"The First Move

At 21:45 at the train station in Germany,

Under the enchanting sunset, Mr. James Moriarty and Eva Ritz stepped out of the train carriage, announcing their arrival to the chaos about to unfold. Meanwhile, David and Martin had already met near the Ritz Hotel, named after Eva's noble family. This place had been chosen to host the gathering of the Seven Geniuses.

As everyone enjoyed their dinner in the hotel's dining room—beneath elegant lights and exquisite cuisine, accompanied by a recitation of one of Victor Hugo's poems—the seven minds sat at a round table, each observing the others. Martin focused on analyzing the physical characteristics of the attendees:

Raphael Keller: Dark-skinned, bald, with a scar on his left cheek from what seemed to be a sharp object. Not overly muscular, but clearly took care of his physique. About 185 cm tall.

John Thorn: Fair-skinned with brown eyes, physically weak but had flexible hands. Around 183 cm tall. Older in age, though it didn't show much.

Kevin Maddox: Bearded with black eyes, wearing a dark brown coat and hat. Average build, around 186 cm tall.

Stephen Ashford: Blonde hair, average build, but most distinct for his red eyes. Around 180 cm.

Edward Roth: Long black hair reaching his shoulders, black eyes, around 180 cm.

David Vogel: The tallest, around 190 cm. Long blonde hair tied back, blue eyes, and an ideal build. Always wore a calm smile.

Stephen was the first to speak:

— "So, are we supposed to just sit here while the criminal roams free?"

Kevin responded:

— "We must follow the criminal's letter. It stated that a crime would occur at exactly 22:00—only 15 minutes from now—and we must identify the culprit before disaster strikes. The sender strictly forbade police presence before the crime. If any officer is spotted, even in disguise, he'll blow up four hospitals across the city. We were also forbidden from alerting the public or attempting evacuation."

Stephen: "Then why are we still sitting idle?"

Kevin (angrily): "Were you physically present but mentally absent? We've already discussed the plan!"

Stephen (confused): "Sorry, I was distracted during the meeting."

Kevin (putting his hand to his forehead): "Oh God, I have to explain everything again to this idiot."

Edward (calmly): "Enough nonsense. I've discovered the culprit—and the method he'll use."

(Everyone stared at him in surprise.)

Edward continued:

— "Look at the large chandelier in the center of the hall." (Everyone looked.)

— "You'll notice the iron cable holding it is corroded. I've been here since 17:30, so I've been observing closely. Before Martin and David arrived, I stepped out to get some fresh air in the hotel's garden and spotted a broken glass shard from a bottle. It emitted a light acidic scent. To confirm my suspicion, I placed a cloth on it, and it began to dissolve. That proves the bottle contained nitric acid, well-known for corroding iron."

Martin (thinking): "Incredible. Based on his words, the culprit…"

Edward: "The criminal is one of the hotel staff—or more precisely…" (He pointed.) "That man over there—the decorations supervisor."

Kevin: "Even if he is the decorator, anyone could have approached the chandelier under the excuse of fixing it or spotting a large spider."

Edward: "I shook hands with him earlier—traces of acid were visible beneath his fingernails."

Kevin: "That's not enough. You still lack solid proof."

Edward (looking at the ceiling): "You want evidence? I'll go make him confess without him even realizing it."

Kevin: "Show us your skills."

— They approached the accused man.

Edward: "Hey you, were you decorating that chandelier—or trying to drop it?"

The man (putting his hands behind his back, smiling):

— "Actually… yes, that's exactly what I intended to do."

(Everyone's faces showed shock.)

Edward (serious): "Why did you do all this?"

The man: "I'll tell you every

thing—but not here. Please, let's go to another room."

In Room 64 on the third floor,

Edward and the man sat facing each other while the others stood behind them, ears sharp and ready.

Edward: "Go on, say what you have to say."

The man (clasping his hands together):

— "I was ordered by my superior to kill someone tonight in this hotel. He gave me the freedom to choose the victim myself..."

Edward: "What made you confess so easily?"

The man:

— "Honestly, I've had enough of the way he treats me. When I heard that you were all coming, I devised this trick because I was confident you'd uncover it. If I had tried to run or turned myself in, he would've killed me before I reached the police station. And apparently… that's what's going to happen now."

Edward: "You're lying. What's your real goal?"

The man:

— "Before I answer, did you remove the chandelier?"

Edward: "We ordered the staff to take it down. Now answer me—what is your master's next move? What's his goal? How many people are helping him?"

The man looked at his watch, then calmly said:

— "You've lost the game, fools."

Edward (shocked): "What?!"

Suddenly, a bullet crashed through the window, piercing the man's head.

