The Hidden Library of House Mormont

Short Story- The Napoleon of Crime Speaks

LONDON- In a shocking twist of events, this publication obtained an exclusive interview with the infamous Professor James Moriarty. The shadowy figure, long pursued by renowned detective Sherlock Holmes, sits across from us today. Though his presence is shrouded in secrecy, Professor Moriarty has agreed to answer questions that have haunted the public mind for years.

Interviewer: Professor Moriarty, thank you for this unprecedented opportunity. The entire world has been fascinated, even terrified, by your reputation as the "Napoleon of Crime". How would you describe yourself?

Moriarty: [A faint smile flickers across his thin lips] The public labels me a villain. To myself? I am simply a force of change, a consultant of sorts. Those drawn to my services are individuals willing to upset the stagnant order of things in pursuit of their ambitions.

Interviewer: Mr. Holmes paints you as the mind behind a vast criminal underworld. What is the truth of your organization?

Moriarty: Mr. Holmes has a talent for exaggeration. Let us simply say, I have an exceptional knack for seeing patterns and connecting with like-minded individuals. My network allows for swift and discreet action- a service the ambitious of this world find increasingly valuable.

Interviewer: What fuels this ambition? Why disrupt the established order?

Moriarty: Imagine society as a great, stagnant pond. I... provide the ripple that disturbs the water. Status quo breeds complacency. When the established order is challenged, those with true brilliance will rise to the top. The rest… are merely collateral in the greater scheme of progress.

Interviewer: Your methods, however, often involve crime, even violence. What justifies that?

Moriarty: Necessity. To rearrange the pieces on the chessboard of society, sometimes an uncooperative pawn must be removed. I acknowledge the darkness my work entails, but the potential for a brighter future outweighs the sacrifices.

Interviewer: Your actions have made you Sherlock Holmes’ greatest adversary. What are your thoughts on the detective?

}Moriarty: Mr. Holmes is an exceptional mind, a worthy opponent in this ongoing game we play. His dedication to his self-proclaimed sense of justice is as admirable as it is predictable. He is the counterforce to my ripple, yet... is he not a ripple himself, upsetting the societal pond in his own disruptive way?

Interviewer: Many readers will find your arguments unsettling. What is your ultimate goal?

Moriarty: To create a world where the truly exceptional are not shackled by rules set by the mediocre. Imagine a world where limitations hold no sway over brilliant minds, a world of breathtaking possibilities. My so-called 'crimes' are the tremors that will bring about this new age.

Interviewer: A chilling vision, Professor. Thank you for your time.

As the interview concludes, a lingering unease remains. Professor Moriarty departs as enigmatically as he arrives. Whether the world will ever know the full extent of his plans, or Sherlock Holmes will ultimately thwart them, are questions the future alone will determine.

Newspaper Clippings Prompt 2
Word Count: 483