The Family Gathering

At breakfast, the next day.

After Dracy and Elliot have left the dining hall, Victoria brings up the topic to the rest of us. "There's something I want to tell you all." With this, she repeats what she told me last night. About Philosium, Septima Pretorius, and her research. Just as I had been last night, some seem confused by the terms they are hearing for the first time. Nevertheless, it's good news. After she finishes her explanation, she takes a breath. "That's everything I know. I apologise for not telling you until I was certain about this information."

"So that means... we've pretty much figured out where our target's home base is, right? Isn't that a big deal?" Nemo asks.

"Hmph. I don't think it's that simple." Van Helsing says.

"Why not?" Nemo asks.

"That definitely is a promising lead, but..." Doreen says. "Victoria mentioned last night that she had a lead to a promising lead, which means that there's something else we need to do."

Nemo looks up at the heavens. "Whoa... Right, you're right. A lead to a lead seems so tedious. I wish we could just take care of it all at once!"

Doreen is right.

Victoria just said what her "promising lead" is. She still hasn't told us what the lead to that lead was, and what we'll need to do to get to the actual information.

"No use whinging. It's a hundred times better than having nothing to work with." Lupin says.

I agree. "Yes. We need to keep moving forward, one step at a time."

"So, Victoria, what's your other lead? What steps should we take?" Lupin asks.

Victoria nods firmly before replying. "I want you to obtain something that will lead us to the whereabouts of Septima's laboratory."

"'Something'? That's awfully vague. Do you have something in mind, or are you trying to avoid talking about it?" Van Helsing asks.

"It's going to be trouble. It's something that all the organised crime groups in London are guarding with all they've got." Victoria says.

"Guarded by gangsters. Ahah, I see." Doreen says.

It seems like everyone but me has an idea of what Victoria is tiptoeing around.

Nemo places her forehead against the dining table, but the three others, including Lupin, seem to be grinning.

What's going on?

Victoria continues to talk, but I'm just as confused as ever. "What we need to obtain is the prize from the Family Gathering."

"The Family Gathering?" I ask.

This is yet another new term.

Seeing my confusion, Doreen offers up an explanation. "It's a location you've already been to many times. Do you remember that event that takes palace by the River Thames?"

"I remember. It's where we met Van Helsing." I say.

"That place where a certain unfriendly four-eyed fellow caused a scene." Lupins says.

"Stop using me as a point of reference." Van Helsing says.

"It's a long-running event, and on the last day, there's grand competition that takes place to wrap it all up." Doreen says. "And that's the airship race that caps off the Family Gathering."

"The Family Gathering. That means it's a day when those from the underbelly of the city gather in large numbers." Van Helsing says. "They're an unruly bunch, but they're rich. The police and military turn a blind eye, as long as they don't do anything violent."

"An airship race." I can't recall seeing them up close much. I've seen them from afar, floating among the clouds. Oh, but I do have a recent memory of being attacked by an airship. I don't remember much about it, but I do recall that it was a huge machine. "I can't imagine what an airship race would be like."

"This is also one of my ancestor Victor Frankenstein's achievements. He created a material he called Lightanium." Victoria says. "It's very light and sturdy, and can easily be mass-produced. As airship technology advanced, other uses for them appeared."

"I thought you were this universe's Victor Frankenstein." I say.

"He was an ancestor of mine... Well... the brother of my ancestor, Ernest Frankenstein. A lot of both mine and Pretorius' research as based on his work." Victoria says.

"Yes, his work has changed the history of mankind. He is worthy of the title of modern-day Prometheus." Doreen says.

Prometheus. The Titan said to have given the secret of fire to humanity.

"Back to what we were talking about, what do you mean that the prize from the airship race is a lead?" Van Helsing asks.

"Well, the prize for this competition is said to be the post humour collection of Victor Frankenstein's work." Victoria says.

"Posthumous collection. So, basically it's a bunch of papers and stuff, right? How much value could that possibly have?" Nemo asks.

