27.
Ito Matsuke looked out of
the window from the third level of the building at Mayfair, London. It was a
new unit, unfurnished, but the view was scenic on Hanover Square in the
distance.
“Splendid view, is it not?”
Ito Matsuke heard the voice and turned to look. He was facing Ian Masterson,
well-dressed in the expensive three-piece suit, who sported a bowler.
“It is.” Ito Matsuke bowed
to the adviser of the Yomi Demons. “I am ever honored to meet you.”
“The honor is mine too, Ito.
However, you acted without consulting me.” Ian Masterson walked to the window.
“Why kill Leeson? He was my friend.”
“Leeson was to tell on us. I
have ears at the office there. He met Sensei and the Holmes brother.” Ito
Matsuke acknowledged his action.
“Sherlock Holmes was set by
you. You told me so.”
“Yes, I did. You told me to
get the man involved to create a trail towards the other crime lord, Professor
Moriarty.”
“I did, but it was for
another contingency or when I had returned to London.” Ian Masterson did not
hide his anger. “You had the three others killed earlier ……”
"And you reprimanded me
then. I had Brian Leeson killed because he was avoiding us to give the papers.
I had told him; I will act on him or the lady.”
“Mindy Kewala is the key
player here. If she is harmed or missing, we cannot get the approval for the
mining rights there. She was to act for us there.” Ian Masterson fumed at the
error made.
You killed Leeson and forced
her to run. She went to the one other person who would help her: the
Greystokes. You pursued them and killed the Waziri’s warriors. That was another
bad mistake.”
“I am not afraid of the
warriors. I am…" Ito Matsuke said. "覆水盆に返らず (fukusui bon ni kaerazu)" (split water would not go back to its
tray).
“A fool, Ito Matsuke. Baka (バカ).
You exposed us further.” Ian Masterson looked at the other.
“I am no fool, adviser. Our
plan was to remain hidden till I return. I was on the steamer to return, but
the Oni Society got news of my betrayal. I was set upon, but I escaped. I had
prepared for that. I set the explosives off when I jumped overboard. I had a
trawler trailing the steamer. All was planned, and my death was reported. I
escaped to Singapore, and from there to Betawi, and then hopping the sea lines
from India, I made it back to Liverpool.”
“I had help, Ito Matsuke.
The man was the emperor of China, the emperor of the crime world. Fu Manchu was
engaged to bring me back. He did it for a share of the wealth, but then he
heard of the killings. He decided to stay away after that.”
“The emperor wants a piece
of the wealthy and a retreat from the plan? Has he turned to cowardice?” Ito
Matsuke snapped out.
“Please hold some respect
for the old man. He was fighting when you were wetting your pants then.” Ian
Masterson corrected the other. “I know the old man well.”
"Well, for one, he did
not want to fight his son-in-law. Nayland Smith is a formidable warrior, and
the old man likes him. He knew Nayland was here in London now. Two, he had a
change of his mind. The Congo was too far for him when he discovered that
Manchuria was a lower-hanging fruit. "Ian Masterson explained. “Three, Fu
Manchu is a careful man. He holds a niche in London and Liverpool. He does not
want to antagonize the others here. There are other crime clans: the Irish, the
Manchester Scuttlers, the Forty Elephants, and … the Peaky Blinders. He also
knew of the Yomi Demons.”
“Four, when M was invoked to
the battle, the old man stepped back. He told me that he was not for the plan.
He is wary of Moriarty and holds mutual respect. He did not survive without
building undisclosed alliances.”
“Added to all the above,
number five: Sensei Ogata is here. He will leave no stone unturned. He is onto
you from what I learned, and maybe onto me too. He may know that I am not dead
and will finish the task soon.”
“Why do we have to fear
Moriarty?” Ito Matsuke asked.
“Professor James Moriarty is
like a Mamushi (Japanese pit viper: small, brown, and highly venomous
with a distinct triangular head.) He will strike when you least expected it.”
