given an alert…"“And what had that to do with the Exchequer?” Minister Leeson was agitated.

“Well, Minister… Sir. The threat involved in the treasury is an affront here.” Mycroft smiled. “It……"“May I intervene?” Doctor Mitsui Ogata cut in.

“Let me introduce myself once more. My name is Doctor Mitsui Ogata. I am affiliated with the Ministry of Treasury in Japan. Let me be brief here.”

“The relationship between the Japanese treasury and our Ministry of Finance has taken steps to regulate our treasury controls. With modernization, our focus is financial stabilization and the establishment of a modern banking system. We have established the Bank of Japan recently. Following severe inflation in the last years, the Japanese government moved to centralize control of the money supply. We adopted the Silver Standard with government-issued paper money convertible to silver, a stabilization effort aided by accumulating specie reserves.”

“It is the British influence on banking that we drew on for that.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled.

“Thank you, then, for the compliment.” Minister Leeson smiled. “We had ours done since the late seventeenth century. From the Dutch, to be exact, where we learned the rudiments of treasury. We got it refined to a fine art since then.”

The Bank of England founded in 1694 manage the government debt during the reign of William III and Mary II. The bank allowed for a shift from relying solely on gold/silver to a credit-based system, enabling increased state spending. It was the structural blueprint that was heavily influenced by the advanced banking systems already operating in Amsterdam. This new system allowed England to finance its rapid industrialization and colonial expansion. “As you did, we are learning from your side now.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled. “Japan is on the trail of expansion to be a modern nation. Unfortunately, that trail invoked rebellions and much time and violence.”

“We are too familiar with that.” Mycroft smiled.

“And what has that to do with the Empire here?” Minister Leeson cut in. “My tea is cold.”

"I'll get you one more then.” Mycroft offered to change the cup, but the minister stopped him.

“Doctor Mitsui Ogata, please continue.” The minister sat back on his seat. “We will assist in whatever manner is required.”

“Well, the trail led us to here. In England, we uncovered a network of intimidators, including criminal elements that are here to prevent our expansion. They are to disrupt our relationship.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at Professor Moriarty and then to Mycroft. “They are called the Oni Society, by my government. Hence, I spoke of them.”

“Rebellious, you did mention.” Mycroft frowned on his expression. “Am I not right, Mr. Holmes, Sherlock Holmes? Do join us in the discussion.”

The one addressed as Sherlock was seated, leaning back in the high chair, revealing no expression with his unlit pipe on the lips. His seating position was by the tall lamp post there. He was with the same hairstyle as Mycroft, but his dressing was more of the general cut of the public with the grey tweeds and dark shoes. He had his hat resting on his left knee angled across his right leg.

“I much…" Sherlock spoke but was interrupted by Mycroft.

“Doctor Mitsui Ogata, I—" Mycroft cut in with a sense of impatience but was held back by Sherlock then, who took on his cue to continue speaking.

“Mycroft, I am sure the time allocated by the doctor to see us must be very generous of him.” Sherlock looked at the other, named as the Professor. “After all, he has information that will interest us. He, I believed, had the acumen of a person to hold interesting findings.”

Mycroft's expression was one of disdain for the presumption made.

“Yes, I do. I am not a sleuth but an academic, but the information told to me was most…how may I place it...crucial to the well-being of the Empire and to the well-being of this Parliament.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled before he looked at the cigar on Mycroft’s hand. “Your cigar…"“Cuban ... I adored them since I was offered them some time back.” The doctor saw the agitated look on the minister and moved back to the reason he called for the meeting. “Pardon me, but seldom do we smoke cigars in Tokyo.”

“Where is that … Tokyo?" The minister interjected.

“It’s in the far east, a distance from Hong Kong and further still from Singapore.” Mycroft explained. The minister was of the isle, and his foreign knowledge was mostly his office notes and that of the mistress from the continent down south, the Congo to be precise, and she was then at the country home of his. His own family are in Lisbon on holiday, while he bemoaned the huge pile of work and needed to stay behind in London. Well, he was then.

“Please allow me to explain. My emperor sends me to caution… is that the right word?” The Doctor looked to Mycroft, who nodded back. “On our relationship.”

"Subtle, but you could say 'warning.'" Mycroft smiled and looked at the minister. “We are British, and words may come to us in many syllables.”

“Hai, as I was… saying, my emperor feels that it is his overture to tell you that a new threat is in London. He got the news from the Germans, who held some colonies in the other continents. I will say the threat is… dangerous and getting widespread.” The Doctor looked to Mycroft for affirmation. The other just gave a slight nod.

“Well, the Germans have their own issues there, and why would it affect us here?” The minister shrugged his shoulders at the concern. “We are in certain terms … friendly foes with them.”

“True to that, but the Oni Society is here now and soon there, and from here they will proceed to other continents. You must understand this. The Oni are considered wrathful … or bad demons.” The doctor explained. “They have a following of members in my country, Japan, and of late have expanded to greater China and to now London. They come here to spread their evil. They …….”