"I'm sure there are countless collectors who want to obtain them at any cost, since they're from the legendary Victor Frankenstein." Doreen says. "But how did such a thing end up as prize for a race? No matter the content, I would assume his writing is classified information. I don't see how it came into their hands."

"I don't know." Victoria says.

"I see." Doreen says.

Victoria slowly nods at Doreen's logic.

It seems my anticipation was growing despite myself, and I notice my hands have clenched into fists.

"That's easy, then. I'll just go steal it." Lupin says,

"I would advise against that." Victoria says.

"Why? I can easily get past come criminals line of flimsy security." Lupin says.

"I'm not doubting your abilities. It's just..." Victoria says. "Since that attack by Dracula, the criminal world has set aside their pride and started asking for help."

"So what?" Lupin asks.

"The prize will be guarded by none other than Sherlock Holmes." Victoria says.

"All right! Let's enter the race and get this lead fair and square, shall we?" Lupin asks.

"You're so quick to adapt!" Nemo says.

"You really don't like Holmes, do you, Lupin?" I ask.

"She's more like a nemesis at this point." Victoria says.

"Are you already waving the white flag? You usually talk a much bigger name." Van Helsing says.

"What white flag? I'm tired of her persistence. Just to be clear, I'm not running from her!" Lupin says.

"Fun bonus: Holmes is not only involved in the security, but she will investigate if the item gets stolen." Victoria says.

"You hear that? Exactly as I'd suspected! This is a strategic retreat, understand?!" Lupin asks.

"Retreating is just another name for running. But if that's how you like to word it, let's leave it at that." Doreen says.

"Besides. Entering the race is fine and well, but what are we going to do about an actual ship?" Van Helsing asks. "We can't even join the race if we don't have basic equipment."

"Um... Why don't we have Nemo make one?" I ask.

"Hmmm! I'm happy you're depending on me for this, but if you want me to make something from scratch, time and money..." Nemo says.

"Then should we buy one? You said the amount of money Lupin brought back is enough to buy an airship." I say.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. We could possibly buy an average ship with that." Nemo says. "But trying to win a race with something like that would be difficult, even for Nemo, the great engineer. There's a wide range of airship designs. Faster ones can easily go over 100 kilometres an hour." 100 kilometres an hour! That's such a big number, I can't imagine how fast it actually is. "Besides, this isn't your average race. If we join with some shabby ship, we'll be shot down, and then that's it for us."

"Shot down?" I ask.

"Mister Caleb, you can't forget that the sponsors of this race are members of the criminal underworld." Doreen says. "In this race, competitors are allowed to attack one another. All attendees need to sign a contract releasing the exhibitors of liability in the case of injury or ****."

"What an intense race." I say.

An airship race where combat is allowed. Illegal airship races are so ****!

"But we have to enter. All the more reason to join, if winning the race means we all get closer to our goals." Van Helsing says. "Nemo, how much money would you need to modify an airship so that it stands a chance in this race?"

"Well, with my technical skills, if we had the money to buy two mid-sized airships, I could guarantee our victory." Nemo says.

"Two. It costs that much?" I ask.

"Things get more expensive if you want them to be better than average. Ask anyone else, and you'll be charged five airships' worth!" Nemo says.

"Hmph... Then I'll do something about procuring a basic airship. Nemo, start thinking about your remodelling plans." Lupin says.

"'Do 'something'. Do you have something in mind?" Victoria asks.

"Yep! I'll be taking off, then. Have fun house-sitting!" Lupin confidently marches out of the dining room.

"I wonder what Lupin's going to do." I say.

"Knowing her, it's probably nothing decent." Van Helsing says.

"I totally agree. Like Van Helsing says, she's going to do something out of the ordinary for sure." Nemo says.

"Haha. I hope she doesn't bring back any trouble with her." Victoria says.

"But she's not the type to exaggerate without reason. We'll just have to sit tight and wait." Doreen says.

Lupin has no way of knowing what everyone is saying about her. But the next morning, she returns to the mansion with an amazing souvenir.