Moriarty

Biodata

Appearance

Moriarty is a young, blond man with a pale complexion and a slender build 23 32 35.

• His fine features and imposing handsomeness resemble those of his younger brother Louis 34 49.
• He favors an elegant, simple suit rather than conspicuous clothing 32.
• Sherlock notices his long, slender fingers and traces of ink on his fingertips 32.

Personality

Moriarty presents himself as a gentle, refined and approachable professor. He is polite even when confronting Lanny about missed lectures, and he invites him to use the name William in private. His warmth can give way to a colder expression: during their conversation over coffee, his smile fades after Lanny questions the reliability of intuition 23 24.

The manga presents a more calculating side of Moriarty. While investigating the Schneider case, he carefully constructs a plan to expose the perpetrators; Lanny later contrasts his approachable manner with the cold control he displays as a crime consultant. Moriarty is nevertheless visibly moved when Lanny expresses trust in him 31 36.

Skills

Mathematics and teaching

Moriarty explains complex, abstract mathematics through accessible examples from everyday life. His lectures are popular enough to attract auditors as well as enrolled students 22.

• He is writing Asteroid Mechanics, a work in pure mathematics 35.
• Aboard the Noah, he works on deriving Newton’s law of universal gravitation from Kepler’s laws and asks Lanny for help with the calculations 45.
• After other university staff are reassigned or investigated, he temporarily fills in for two additional lecture courses 33.

Investigation and planning

Moriarty pieces together concealed evidence and devises scenarios to expose criminals. Lanny observes that, in the manga’s treatment of his investigations, Moriarty generally identifies a killer first and then works to establish that person’s guilt 31 40.

• In the Schneider case, he arranges for Lanny to act as a suspect while offering to provide his alibi 31.
• He exposes a professor’s false testimony, leading to a confession 32.
• He quickly infers Sherlock’s occupation as a consulting detective during their exchange at Scotland Yard 32.

Relationships

• Lanny (He Xue) — Moriarty’s student and occasional collaborator. Lanny fears him but seeks cooperation as a way to stay safe; Moriarty is moved when Lanny calls him a good person and later asks for his help with mathematics 30 31 45.
• Sherlock Holmes — A consulting detective who becomes wary of Moriarty and questions his connection to Lanny. Their meetings at Scotland Yard and the Noah’s port are marked by mutual scrutiny 31 32 40.
• Albert Moriarty — William’s older brother. Albert receives Lanny at their house and later says William is ill aboard the Noah 33 34 42.
• Louis Moriarty — William’s younger brother. William sends Louis to return Lanny’s forgotten coat, washed and pressed 35 49.
• Moran — An associate shown alongside Louis in the manga’s account of the Workhouse explosion 16 31.
• Lily Schneider — The grandson of Professor Connor Schneider. Moriarty investigates the plot surrounding Schneider’s murder and the professors’ plan to kill Lily 31.

Story Role

University and the Schneider case

Lanny begins skipping Moriarty’s lectures in his second week because he fears him, although he later admires the clarity of his recorded teaching. Moriarty finds Lanny watching a recording in a library study room and asks about his absences 21 22 23.

After a manga preview shows Moriarty imagining a university shooting, Lanny fears an incident is approaching. He chooses to cooperate with Moriarty rather than wait to be drawn into the plot 24 30.

The manga reveals that mathematics department professors arranged Connor Schneider’s murder and intended to kill Lily as well. Moriarty recruits Lanny to help expose them, then confronts Sherlock at Scotland Yard about his connection to Lanny. Moriarty describes their relationship as a secret unrelated to the case, prompting Sherlock to note his use of the present tense 31 32.

Home visit

After university staff are reassigned or investigated, Lanny becomes a temporary teaching assistant and visits Moriarty’s house to collect class materials. Albert locks him in the library, where Moriarty is sleeping 33.

Lanny touches Moriarty’s forehead and covers him with a jacket, explaining that he thought the professor might be unwell. The two prepare discussion materials and talk about mathematics and family. Moriarty invites Lanny to dinner; when Lanny declines, Moriarty opens the library door for him, and Lanny leaves without his coat 35.

Noah cruise

Moriarty encounters Lanny and the residents of 221B before they board the Noah. He exchanges guarded remarks with Sherlock, who leads the group away 40.

Moriarty develops a fever aboard the ship. Lanny persuades Watson to care for him and later accepts Moriarty’s invitation to help with Asteroid Mechanics. Moriarty teases Lanny about touching his face, an exchange overheard by Sherlock, Watson, Mrs. Hudson and Albert 42 44 45.

After Maren Flynn and Valentine Butler are arrested for setting fire to the Noah, Lanny suspects Moriarty may have manipulated events to protect his identity. The manga also shows Fred Pollock reporting that his mission succeeded, but Lanny’s proposed account of Moriarty’s role remains a suspicion 47.