Everyone was stunned, but that didn't stop them from rushing toward the source of the shot—everyone except for Edward and Martin, who remained frozen, thoughts racing through their minds.

Edward: "All of this... was part of his master's plan..."

Martin: "The crime we were supposed to stop—this is it!"

Edward: "But why didn't he target me? I was clearly within his aim."

Martin: "It's 10:00... We already lost."

Both Edward and Martin turned toward the shattered window just as the police arrived at the hotel. Inspector Michael entered the room with his men.

Michael: "Leave."

Edward: "What?! Shouldn't you question us?"

Michael: "It's clear. You were interrogating this man who worked for your enemy. A bullet from the building across hit and killed him. That's correct, isn't it?"

Edward (sharp gaze): "Everything you said is true... but this proves… you have some connection to this man—or to the case as a whole."

Michael: "Just go. I'll handle the investigation."

Edward and Martin exited the room, though Edward clearly looked troubled. As they walked down the hallway, Edward turned to Martin:

Edward: "What's so special about you?"

Martin (confused): "What do you mean?"

Edward: "I mean—why does the inspector we met in England trust you so much? He said you have a connection to the man we're hunting, but you haven't told us yet. You've done nothing but watch… and now we've lost so many people."

Martin: "Listen, I'll tell you what happened."

(By the time he finished, they had exited the hotel.)

Edward: "So… the boy who defeated your father is the cause of this entire mess. But are you sure he's the one from the orphanage?"

Martin (under the falling rain): "You know, I no longer want to investigate this case."

Edward: "What do you mean?"

Martin (with a wicked smile and dark eyes):

— "Listen, solving crimes won't help us. He's too smart to make a mistake. The only way to catch him… is his own way. He treats this like a chess game, and we are just pieces that block his moves. Do you now understand why I didn't act—or rather, why I didn't help you?"

Edward: "You were observing us—studying our thinking styles, our reflexes, our physical and mental conditions. But tell me—what value do we hold in your eyes, if life is just a chessboard?"

Under the heavy rain, Martin turned and walked away, answering with a chilling phrase:

"Kings play, pawns wait their turn."

As he walked away, he passed by David returning. David tried to stop him, but it was useless. Just before they separated, David whispered in Martin's ear:

"Remember—murder and drugs… there's no

reason to go near either."

Martin didn't react. He simply kept walking.

A week later,

Newspapers were still filled with reports of the incident. David, in a fit of rage, threw his morning paper to the ground, then turned to Edward and asked:

David: "Are there any other details about Martin's story?"

Edward: "I've told you everything he said word for word. And right now, I'm still reading the newspapers that covered every case related to this mess."

David: "Where are the others?"

Edward: "Stephen said he was heading to the orphanage Martin mentioned. As for the others—I don't know."

David (angrily): "Doesn't matter."

(He opened the door.)

Edward: "Where are you going?"

David: "To catch up with Stephen."

(He slammed the door behind him.)

At the orphanage,

When David arrived, he found Stephen kneeling by the iron gate surrounding the place, staring silently at the ground.

David: "Did you find anything?"

Stephen (serious look): "Look at the orphanage garden."

David looked, and as he approached, he saw something becoming clear. He grabbed the iron bars and said:

David: "That's… surprising."

Stephen: "They're footprints. It rained heavily the past two nights—so the tracks are still visible."

David (stroking his chin): "Who could've been here?"

Stephen: "Seems like someone came by carriage. The distance between the horse's prints and the person's, plus the spot where each print was found, confirms it."

Stephen then suggested they visit the old man who visited the orphanage every evening. David agreed.

At the old man's house,

The man welcomed them warmly and kindly. After they sat in the living room, David held a cup of tea, eyes scanning the room, while Stephen started questioning:

Stephen: "Introduce yourself first."

Old man: "Alright. My name is Lorman Jackson."

Stephen: "What you told Martin—was it all true?"

Lorman: "You mean that boy? Well… not everything. The boy who called himself Alexander didn't escape—he was adopted by a nobleman."

Stephen: "Which nobleman?"

Lorman (searching his memories): "I believe his name was Adolf Luther."

David stood, stunned. Stephen asked:

Stephen: "Who's that?"

David: "You don't know? He's one of the most famous noblemen in England. He owns several brands across Europe. His most famous asset is the farm located here in Germany. That farm alone could feed three developing countries..."

Stephen (excited): "Then we must go there."

David: "It's difficult. We can't go by train. And if we take a carriage, it'll take at least two days."

Stephen: "Doesn't matter. We'll do whatever it takes to solve this mystery and show that kid what being the best really means."

David: "You mean Martin?"

Stephen: "Yes… Old man, thank you for the information. Let's go, David."