“That has to do with Mr. Holmes here.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled. Mycroft looked to the other person. He resented the attendance of the other, but he was the brother who shared the same parent with him. They got off on the wrong side of the bed, although in different bedrooms, but the mythical link was brushed off them that day.

“Presumption is yours. I am no slough-armchair sleuth, as you may have assumed, but foreign spies have looked for me. The man there leaned forth to offer his right hand in friendship. “Once again, I am Holmes, Sherlock Holmes.”    

 

 

2 

 

“The infamous detective.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata took the offered hand with a firm grip. “I am honored to meet you here.”

“Do continue, please.” Sherlock Holmes motioned to the other, who then bowed to the request.

“One of your representatives, Ian Masterson… was recalled and was regretfully on his way back to Japan; his ship was lost at sea. He is presumably dead.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at Mycroft. “He was bringing evidence of the Oni Society’s works here.”

“That is being investigated now…. The missing ship, I meant. It sank as reported nearby... Where is that infernal place...? I cannot recall.” Mycroft said. Undisclosed to the other, Ian Masterson was an operative under the Double Prefix Section, as was Mycroft.

“Most regrettably for Ian. I have known him since school days. He is not a Treasury man but more of a Foreign Office chap.” The minister sighed. “I heard from the newspaper, Mycroft, like many others. Please do continue, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.”

“Hai, as mentioned earlier, Ian Masterson was working on the Oni Society and had the needed evidence with him. He was…"

“May I?” Mycroft cut in on the doctor but was ignored.

“The Oni Society Clan came to our attention a decade ago, when one of our leaders was…killed and then another before we linked it to the Oni Society. We discovered more killings and threats since then. The Oni Society was claimed to be managed by a group of influential names, including the military. Since then, they have eliminated over a dozen leaders here and in the Far East and held to their influence over more.”

Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked towards Sherlock.

“They have targeted the top leaders, and even the emperor was threatened with a coup, but we… defeated it. That exerted a lot of pressure on them, and they decided to move to Greater China, including Manchuria, and down south to even Betawi and Singapore. They are building their strength there and looking to exert world dominance.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata gave the brief.

“Whatever happened to Fu Manchu? Nasty chap that one. I recalled reading of him.” Mycroft asked. “China is his domain. Our intelligence there did not report any power shift there.”

“Fu Manchu is still very much in power. He is… in exile, as to my knowledge," Doctor Mitsui Ogata explained. “In the Chinese sayings, there is no reason to have two tigers on the same mountain. Fu Manchu, to our knowledge, is working behind the scenes and with the Oni Society. He will await his turn to share the spoils.”

“So, the dragon hibernates while the demon runs wild.” Mycroft cut in. “Most intriguing. What has that to do with us here in London? I am sure Scotland Yard…"“No, Mycroft. Scotland Yard may not be able do it. I am sure there is more, Doctor Mitsui Ogata.” Sherlock voiced out the second time that evening. “If it were that simple, surely the doctor would not ask for an audience.”

“Emotions or deductive elimination, Mr. Holmes?” Mycroft smiled while brushing the ashes of the cigar from his sleeves.

“The Oni Society is not any criminal organization but a…." Doctor Mitsui Ogata was cut off.

“I have the urge to get the real issue.” Sherlock glared at Mycroft. "I've done my checks on the Oni Society. While your friend, Charles Amstrong, our PM, was arranging this meeting, I was in talks with the best in the field.”

“The better ones?” Mycroft looked to his brother. “I thought…"“Do not eat your hat there, brother. Scotland Yard is still ranked among the best.” Sherlock spoke without releasing his look at the doctor.

“I had received telegrams from the Far East offices and got the brief. The news I got was enough for me to further call on some reliable chaps in the other foreign embassies. I know not much of the Oni Society but am a bit intrigued. What is the supernatural trail there?”

“Supernatural?” Mycroft gasped out. “Are you talking of Dracula here? My old chap, they are from the Far East. Last I recalled Dracula was in Europe or thereabouts.”

“If I may, Doctor.” Sherlock, ignoring Mycroft, continued his look on the doctor.

“Yes, the Oni Society... they used demonic influence. They have many works that resembled the…normal methods of the criminals.”

“Garroting, or backstabbing. Beheading. Trust me, I have seen those, but there were reports speaking of sudden death, as in hypnotic induction, and madness for those who return. and …….” But Sherlock was cut off. And to him, that was rude, or he was on the trail that he deduced.

“Not of London exactly.” Mycroft cut in. “I think ours were more of slicing and removing organs. A surgeon’s art, perhaps.”

“Yes, there were some cases in which the deaths of the victims were more ritualistic or symbolic.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata gave out an apologetic smile. “It was never linked, but there were questions. The Oni Society threat was more… scary when they left the victim drained of their blood or impaled.”

