Even the wisest could not foresee the future...

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During the slumber, Sherlock Holmes heard the sound of a pipe playing. It was a song that was so bright and clear that he had never heard it before.

That those who heard him could never keep still...[1]

The detective opened his eyes in the darkness. At that time, he fully awake. Surprisingly clear mind.

As soon as he played, they began for to dance...[2]

A feeling of vigor pervaded his body, contrary to the fact that he had just gone to bed. The music is a high note and rhythmic. The joyful melody still resonates. Spell the auditory nerve as if not wanting to hear other voices.

Out there... the bare feet of the children trampling through the grass and the ground. The children in pajamas lined their way into the forest. The leaves of the forest swayed as they were beckoning to them. No one breaks the line. No one moved their mouths to talk amongst themselves. There were only two legs that kept alternating rhythms.

Behind them, several adults were chasing after them, shouting the children's names. Some said to stop walking and begged them to come back this way.

But none of the children heard. None of the children turned around.

The sound of the pipe played like a guiding signal. The wind blew away the clouds and let the moonlight shine on the forest. The trees move along the wind in the same direction. It seems to open a path to a world that adults can't pursue.

A world open to only children can enter...

Over the hills and far away...

"Holmes," a silver-haired man turned to his partner. "What are we going to do?"

Sherlock Holmes frowned at the chaotic situation in front of him. What happened was so quick and unexplained. In confusion, he did not understand; he turned to look at his partner's green eyes and give an order.

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If people can know the future, they can plan for what will happen flawlessly. Problems and obstacles will be solved quickly. There will be nothing beyond planning—no need to suffer or be disappointed with the unexpected incidents.

But because no one knows the future.

Only the past and the present in front...

Room number 9

Members of 'FREE MAN HAND', an organization named after the first letter of the founder's last name. Individuals who are unique in their reputation, power, money, and abilities in society. Standing around something that evokes the memory of Sherlock Holmes, one of the key members.

The detective's youthful face looked at what was in the middle of the encirclement with an unpredictable expression. He turned his gaze to his friend next to him with a disgruntled expression before looking at everyone in the room and turning back to...

'THAT'

The conversation lasted for several minutes, causing Holmes to put on a strange expression. Before accepting the brown document folder, he opened it and read in confusion. Then the black eyes open wide with a variety of feelings, both shocked, surprised, and couldn't help but admire. He looked up from the folder, looking at 'that' in amazement.

The words he heard as he walked into the room flashed back in his head.

‘Mr. Holmes. Look at this, what do you think?’

‘That doll has evolved when with you. So, we came up with a new experimental project. Wish you will cooperate.’

Sherlock Holmes looked at the disgruntled James Moriarty before looking at everyone in the room, and the detective spoke.

"Why haven't I heard of this new project before?"

Holmes fired a question. James, who was standing beside him, was waiting for an answer as well.

The person standing next to 'that' smiled with a satisfied expression before clearing his throat lightly.

"I will explain to you now. The initial purpose that we came up with the project was…" The description was conveyed in a relaxed tone. The speaker punctuates each sentence carefully. To allow listeners to understand and organize their thoughts in their heads. "Alright, as I said. No reason to deny it, right, Holmes?"

A non-question sentence was sent to Holmes to answer. The black eyes that covered a clear heaviness met the gazes of everyone in the room passively. Until he stopped at 'that' again, the young man stared for several seconds. In the realm of thought and decision, he remembered another person's face.

"I'm sorry, I have to refuse," Holmes replied in a gentle tone. but lurks the firmness of the decision "I don't agree with this project."

Because the answer is not as expected, the others Free Man Hand turned to meet each other's eyes, except for James Moriarty, who looked like he wasn't watching anyone in particular, but nothing escaped his gaze.

"I respect your decision, Sherlock," said Lester Ashton first. "But could you give us one good reason to decline an offer that you only benefited from?"

Holmes thought about good reasons to convince others to agree with him. But because everything he could think of was like a puzzle that was not fully pieced together. Because of that... he chose not to say anything.

"Why did you refuse this time? Mr. Holmes," said Rufus, "You accept that doll easily."

Because the one being asked did not open his mouths to say anything, Holmes couldn't answer why he turned down this wonderful new experimental project. The atmosphere of the meeting is unfinished. Finally, one of the groups came to help unravel.

"It might be too sudden. Let's just say give Sherlock some time to rethink. Maybe you can change your mind. Everyone alright?"

"Yes,"

Holmes nodded in response and walked out of room number 9. His hand was still holding a folder he had obtained. The young man lowered his head to look at the ground with a heavy feeling that he did not realize that someone was following beside him.

"You cling to things you shouldn't, Sherlock." James Moriarty looked down at his best friend. Then took step passed, leave the last sentence.

"A tool is a tool. There is no need to get emotionally involved."

...Tool...

Sherlock Holmes thought as he looked at the back of James. He sighed, thinking that James was more aware of his thoughts than anyone else in the organization. But it's still not the reason.

Holmes walked towards the exit. A silver-haired man stood waiting for him with a calm face and called his name as he came to a stop in front of him.

"Holmes"

"Watson," Holmes smiled at his partner, John H. Watson, "let's go back."

But Watson stood still. Green eyes stared at Holmes, then shifted his gaze to the brown folder in Holmes's hand that he hadn't seen yet.

"What is it, Watson?"

"Holmes, what happens? Are you alright?"

"What do you mean?" The person who was asked looked surprised.

"I think you have something strange," Watson replied, unaware of what was strange about Holmes. Also, he can't tell himself why he thought that way. But when Watson looked at his partner's face, he thought like this.

"Is something bad happen?"

After hearing his partner's words, Sherlock Holmes suddenly felt strangely good mood.

"Everything is fine, Watson. Thanks for asking." Holmes patted the other on the shoulder as a signal to leave. "The sky is bright. How about we stop some shop? Let's get something to eat before we meet 'Gregson'."

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Even the wisest could not foresee the future. Because no one knows what's waiting. The next step of the present leads to an unknown future. What will determine which direction to take is the person's ego.

Each person's one step is on the path, now overlaps each other.