---

Meanwhile,

Kevin, Raphael, and John were in one of the poor neighborhoods—John's request—as he had been investigating a theft case before this larger one began.

The three were tailing a suspicious man whose movements raised even more doubt. He eventually entered a narrow alley and stopped at a rusty metal door. Raphael hid behind a wall and watched as the man muttered something before the door opened.

Raphael then signaled for the others to come over.

Raphael: "Looks like we'll need to call the police."

John: "Wait a second…"

(Raphael was surprised.)

"We should go in first—make sure this is a gang hideout."

Raphael: "But to get in, we need a password."

John: "Password?!"

Raphael: "Yeah. When I was watching him, he said something before the door opened. Sounds like a code or ID phrase."

Kevin: "Then how about we wait for one of them to come out—then we catch him."

John: "Alright. We don't have a better option."

They didn't have to wait long. Ten minutes later, the same man exited the alley.

As soon as he did, Raphael jumped on him, twisted his arm behind his back, and slammed him against the wall.

Raphael: "Tell us something—or else…"

The man, terrified, swore to speak. Sitting on the ground, he stammered:

Man: "I didn't have a home… I used to wander the streets begging for bread. Then a man named Adolf offered me a place in his organization if I agreed to steal whatever he asked—in exchange for food and shelter."

John took the man to the police station and continued the investigation. The man confessed everything—names, roles—and led them to raid the hideout. Many were arrested.

It turned out that the stolen materials were used to make timed bombs. Their leader revealed tha

t a man named Adolf Luther was giving the orders—through letters. He never showed up in person, only sent others.

The police and the detectives set out toward Adolf Luther's farm,

Six horse-drawn carriages led the way, each pulled by two horses. Along the road, they encountered David and Stephen's carriage. Now all the detectives were together again, each one with the same question in mind:

"Adolf Luther… He's the older brother of Arthur Luther, who died in England."

He wasn't present at the ceremony. He didn't even attend the funeral.

The detectives exchanged glances and confident smirks.

Stephen clasped his hands and said:

— "Seems like we've solved the mystery..."

John: "From what I gather, Arthur must've uncovered Adolf's secrets about the stolen goods. That's probably why he sent the Ghoul to kill him."

David: "And Alexander, the one Martin mentioned, was never truly treated as a son—just a tool..."

Kevin: "And the man who died in the hotel… he was part of the theft gang. He probably wanted to confess, so they killed him."

John: "Everything makes sense so far—but I still feel like something's missing."

Stephen (sarcastic tone): "I thought I was the only one who felt that."

Reaching the farm didn't take two days as expected—just half a day.

They soon found themselves in front of a golden gate made of iron columns, surrounded by a high wall that stretched as far as the eye could see. In the middle stood a grand mansion, its architecture breathtaking.

The police officers stepped out of the carriages and armed themselves. Meanwhile, the detectives remained inside, discussing something.

Just as the officers prepared to break down the gate, a young man appeared, dressed as a gardener.

Gardener: "Excuse me, gentlemen. No need for all this noise—I'll open the gate."

One officer asked him his name. He replied:

"My name is Alexander. I see you're police officers. If you're looking for Lord Adolf, he's in his room—the one with the lights on, as you can see. I'll escort you inside the mansion so you can meet him."

Once inside, Alexander asked to be excused to inform his master, who was supposedly in the bathroom. The lead inspector agreed.

Alexander entered a room and turned back the minute hand of a small clock, which had a bird inside and was connected to several wires.

He wound the clock back one minute… then returned to the police.

Alexander: "My master said he'll be out soon. Please wait. May I leave? My shift just ended and I was about to go home."

The inspector allowed it.

As Alexander reached the main gate, the detectives were just entering.

David (to him): "Who are you?"

Alexander: "Name's Leon, gardener of this estate. A pleasure. Looks like the police need something from Lord Adolf, huh?"

David (to the other detectives): "Let's go, guys."

As they passed through the gate, Kevin glanced back… but didn't see the gardener anymore. A strange feeling crept in, but he was interrupted by a deafening sound—a sound more terrifying than anything they'd heard.

The mansion exploded.

Everything—and everyone—inside was consumed by flames. The fire spread with unnatural speed, devouring the grass and all the stored food products in seconds.

The detectives found themselves in a nightmare.

Kevin (furious): "Damn it! That bastard..."

David (calm but serious): "Everyone calm down. Just find a way out."

Stephen (half-joking, half-panicked): "So this is what hell looks like?"

Kevin: "Worse. And we're not talking about a house here—this is dozens of hectares… all fire."

---

Meanwhile,

Alexander stood on a hill overlooking the flames.

