Chapter 2 (Case Files)

## Chapter Chronology

**The Knight of Gluttony (1)** is the 2nd chapter of the "*Record of Ragnarok - Jack the Ripper Case Files*" manga series.

## Summary

In another slum of London, a boy asks a man if he'd seen his brother, Roger, but the man notes that another boy has gone missing. While the boy wants to take this to the police, the man tells him it would be pointless as nobody in the slums are seen as people, leaving the boy to cry feeling helpless.

At his favorite cafe, Jack is served the cafe's newest trend of Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese, and enjoys the treat much to Alice's joy. One moment later, a woman sits down and orders Darjeeling with no sugar, leaving her and Jack alone as Alice fetches the order. As Jack corrects her that Darjeeling is best with sugar and milk, she passes him a dossier on his next target, the man responsible for ten missing children in the slums over the last year. She is his handler, the Red Widow of Sentinel, and Jack's target is Baron Chris Highton, an aristocrat from a knight family going back six generations, thus dubbed by Sentinel as the "Knight of Gluttony." Given his target is an aristocrat with sway upon the government, the Baron cannot simply be brought to justice, and thus is the reason for the Sentinels to exist.

At the end of the 19th Century, the British Empire underwent great change in response to the Industrial Revolution, with the assent of capitalists and commoners. This influenced politics and laws for years to come, beginning unrest within the aristocracy, but the wealth gap still widened between the rich and the poor. In response, numerous secret organizations were founded within the government, which culminated in the 1909 founding of the British Secret Intelligence Service, **MI6**.

Jack complains how difficult protecting the country can be as another villain always appears, yet Sentinel still calls on Jack for the "cleaning" only he can do. When Red Widow asks if he'll do it, Jack will see Baron Highton and decide based on his color. As she takes her leave, Jack asks if she isn't going to have an apple pie, infuriating her enough to turn back and she reminds him that he's only of use to Sentinel fulfilling their cause, and they won't hesitate to eliminate him should he outlive his usefulness, telling "Jack Smith" not to forget. Besides, she hates sweets, and Jack sees that as a shame as she'll never know if she doesn't try.

At the estate of Baron Highton, Jack infiltrates as a gardener and endears himself to the staff. When the Baron arrives, he flaunts his lavish home to guests before he castigates new aristocrats who bought their way into peerage through their new wealth, only for one of Highton's esteemed guests, Mr. White, to reveal that he was once a commoner himself, to which Highton apologizes for his rudeness and has his butler, Alfred, see to his guests. Seeing the Baron walk by, Jack is enticed by his color like the apple pie with cheddar cheese, but unknowingly catches Alfred's eye before Highton orders him back.

At night, Highton throws a fit in anger over Mr. White not accepting his investment plan, but soon contemplates how to better his mood by tormenting another slum child, like the one from last night, ordering Alfred to find him another boy and the manservant complies. In the slums, Jack is skipping along the streets in merriment and passes by Roger's brother, perplexed by the speed of Jack's skipping past him. Quoting "Who Ever Loved, That Loved Not at First Sight?" from Hero and Leander by Christopher Marlowe, Jack adorns his top hat and coat, ready for the tragedy to commence.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Alice Becker
* Jack the Ripper
* Crimson Widow
* Chris Highton
* Alfred
* Mr.White