Don't Try to Guess What a Villain Is Thinking

"Study the effect of ordinary members of the opposite sex on his hormone levels, study the effect of specially selected members of the opposite sex on his hormone levels. Huh, there's another one: study the effect of the research subject on his-this research subject is me!"

The candid photograph on the task sheet stood out sharply in the cold, solemn room. In it, Sitangna wore a red sweater and sat with her friends around a Christmas tree, smiling and chatting.

"From this angle, it looks like he secretly took it from across the street. Wasn't that place bombed, and nobody lives there anymore?" The bombing of the building opposite Baker Street had happened in the plot before Nana arrived. By rights, Mycroft's people should have taken over the place.

[At this resolution, it could have been a drone.] Candy continued forward. They wanted to see what the research subject specifications said.

"Research objective: quantify the abnormal neuroendocrine response of individual A (Moriarty) when exposed to specific stimulus B (Sitangna)."

"What's he trying to study? I don't really get it. Neuroendocrine something, abnormal something. He hasn't been secretly watching the happy, wonderful lives of our Baker Street foursome every day and fallen for me, has he...?"

[Based on the reference material I calculated using the database, your aura should be affecting him. A 10% All Things Friendly Aura plus a 1% Heartthrob Aptitude. We both thought that was too little before, but now it seems the aura has quite an effect on ordinary humans in a realistic world.]

"But isn't he a super-intelligent big villain? Shouldn't it have less of an effect on him?"

[Quite the opposite. It has a greater effect. Geniuses are often more perceptive of everything than ordinary people, and their minds are highly sensitive. The aura's effect on them is probably multiplied, especially on someone who's obviously starved for love.]

[Sherlock was the first to notice, but he chose to accept it and draw closer. He treated you as a mystery to unravel, dissecting it to uncover the real you. He also faced the attraction openly and fell in love with the real you. In the end, he followed his heart and tried to let his feelings grow.]

In other words, the aura could give taskers a good start. People who liked you would like you more because of it, while those who disliked you wouldn't give you too much trouble.

Heartthrob Aptitude was no cheat-like miracle tool. It was more like an auxiliary piece of advanced technology that produced psychological suggestions. Ultimately, what effect it could have depended on the user.

Perhaps other worlds had exceptionally powerful heartthrob auras that could make everyone fall in love with the user without the slightest effort. Unfortunately, the items produced on the planet where Candy was born couldn't yet achieve such a heaven-defying effect.

[But Moriarty is different. You know he deliberately orchestrated some of those cases, but because Sherlock went out of his way to protect you, he hasn't had much contact with you.]

[His gaze lingered on you for too long, giving him some false impressions. He's extremely resistant to being attracted to you because he thinks everyone is just his toy. Given his personality... I'd guess he'd rather dissect you, or simply get rid of you.]

Candy circled the lab several times and gathered the experimental data from everyone there. The results showed that this guy really was studying his attraction to her.

As for the dissection, Candy had made that up purely to scare Sitangna. That was what she got for ignoring Candy's warning. Candy had just told her to be careful, and she'd turned right around and followed her little friend into the museum.

What was worse, she hadn't even bothered to call for backup, leaving Candy, a little system who hadn't even grown arms and legs, worried sick.

"Dissect me?? You're kidding, right? When the time comes, you'd better hurry and give me a chain-mail item, boo-hoo..." It was too scary. Before, what she'd feared most was Moriarty blowing her up. Now it had gone straight to dissection. How was that not a step up in status?

[Can't do it. You still don't understand how items work in a realistic world. The Golden Bell Shield can block bullets and ordinary attacks because it can exploit the attacker's perspective, creating the illusion that they missed.]

[Chain mail can protect the human body and have the effect of a bulletproof vest, but there's absolutely no way it would work in a close-contact environment like an operating room. The system can't interfere with things the Heavenly Dao doesn't allow.]

[Think about it. If someone slashed you several times and couldn't cut you open, the next thing you know, they'd send a department that handles the supernatural to tie you up and take you away for confinement.]

"Thanks for the lesson. A little piece of my heart just died." Sitangna smiled bitterly. How was she supposed to escape, then?

"I can't believe this. Did he enjoy that kick I gave him at the pool? I thought I'd been keeping a low enough profile while doing the task, just because I was afraid he'd think something was off about me. And now look, I've still been captured, and he even wants to study me... I really have a miserable life."

[Don't try to guess what a villain is thinking~ You have to trust Sherlock's abilities. He definitely won't let you fall into danger.] Candy tapped away at the big screen with her tiny hands. The main task was already three-quarters complete. Nana would probably have to choose a way to die ahead of schedule this time.

"No way, the task's moving this fast? It was still halfway done when I checked a few days ago. I want to appeal! I don't think my relationship with Sherlock has reached the perfect task route yet. I'm applying for an extension!"

Sitangna had seen the panel too. She didn't think this was a good time to leave.

"Don't take me away! What kind of person dates someone and only gets one kiss? I ain't having it!" Sitangna howled in her mind, tugging at the restraints on her hands and feet until they snapped and crackled.

She might have been acting cute, but Candy couldn't tell.

[Who was it that stubbornly insisted she couldn't date her idol? Who was it? I'm so curious.]

"Quit teasing me. I admit I was wrong, I repent. Hurry and find a way to get me out of here. Time waits for no one!"

[That's what the main system predicted, and there's no way for us to change it. But you won't be recalled immediately once the task reaches full completion. You can stay a while longer, within reasonable limits.]

[After the task is complete, only a tiny data channel will be left here. Then it'll be fine even if the world's protagonist notices something strange about you, as long as his worldview doesn't collapse.]

[Also, stop moving. Moriarty's outside the glass, looking at you with a complicated expression.]

On hearing that, Sitangna immediately stopped struggling and stared sharply at herself in the glass mirror. She couldn't see what was on the other side, but if he was looking at her at that moment too, she could meet his gaze through the glass.

It didn't matter that she couldn't see him. She had to keep up her imposing presence.

"When did she become like this?" Moriarty frowned deeply. He didn't remember any study saying that excessive blood loss could cause mental problems.

"Uh, she was fine when she first woke up. She became like this shortly afterward. Maybe she can't accept her current situation and is venting her feelings... I guess."

The head of the lab broke into a sweat. Fortunately, the girl opposite them had returned to normal after acting crazy for a while. Though now she seemed even more like a lunatic, staring at him and Mr. Moriarty without blinking.