Beside him, Adolf was tied to a tree. Alexander had changed out of his gardener's clothes and now wore a formal suit. He stood next to Adolf with a cold smile.

Adolf (terrified): "What have you done?"

Alexander (smiling faintly):

— "This farm makes up a significant portion of the country's food supply—more than 50%. Its destruction will plunge Germany into famine. And that famine will destroy the economy..."

Adolf (furious): "You've gone too far. You told me you only wanted revenge for your parents—not to burn everything down!"

Alexander: "I only said that to make you help me. If I'd told you the whole truth, you wouldn't have served me all these years."

Adolf: "You monster."

Alexander (chuckling): "Do I look like a monster? No... This thing inside me isn't a monster—it's pain. That's what this world gives you. Nothing more."

Adolf: "What are you saying? Weren't we happy? Didn't I give you everything? Remember the time we spent with your brothers in the mansion."

Alexander: "Shut up, old man. All of that was part of the plan."

Adolf: "What do you mean?"

Alexander took out a bottle of water and stared at the fire.

Alexander: "I loved your wife. Even though she couldn't have children, you refused to leave her. You adopted me from the orphanage when I was eight. I know who killed your wife."

Adolf (shocked): "What?! Who?"

Alexander: "You know my parents were murdered when I was a child. When I discovered the killer, I went to him in secret… and paid him to kill your wife. I gave him the full plan. And when he carried it out, I stabbed him in the heart and buried him in this forest."

Adolf (devastated): "You… YOU… my son—I can't believe it!"

(He breaks down in tears, memories of his wife flooding back. As Alexander approaches, he gently holds Adolf's face.)

Alexander: "We can't live in a world that isn't fair."

Adolf (screaming): "You bas—"

Alexander grabs his mouth and forces the water bottle down his throat. The water had been laced with poison.

Alexander: "Rest in peace, old man."

Adolf (dying):

— "Maybe the world isn't fair… but that's no reason to stop living in it…"

(His hand drops—he's dead.)

Alexander walked to the edge of the hill, ignoring Adolf's body

. He raised both hands to the sky and declared:

"Let it all burn… Let this world burn—along with your pathetic justice."

Many people from the nearby village arrived with reinforcements, trying desperately to extinguish the fire.

But it was far too massive to be put out with just a few buckets of water.

Raphael shouted:

— "Don't use water! This fire is the result of a chemical reaction!"

But his warning didn't help—the roaring blaze drowned out most voices. Nothing could be heard clearly.

Raphael (clenching his fists): "Damn it..."

Kevin: "What do we do now?"

Raphael: "If only I knew what chemical was used to accelerate the fire's spread… I might be able to neutralize it."

Kevin: "How would that help?"

Raphael: "I have a few chemical vials in my pocket… but I need to know the exact substance."

(He looked around, thinking hard.)

(To himself) "Wait… maybe it's potassium."

Kevin (alarmed): "Potassium?!"

Raphael: "No time to explain."

(He pulled out several vials from his pocket, selected one, and scattered its contents toward the gate area. The fire weakened just enough for them to make a run for it.)

David (yelling): "Go! Move now!"

After escaping through the main gate, the detectives collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.

Raphael: "Good thing I had that vial in my pocket… we would've died without it."

Kevin: "What was in it?"

Raphael: "Sodium carbonate… but it wasn't enough, so I used another vial that contained water mixed with white vinegar."

Kevin (nodding): "So that's how it worked..."

As everyone was catching their breath, David stood up to check on something—but suddenly, his expression changed.

Pain overtook his body, and he collapsed to the ground,

unconscious.

Everyone froze in shock.

Everyone rushed toward David, who was now lying motionless on the ground.

Kevin (worried): "David! Can you hear me?!"

Stephen (checking his pulse): "He's still alive… but his pulse is weak."

Raphael (examining his eyes): "His pupils are dilated... something's not right."

John: "Do you think he inhaled something back there? Maybe one of the chemicals from the explosion?"

Raphael (shaking his head): "No, the symptoms came too late for that. This looks more like poisoning."

Stephen (serious): "Poison? But when? How?"

Kevin (thinking aloud): "He didn't eat or drink anything since we escaped… unless—"

Raphael: "Unless the poison was slow-acting… something he consumed earlier. Maybe at the hotel?"

They all exchanged looks, the tension thickening.

Kevin: "We have to get him to a doctor. Now."

The group quickly flagged down one of the remaining carriages from the village. Two villagers helped lift David inside, while the others piled in beside him.

As the carriage sped off toward the nearest medical center, the detectives sat in silence. The fire was still burning in the background—consuming not just the farm, but every illusion they had about justice,

loyalty… and the truth.