The moment he heard this, Edgar immediately straightened his back.
"Insider information?" He unconsciously raised his voice, then quickly lowered it again. "Miss Morstan, this is not something to be spoken lightly."
"Do you think I joined the Guardian just to fabricate articles?"
Mary took a sip of tea. "No, of course not."
Edgar quickly waved his hand and restored the smile to his face. "Just confirming. After all, ensuring the accuracy and validity of information is a basic principle in the news industry."
He said it with irony.
"We are not like those newspapers that spread rumors and deceive London citizens before verifying the truth."
Edgar paused, then leaned forward slightly. "If possible, Miss Morstan, could you tell me the source of this insider information?"
"Of course." Mary set down her teacup. The white porcelain clinked softly.
"Charlotte Holmes," the girl said slowly and clearly. "That is my source. If my memory is correct, she was on Fleet Street yesterday as well."
Upon hearing Charlotte's name, Edgar momentarily faltered before unconsciously nodding.
"Of course she came, Miss Morstan."
"I never expected you two to know each other."
"We are not particularly close, but I have a good relationship with her assistant," Mary said. "His name is Russell Watson, as you probably know."
"Russell Watson…" Edgar frowned, then his expression changed to one of realization. "Ah, that messenger of Moriarty's. I remember now," he said, clapping his hands. "The one who came to Fleet Street delivering notices door to door."
"Then, can you trust the credibility of the information I provided?" Mary asked.
"Of course, of course!" Edgar's face lit up with delight, and he personally refilled Mary's tea. "With Holmes as the source, there could be no more reliable information."
"Then," Mary picked up her teacup and gently blew on the rising steam, "could I trouble you a little with the report?"
"Please leave it to us!" Edgar skillfully positioned himself as the requester, elevating the other party's status. "Only the Guardian can clear Moriarty's name."
He lightly patted his chest to reassure her. "We will use the most detailed descriptions and the sharpest writing to sweep away Moriarty's tarnished reputation!"
"Then I'll look forward to it." Mary smiled with satisfaction.
"Oh, right," she added as if remembering something. "Regarding the source of this insider information, Mr. Edgar—as you know, I don't like drawing attention. Especially in matters like this."
"Of course, I understand your desire to perform good deeds quietly without attracting notice, Miss Morstan." Edgar nodded repeatedly. "We'll use the phrase 'a reliable anonymous source' instead. It won't cause you any trouble."
"That's good." Mary placed her teacup down contentedly. "Then I can start taking notes."
"Please tell me, Miss Morstan." Edgar picked up his pen and assumed a serious posture. "I promise not to miss even the smallest detail."
Seeing the reporter's expression—as if he wanted to lean in close to her ear—Mary showed a faint smile.
"Actually, it's not that complicated," she said quietly in a gentle, clear voice. "The one who killed Hannigan wasn't Moriarty, but another person."
"A desperate fugitive with nowhere to run, pursued by Scotland Yard."
"An outlaw?" Edgar quickly scribbled the keyword on paper.
"Unfortunately, Miss Charlotte Holmes is still investigating the matter and cannot confirm it at this time." Mary shook her head. "However, one thing is certain. This outlaw had an indescribable connection with Mr. Hannigan."
"They might have been business partners, or something deeper.
In other words, he came to Hannigan seeking help."
"Help?"
"Smuggling." Mary said concisely. "Hannigan's smuggling business was quite large-scale. You should be aware of that."
Edgar nodded lightly.
…