“Tinge of Dracula. It was reported that he does all those killings that way.” Mycroft cut in as usual. “Do go on.”

“In some cases, there were also reports of beheadings.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata sighed. “To lose one’s head ... Beheading? We have done that many times at the Tower, or was it the Bastille? " Mycroft had the fearful expression on his face. “Razor-sharp katana blades, though.”

“There are claims of the survivors that when they went to Yomi. The Japanese word for the land of the dead.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata shuddered at the word. “They cannot cross over without their head.”

“What is the modus operandi of works by the Oni Society besides that?” Sherlock asked. “Unreported?”

Sherlock finds that his best informants came from the unofficial reports.

“The Oni Society believed in spreading their influence to the countries and your colonies, and that spread from China to Betawi. They have control of my country, but that was not enough. The extreme right had wanted to invade China and, from there, down the continent all the way to Betawi, but the emperor will not go for it. So, they proceed to controls on the leaders so that, when needed, the invasion will be done in a different method.”

“And now they came for us here.” Mycroft smiled. “We are a small isle and have done what others had not done: dominate half the world.”

“I will be blasted…" the minister blared. “I am going to report this to the parliament."

“Can we get back to the main issue here?” Sherlock looked at Mycroft. “Why are we here? Are we still on the treasury works, or not?”

“The Oni Society has marked us for ---removal.” The doctor admitted his role then. “Have you heard of the assassins? Not your ‘Hashishin,' the Middle Eastern clan of the Nizari Ismaili sect or the Thugge of India.”

“Not even the slightest.” The minister said then.

“Doctor, please stick to your academic subjects and do not speculate on the world of crime. I am told that it is not of your experiences.” Mycroft looked at the doctor. “Or my intelligence officers need to be removed too for failing to name you?”

“Do tell me, Doctor Mitsui Ogata? Would the Ninjas be working here for the Oni Society?” Sherlock asked.

“Bloody Ninjas? Surely, Shelly, you are not off your meds. Ninjas do not exist.” Mycroft stared at his brother.

“Hai, the assassin clan offered their services to the paying master, but they are not here. The Oni Society have their own assassins, the Dark Hand, and like the others, they move with stealth and kill with deadly moves.”

“I could be in the London Tower with the full complement of guards, and yet, they will reach me?” The minister added in. “It makes that a national threat.”

“Do tell me more, Mycroft. When has your possible death provoked your need to stay alive? Sherlock displayed his rare sarcastic self.

“I would not mind the beheading by the proper means. King Charles I was beheaded in 1649, and so was Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, in 1747. Beheading is for the nobility.” Mycroft recited the history of beheading. “I may be of the same blood.”

“And garroting is for the commoners; it is not yours. I hear you well, Mycroft. That was how most assassins do their victims. Or a bullet in the head?” Sherlock glared at the other.

“So, you do prefer the beheading or perhaps poison by the mix of arsenic? Someday, some writer will use that ingredient once too many times.” Mycroft took a bash at Sherlock’s reputation. “Not in London, but perhaps the French detective will like that. I much prefer the simple “Yes, London should have you in the closet, if my brother is ever—misjudged."

“So, do tell me.” Sherlock looked at the other. “Are you having me on? The man afraid to be removed?”

“Removal was not my real concern, but the threat was also on the minister here. That is the major concern.” Mycroft looked at the minister. “Our ministry offices.”

“Sir, we will provide additional guards. We will protect you.” Mycroft jumped to the defense upon seeing the minister's pale expression.

“I think you might be late.” Sherlock added in. “Minister, you are here and…"

“Oh my God! Mindy…" The minister was alarmed. “They will go for her.”

It was then that the alarms were off, but it was too late.  

 

A new tale starts ......

 Besides Preys and Predators, I have another running series named the Heroes Seven. In it, I combined the Holmes trio; Sherlock, Mycroft and Watson alongside some others to make up seven heroes. I had published them that were written. 

A reminder here; Doctor Watson is a retired assassin who specialise in daggers but had not used it since his retirement except on urgent needs. 

Sherlock is a genius but a cocaine addict. 

Mycroft being himself is a pain in the butt.

In the next tale in the series, I had included back; Lord John Greystokes who had in the last adventure lost his child, and Jane blames the Holmes for it. 

In this tale, I had some new characters; Nayland Smith from the FU MANCHU series; a tribute to the man, Dr. Fu Manchu was created by the English mystery and pulp fiction writer Sax Rohmer (the pen name of Arthur Henry Ward). He first introduced the sinister mastermind in the novel The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu (1913) and penned over a dozen novels about the character until his death in 1959. Great series which I read when younger. 

I added in an element of the East; the samurai saga in the form of one named Doctor Ogata Mitsui, and elements of the samurai techniques. 

It was in the list of unfinished tales, and still remains as one. I had stopped here at Book 1: London, and will conclude soon when I am done with other unfinished tales. The next book will Bok 2: Congo. 

And above all, thanks for reading my tales. 

Tally Ho......