“He knew you?”
“No, we … were associates
mentioned in the network. The professor knew I ran a smuggling trade from China
with the emperor, and I... rather, my network paid him a share to keep away. I
got him into the mining in the Congo to entice his silence.” Ian Masterson
explained.
“You involved him too?” Ito
Matsuke was upset. “Too many people involved.”
“It takes a village to raise
a kid. It also takes a wider network to keep the operation running. It was
through the network. The professor told them that was his retirement game. He
will hand over to the colonel and retire to Glasgow or Wales. I do mutually
agree with him, for I need his silence here.”
“Too many……” “I am aware.
Once we are done, they will be removed in stages. As I had dealt with vipers,
you catch hold of their neck and cut off the head.” Ian Masterson looked at the
Japanese. “The pit will then be empty.”
“Can you be trusted,
adviser?” Ito Matsuke stepped back from the other.
“Trust is mutual till we
have no need for it.” Ian Masterson said. “人を信じよ、しかし、その百倍も自らを信じよ (Hito
wo shinjiyo, shikashi, sono hyakubai mo mizukara wo shinjiyo)" (Trust
others, but trust yourself a hundred times more.)
“I trust myself more.” Ian
Masterson looked to Ito. “Your presence is under threat from the Sensei. You
are considered a weakling by the Yomi Demons. Stay with me, and you do not have
to be a ronin like your sensei.”
“I will kill you.” Ito
Matsuke took on the striking stance and faced the man.
“Brashness is inside of you,
Ito Matsuke. As you did all the acts that brought attention to the Yomi Demons.
Kill me and you lose the only person who can help you redeem yourself.” Ian
Masterson continued his look at Hanover Square. “If you are still with me, we
can resolve the issues here.”
“First, find your Sensei.
Kill him. Get more warriors involved.” Ian Masterson continued. “Two, once the
Sensei is done, collect your warriors. We are to go to the Congo to secure the
treasury.”
“Yourself?” Ito Matsuke
asked.
“I will remove Sherlock
Holmes and one other named Nayland Smith. I will make it look as if I am
assisting Professor Moriarty and the emperor.” Ian Masterson spoke without
averting his eyes. “They are his nemesis.”
Ian Masterson was playing
for time. He lost the papers, and with Mindy Kewala in his custody, he needed
time to clear the trail. Once he sets the other onto his sensei, he may be free
of that man, or Ito Matsuke will die in the works.
The important part was to
get the papers back, and by now, he presumed they were with Sherlock Holmes. He
could bargain with Sherlock Holmes for Mindy’s life, but he also needed Mindy
there in the Congo. He must plan his move well. Sherlock Holmes is not a rook
in the Congo but another pawn. He looked at the other man standing there.
“Ito Matsuke, you are now a
sacrificial pawn in the game.” Ian Masterson muttered in his mind.
Nayland was not without his
resources. That evening, soon after leaving Mycroft at the tavern, he searches
his sources for news on Ian Masterson. He turned up with nothing. He then moved
his focus on the explosives. Mitch told him that the explosives were brought in
by some guys he knew when he was the sapper with the Royal Engineers.
“The chums, they are the
wild ones among us. They brought in the explosives for the tasks; we avoid the
earnings.” Mitch Kilney, on his retirement, moved with the criminals to offer
his expertise.
“These were the loads they
took from the armory some weeks ago. It is good stuff.” Mitch was offered the
lager in the dimly lit underground pub, dark and moody, lit by gaslight or
paraffin lamps, with cozy, wooden interiors and "snob screens" that
partitioned rooms.
“Tell me, Mitch. Why are
they? The chums who do this?” Nayland shoved the five-pound note into the other
man’s overall pocket.
“Dynamiters, but of late, I
heard some of them called themselves the demons." Mitch looked to his left
side and then back to his drink. “They are the sort of chums I do not associate
with. Lost a few of my chums who went the wrong way with the dynamite sticks.”
“Where, Mitch?”
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